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At my house, the Best Snack Award goes to Ranch Oyster Crackers. This easy, no-bake recipe is little more than crispy crackers tossed in butter, herbs, and spices, but even a big bowl disappears in minutes.
When it comes to insanely addictive party food, this recipe tops them all. A fantastic, flavorful alternative to Chex Mix— and even easier to make! No oven, no baking, nada. Just a big mixing bowl, a bag or two of friendly little oyster crackers, Ranch Dressing Mix, and lots of butter.
They’re easy to make in big batches, and they keep well in an airtight tin for future snacking, too. People just go crazy for them – you’ll see!
Recipe ingredients:
Ingredient notes:
- Butter: Melted butter acts as the glue for the seasoning. This recipe doesn’t skimp – it’s the secret to their deliciousness.
- Seasonings: Start with a packet of store-bought Ranch seasoning, like Hidden Valley, or make my own homemade Ranch Dressing Mix (which is really good!) Then add a little extra garlic powder, dill, and lemon pepper, because this snack is flavorful.
- Oyster crackers: I love tiny oyster crackers because even the smallest of hands can scoop them up and enjoy them!
Step-by-step instructions:
- First, add the oyster crackers to a big mixing bowl. Then melt the butter on the stove or in the microwave. Once the butter is melted, mix in the Ranch seasoning, dill, garlic powder, and lemon pepper and stir until combined.
- Drizzle the still-warm butter and spices over the crackers. Toss them thoroughly but gently until they’re covered in the butter mixture.
- Let them dry (or if you’re me, you just eat them immediately). When cool, store them in an airtight container and serve them to everyone, everywhere!
Recipe tips and variations:
- Make extra: This snack has a way of getting eaten up immediately, and I always wish I had made more.
- Storage: A tin, a tub, whatever airtight container you have to fit them. They’ll be fine for a few days, at least.
- Baked vs.unbaked: I don’t usually bake this recipe. Within a few minutes, the butter absorbs into the crackers and tastes great. However, some cooks bake their oyster crackers for 10 minutes in a 250-degree oven to toast them up.
- Spicy: Turn up the heat with ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper or 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes added to the herbs and butter. You may want more or less spice depending on your tolerance for heat.
- Taco seasoning: Instead of Ranch seasoning, dill, and other spices, make the recipe with a packet of store-bought taco seasoning (or 2 tablespoons of my Homemade Taco Seasoning), 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon dried oregano, and 1 teaspoon chili powder.
- Sweet oyster crackers: Cinnamon and sugar. Toss the crackers with all of the butter, ¼ cup granulated sugar, and 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon.
- Parmesan cheese: Sprinkle freshly grated Parmesan cheese over the buttered crackers. You can even switch in 2 tablespoons of homemade Italian Seasoning and skip the Ranch, dill, and lemon pepper.
More snacks you’ll love:
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Ranch Oyster Crackers
At my house, the Best Snack Award goes to Ranch Oyster Crackers. This easy, no-bake recipe is little more than crispy crackers tossed in butter, herbs, and spices, but even a big bowl disappears in minutes.
Ingredients
- 1 cup butter melted (2 sticks)
- 1/4 cup homemade ranch dressing mix or 1 packet store-bought (see note 1)
- 1 tablespoon lemon pepper
- 2 teaspoons dried dill weed
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 18 ounces oyster crackers (see note 2)
Instructions
- Line 2 rimmed baking sheets with foil for easy cleanup. In a small bowl, whisk together melted butter, Ranch dressing mix, lemon pepper, dill weed, and garlic powder.
- To a very large bowl, add oyster crackers. Drizzle with the melted butter mixture and toss until evenly coated. Spread evenly over prepared baking sheets.
- Air-dry at room temperature for 3 to 4 hours, stirring periodically to help crackers dry evenly.
