Baked oyster crackers loaded with ranch and dill flavor! This recipe came from my childhood friend’s mom and it’s such a hit every time!
Deb’s Ranch Crackers
They Hit Every Time.
Sometimes (*every day in December) I find myself wanting to end the day by watching a Christmas movie with a non-alcoholic beer or a rosemary pom spritzer, and – critically – a little bowl of munchies. It is literally a nightly hunt around the house. Cookies aren’t it, nuts are too healthy, chips aren’t homey enough.
And Ranch Crackers are always, always, always right for this moment.
I asked my mom to get the recipe from her friend, who is the mom of my childhood best friend, and also mom to the beloved Tenor Chef?! Lots of small world connections here, which is very on brand for Ranch Crackers as they seem to have been the dominating snack of the 90s in small towns throughout the Midwest. ♡
When I posted these on Instagram, so many of you responded with your memories: “oh, my grandma used to make those!” or, “I love those and haven’t thought of those in years!” or “I use to dig out the extra ranch-coated ones from the bottom of the ziplock bag!” (Same.)
So for a salty snack moment, a bit of Midwestern 90s nostalgia, and a salty-tangy, dill-drowned snack that hits every time, I present to you today: Deb’s Ranch Crackers.
Bring to a party, throw on top of soup (amazing), or eat a little bowl of them every night on the couch while watching TV like me. Enjoy!
Let’s Make These Lil Yummies.
1
Mix it all up!
Everything in one bowl!
2
Bake ‘Em Up!
Yes, they are that easy. (I added a bit of everything seasoning to the left side of the pan! and please appreciate the amount of dill on the right side!) I wish you good luck not eating them all!
Deb’s Ranch Crackers
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 8–10 servings 1x
Description
Baked oyster crackers loaded with ranch and dill flavor! This recipe came from my childhood friend’s mom and it’s such a hit every time!
Ingredients
Units
Scale
Deb’s Ranch Crackers
- 1 bag of oyster crackers (9–10 ounces)
- 1 packet of ranch seasoning (I use the 1-ounce packet of Hidden Valley ranch)
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil, or 1/2 cup butter, melted and cooled (see notes)
- 1 teaspoon dried dill (2 teaspoons if you love dill like I do)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 250 degrees.
- Whisk the ranch seasoning, oil, and dried dill together.
- Pour mixture over the oyster crackers in a large bowl. Stir gently to combine. (Taste and adjust at this point and make them your own! Add some red pepper flakes, extra garlic or onion powder, etc.)
- Transfer to a sheet pan; bake for 15-20 minutes until dried. You’re done! They’re SO GOOD.
Notes
You can use either butter or oil – I prefer oil because I’ve found they stay crispier.
Dried dill works better than freeze dried dill, in my experience! It’s a bit more finely ground and has a more potent flavor.
The same method would work with pretzels, cheez its, mini saltines, or popcorn!
As written these will be fairly concentrated! If you like a less-concentrated ranch cracker, use two bags of crackers instead of one. (But for me – I love a cracker with tons of ranch flavor on it!)
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
FAQ For These Ranch Crackers
How do you serve these?
Set them out in a bowl for snacking! Or a “crouton” for soup – so fun and delicious! I especially love them on tomato soup – either this amazing tomato soup (or, if you’re tight on time, this extra easy tomato soup).
Where do you get the crackers?
I like the tiny oyster crackers (aka soup crackers) and I especially like the ones from Target (Good and Gather brand). They have a fun hexagon shape. The ones I used in this post were the Nabisco Premium brand.
Can you use butter?
Yes, you can use butter or oil for this recipe. I find that oil keeps the crackers crispier whereas the butter gives you a slightly softer cracker, so I prefer to use oil.
Can you use another seasoning besides ranch?
Yes! You can add a seasoning to the ranch, or you can replace it with something else altogether! Everything Bagel seasoning is fun, and Trader Joe’s has a bunch of fun spice mixes that would be fun to play with!
How do you store these?
I keep them in an airtight container, sometimes in the fridge (not sure why – they don’t need that, but it’s just how we do it)!
Can you do this with other things besides oyster crackers?
Yes! Pretzels, popcorn, cheez-its, you name it!
Can you use something else besides a packet of ranch?
Yep, here’s a link to a homemade ranch seasoning mix!
Throw The Crackers On Top Of These Soups
December 13, 2024
Nice to meet you!
I’m Lindsay and I ♡ FOOD. I used to be a teacher, and now making food and writing about it online is my full-time job. I love talking with people about food, and I'm so glad you're here.
Did you make a recipe? Tag @pinchofyum on Instagram so we can find you!
Can you use olive oil vs vegetable?
Yes, olive oil will work!
These were SO good and nostalgic! Just as good as I remembered from childhood. And if you’re wondering if it works with avocado oil and 2 TBSP of Trader Joe’s ranch seasoning instead of hidden valley—yup.
Influenced! I was shopping for groceries earlier today, saw some oyster crackers, and remembered your yummy-looking videos on IG. Grabbed the ingredients, came home, whipped up a batch, and they’re a hit! Super easy, golden-crisp, super full of flavor.
Not a dill fan…. any sub ideas?
You could try parsley!
I am Forhad, You food blog page so nice, Thank you
Oh my gosh… a happy ending to disappointment
I got home from buying my ingredients only to discover that the sneaky little packet of Ranch seasoning somehow did not make its way into my shopping bag. (Disappointment ☹️) Unfortunately, I had already put the oil and crackers into a bowl and my soup was almost done, so I HAD to do something! I used 1 ounce of Trader Joe’s Aglio Olio and it’s SO good! I can’t wait to try it with a Ranch packet!
Thanks Its A Very Yummy And Tasty Deb’s Ranch Crackers So Please Keep Share This Type Of Recipe!
I just made this homemade cinnamon butter, and it was a game-changer! 😍 It’s incredibly creamy and perfectly sweet with just the right amount of cinnamon. I spread it on fresh biscuits, and it was absolutely divine! 😋 If you’re looking for a quick and easy way to elevate your breakfast or snacks, this is a must-try. Highly recommend it! For more delicious recipes, check out Pricemenu.ph.
Thank you for the idea!
I’ve never made crackers this way, but the cooking method reminds me of rye bread croutons, which I absolutely love.
So now I simply have to try making crackers using your recipe!