Looking for something crunchy and fiery to pair with your favorite dip? These Spicy Firecrackers are a hit at parties, and they’re really easy to make with just five ingredients. Dip the hot, spicy crackers in ranch dressing or crumble them on top of your favorite chili recipe. You can amp up or tone down the spiciness by adjusting the ingredients to suit your tastes.
Party appetizers don’t get much simpler than these spicy firecracker crackers. You won’t believe how easy this recipe for spicy saltines is — only 5 ingredients and no baking required.
Just pour some saltine crackers in a bag, add some oil and spices and turn to coat.
This post was originally published on Dec. 27, 2013, but it has been updated with new photos, video and new tips.
In an hour, you’ll have crunchy party crackers that will thrill your tastebuds and maybe set your tongue on fire, depending on how much chili powder and pepper flakes you add.
Serve them with a refreshing cocktail and your favorite dip.
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Jump to:
- 🔥 What are Firecracker Crackers
- Recipe Origin and Inspiration
- 🌶 Ingredients for the Spicy Firecracker Recipe
- 💭 Top Tip
- 📋 How to Make Firecracker Crackers
- 🍽 What should I serve with firecracker crackers?
- Can I made this firecracker recipe spicier? Or less spicy?
- More Party Recipes
- 🎥 Printable Recipe Card and Video
- Crispy, Spicy Firecracker Recipe
These spicy saltines are always on the menu when I have a party, along with my crowd-pleasing pork fried wontons, chili cheese dip and easy BBQ meatlballs.
If you’re looking for an easy party food to take to a Super Bowl party, a July 4th barbecue, a Cinco de Mayo celebration, New Year’s Eve shindig or just any other kind of get-together you could imagine, this firecrackers recipe is as simple as they come!
Forget potato chips, unless you’re going to fancy them up like these honey and blue cheese kettle chips. These crackers are ranch dip’s new best friend!
🔥 What are Firecracker Crackers
Firecracker crackers are spicy saltine crackers seasoned with red chili flakes, chili powder and ranch dressing mix. They’re made by tossing saltine crackers, along with the spices, in canola oil.
There’s no baking necessary, and yet the firecracker crackers turn out crunchy.
Canola oil, spices and saltines? I was skeptical the first time I made them, too. But they did not disappoint!
I know it’s hard to believe that they won’t turn out all mushy. But trust the process , and make sure you use the right kind of oil.
If you’re ready to get to the recipe, you can scroll to the end of this post for the full ingredient list and instructions. But you may find the tips below helpful.
Five ingredients. No cooking. A couple of zippered plastic bag and a little shimmy and shake. (How often do you get to dance when you cook?)
When I say easy, I mean it!
Recipe Origin and Inspiration
A couple years ago, I picked up a package of something called Cracker Smack from a gift shop. It is a powdered mix you add to Saltine crackers, along with canola oil.
Boy, of boy, was the smack good, but kinda expensive — and not available locally. So, I knew I had to find a way to recreate the fiery party cracker recipe at home.
These spicy saltines are known by many names — spicy crackers, firecracker crackers, Alabama Firecrackers, Texas Firecrackers, southern fire crackers, cracker smack, to name a few.
Some people have told me they’re similar to Buc ee’s spicy crackers or Buc-ee’s firecrackers, sold at the Texas-based convenience store chain with a cult following.
No matter what name you call them by, I think you’ll agree that they’re darn good.
When I first tried the fire crackers recipe out on my family, they were a total hit!
When I’m telling you these won’t last long, I’m not lying. If you’re hosting a party, I might suggest making a double batch so there are plenty of spicy crackers for everyone.
Want to see a brief overview of the process before diving into the recipe? Click here to watch my web story on how to make spicy firecracker saltines.
🌶 Ingredients for the Spicy Firecracker Recipe
You’ll need these ingredients and supplies for the firecrackers recipe:
- a box of saltines
- Powdered Ranch dressing mix
- chili powder
- red pepper flakes
- canola oil
- a jumbo zippered bag or 2 gallon-sized zippered bags
💭 Top Tip
Only use canola oil for this recipe. Do not substitute vegetable oil or another type of oil, or the crackers may wind up soggy instead of crispy.
📋 How to Make Firecracker Crackers
Start out by pouring two sleeves of saltines into each bag gallon-sized bag. (This little gadget is handy for holding the bags open while you add the crackers and the oil-and-spice mixture.)
Next, you’ll add the seasoning and spices to canola oil, blending it well.
It has to be canola oil. Don’t substitute vegetable oil or another kind of oil, of you’ll wind up with soggy, greasy crackers that don’t taste good. Stick with canola oil.
Pour half of the oil and spice mixture into each bag and seal.
Then, toss them gently to coat.
