This post may contain affiliate links. Read disclosure policy
My firecracker recipe makes the perfect snack! Spicy little crackers that you’ll want to munch on all day! Just be careful – they’re addicting and everyone will be asking for the recipe!
Ever tried firecrackers before? No, not the things you blow up on the Fourth of July, but the snack recipe that keeps everyone coming back for more?
You just need four ingredients to make these addicting little snacks and I’m telling you – everyone will be asking for the recipe!
We like to serve these up at all year long, but especially on Independence Day, because firecrackers and the Fourth go together like peas and carrots.
These are crispy, crunchy, salty, and spicy – everything I love in a snack! You can easily adjust the spice level to suit your tastes, too.
Firecracker Recipe Ingredients:
Saltine Crackers – We use full size Saltines here, but oyster crackers or mini crackers also work.
Ranch Seasoning – They sell packets of both ranch seasoning and ranch dip mix. The seasoning has less sodium and will make these less salty than the dip. Either work, but we prefer the seasoning.
Red Pepper Flakes – Feel free to add more or less to suit your tastes. As written, these have a little kick, but they’re not as hot as some of those Flamin’ Hot snacks out there.
Canola Oil – Or any vegetable oil you prefer. We don’t recommend flavored oils here.
What Readers are Saying!
“Thanks to you I have a new favorite snack! Made them, ate them, making them again – at this very moment. They are so good! Thank you lots!”
-Roxanne
How To:
Coat: This really is a super simple recipe. To start all you’ll need to do is dump the crackers and all of the other ingredients into a large zip lock bag. Seal it up and shake it well to get all of the seasoning coated on the crackers.
All that flavor will soon get baked into the crackers!
Bake: While your oven pre-heats prepare the crackers for baking by placing on a cooling rack over a jelly roll pan. This will allow air to flow all around the crackers.
These won’t take long to bake! Give the crackers a stir at about the halfway point to help everything cook evenly.
Cool & Store: When they’ve finished baking, allow them to cool before serving. These can be stored easily in an airtight container, and like most crackers they should last awhile. We keep ours in a ziptop bag in the pantry.
Substitutions:
Not into packaged ranch seasoning? Use a mixture of garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, dried dill, and dried parsley. Salt to taste.
Want to add a pop of cheese? Start with Cheez-It crackers instead of Saltines.
More Favorite Snacks:
Firecrackers
Ingredients
- 2 sleeves Saltine Crackers about 80 crackers total
- 1 packet Ranch seasoning mix dry
- 2 tablespoons red pepper flakes more or less, to taste
- 1 cup canola oil
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 250 degrees and place a cooling rack on top of a jelly roll pan.
- Add all of the ingredients to a gallon sized bag and seal. Shake and squish the bag to coat the crackers as evenly as possible.
- Pour the crackers onto the cooling rack/jelly roll pan combination and place in the oven for 10 minutes.
- Stir the crackers and continue baking for another 15 minutes.
- Remove from the oven and allow to cool before serving.
- Store in an air-tight container.
Tips & Notes:
Nutrition Information:
This recipe was originally published in April 2012. It was updated with new photos and video in May 2021.
Kerri says
Love these. I have this same recipe but you don’t have to cook them. Yes, you heard me right….no need to cook. Just do the same thing in the bag and then leave them in the bag for at least 2 hours. When you first add the mixture just keep flipping over and over for 5 mins. Then just leave them in the bag. So easy!
Kerri says
Sorry, my no bake recipe is the same except, mine calls for 4 sleeves of saltines. That’s the entire box.
Joyce Beasley says
These are really easy and great!
Jen says
I finally got around to making these today! A few comments.
1. One cup of oil is WAY too much! I ended up being able to do about twice the amount of crackers. (This isn’t a bad thing–just be prepared.) 2. I ended up having to use two sleeves of Ritz instead of the Saltines…and then a box of dollar-store veggie crackers once I realized how much oil there was. The veggie crackers were MUCH better. 3. I accidentally wimped out and used 1 teaspoon of red pepper flakes (I read quickly and thought it said 1-2 teaspoons) and that was nice. I might add another teaspoon but I cannot fathom 2 tablespoons–those would be firecrackers for sure! 4. My kids loved these so I’ll be making them again!
aaron says
Warning. The ranch packet(hidden valley) is not dairy free
gail says
love love love these ! thanks for the recipe !
dstyling says
One half of a cyrstal shoes provides improvement over zero thoughts
Roxanne says
Thanks to you I have a new favorite snack! Made them, ate them, making them again – at this very moment. They are so good! Thank you lots!
D.a nell says
Ohhh boy hubby going to love these crackers they sound great cant wait to try them out
Rosita says
I had these once at a dive in WV and always wondered how to make them – they were so good! One question – what do you mean by cooling rack? I thought maybe you meant a rack like I put cookies on but I wasn’t sure how you would stir it on that. I can’t wait to try this!
Karly says
@Rosita,
Yep, I meant a rack that you’d cool cookies on! Put the cookie rack on top of the jelly roll pan, so crumbs don’t fall through. As for stirring, just push the crackers around a bit. No need to be real thorough. 🙂
Laura says
I have a friend that makes these for me all the time. Well actually for everyone, but I tend to hog them. I have no problem threatening her 8 year old grandson if he attempts to bogart them. They are fabulous!!
BoothJr says
Hahahahaha
Joanne says
My parents always sit around eating boring old water crackers at holidays. NO MORE. I’m taking matters into my own hands with these babies.
DessertForTwo says
I love this!
It reminds me of Ranch oyster crackers that my Mom makes at Christmas.
aimeeberrett says
I love saltines, so improving them with these flavors seems amazing. Yum!
shelly (cookies and cups) says
I would love these. I am pretty firm in my belief that Ranch seasoning packets make everything better.
Amber (Sprinkled With Flour) says
I’ve never heard of these crackers but they sound delicious! Definitely need to put these on my list to try. 🙂