These crackers were completely new to me, but once I tried them at a book club, I was hooked on their irresistible flavor. I was amazed by how simple and fast they were to make when I asked for the recipe. Despite the fact that I always have saltines on hand, my family often complains that we never have flavored crackers. The truth is that we do have flavored crackers, but they go so quickly that I never restock them.
The problem has been solved perfectly with this method. These are perfect for watching a game or a movie with, or any other activity that calls for a quick and easy snack.
It’s delicious either way, but I prefer to bake mine to bring out the toasted flavor. When I’m in a social situation, I like to use oyster crackers because they’re a great alternative to traditional sandwich bread and are much less messy to eat. I love the combination of Ranch and dill, but sometimes I add dill to the regular recipe to amp up the flavor. Try your hand at a few variations and see which ones go over best with your loved ones.
Enjoy!
INGREDIENTS
- Snack size: 16 ounces of saltines
- Butter, 8 tablespoons worth, melted
- Salad dressing mix for one salad, Ranch style (1 oz.)
- Red pepper flakes, 1 teaspoon
- 1/2 a fresh clove of garlic, minced
INSTRUCTIONS
Prepare a 300°F oven.
In a sizable dish, melt the butter.
Toss the crackers in the coating and make sure they are all covered.
Mix the Ranch dressing mix, the crushed red pepper, and the garlic powder in a small bowl. Merge the ingredients together by stirring.
Coat the crackers evenly with the dressing by sprinkling it over the top.
Make a flat layer of crackers on a baking sheet with a lip.
Put in oven and set timer for 10 to 15 minutes.
Be sure to wait until the food has cooled down completely before serving.
Put away in a container with a tight lid.
Notes
Put the crackers and seasoning in a plastic or paper bag, seal it, and give it a good shake before baking. Give the crackers a good shake to spread the coating. Make sure you don’t sever any of them!
This is a fantastic recipe for feeding a large group of people because it can easily be doubled. Simple bake in multiple batches after increasing ingredients proportionately.
• Experiment with New Flavors: You can do that all you want.
Change the Ranch dressing mix to dry Italian seasoning.
Substitute ground cumin and chili powder for the garlic powder.
Instead of garlic powder and red pepper flakes, try dill (it pairs well with Ranch dressing).
If you’re looking for a bold flavor boost, try either adding some lemon pepper or omitting the garlic powder and/or red pepper flakes.
A great alternative to saltines that can be eaten in one bite is oyster crackers.
Avoid the fat in butter by using olive oil in your no-bake recipes. Warm up the olive oil to room temperature (not hot!) in a small saucepan, then add the spices of your choice and stir to combine. Toss the crackers with the coating in a bowl (not a plastic bag) and stir to combine. Put away in a container with a tight lid. Butter makes the crackers from the no-bake method a little too greasy.
Leave them alone for 24 hours if you can, as this will allow the flavors to fully develop and make the dish even more delectable.