Description
Spicy Southern Splitters deliver a mouthwatering blend of zesty flavors and hearty comfort. Southern kitchens embrace this quick, bold dish that promises to satisfy hunger with rich, spicy goodness you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 box mini saltine splitters (about 5–6 cups)
- ¾ cup (180 milliliters) extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) red pepper flakes
Seasonings:
- 3 tablespoons (45 grams) buttermilk ranch powder
- 1 teaspoon (5 grams) onion powder
- 1 teaspoon (5 grams) garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon (3 grams) kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon (1 gram) citric acid (optional)
Optional Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons (10 grams) nutritional yeast (optional)
Instructions
- Craft a robust seasoning blend by whisking together olive oil, ranch powder, nutritional yeast, red pepper flakes, onion powder, garlic powder, kosher salt, and citric acid in a medium mixing bowl until ingredients are thoroughly integrated.
- Transfer mini saltine crackers into a large, sealable plastic bag, then carefully pour the prepared seasoned oil mixture over the crackers.
- Seal the bag and gently tumble the contents, ensuring each cracker receives an even, thorough coating of the spicy seasoning mixture.
- Allow the seasoned crackers to rest and absorb flavors, ideally letting them marinate for a minimum of 2 hours, or preferably overnight to maximize flavor penetration.
- For enhanced texture, preheat the oven to 250°F (120°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Distribute the marinated crackers in a single, uniform layer across the prepared baking sheet.
- Bake for 20-30 minutes, pausing every 5-10 minutes to gently toss and rotate the crackers, promoting even browning and creating a crisp, golden exterior.
- Once achieving a light golden color and desired crunchiness, remove the baking sheet from the oven and allow the spicy crackers to cool completely before serving.
Notes
- Customize your spice level by adjusting red pepper flakes to match your heat tolerance.
- Overnight marinating unlocks maximum flavor depth and seasoning penetration for crackers.
- Nutritional yeast adds optional umami richness and subtle cheesy undertone to the snack.
- Gentle bag shaking ensures every cracker receives uniform, even seasoning coverage.
- Citric acid provides tangy brightness that enhances overall flavor complexity.
- Low-temperature baking creates extra crispness without burning delicate crackers.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Southern American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 170 kcal
- Sugar: 0.5 g
- Sodium: 220 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 9 g
- Fiber: 0.5 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg