Dilly Ranch Cheez-Its
Dilly Ranch Cheez-Its are a three-ingredient snack that will have you covered for every binge-watch, football game, and poolside party.
Dilly Ranch Cheez-Its could possibly be the snack of all snacks.
Combining two favorite flavors with crunchy, cheesy Cheez-Its with cool ranch seasoning, and fresh dill creates an irresistible snack for any season.
How to Make Dilly Ranch Cheez Its
Dilly Ranch Cheez-Its require four ingredients in total:
- Cheez-It crackers
- Oil
- Ranch Seasoning
- Fresh Dill
A little time and patience are also required, but it won’t be long until a crunchy snack perfect for binge-watching Netflix is ready.
Let’s chat about this process…
While this is a very simple recipe, there are a few key techniques you’ll need to master in order to make this the best recipe you’ve ever made!
To a large mixing bowl, dump in your box of regular cheez its.
You could also use goldfish , bagel chips, rice chex, wheat chex, or other flavorless chex cereals! It’s amazing with any of these! You could even mix it all up together and create your own snack mix recipes!
First, the key to any delicious crunchy snack is riding the flavor train!
In order to do this, you need to use a neutral-flavored oil so whatever you add will stick and get cozy with the crackers.
I use plain vegetable oil and gently stir for about a minute and a half. Other people use olive oil. Just be sure to get a neutral-tasting oil!
You want every cracker to get coated in the oil, so when you add the ranch and dill it sticks really well.
You’ll only need a quarter cup of vegetable oil.
Sprinkle ranch seasoning mix into your bowl of cheese crackers.
If you’re making one box of crackers, use half the packet of ranch seasoning.
For two boxes, use the whole package of ranch dressing mix. Set a timer for 1:30 minutes, and stir for that long.
You really want to gently scoop and stir the crackers while you are moving your bowl a quarter turn each time.
This helps the ranch seasoning coat cheese crackers evenly.
Pro Tip: On Game Days, when you’re headed out to a friend’s house, why not gather up a small bowl of this perfect snack and gift the hostess the bowl and this addictive snack recipe idea!
Now, add your chopped fresh dill. And once again, stir gently.
You want every cracker to have a piece of dill – so spend some time stirring well!
Of course, you could use dill weed! Sometimes my grocery store doesn’t have fresh dill, and the dried version is just fine! This is definitely one of those easy recipes you can mix and match!
Spread the seasoned crackers onto a half sheet pan or cookie sheet and create as even a layer as possible. If you want easy clean-up, line your large baking pan with parchment paper!
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Don’t crowd the pan too much, use as many pans as you need to.
You’ll be stirring this every 6 minutes in the oven, so you definitely want some space to be able to move without crackers falling overboard!
If you are lining your pan with parchment paper, leave some “handles” so you can toss the dill ranch cheeze-its, and skip the spatula all together!
After 6 minutes in a 300-degree oven, give a good stir with your rubber spatula!
You’ll do this step 2-3 more times, depending on how hot or cool your oven is.
Have you ever checked to see if your oven runs hot or cool? For this recipe and the Chex Mix For a Crowd recipe I have, that is the number one reason to write in to say they burned their recipe.
If you don’t know if your oven runs hot or cold, just add an inexpensive oven thermometer to your oven rack. Hang it about halfway back.
Set your oven to 300 degrees, wait until it fully preheats, and check the oven thermometer.
Fast Fact: Oven companies leave a 15-25 degree variation.
Yes! You read that correctly!!
In other words, your oven can vary 15 to 25 degrees hotter or colder than the temperature you set it to.
Finally, you can serve these hot out of the oven, or let them cool.
Store in an airtight container for a couple of weeks — but, there is no way they will last that long! ?
When you get to the end of the container, put the broken pieces and crumbs into a Ziploc bag and use a rolling pin to create a cracker coating for chicken or fish! It’s just delicious!
Other additions you might want to try!
Along with the ranch mix, try one of these flavors:
- Red Pepper Flakes
- Onion Powder
- A teaspoon of Garlic Powder
- If you can find it, Cajun Dill Ranch!
Dilly-Ranch Cheez Its
Who doesn't love a three-ingredient snack for all the binge-watching, football loving, poolside parties!
Ingredients
- 1 box Cheez Its (just the plain, regular, original ones!)
