Alabama Fire Crackers
Alabama Fire Crackers are a crispy snack made with saltine crackers, spices and red pepper flakes for a spicy and delicious kick! So simple and crazy delicious!
Alabama Fire Crackers
Alabama Fire Crackers are one of the easiest snacks you can make. They are so tasty, almost to the point of being addictive! Make a batch and watch them disappear!
Just take me to the recipe! Scroll on down to the very bottom for the printable recipe card. Otherwise, read on for step by step photos and instructions.
The best part about these Alabama Fire Crackers is that you are likely to have all of the ingredients on hand and they are all budge friendly.
How to make Alabama Fire Crackers:
- Pour 2 cups of olive oil into a gallon zip top bag. Add ranch dressing mix, onion flakes, granulated garlic, black pepper and red pepper flakes.
- Use a whisk to mix the oil and seasonings together.
- Add 4 sleeves of saltine crackers and seal the bag.
- Turn the bag over and over (gently) to coat the crackers with seasoned olive oil.
- Allow to sit overnight.
- Give the crackers another turn or two and place crackers in a single layer on baking sheets.
- Bake for 15 minutes and cool on cookie sheets.
- Store in a zip top bag or airtight container.
I found the recipe for Fire Crackers from Southern Living and I knew we would love it. Of course I adapted the recipe slightly. I kept the method and changed the spices up just a bit.
I trusted when the recipe admitted that 3 tablespoons of red pepper flakes does sound like a lot but to go ahead and use it all. It’s not too spicy.
Well, if you are sensitive to spicy foods, I’m going to say cut back on the red pepper flakes! I guess they call them fire crackers for a reason. My family loved them but they are seriously spicy.
Recipe Variations:
- I will definitely make these again but likely with only 1 tablespoon of the red pepper. If you love spicy foods, go for the full 3 tablespoons of red pepper flakes.
- Substitute butter crackers, cheese crackers or thin wheat crackers if you prefer.
- This recipe can be doubled as needed or it’s easy to make half of the recipe.
It seems like the crackers would become soggy from the olive oil but they stay crisp! You can skip baking step if you want. We taste tested before and after baking and thought they were definitely best after baking.
How many crackers are in a sleeve of saltines?
Saltine crackers come in 4 ounce sleeves with about 40 crackers. You will need 4 sleeves for this recipe.
I always have saltine crackers on hand and when I already have all of the ingredients for a new recipe, it’s a win. Saltines are a favorite snack at our house and always a comforting addition to a bowl of chicken noodle soup.
These spicy crackers are a great snack to make for the holidays or to take to work for the whole crew to enjoy. You won’t even believe how quickly they disappear!
I guess fire crackers have been around for forever and have made the rounds in community cookbooks for years. When I spotted these last weekend, I thought they were a great addition to holiday gatherings.
Spicy Alabama Fire Crackers are a great party snack that pair well with your favorite party drinks like Beer Punch or Easy Strawberry Daiquiris. A great addition to your appetizer table.
These crackers are great for hostess gifts, party favors or to add to your holiday goodie baskets. I know you will be making these again and again.
More Easy Appetizers to Try:
- Cajun Chex Mix is a delicious twist on the classic snack mix with homemade blackened seasoning! Irresistible for snacking.
- Easy Deviled Eggs are a buffet favorite, no matter what the occasion, deviled eggs are a hit.
- Bacon Wrapped Water Chestnuts only have 3 ingredients and they are crazy delicious. A guaranteed hit for holidays and gatherings.
- Mini Doritos Cheese Balls are the perfect bite sized appetizer served up on a pretzel stick!
- I have a huge list of Easy Appetizers that are great for entertaining and holiday parties.
If you love this Recipe as much as I do, please leave a comment and a five star review, and be sure to help me share on Pinterest!
Alabama Fire Crackers
Ingredients
- 16 ounces saltine crackers 4 sleeves
- 2 cups olive oil
- 4 tablespoons ranch dressing mix
- 1-3 tablespoons red pepper flakes
- 1 tablespoons onion flakes
- 1 teaspoon granulated garlic
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Pour olive oil into a zip top gallon baggie.
- Add ranch dressing mix, onion, garlic, red pepper flakes and black pepper. Whisk to combine.
- Add saltine crackers, seal the bag and gently roll back and forth to coat the crackers.
