Cajun Firecracker Ranch Crackers are crispy baked saltines packed with flavor. They're easy to make and great as a snack, appetizer, or served with soup and salad. Oh, yeah, and with a link of hot boudin, too. Smack!
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The Simple Saltine
Have you ever stopped to ponder the wonder of a saltine cracker? Have you ever known life without it? It's been a friend to all. It can save us from starvation and get us through upset stomachs. Can we count the ways?
As a child, my parents would break them up into a bowl and pour coffee milk (that's coffee, milk, and sugar) over them. The salty-sweet thing with coffee always got me going. It's a Cajun rendition of breakfast cereal. Very economical considering today's prices.
What I love about these Cajun Firecracker Ranch Crackers is that we get to take something simple and dress it up into an attractive, appetizing, and diverse food. You can eat these seasoned crackers with Chicken Gumbo, Chicken And Rice Soup, Chili, and Salad, but there's more!
Crumble them on top of a casserole or crush them into seasoned breadcrumbs. My favorite way to eat them is as a grab-and-go snack. You can't eat just one, so always grab a few!
They also make an appealing addition to a charcuterie board, along with tasty meats and cheeses.
The Ingredients In Cajun Firecracker Ranch Crackers
Add these ingredients to a large zip-top plastic bag.
- Ranch seasoning & salad dressing mix - a convenient, tasty seasoning to keep in the kitchen
- red pepper flakes - hot stuff!
- garlic granules - granules or powder
- onion powder - the perfect onion flavor
- paprika - for color and seasoning
- white pepper - a mild pepper taste
- dried parsley flakes - rub them together with your fingers to release the flavor
Ingredient amounts are listed in the recipe card below.
How To Make Crackers With Ranch Dressing?
Pour a half cup of canola oil into this bag of flavor. Mix the ingredients together by massaging the zipped-up bag for a few minutes.
A batch of saltines is added to the bag, tightly closed, then shaken together until they are covered with the seasonings.
This has to be a gentle process so you don't break up the crackers. I like to turn the bag like a wheel and give it a little shake along the way. It's easy, and I've had good success with little breakage.
Marinating The Crackers Adds More Flavor
Another helpful element for a spicy firecracker cracker is to let them marinate in the seasoning and oil for 2 to 8 hours. Or, if you're like Mississippi man, bake them right away. He prefers the milder taste without the red pepper flakes. And that's ok because they still taste great!
Crisping Them In The Oven
The last step is placing them on a parchment paper lined baking sheet and baking for 15 minutes in a low preheated oven of 250° F. This brings the saltine crackers to a crispy finish.
These Cajun Firecracker Ranch Crackers will surprise eaters with how satisfying a regular saltine cracker can be. You will simply WOW them!
More Appetizer Recipes From Louisiana Woman!
The Recipe
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Cajun Ranch Fire Crackers
A crispy baked saltine cracker seasoned with ranch seasoning & salad dressing mix, and red pepper flakes. Great for an easy and economical appetizer, snack, or side for salad, soup, or chili.
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 12 servings 1x
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons ranch seasoning & salad dressing mix
- 2 or more teaspoons of red pepper flakes, optional
- 1.5 teaspoons garlic granules or garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- .5 teaspoon white pepper
- 1 tablespoon dried parsley flakes
- .5 teaspoon paprika
- 1 cup canola oil
- 8 ounces saltine crackers, or 2 sleaves, or 76 crackers
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 250° F.
- Line 2 cookie sheets with parchment paper.
- Place the seasonings into a large gallon-sized zip-top plastic bag.
- Pour the oil into the bag over the seasonings; seal it tightly and gently massage it to mix the ingredients.
- Add the crackers to the bag and seal the zip-top.
- Gently massage and shake the gallon bag, turning it like a wheel until the crackers are evenly coated with the seasoned oil; this will take a few minutes.
- Set the bag of crackers aside to marinate for a few hours, or bake them immediately.
- Open the bag, remove the crackers a few at a time, and place them in a single layer on the parchment paper.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes.
- Remove the pans from the oven and let the crackers cool completely.
- Store in an airtight container or bag for up to five days.
Notes
- Crackers can marinate for up to 8 hours before baking.
- Red pepper flakes may be omitted, still resulting in a flavorful cracker.
- Serve as a snack or appetizer, with a charcuterie board, or as a side with soups and salads.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
Keywords: Cajun Firecracker Ranch Crackers
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