Firecrackers are a perfect snack for munching and crunching at parties and get-togethers! Set a bowl of these out for guests and watch it disappear in no time. Spice lovers, you’ll love these crispy and spicy crackers!
Firecrackers are jam-packed with spices and seasonings, leaving your mouth watering for more! Careful, these are tempting enough to eat the whole package of crackers!
Ingredients like saltine crackers, ranch seasoning, and oil combine to make this zesty yet spicy snack! These Firecrackers are so good they’ll fly off the table faster than you can make them!
Only one hour of marinating stands between you and these crackers! All you have to do is toss the crackers with seasonings, let them marinate, then bake them until they’re crispy and crunchy.
Firecrackers are like homemade Chex mix’s long-lost cousin, except spicier and with fewer ingredients!
Firecracker Ingredients
- Saltine crackers- you’ll need 4 sleeves or one box.
- Light oil- vegetable oil works great.
- Ranch seasoning- you’ll need one 1-oz packet, or you can make my Homemade Ranch Seasoning recipe and use approximately 2 tablespoons of that.
- Onion powder
- Red pepper flakes
Variations And Substitutions
- Oil– Olive oil, sunflower oil, or peanut oil can be used in a pinch.
- Ranch Seasoning– If you can’t find ranch seasoning packets, you can make my Homemade Ranch Seasoning and have some leftovers for other recipes.
- Onion Powder– This can be substituted for garlic powder.
- Saltine Crackers- This recipe calls for normal sized saltine crackers, but you can substitute for mini saltine crackers if you’d like.
How To Make Firecrackers
These Firecrackers are seriously the easiest appetizer to make, and you can get the whole family’s help on this one!
Step One: In a gallon ziplock bag, combine oil, ranch seasoning, onion powder, and red pepper flakes.
Step Two: Carefully add the saltine crackers to the seasoning bag and gently swish the crackers around to coat all sides of the crackers with the seasonings. You may have to do this in batches to avoid overcrowding the bag and to evenly distribute seasonings.
Step Three: Set the bag of crackers aside for at least one hour or up to 24 hours to marinate.
Step Four: After marinating the crackers, preheat the oven to 300 degrees F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Carefully lay the crackers in a single layer across the baking sheet and bake for 20-25 minutes or until golden and crispy. You will have to do this in batches or use multiple baking sheets. Once baking is done, remove from the oven and allow to cool before serving.
How To Store Firecrackers
Store Firecrackers in an air-tight container for up to 5 days- if they even last that long!
Any time past 5 days, they will begin to get stale and less crunchy.
FAQ’s
Yes! Simply divide all of the ingredients in half for a smaller batch. Similarly, you can double this recipe if you know your guests are going to eat more than a normal size batch!
To make Firecrackers more spicy, add 1/2 tablespoon of red pepper flakes at a time to the seasoning bag until it is spiced to your liking.
Yes, you can use as little as 1/2 tablespoon of red pepper flakes, or omit them entirely if they are too spicy.
You can also make a double batch and make one spicy batch, and one non-spicy batch!
Only slightly. However, this is why we toast them before serving them! Toasting the crackers in the oven gives them a nice snap and makes them crispy again after soaking up the oil and seasonings.
Yes! You can make these up to a day ahead of time. You can marinate Firecrackers up to 24 hours before toasting them. This is a great finger food to prep ahead of time by tossing the crackers in the seasoning bag, letting them soak up all of the seasonings and flavor the night before, then tossing them in the oven 30 minutes before you’re ready to enjoy them!
Firecrackers
INGREDIENTS
- 16 ounces 4 sleeves saltine crackers
- 1 cup light oil
- 1 envelope ranch dressing mix (one ounce packet)
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- 1-1 ½ tablespoons red pepper flakes
INSTRUCTIONS
- In a gallon ziploc bag add the oil, ranch dressing mix, onion powder, and red pepper flakes. Seal the bag and shake it and work it with your hands to mix the ingredients together.
- Add the crackers and seal up the bag. Gently coat the crackers with the seasonings by working the bag with your hands, being careful to not break any crackers. Let the bag marinate for at least one hour or as long as overnight.
- Once marinated, lay the crackers in a single layer on a lined baking sheet and preheat the oven to 300 degrees F. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until the crackers are toasted.
- Once the crackers are out of the oven, repeat the baking process until all crackers are toasted. Allow to cool, and serve!