- Set aside over night.
- Preheat oven to 250°.
- Layer crackers on baking sheets in a single layer and bake for 15 minutes. Allow crackers to cool on baking sheets.
- Place in a zip top bag or an airtight container until ready to serve.
Thank you.
My son-in-law will absolutely love these but knowing him he will add more pepper flakes if he made them himself. He likes things hot and spicy.
I can’t get my head around the idea that 4 sleeves of crackers will actually fit in a gal. baggie along with the 2 cups of oil.
Thanks again. Will be making this for our family gathering. Great item to take to an office party as well.
You might try this recipe with Oyster crackers. My family loves them.
Hi Colleen,
I know this recipe sounds crazy but it works! I hope y’all love them as much as we do!
~ Milisa
Milisa, I found your link/website from another one I go to a lot & was so happy to find yours. After reading some of your recipes I decided to pass your website to others (friends/family)!! Originally from Alabama & familiar with Southern Living… any recipe that comes from there has to be good – right? :-). Sooo, I decided to give these a try to take to an event recently. People were amazed at the taste & how easy it was to make… simple ingredients. Now living in TX & knowing how people love “spicy” here… they LOVED THEM!! I’m so glad I found your website, give this recipe a try & am definitely going to make these again! I might even try with Oyster Crackers as posted by Phillis Jackson in the comment section. Thank you Milisa & keep making delish recipes!!
Hi Trish,
I am so glad you had the chance to try these and that they were such a hit! I appreciate your kind words so much, you seriously made my day!
~ Milisa
Can you use smaller crackers (like the wheat thins or some other type of small thin cracker) than saltines?
Tina,
You can use pretty much any cracker. I’ve seen others use Cheez-It’s too.
~ Milisa
I use ritz crackers great.
Hi Dwight,
I was thinking of trying them with Ritz. Great idea!
~ Milisa
This seems like such an easy and tasty snack to make. Perfect for watching the game. I’ll be making these often, that’s for sure.
Hi Kim,
They are one of my favorite snacks, so irresistible. I hope you get the chance to try them.
~ Milisa
Milisa, I like just about every recipe you come up with. I have made this before and I love them. I am elderly and can’t eat hardly any salt. So I use the unsalted dry Ranch seasoning and unsalted soda crackers. DELICIOUS. I HAVE ADDED CUMIN, and other spices to the crackers Delicious. (powderd sugar and cinnamon sounds good but messy.
Hi Claudia Sue,
I am so glad you are enjoying the recipes, that makes my day. Great idea to make a low- salt version, and I will definitely be trying the cumin! Appreciate you stopping by with your ideas.
~ Milisa
Did these with the green label Club crackers instead. Costco had a 3 lb box for the holidays and it was perfect as I needed a pound each for 3 different recipes. I did the standard, a mild for my wife who doesn’t like spicy and a Two Alarm as I called it. I chose not to bake them but didn’t use 2 cups of oil. 1 1/2 each batch because of the Club crackers.
Mild: took out the red pepper flakes and replaced with Taco seasoning, added onion & garlic powders. Also, my recipe change up uses full packets of the ranch seasoning. Simplify.
Two Alarm: double the red pepper flakes and add creole seasoning. My go to is Tony’s Chachere’s, sold in stores.
What surprised me was the two experimentals went faster than the standard. Enjoy all!
Hi William,
I love your ideas! I am like your wife and prefer to skip the red pepper flakes. I will have to try your versions, we can’t get enough of these. I am so glad you stopped by with your feedback.
~ Milisa
These crackers we do at work with homemade jalapeño jelly on cream cheese. It’s amazing!!!!
Hi Sue,
That’s a great serving suggestion. We love pepper jelly and cream cheese.
~ Milisa
can you use stale crackers for this recipe? will they crisp up when baked? If so will be a good way to use up crackers
Hi Denise,
I haven’t tried it but I’ve been wanting to try that. I really think it will work since you can put stale crackers or chips in the oven for a few minutes and they crisp up. Let me know if you try it.
~ Milisa
Could you answer a question for me.
I know the recipe says Ranch dressing but my packets says seasonings and one says dips
Which should I use
Thank youm
Hi Pat,
Either one will work just the same. I hope you enjoy the crackers.
~ Milisa