Easy Feisty Cheddar Cracker Snacks
Easy Fiesty Cheddar Cracker Snacks are fun, addictive, crunchy, little, nibbles of happiness perfect for all occasions. Make a big bag of these and have them on hand for happy snacking, barbecue get-togethers, and weekend football watching. Include these cuties in a holiday goodie bag for the crispy, spicy part of your food gifts.
SNACK CRACKER SERVING OPTIONS
These feisty snack crackers are a five minute, do ahead, easy and fast put together recipe. Serve these on top of your favorite Taco salad, use them instead of tortilla chips with this easy crockpot Mexican Chicken Soup.
Sneak these in your favorite child’s school lunch, a special little gift for your neighbor, or a secret snack stash for yours truly! So many possibilities with these delicious nibbles.
EASY BUDGET FRIENDLY INGREDIENTS
- mini cheese crackers (I used Cheez-Its)
- spicy ranch dressing dry mix, (1 package for light spice, 2 for extra bold)
- red chili pepper flakes
- garlic powder
- canola oil (or vegetable oil)
QUICK HOW TO STEPS
- STEP ONE – mix seasonings and oil together, make sure all the seasonings are mixed and not clumpy
- STEP TWO – put mini crackers in a gallon plastic bag or a mixing bowl with a tight sealing lid
- STEP THREE- every hour or so gently flip the bag or container
- STEP FOUR – “marinate” crackers for at least 6 hours or overnight
- STEP FIVE – place on a sheet baking pan with a cut-up brown paper sack liner
- STEP SIX – spread crackers on the paper sack liner in a thin layer and let them sit for about an hour (if the paper liner becomes to oil saturated, replace it with the other half of the cut-up sack before cooking
- STEP SEVEN – heat oven to 275 degrees, cook crackers for at least 30 minutes or until crispy and toasty. (stir at 10 minutes and then at 20 minutes -(cook with paper bag liner…it will not burn)
- STEP EIGHT – cool for about 10 minutes, serve them up and ENJOY!
MINI CRACKER VARIATIONS
So many spices, so many ways to make these your very own creation. A few spice variations that I want to try are:
- sweet mustard and onion
- italian cheese
- Simple Spicy Everything Snack Crackers 👇
CRACKER SUBSTITUTES
If you’re not into mini crackers you could also use:
- pretzels
- regular size saltine crackers, 4 sleeves fit perfectly in the gallon ziplock bag
- oyster crackers
- mini wheat crackers
- chickpeas…these two recipes are super good Airfryer or oven methods…Crunchy Curry Chickpeas and Spicy Jalapeno Chickpeas
- gluten-free crackers or pretzels
HELPFUL HINTS
Instead of baking them in the oven try using your Air Fryer for a single-serve portion!!! Fill the bottom of the basket with the feisty crackers and “air fry” for 3-4 minutes at 275-300 degrees. So Good!!
Use a covered bowl instead of a plastic zip lock gallon bag. This method is more environmentally friendly, win!!
Store these yummies in an MORE DELICIOUS APPETIZERS
The appetizers listed below are easy and fast to put together and super yummy, budget-friendly, and perfect for smaller gatherings!! Spicy “Krab” wontons with Sweet Mustard Sauce…easy baked goodness! Easy Do Everything Pinwheels with Lox…low carb and yummy! Homemade Tomato Brushetta…easy, yummy, low carb, and healthy! Mexirolls…Weight Watcher friendly and perfect for the Airfryer!HELPFUL KITCHEN GADGETS
Feisty Cheese Crackers Snacks
Ingredients
- 1 box cheese snack crackers Cheez-its
- 2 tbsp spicy ranch salad dressing seasoning 1 package for spicy, 2 for extra bold spice
- 1 tbsp red chili pepper flakes more or less to taste
- 1 tbsp garlic powder
- 1/2 cup canola oil, vegetable, or olive oil
Instructions
- STEP ONE – mix seasonings and oil together, make sure all the seasonings are mixed and not clumpy
- STEP TWO – put cheese crackers in a gallon ziplock bag and pour oil-seasoning mix over crackers, gently mix until crackers are evenly covered
- STEP THREE – every hour or so gently flip the bag or container
- STEP FIVE – "marinate" the spicy crackers 6 hours or overnight
- STEP SIX – place on a sheet pan with brown paper bag sheet, let "airdry and drain for about 30 minutes
- STEP SEVEN – replace brown paper liner with the other half of the bag and place crackers on top. Cook for 30 minutes at 275° gently stirring crackers after 10 minutes and then again at 20 minutes.
- STEP EIGHT – cool for about 10 minutes, serve them up and ENJOY!
