The No-Cook Southern Favorite I Can't Stop Eating

These make me want a cold beer.

By
Ali Ramee
Ali Ramee
Ali Ramee is a recipe developer and food stylist for Dotdash Meredith. A College of Charleston graduate with a communications major, Ali began her culinary career in the kitchens of chef Hugh Acheson in her hometown of Savannah, Georgia.
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and
Myo Quinn
Myo Quinn
Myo's recipes, writing, and food styling can be found on King Arthur Baking, Food Network, Delish, Food52, and more. She collaborated on the cookbook Delish Vegan Dinners and trained at Gramercy Tavern and Untitled at the Whitney Museum.
Learn about Simply Recipes' Editorial Process
Published December 01, 2023
Bowl of Alabama fire crackers surrounded by a bottle and glasses of beer and a light maroon table napkin

Simply Recipes / Photo by Jen Causey / Food Styling by Ruth Blackburn / Prop Styling by Hannah Greenwood

You're bound to see a wide bowl of these Alabama Fire Crackers at gatherings in certain areas of the South. These seasoned saltine crackers are jam-packed with flavor, delightfully salt, crunchy, and a little spicy. Basically, the perfect snack. They always make me want a cold beer.

They're ideal for snacking—it's hard to stop once you have one. The good news is that they're so easy to make, so it's OK if you go through the whole batch quickly.

To make Alabama Fire Crackers, you first make a seasoning mixture in a zip-top bag with oil, ranch seasoning, seasoning salt, crushed red pepper flakes, and other spices. Then add Saltine crackers into the bag, seal, and let the crackers marinate for a day. I give the bag a little jiggle every time I walk by so that the crackers get evenly coated.

I promise they won't get soggy. Instead, the crackers will absorb the oil and seasonings and you'll be left with the best snack ever.

Ideally, eating them plain is best. They'd also be delicious for dipping into pimento cheese, French onion dip, or with tinned fish. If you do have any left, crumble the crackers over mac and cheese, chili, chowder, or a salad.

Bowl of Alabama fire crackers surrounded by a bottle and glasses of beer and a light maroon table napkin

Simply Recipes / Photo by Jen Causey / Food Styling by Ruth Blackburn / Prop Styling by Hannah Greenwood

Alabama Fire Crackers

Prep Time 5 mins
Marinating Time 12 hrs
Total Time 12 hrs 5 mins
Servings 25 servings

Serving size: 6 to 7 crackers

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 cups neutral oil (such as grapeseed or canola)

  • 2 (1-ounce) packages ranch seasoning

  • 1 1/2 tablespoons seasoning salt (such as Lawry’s)

  • 1 tablespoon dried parsley

  • 2 teaspoons crushed red pepper flakes

  • 1 teaspoon ground black pepper

  • 1 (16-ounce) box saltine crackers

Method

  1. Combine the ingredients:

    In a large zip-top bag, add the oil, ranch seasoning, seasoning salt, dried parsley, crushed red pepper, and black pepper. Seal well and shake to combine.

    Add the saltines, seal the bag, and gently turn the bag until all the crackers are coated.

    Seasoning and oil in a large ziploc bag for Alabama fire crackers recipe

    Simply Recipes / Photo by Jen Causey / Food Styling by Ruth Blackburn / Prop Styling by Hannah Greenwood
    Saltines covered in seasoning oil in a large ziploc bag (zipped closed) for Alabama fire crackers recipe

    Simply Recipes / Photo by Jen Causey / Food Styling by Ruth Blackburn / Prop Styling by Hannah Greenwood
  2. Rest and serve:

    Let the bag sit at room temperature for 12 hours until the crackers fully absorb the oil, occasionally flipping the bag. Try to eat just one. I can't!

    Love the recipe? Leave us a review and stars below!

    Alabama crackers poured into a bowl from the ziploc bag

    Simply Recipes / Photo by Jen Causey / Food Styling by Ruth Blackburn / Prop Styling by Hannah Greenwood
    Bowl of Alabama fire crackers surrounded by a small plate with some crackers, bottle and glasses of beer and a light maroon table napkin

    Simply Recipes / Photo by Jen Causey / Food Styling by Ruth Blackburn / Prop Styling by Hannah Greenwood
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
202 Calories
15g Fat
15g Carbs
2g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 25
Amount per serving
Calories 202
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 15g 19%
Saturated Fat 1g 6%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 620mg 27%
Total Carbohydrate 15g 5%
Dietary Fiber 1g 3%
Total Sugars 1g
Protein 2g
Vitamin C 0mg 2%
Calcium 17mg 1%
Iron 1mg 7%
Potassium 61mg 1%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.