Ranch Oyster Crackers, Easy Snack Recipe
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Zesty Ranch Oyster Crackers is an addicting snack recipe that has proven to be a crowd favorite for decades. Store-bought crackers coated in ranch seasoning and dill, then baked until toasted! Munch-worthy for any occasion!
Looking for more party-perfect snacking recipes? Try our Crockpot Chex Mix, Homemade Cheese Crackers, Rooster’s Beak (salsa fresca), and my favorite, Better Than Tableside Guac.
Table of Contents
Why We Love This Easy Ranch Oyster Cracker Recipe
Seasoned oyster crackers are quick, simple, and totally amazing! An easy snack recipe to throw together for impromptu get-togethers, game or movie nights, picnics, and snacks to munch on in the afternoon. (Or, how about a much-needed “happy hour?!”)
- Convenient – ingredients easily kept on hand.
- Quick – only five minutes to prep and 20 in the oven
- Shareable – Party-perfect snack
- Transportable – a delicious take-along for hikes, boating, road trips, and after-school practice.
Ranch Seasoned Oyster Cracker Ingredients
Ranch oyster crackers are the life-saver you never knew you needed! This easy snack recipe is fantastic when you need a quick snack for those “running out of munchies moments.” Keep a few bags of oyster crackers and ranch seasoning packets in the pantry, and you’ll always be the “hostess with the mostest!”
For specific amounts, please refer to the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post.
- Oyster Crackers – a 16oz box or two 9oz bags.
- Vegetable Oil
- Ranch Seasoning Packet – approximately 2 tablespoons of powder.
- Dill Weed – dried
- Garlic Powder
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How To Make Homemade Ranch Seasoned Oyster Crackers
Serve this easy snack recipe at your next nosh and nibble party. Watch how fast these zesty crunchy ranch oyster crackers disappear!
When you are making this recipe, you’ll want to use the full recipe at the bottom of the page.
- Mix the seasoning ingredients, pour over oyster crackers in a bowl or ziptop bag, and toss until evenly coated.
- Spread the seasoned oyster crackers on a lined sheet pan and bake, stirring halfway through, then remove and cool completely.
How To Store Ranch Seasoned Oyster Crackers
Store seasoned oyster crackers in an airtight container at room temperature for 1-2 weeks.
Recipe Notes & Variations
- We like to use Nabisco oyster crackers, which are larger than other brands, to make this ranch party snack mix. Use the oyster cracker brand you like the taste of best.
- This snack mix disappears fast and I always wish I had made more. Consider doubling the recipe.
- Feel free to sub out vegetable oil with olive, grapeseed, avocado, or any neutral-flavored oil you have on hand. I’ve seen many oyster cracker recipes that use melted butter, we’ve always used oil, but I’m sure butter would be wonderful too.
- If you’d like to add a little tang and bang to your ranch oyster cracker recipe, try a pinch of red pepper flakes and some Parmesan cheese.
- To bake or not bake. Growing up we never baked our seasoned oyster crackers. I now bake them to speed along the drying time. Either way will work (I’ve shared no-bake directions below).
- Swap out the ranch seasoning and dill, for taco seasoning or even chili seasoning.
- Cinnamon and Sugar Oyster Crackers. Drizzle with melted butter and toss with cinnamon and sugar
For No-Bake Ranch Oyster Crackers
Growing up, my mom always made seasoned oyster crackers, and it was a “no-bake” version of this ranch oyster cracker recipe. Everything is almost the same, except after you spread the prepared ranch oyster crackers out on the sheet pan, you allow them to “dry” on the counter for a few hours. Shake or stir the seasoned ranch crackers every hour so they dry evenly.
- Warm the oil, and pour over the crackers in a large bowl (or zip-top bag).
- Toss with seasonings.
- Spread in a single layer on a large sheet pan and allow to dry at room temperature for 3-4 hours, stirring occasionally.
Note: If the humidity happens to be particularly high in your kitchen, make sure the no-bake ranch oyster crackers are well-coated with the oil/ranch seasoning mix before setting them out to dry. You can place the crackers in the oven to dry even though you aren’t baking them.