- 1/8 cup Canola Oil
- 1/2 package Ranch Seasoning
- 1 tablespoon Minced Fresh Dill
Instructions
- Dump cheez it crackers into a large bowl
- Pour oil over top, and gently stir, until all crackers are coated
- Sprinkle ranch seasoning and dill over top, and gently stir again
- Pour onto a half sheet pan
- Place in a COLD oven
- Turn oven to 225*
- Set a timer for 10 minutes - stirring at the 4 and 8 minute mark
- After 10 minutes, remove from oven, and allow to cool
Notes
These cheesy, ranchy, dilly snack crackers don't last long! Be sure to store in an airtight container for as long as they'll last. Dilly Ranch Cheez Its make a great food gift anytime of the year, but especially at Christmas!
In closing, bring Dilly Ranch Cheez-Its to your next tailgate, your next meeting.
Serve them on your front porch with a glass of tea while the kiddos play.
Or, just eat them right off the sheet pan. Either way, it’s a winning combination!
Don’t forget to save this to your favorite Pinterest board!
These look awesome! I can't wait to try them. I am so enjoying all your fabulous recipes and food photos!
I make these using oyster crackers,going to try this way!!!!!! Sounds delicious!!!!!!!!
I recently made these with club crackers…… And served a cheese ball with it…… YUMM-O. How did the oyster crackers turn out??
Hi Ashley,
I just love Dill and Cheeze Its, what a awesome appetizer. I just pinned this fun recipe! Hope you are having a great week and thanks so much for sharing with Full Plate Thursday.
Come Back Soon!
Miz Helen
Thanks, Miz Helen, for stopping by and pinning!
Sounds super yummy! Thanks for sharing the recipe with SYC.
hugs,
Jann
Cheez-its are one of my favorite snacks and this sounds like a delicious combination. I can’t wait to try them. #HomeMattersParty
These are a win-win combo!! Let me know what you think! Thanks for popping by!
Hi Ashley, I have a question, looks like you used the white cheddar cheez-its for this recipe, is this correct?
Gisele
No, just plain, regular cheez its! I’m sure white cheddar would be delicious though!
These are tasty, I did use a little more dill because I love it! I thought these were just a bit too salty tasting so next time I will add extra cheezits. Great recipe thanks for sharing ?
You can also try using less ranch seasoning — since that has a lot of salt in it! Glad you liked them!!
This looks so good! What a great way to spice up a snack!
Yes! They’re so yummy! Thanks for stopping by!
Thanks for sharing! Do they keep long?
They sure do – if you can keep your fingers out of them! 😉
I made these 2 days ago and they’re GONE! So, so good! This will be a family favorite recipe for sure! Thank you for sharing!!
Oh yay!!!! So glad you enjoyed them!!
These look super yummy! You note this should be baked in a 300 degree oven, however, in the printable instruction sheet, it states a 225 degree oven. Which temperature do you use? Thanks for clarifying!
Well, depending on your oven! 😉 ((Such a helpful answer, huh?!)) I would say, if you are going to walk away at any point, then do 225. If you’re standing close to the oven, then 300 is fine. Some users have experienced issues with burning their cheez its. This is because they either haven’t read the post/recipe fully (thanks for reading!!!), or are using the ingredients by looking at a Pin on Pinterest. So, just be vigilant about checking your crackers, and when they smell delicious, take them out! Enjoy!!
These are awesome! I’ve made them twice and my teens gobble them up almost before I can get to them! Almost…..
April!! This is so great!!! Thanks for sharing, and I’m so glad they’ve become a family fave!!
These look woderful! Could dried dill be substituted?
Oh yeah! Definitely!!
Could you replace the olive oil with butter? I’ve got a Paula Deen sized live for butter lol
Oh my goodness, yes!! I’m sure you could—and that would probably be even more amazing than this already is!! Just be careful the butter doesn’t burn while in the oven.
Hi Ashley
Tried your recipe loved it so did everyone else, i just made a few adjustments wanted a little more punch, used 1/2 cup oil, 1/4 cup Parmesan ,the dill (didnt have fresh so used dried) the whole pack of dressing plus 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper put it all in zip lock turned when i remember 🙂 let it sit over night delicious the oil soaks in crackers but they are still crisp so I did not use the oven.
Thank you for sharing your recipe oh plus i used the white cheddar crackers not the yellow/orange ones.
Anyway it turn out great with a little punch
Yum, Barb!! That sounds delicious!! I’ll be trying this version soon!