Recipe Video
Notes
- Seasonings: Start with a packet of store-bought Ranch seasoning, like Hidden Valley, or make my own homemade Ranch Dressing Mix (which is really good!) Then add a little extra garlic powder, dill, and lemon pepper, because this snack is flavorful.
- Oyster crackers: I love tiny oyster crackers because even the smallest of hands can scoop them up and enjoy them!
- Make extra: This snack has a way of getting eaten up immediately, and I always wish I had made more.
- Storage: A tin, a tub, whatever airtight container you have to fit them. They'll be fine for a few days, at least.
- Baked vs.unbaked: I don't usually bake this recipe. Within a few minutes, the butter absorbs into the crackers and tastes great. However, some cooks bake their oyster crackers for 10 minutes in a 250-degree oven to toast them up.
- Spicy: Turn up the heat with ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper or 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes added to the herbs and butter. You may want more or less spice depending on your tolerance for heat.
- Taco seasoning: Instead of Ranch seasoning, dill, and other spices, make the recipe with a packet of store-bought taco seasoning (or 2 tablespoons of my Homemade Taco Seasoning), 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon dried oregano, and 1 teaspoon chili powder.
- Sweet oyster crackers: Cinnamon and sugar. Toss the crackers with all of the butter, ¼ cup granulated sugar, and 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon.
- Parmesan cheese: Sprinkle freshly grated Parmesan cheese over the buttered crackers. You can even switch in 2 tablespoons of homemade Italian Seasoning and skip the Ranch, dill, and lemon pepper.
Nutrition
Serving: 40crackersCalories: 212kcalCarbohydrates: 22gProtein: 3gFat: 13gSaturated Fat: 3gSodium: 413mgPotassium: 60mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 458IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 13mgIron: 2mg
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Meggan Hill is a classically-trained chef and professional writer. Her meticulously-tested recipes and detailed tutorials bring confidence and success to home cooks everywhere. Meggan has been featured on NPR, HuffPost, FoxNews, LA Times, and more.
I’ve always made these with oil. It never occurred to me to use butter! I’m surprised how much more quickly the butter dries than oil! So good. Thank you!
You’re welcome, Bayleigh! Take care! – Meggan
If you don’t have a packet of Hidden Valley how much would you use in the shaker container? HOW Much is in one package of Hidden Valley ranch dressing anyway?
Hi Karen, there is 1oz in a packet. Hope this helps! – Meggan
1 reg size packet ranch mix is about 2 Tbsp. Hope this helps.
How much butter for this recipe
Hi Elizabeth, the recipe calls for 1 cup better. – Meggan
Gotta follow you and your recipes, agree with your philosophy regarding additives…..we have got to get back to basics …. you go girl!
Instead of air drying I put them in a 200 degree oven for about 30 to 40 minute depending on batch size stirring every 10 minutes to keep them evenly coated and they stay nice and crispy
Great idea Sandy! Thank you!
These are amazing! My husband says butter makes it better 😁.
Thank you so much Diane! I’m glad you liked them. And your husband is a very smart man. :) That’s also what we say in culinary school…. butter and salt, that’s how you make dreams come true! Ha ha ha! Happy New Year. :D
I just took out of oven and they are soggy, I have them sitting on the counter will they crisp after they are completely dry?
Hi Sherry, so sorry for the late response! They should have crisped up as they dried. Some folks bake them in a 250 degree oven for about 10 minutes to crisp them up. Hope this helps! – Meggan
Bake them for about 10-15 mins at 250 degrees they won’t get soggy and last about a month ( if they don’t get ate by then )
Also when you bake them no need to wait for them to dry.. eat them immediately:)
How long do they last for?
Probably a week or so. It depends on your climate and the time of year. In humid situations, they’ll soften rapidly. If it’s cold where you are, you could keep them outside and they’ll stay fresher, longer. But just on the counter at room temperature, I’d say 4 to 5 days or maybe a bit longer. Sorry for the long-winded response. Thanks for your question!
love love love these! My grandma used to make them. It was better than Cheeto dust!