Get your party started with the highly addictive holiday snack staple, Ranch Oyster Crackers!
These little bites of ranch-flavored bliss come fully loaded with savory flavor and crunchy goodness. Bonus alert -- they take a mere 5 minutes to prep!
These crackers are downright addictive and great for so many things! Serve them up on game days, bring them along for a road trip, and of course, they are the perfect nibble for holiday movie watching and parties!
Make a double batch and package them up for budget-friendly, yet heartfelt gift-giving, or serve them as an absolutely amazing addition on top of a steamy bowl of chicken noodle soup!
There's no reason not to make these Ranch Oyster Crackers all year long!
Looking for more awesome party recipes to try? Bookmark this Texas Trash Mix in your internet browser for next time!
HOW TO MAKE RANCH OYSTER CRACKERS
Ranch Oyster Crackers are extremely easy to make and only require about five minutes of prep time!
Before you begin working on your crackers, preheat your oven to 250°F and have ready a large rimmed baking sheet, preferably lined with foil! Then, add oil, and seasoning to a large mixing bowl.
The seasoning mix for ranch seasoned oyster crackers should come as no surprise – you will need dry ranch dressing mix. You can use Hidden Valley Ranch Mix straight out of a packet or you can use a homemade ranch dressing mix.
Other spices you want to have on hand for this Ranch Oyster Cracker Recipe are dried dill weed, garlic powder, and salt. This extra little bit of herbs and spices add a major punch of flavor to these oyster crackers.
Add the oil, herbs, and seasonings to a large mixing bowl and whisk to combine. Then, add in one package of oyster crackers (which totals about 5 cups of crackers).
Gently stir until the crackers are evenly coated with the oil and seasoning. Note, you are much less likely to crush the crackers if you mix them with your hands rather than a utensil!
Once the crackers have been seasoned, transfer them to the prepared baking sheet and spread them into a single layer. If the crackers are baking on top of one another, they won't evenly brown!
Bake the crackers for 15 to 18 minutes, turning them about halfway through the baking time. Once the baking time is up, set the pan aside and allow the crackers to cool completely.
As the crackers cool, the flavor will intensify!
HOW TO MAKE NO-BAKE RANCH OYSTER CRACKERS
You don't have to bake your oyster crackers. However, they definitely taste better if you do.
Baking the crackers helps for the oil and spices to absorb, the crackers will be less greasy, and that oven time adds a nice toasty vibe to this comforting snack.
However, if you really don't want to mess with any oven time, I would suggest subbing in melted, unsalted butter in the place of the oil in this recipe!
HOW TO STORE RANCH OYSTER CRACKERS
You can store your Ranch Oyster Crackers in an airtight container or in a gallon size Ziploc bag for up to five days. If you would like to keep your crackers longer than this, freeze them!
To freeze seasoned crackers, either place them in a freezer-safe airtight container or a freezer-safe, gallon-sized zip-top bag, remove as much air as possible, and freeze for up to two months!
ABOUT THE INGREDIENTS
Oyster Crackers | Oyster crackers got their name because of their size and shape and were originally made and sold as a soup garnish.
While these crackers are still served over soup, their dainty size in combination with their crunchy, salty nature makes them irresistible for snacking and the perfect centerpiece for this holiday snack recipe!
Ranch Dressing Mix | You can use a store-bought or homemade ranch dressing mix for this recipe. If using store-bought, you'll need one 1-ounce package. Use buttermilk ranch dressing mix for the tastiest results!
If using homemade, you will need a total of 2 tablespoons.
Oil | You can use any flavorless oil for this recipe -- avocado or canola oil works great. If you're making no-bake Ranch Oyster Crackers, melted, unsalted butter is the way to go!
Extra Seasoning | Ranch dressing mix is great on its own, but for the very best seasoned crackers, you're going to need a little more help from the spice cabinet. Dried dill weed, garlic powder, and salt get the job done perfectly! You can also add a pinch of cayenne pepper if you'd like, but take care to wash your hands thoroughly before touching your eyes after using!
WANT TO MAKE THEM SPICY?
If you want to add a little spice to your Ranch Oyster Crackers, look no further than that firey little spice bottle housing that bright red pepper -- cayenne.
Depending on just how spicy you like it, you can add a ⅛ or even up to a ½ teaspoon of dried cayenne pepper to your oil-seasoning mix! Note, you should only add a ½ teaspoon of cayenne if you're looking to make some extra spicy ranch crackers!
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A quick and easy recipe for the best Ranch Oyster Crackers! Only 5 minutes of prep and absolutely perfect for game day and holiday parties!
- ¼ cup avocado or canola oil
- 1 (1-ounce) packet ranch dressing mix (preferably buttermilk ranch mix) or 2 tablespoons homemade ranch dressing mix
- 1 ¼ teaspoon dried dill
- 1 ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 generous pinch of salt
- Scant pinch of cayenne pepper (optional)
- 1 (9-ounce) package oyster crackers, about 5 cups
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Preheat the oven to 250°F and have ready a large rimmed sheet pan lined with foil.
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Add the canola oil, ranch dressing mix, dried dill, garlic powder, and salt to a large mixing bowl and whisk to combine.
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Add the crackers and gently toss until all of the crackers are well-coated in the seasoning and oil.
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Transfer the crackers to the sheet pan and arrange in a single layer. Bake for 15-18 minutes, stirring them about halfway through the cook time.
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Allow to cool and serve, or store in an airtight container for up to 5 days. If you'd like to keep longer than this, freeze for up to 2 months.
