Ranch Oyster Crackers Recipe

Ranch oyster crackers are one of the easiest little Southern homemade appetizers you could ever make! 

I’ve been making this oyster cracker snacker for years because they’re the perfect year-round snack. 

Family and friends love them! They’re the little snack that I can always count on to please the masses since almost everyone loves ranch. 

What’s that saying? – The only thing better than ranch flavor is more ranch flavor!

I’ve had this little treat (also known as “fire crackers” because of the recipe version below with red pepper flakes) at all kinds of functions, from baby showers to New Year’s Eve gatherings.

You can present this dish as a starter preceding your meal, an hors d’oeuvre, or package it ever so nicely for a hostess gift.

No matter what, this simple Southern sampler always receives a lot of attention!

How do you make ranch oyster crackers? 

I used to use canola oil with this ranch seasoning mix recipe. Until I thought to upgrade this snack recipe to use a more heart-healthy ingredient and replaced canola oil with olive oil on the ingredients list.

I’ve seen other recipes that use vegetable oil, which works well, too! 

I’ve also made this ranch recipe as a seasoned saltine cracker that pairs nicely with tuna salad or a chicken salad recipe. 

If you’ve ever made them with saltines, you’ll know that it is a little tedious trying to coat every side of the crackers. The saltines are just as tasty but definitely harder to cover with the oil and ranch mix since a spread of saltine crackers takes up more space.

In this recipe, I use the Instant Pot air fryer to dry the oil on this delicious little ranch cracker snacker faster!

Ingredients

• 1 bag (approx 10 oz.) of plain oyster crackers
• ½ cup of extra virgin olive oil
• 1 packet of ranch dressing mix (1 oz.)
• 1 teaspoon of dill weed 
• ½ teaspoon of garlic powder
• 1 tablespoon of red pepper flakes

Instructions for ranch oyster crackers in the Instant Pot

1. Open the Instant Pot lid and add the oyster crackers to the stainless steel inner pot. 
2. Pour all ingredients over the crackers: olive oil, ranch dressing mix/seasoning mix, dried dill, garlic powder & red pepper flakes.
3. Use a small rubber spatula to gently mix the ingredients, covering the crackers evenly and coating them in the oil and seasonings – being careful not to crush the crackers.
4. Close the Instant Pot by placing the Air Fryer Lid on top of the Instant Pot.
5. Air fry at 350 degrees F for a total of 6 minutes in 3-minute intervals until crackers are a golden brown without any black charring. (Note that cooking times may vary by air fryer models).
6. After 3 minutes, carefully remove the lid (do not touch the bottom of the lid – it is hot!) and gently stir the crackers for even toasting and air fry distribution. 
7. Place the air fryer lid back on the pot and cook for another 3 minutes.
8. When the cooking time is complete, allow the seasoned crackers to cool for at least 15 minutes.
9. Serve and enjoy!

Sometimes I omit the red pepper and use Parmesan and lemon pepper seasonings instead – never eliminating the ranch seasoning tho!

No Instant Pot – No problem!

You can use your oven, or make no-bake seasoned oyster crackers and spicy ranch oyster crackers without an Instant Pot!

Don’t have an Instant Pot, but wanna know more about this revolutionary cooking method? Check out my guide about Instant Pot cooking HERE!

No bake ranch oyster crackers

Here are the oven and no-bake recipes:

• With these instructions, you can either use the oven or simply allow more drying time (2-4 hours) for your ranch seasoned oyster crackers. 
• After coating the crackers in the oil and seasoning, simply place the crackers in an air-tight container and let them sit for 2-4 hours to dry before serving.

Why are they called oyster crackers?

How did these little crackers get their name? Because they’re shaped like oysters and were often thrown into oyster-based stews like clam chowder, seafood stew, and tomato soup. This answers the common question of what oyster crackers are used for.

Oyster crackers, especially seasoned oyster crackers, are also delicious with beef stew recipes like oxtail and Cajun seafood gumbo.

Who makes the best oyster crackers to use?

Honestly, all plain oyster crackers taste the same to me, LOL! 

So I buy them just about anywhere, from Target to Aldi or Whole Foods. 

However, Amazon gives a rundown of their best-selling oyster crackers HERE with ratings and reviews.

How do you store ranch-flavored oyster crackers?

You can store your finished ranch oyster crackers in Ziploc gallon bags and air-tight containers like mason jars, Tupperware, and tins.

Out-smart the holidays!

Ranch oyster crackers make great gifts, especially when gifted in pretty jars and decorative tins!

How long are ranch oyster crackers good for?

Dried and placed in an air-tight container, these crackers can last up to a month. Otherwise, seasoned crackers are best eaten within the week that they are prepared.

What do you think about this recipe?

Do you have a favorite homemade snack that you make frequently? I’d love to know your answer. Leave your reply in a comment below!