FAQs
In the simplest terms, oyster crackers are small round crackers that taste similar to a saltine cracker. (No oyster flavor or parts to be found.) Just a basic cracker recipe of wheat flour, oil, sugar, water, yeast, baking soda, and salt that range from the size of a dime to larger than a quarter.
Oyster crackers used to have more of a buttery malted flavor, depending on the brand. I’ve seen them smooth, crimped, rough cut, round, oblong, four-sided, and six-sided. Besides all that, oyster crackers are airy, crunchy, lightly salted crackers that are great in soup, salad, or for snacking.
Two predominant theories are going around about why oyster crackers are so-called, and one of them seems silly IMO. One is that they were routinely served with oyster stew in the New England area where they originated, and the second is that they look like oysters.
Um, I can’t vouch for what they looked like back in the mid-1800s, but they don’t look like an oyster to me. However, they are produced in an area well known for its seafood chowders and bisques; I’d venture an opinion that there is some basis in the first theory.
Yes! I prefer the heat and cool method to crisp items with higher fat content, like granola, chips, and ranch oyster crackers. All you need to do is dehydrate the moisture content from the stale items.
Heat the oven to 325 degrees F, turn it off, and then set the sheet pan of evenly spread seasoned oyster crackers in it as it cools. The oyster crackers will get hot fairly fast, so check after 4-5 minutes and stir. Most flour-based products need to cool completely before they are crisp to the bite.
Serving Suggestions For Ranch Oyster Crackers
Besides being an easy snack recipe munchie, there are plenty of other ways ranch oyster crackers can shake up routine food flavors! This crunchy and addictive little cracker happily garnishes a plethora of soups, stews, chowders, and chilis with the extra little kick of pizzazz! A few extra ideas can’t hurt, right?! Check it out:
- Traditional: Easy Seafood Chowder
- Trendy: Charcuterie Board
- Topping: Cheesy Hashbrown Casserole
- Toss-In: Cannellini Tuna Salad
- Tangle-Up: Spicy Goldfish Snack Mix (blend)
- Trade-Out: Roasted Tomato Soup (croutons)
- “Tranquilize:” Sparkling Cucumber Gimlet
Like This Recipe?
I’d love to hear what you think! Leave a review below and let me know how you liked the recipe!
Ranch Oyster Crackers Snack Recipe
Zesty Ranch Oyster Crackers are a simple classic snack that is perfect for parties! Also, great for tossing in soup, chili, or on a salad.
Ingredients
- 16-18 ounces oyster crackers
- ½ cup vegetable oil
- 1 packet Ranch Seasoning
- 1 teaspoon dill weed
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 250° F. Line a half-sheet pan with parchment paper and set aside. *see notes for no-bake option
- Pour the crackers into a large bowl (or a large zip-top bag). Add the oil and seasonings and toss to coat.
- Spread the seasoned crackers in a single layer on the prepared pan.
- Bake for 20 minutes, tossing halfway through cooking.
- Remove from the oven and allow to cool before serving.
Notes
No-bake option:
Warm the oil, pour over the crackers in a large bowl (or zip-top bag). Toss with seasonings. Spread in a single layer on a large sheet pan and allow to dry at room temperature for 3-4 hours, stirring occasionally.
Storage:
Store seasoned oyster crackers in an airtight container at room temperature for 1-2 weeks.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 18 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 164Total Fat: 8gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 361mgCarbohydrates: 20gFiber: 1gSugar: 1gProtein: 3g
Nutrition information is estimated based on the ingredients and cooking instructions as described in each recipe and is intended to be used for informational purposes only. Please note that nutrition details may vary based on methods of preparation, origin, and freshness of ingredients used and are just estimates. We encourage, especially if these numbers are important to you, to calculate these on your own for most accurate results.
Hi there, I'm Cheryl!
As a wife, mom, and caffeine enthusiast, my journey has taken me from bustling mornings with my family to sharing delicious recipes, home care tips, and heartfelt decorating insights with wonderful readers like you. My love for baking, photography, and tidiness shines through every post I craft. Dive into my world and discover the art of homemaking, one tidy moment at a time. Read more...
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These are so good! I forgot how much I love them and couldn’t wait to munch on them 🙂
Like with most online recipes double the amount of spice. 2 ranch packets, more garlic powder and dill the heck out of them.