Are you having some people over? You’re going to want to have a bowl of Ranch Oyster Crackers on the table! These savory bites are totally addicting, and super easy to make in under 20 minutes.
Snacking is the best, isn’t it? For me, the perfect snack must be crunchy, salty, and have just a bit of extra flavor to make it special. These ranch seasoned oyster crackers fit the bill perfectly, as do my Honey Mustard Pretzels, Crispy Air Fryer Chickpeas and Pasta Chips.
This recipe is an oldie but a goodie, moms everywhere have been making this snack of seasoned oyster crackers for years now to feed hungry teens or keep people occupied at holiday gatherings. Mom knew (and now you do too) that Ranch oyster crackers are a delicious and economical way to make a snack for a crowd.
Make these for yourself and keep them in the cupboard for easy snacking, or serve them to guests as a snack they can eat by the handful.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Super Flavorful. A packet of ranch seasoning plus extra herbs and spices make these crackers tangy and delicious.
- A Quick Bake. Unlike some baked snacks (like chex mix that takes an hour), these only take 20 minutes in the oven.
- Inexpensive. Plain oyster crackers are generally pretty cheap. This means that you can dress them up as a fancy snack without spending much money.
What Are Oyster Crackers?
In case you aren’t familiar, oyster crackers are basically saltines, but in a smaller, round shape. Traditionally, these bland crackers were served with oysters and seafood dishes like clam chowder, and that’s how they got their name. There are no actual oysters in oyster crackers, in fact, they have very little flavor at all.
Oyster crackers are a blank slate; a dry and not very salty cracker that is just begging for some extra love. Making them into ranch oyster crackers is really doing these guys a favor.
Ingredients Needed
Just 6 ingredients are needed to make these crackers, and you might already have them at home.
- Ranch Seasoning: You’ll need one packet of ranch seasoning like the one from Hidden Valley Ranch, or two tablespoons. I like using my homemade ranch seasoning. It’s packed with flavor and nothing else.
- Dried Dill Weed: Ranch seasoning already has some dill in it, but we want extra to make these crackers really sing.
- Lemon Pepper: This zesty, spicy seasoning gives a bright kick. I keep lemon pepper on my table, I like to sprinkle it on all sorts of things.
- Garlic Powder: Again, the ranch includes garlic powder, but we want extra. These ranch crackers are packed with flavor.
- Canola Oil: we’ll be baking the oyster crackers in the oven to add flavor and richness. The oil gives the crackers a nice fried flavor and texture, plus it helps all of the seasonings stick to them.
- Oyster Crackers: You need a 16oz package of oyster crackers. That’s typically the size of most packages I’ve purchased. You might need to look carefully for these, as they aren’t super popular. My grocery store keeps them on a really low shelf under the saltines. If you’re an Aldi shopper, the store has oyster crackers as a summer/fall seasonal item, so stock up!
Tip!
Want to add a little bit of heat to your ranch oyster crackers? Try a pinch of crushed red pepper in the mixture.
How To Make Ranch Oyster Crackers
- Prepare: Preheat the oven to 250°F/120°C, and line a large rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil.
- Combine: In a large mixing bowl, combine the seasonings with oil. Use a whisk to break up any clumps of seasoning. Add the oyster crackers and toss to coat.
- Bake: Spread the crackers evenly on your prepared baking sheet, and bake for 15 to 20 minutes, stirring every five minutes.
- Serve: The crackers are done when they are lightly browned and have soaked up most of the oil. Allow them to cool before serving.
Tip!
Make Extra! This recipe doubles very easily (just use two sheet pans), so make more if you can. You’d be surprised how quickly these crackers are gobbled up.
Ways to Serve Ranch Oyster Crackers
Aside from just shoving them in your mouth, you can do some other interesting things with a batch of these ranch seasoned crackers.
Soup Topper: Use the oyster crackers for what they were originally made to do! Try these on top of a bowl of Tomato Soup, Cauliflower Soup, or of course, Creamy Clam Chowder.
Party Snack: This recipe makes an excellent party snack, and has for decades! Put a bowl of ranch crackers on the table next to Mediterranean Baked Feta Dip and Crockpot Little Smokies to create the perfect party appetizer spread or game day feast.
In a Salad: Use these as an alternative to Croutons in your favorite salad. Try my Classic Caesar Salad, or this delicious Olive Garden Salad.
Frequently Asked Questions
I really hope you can find oyster crackers to make this recipe with, but if you can’t, saltine crackers will work too. Gently break them up into smaller pieces before mixing them. I’ve also seen mini saltine crackers, and those will work too.
This recipe would be tasty with other types of crackers too! Try making ranch Cheez-Its or ranch Goldfish crackers.
Once cool, you can transfer your crackers to an airtight container or zip top bag. They will stay fresh for up to 5 days this way. This is excellent if you’re making this snack for a holiday party, because you can make it ahead of time.
I prefer the texture of these crackers when I use a mild flavored oil, but I’ve tried it with butter too and it’s very good. Keep in mind that if you use butter, the crackers might clump together when you stir them. You can use either all oil, all butter, or try a mixture of both.
You can! There are a couple of options for making these without an oven, perfect if you’re camping or have a smaller kitchen setup.
Don’t bake it. The crackers will be just as delicious if you don’t bake them. They will soak up the oil over time, but be slightly less crispy.
Use a Slow Cooker. Put the seasoned crackers in the slow cooker on low for 1 hour. They will warm though slowly.
I hope you enjoy this nostalgic recipe, or use it to create your own memories with your family. Make sure to pin this recipe to save it for later!
Did you make this? Be sure to leave a review below and tag me on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest!
Ranch Oyster Crackers
Ingredients
- 1 packet ranch seasoning 2 tablespoons
- 2 teaspoons dried dill
- 2 teaspoons lemon pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ cup canola oil
- 16 ounce box small oyster crackers
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 250°F/120°C.
- In a large bowl, combine the seasonings with oil. Add the oyster crackers, and toss to coat.
- Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil, and spread the crackers evenly in a single layer.
- Bake for 15-20 minutes or until golden, stirring every 5 minutes.
- Remove from the oven, allow to cool. Serve in a bowl.
Notes:
- Use homemade or store-bought packet of ranch seasoning.
- Oyster crackers can be substituted with any other type of crackers such as saltines, cheez-its, or Goldfish crackers.
Nutrition Information
This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition data is gathered primarily from the USDA Food Composition Database, whenever available, or otherwise other online calculators.
© Little Sunny Kitchen
KATHLEEN says
have eaten at a few parties, so I wanted make for Christmas party
Diana says
Hope they were a hit at the Christmas party!
Tina Lawrence says
I haven’t made ranch crackers yet!
But I love the chicken meals such as:
Marry me chicken 😋
I have also tried jerk chicken with pasta OMG!!
Delicious 😋
Thankyou for making my life much easier.
Little Sunny Kitchen says
You’re so very welcome, Tina! Thank you so much for the great feedback, and I hope you’ll try the crackers soon.
Rachel Z says
all I can say is YES! I love this recipe. I can’t stop eating it.
Little Sunny Kitchen says
I have the same “problem”… The crackers are SO irresistible!