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Buttery and flavored with ranch seasoning, these baked ranch crackers are a quick and easy party-favorite snack.
You know me – I love a good party snack. I’ll spend an entire party sneaking bites of spicy sausage dip, marinated cheese, and mango and black bean salsa.
If you see me visit the buffet table a dozen times, no you didn’t.
The only thing better than a good party snack is an EASY, good party snack. And that’s totally what these ranch crackers are.
You only need a few simple ingredients and about 30 minutes to make these flavorful, fun crackers, and they are always a big hit!
They’d even make a super fun host gift for a game-day party or tailgate. Pop them into a cute jar and you’ve got a delicious homemade gift your friends will love you for.
What are ranch crackers?
Here in the Midwest, we love ranch. From classic ranch dip to fiesta ranch dip, bacon ranch pasta salad, chicken bacon ranch pizza, and so much more – we can’t get enough.
So ranch on crackers? That’s an obvious yes.
Ranch crackers are most commonly made with oyster crackers or saltines. They get tossed with butter or oil and ranch seasoning and baked until they’re juuuust perfect. They’re the ideal poppable snack to set out on the coffee table during the big game.
Even though oyster crackers and saltines are the most common cracker option, they aren’t the only option. When Stephie told me that her mother-in-law makes these with Ritz Bitz cheese crackers, I knew I had to try them immediately.
I am obsessed. Buttery, cheese, herby, these little crackers have it all. And they only take a few minutes to toss together!
Careful, you just might eat the whole batch before your guests even arrive.
How to make these easy ranch crackers
Ready to see how quick and easy it is to throw together these baked ranch crackers?
Ingredients you’ll need
For this recipe, you will need:
- 1 (8.8-ounce) box Ritz Bitz cheese crackers
- 4 tablespoons melted unsalted butter
- 2 tablespoons ranch seasoning
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon dried dill
I love making this recipe with Ritz Bitz cheese crackers (or your preferred brand of mini cheese sandwich crackers).
If you don’t want to use cheese sandwich crackers, you’ll need about 9 ounces of the cracker of your choice, such as oyster crackers or mini saltines.
I like using my homemade ranch seasoning mix because I always have some on hand. If you want to use store-bought, 2 tablespoons is equal to a 1-ounce packet of ranch seasoning.
Between the crackers and the ranch seasoning, I think this recipe has plenty of salt in it, so I like to use unsalted butter. But using salted butter won’t add too much extra salt, so don’t worry if that’s all you have on hand.
Pin this now to find it later
Pin ItMaking these crackers
I bet you can mix these ranch crackers together before your oven has even finished preheating.
Add the crackers to a large bowl, then pour the melted butter over them. Give them a gentle stir to combine.
Sprinkle on the seasonings and gently stir again to coat the crackers. Some of the crackers will end up with just a little bit more seasoning than others, but that’s ok!
Spread the crackers onto a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake at 250°F for 20 minutes, gently stirring them once at the halfway mark.
Yes, 250°F is correct! Similar to when you make homemade chex mix, you aren’t really cooking the crackers so much as you are drying them out a bit. So a low oven is what you want to use here.
Let the finished crackers cool before storing in airtight containers for up to a week.
Recipe variations
This ranch cracker recipe is super simple, but there a plenty of ways to change it up if you want.
Instead of using Ritz Bitz, use about 9 ounces of your preferred crackers. You don’t even have to stick with just oyster crackers or mini saltines, even though they’re a popular choice.
Try using goldfish crackers or cheese crackers, such as Cheez Its. You could even use club crackers, classic Ritz, or Town House crackers. There are so many options!
As for the seasoning, feel free to spice up the ranch by adding some crushed red pepper flakes to your seasoning mix and/or adding several dashes of your favorite hot sauce to the melted butter.
If you’re using a packet of ranch seasoning, you could use a flavored ranch. Hidden Valley makes a variety of flavors, such as spicy ranch, buffalo ranch, taco ranch, and more. Try one of those variations for a fun twist!
And finally – if you don’t have butter on hand, feel free to swap in your preferred neutral-flavored oil, such as canola or vegetable oil.
No matter how you make them, these ranch crackers are sure to become a big favorite!
Ranch Crackers
Ingredients
- 1 box Ritz Bitz cheese crackers 8.8 ounces, OR 9 ounces oyster crackers or mini saltine crackers
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter melted
- 2 tablespoons ranch seasoning 1 (1-ounce) packet
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon dried dill
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 250°F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside.
- Add the crackers to a large bowl. Drizzle the melted butter over the crackers; gently stir to combine. Sprinkle the ranch seasoning, garlic powder, and dill over the top and gently stir to coat the crackers in the seasonings.
- Spread the seasoned crackers into an even layer on the baking sheet. Bake for 20 minutes, stirring once halfway through.
- Let cool. Store in an airtight container for up to a week.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