Every five minutes or so for an hour, come back and rotate the bags so the spice mixture gets evenly distributed on the crackers. Do this gently, so you don’t break the crackers.
You can eat the crackers now, but for best results, let the crackers sit in the bags overnight.
The next day, transfer the coated firecrackers to an airtight container. Discard the bags and any oil that may be left in them.
🍽 What should I serve with firecracker crackers?
Some people like to eat firecracker crackers plain, like you might do with potato chips.
They’re also good dipped in homemade ranch dressing or blue cheese dressing or smeared with some southern-style pimento cheese.
Fire Crackers seasoned crackers pair well with your favorite dip. Try them with this semi-homemade French onion dip.
They’re also tasty crumbled in chili or in tomato soup, which is pretty much what saltines were invented for, right?
I also enjoy them on a salad, in place of croutons.
Can I made this firecracker recipe spicier? Or less spicy?
You sure can.
The recipe, as shared here with a tablespoon of chili powder and two tablespoons of red pepper flakes, is exactly to my liking.
Just spicy enough that I need an icy-cold drink while eating them, but not so hot that my nose starts running and I start coughing.
However, my Dad and other members of the family find them just a bit too spicy. So, they’ll cut back on the amount of chili powder and pepper flakes they use.
If you want to make this firecracker recipe even spicier, try adding more red pepper flakes or substitute the regular chili powder for a hotter variety, like Hot Mexican chili powder, Hatch chile powder, ghost pepper chili powder or another gourmet or specialty chili powder blend.
Pin This! Spicy Firecracker Recipe
More Party Recipes
Looking for other recipes that will make you the hit of the party? Try these:
- World’s Best Pork Fried Wontons,
- Jalapeno- Infused Bourbon Limeade
- Loaded Avocado Fries
- Pimento Cheese Jalapeno Poppers
🎥 Printable Recipe Card and Video
Crispy, Spicy Firecracker Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups canola oil (do not substitute vegetable oil)
- 2 Tablespoons crushed red pepper (or more for spicier crackers)
- 1 packet ranch dressing mix
- 1 Tablespoon chili powder (or more for spicier crackers)
- 16 ounces Saltine crackers
Instructions
- In a small bowl, mix together the oil and spices, whisking until blended.
- Divide crackers into 2 gallon-size zippered bags.
- Pour half of the oil mixture into one bag and half into the second bag. Seal and gently rotate bag to coat crackers.
- Continue rotating the bags every 5 minutes for an hour.
- Let sit overnight, then store crackers in an airtight container
Joyce
We were just on vacation and spent $11 on a small pack of crackers that were just like these. Once home, I found your recipe and made them. My husband likes these even better than the store bought ones. They are amazing and go great with pimento cheese! I love that they are super easy and so affordable to make. Thank you for the recipe!
Heidi
My husband and daughter love spicy food and they both gave this recipe two thumbs up! It was easy to make too!
Anne Marie
Looking forward to getting to know more about your site. My friend loves it.
These crackers are going to be part of Christmas. I am disabled and we are doing easy snacky foods. Good, easy to make, easy clean up.
Merry Christmas to you and yours.
Anne Marir
Marty Walden
These look great! Have I told you how much we loved your pepper jelly? It was awesome!
Atta Girl Amy
Glad the pepper jelly was a hit. If you’re nice, maybe I’ll give you another jar.
And if you like spicy, these crackers are a must-make. But don’t worry, they’re not too spicy.
Mindy Pollock
I don’t use Canola oil. I only use Olive oil and I have made these numerous times and they are great. They are actually better than my friend’s are and she uses Canola.
Sharon Jones
Hello Atta Girl!
I found your site on Pinterest!!! Love it!!
I took your home tour, and would love to know where you got your Bed Linens for your Master Bedroom and bird prints for your powder room!!
I love it….birds are one of my favorite collections!
Your home is exquisite!!!
Happy New Year to you and yours!
Sharon 🙂
Atta Girl Amy
Hi Sharon:
So glad you found me via Pinterest.
This post has a lot of information about the sources for my bedding: http://www.attagirlsays.com/2013/04/04/master-bedroom-home-tour-sources-paint-colors/ The comforter is Harbor House Grand Pyrenees, from Belk, but I think you can probably find it elsewhere online, too. The big square shams are Pottery Barn, and the king pillow shams are some I picked up at HomeGoods.
As for the prints in my powder room, I printed those from my computer from the Graphics Fairy. You’ll find the links to each of the bird prints here: http://www.attagirlsays.com/2013/01/09/home-tour-elegant-gray-and-silver-powder-room/
She has lots of other birds, as well! I never cease to be inspired when I visit the Graphics Fairy.
Happy holidays to you, as well. Hope you’ll stop by the blog again!