Alabama Firecracker Recipe
Loaded with flavorful spices, and an easy process to make, this Alabama Firecracker Recipe is a true favorite! Crispy crackers, red pepper and other spices marinate these crackers into the ultimate snack food!
We had a very special potluck we were invited to go to today, in honor of the 4th of July. (Happy 4th my friends!)
AND in honor of a special relationship being formulated between my children’s fife and drum corps. and an adult fife and drum corps.
For a week, my daughter and I have been wracking our brain’s trying to come up with something other than brownies to take.
(oh yes, we’re making those also – brownies are always a huge hit.)
I like bringing things that aren’t normally something you see at a potluck.
When we finally we remembered these awesome treats we had several years back.
They were SO good and we raved about them for weeks. I contacted the friend who made them, and asked for the recipe.
I remember falling in love with this Alabama Firecracker Recipe from the very first bite.
This was the perfect snack idea for this event. Popular, fun and delicious!
While I hadn’t made this Alabama Firecracker Recipe myself, before this event, I’d had them twice and they were too good not to be the right potluck snack.
I do remember words of advice from my mother, never make anything for a special occasion you have not made before.
Well, guess what? I didn’t listen and I’m glad I didn’t.
This Alabama Firecracker Recipe turned out amazing and was a huge hit!
Not to mention, that can you get any cuter?
I mean really – firecrackers for the fourth of July? Yeah okay, so I realize only I think that’s cute… moving on.
And much like I expected, I probably should have triple or quadrupled this recipe for this event.
The Alabama Firecracker Recipe was a HUGE hit and I was requested to bring them to other events we have as well. Guess I know what my go-to dish will be for these events. haha!
side note:
When we got up this morning, I felt like the crackers were still a bit more oily to the touch than I would prefer – sometimes this happens, so it could happen to you.
solution:
I spread them out on a pan touching lightly and put them in the oven on the lowest setting (200 degrees) for about 20-25 minutes to get the oil to absorb a little more.
They were fantastic, right Jon?
second site note: We make these all the time now. So good and quite addicting I might add.
They are usually the first thing gone anywhere I bring them. GREAT for a BBQ event, or Picnic or …. anything really.
solution:
Make sure you make enough though, they go fast. I have doubled the recipe twice and still run out before the event was over.
Other Great Party Recipes
Are you ready to make this Alabama Firecracker Recipe?
Alabama Firecracker Recipe
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup olive oil you can use other oils, we just prefer EVOO
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 1 ounce envelopes ranch dressing mix
- 3 Tablespoons crushed red pepper flakes we used a little more, for a little more spice!
- 1 16 oz. package of saltine crackers we used multigrain but you can use any… also, yes you need all 4 sleeves of crackers
Instructions
- Grab a huge ziplock bag. at least a gallon or more. We used a 2 gallon bag for our doubled recipe and it was still more than enough.
- Open the bag and pour in the olive oil, the garlic and onion powder, the black pepper, ranch dressing mix and crushed red pepper flakes.
- Close the bag and using your hands, knead the ingredients together combining the oil and spices. (this can also be done in a bowl and stirred, however you will have a lot of it stick to the sides when pouring it into the bag).
- Now, place the crackers inside the bag. Yes, all of them.
- Re-seal the bag and turn the bag over and over again coating the crackers with the spice mixture. The more you do this, the better coverage there is. Then, let the bag sit for about an hour and turn it again a few more times.
- Allow the bag to sit for at least 12 hours, if not more. (overnight is good)
- Remove the crackers and serve.
Yum!I’m bookmarking this post. 🙂
Thanks Emily! Please let me know if you try them out! So good!
They are soooooo good you will have to try them for your self
The name caught my eye on this recipe. I love spicy foods and this seems like a great quick and easy appetizer that I have all ingredients stored in my pantry for last minute guests. I may be giving this one a try tonight!
They rare so ridiculously easy and SO tasty. I have a friend who I made them for and he ate the whole bag in one sitting. Nut ball, but yes, they are that good!
I love this! So simple but I’m sure the flavor is amazing!
Very simple but definitely amazing!
I really like hot food. The hotter, the better. I thought about substituting cyanne pepper for the black pepper and maybe more red pepper flakes ;).
My god these are delicious…. Thought they would make a good Christmas treat for the coffee table but my kid loves them so much I had to hide them. I mixed up a batch of the dry ingredients and we are going to try it as a popcorn topping with a little butter. I added a little extra ground birds eye chili powder this time as well haha… Hotter would be even better!!!
I have a question, I keep thinking they would be soggy,? Can anyone tell me if they are??
We have never had a problem with them being soggy. Shake them well, and you should be good to go. Since the sit in the bag, it allows them time to “dry” per say, so they should be just fine. If you have any problems after removing them after the 12 hours, lay them out on a cookie sheet and either allow them to “air dry” or put in them in the oven on low for a bit. I have never had to do either of those things, and they are a huge hit!
These are delicious
So happy to hear you loved them!! 🙂
Do you use salted or unsalted crackers ?
You can use either, your choice. I usually pick up traditional saltines so they do have salt. Wouldn’t probably matter much. Enjoy!
I have found salted top saltines make them WAAAAAY too salty. I use unsalted tops.
Can you use regular vegtable oil?? Its all o have on hand
Yep. Hope you enjoy them!
These are delicious. I have a friend that used small oyster crackers. So you can eat them by the handful. Lol.
We’ve made them with small oyster crackers too. Also Ritz crackers for a totally buttery spicy flavor. So much fun and they are really addicting!
Do you put all 4 sleeves into the one ziplock bag?
Yep, we do!
Hi do you break the crackers up before or after they get seasoned?
Hi there. I’m hoping I am understanding your question… you don’t break the crackers up. They stay whole and are served that way. I hope that helps? If you have any other questions simply ask.
I have made these many, many times; they go fast at work. Whenever we are having a potluck, whoever is going around to find out what everyone is going to bring doesn’t bother asking me, they automatically put me down as bringing firecrackers because that is what everyone wants me to bring. I left a batch in the emergency room staff kitchen one night and two RNs came back to my x-ray cubbyhole asking for the recipe. I make them exactly as specified except no pepper.
Another recipe I looked at called for 2 cups of Olive Oil for 4 sleeves and Onion flakes instead of the powdered onion. 4 tablespoons of that dressing mix. I realize one can use most any spice they choose but I concerned about the difference in the amt. of Oil here. Someone chime in on this as I will see other recipes on this
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I tried one of the other recipes first, but feel that the crackers took forever to lose the greasy feeling. This is much better. I also use the mini saltines instead of the bigger ones.
@Ed Matthews, I think I saw the same recipe, two cups of oil is sounds way too much for me for one batch of crackers. I’m going to try it this way first. 🥰
@Ed Matthews, What I mean is that I’m going to try it this way first, the way it is on this page. Sorry I wasn’t able to edit my original comment.