Recipe Overview
Why you’ll love it: Seasoned oyster crackers are the perfect crispy/crunchy snack to set out at your next party. You won’t be able to stop snacking on them. So good with a cold beverage!
How long it takes: 30 minutes
Equipment you’ll need: saucepan, sheet pan
Servings: 8 (makes 4 cups total)
Butter + Garlic + Crackers
You know those foods that you just can’t stop eating? You keep going back for one more…and then one more…
That’s exactly what happens with these seasoned oyster crackers. They’re buttery, garlicky, herby, and just salty enough to make it impossible to stop grabbing “one more handful.” I usually make them for soup or chili night, or when I’m entertaining, but somehow they end up being the snack everyone hovers around instead.
(I advise making more than you think you’ll need because they will disappear very quickly!)
What makes them special:
- Low effort, high reward: A handful of pantry ingredients melts together into a savory coating that transforms humble, inexpensive oyster crackers into a crowd-pleasing snack or crunchy topper for soups and salads.
- Take soup, chili, and salads up a notch: These fancified oyster crackers add a delicious flourish to a steaming bowl of beef chili with beans, chicken noodle soup, or homemade vegetable soup. Seasoned oyster crackers are a nice alternative to croutons!
- Perfect party snack: Oyster crackers have serious snacking potential as well. Jazzed-up oyster crackers are a perfect party treat for guests to munch on while they sip a beer or a cocktail.
“Good grief, I should have never made these! I’m on my second batch in two days after my friends demolished the first one in about 10 minutes. Delicious little snack crackers!”
Ingredient Notes
- Butter and olive oil: The combination of butter and olive oil adds a little more richness to the flavor of the crackers and they help the seasonings stick.
- Seasonings: The flavor of the crackers is amped up with pantry ingredients like garlic powder, dried oregano, and cracked black pepper. I also add freshly minced parsley, but if you don’t have fresh parsley, dried parsley is perfectly acceptable.
- Oyster crackers: This recipe uses a whole bag, so you won’t have a partial bag leftover.
- Parmesan or Romano cheese: Melts slightly in the oven, adding a salty, savory, slightly nutty flavor that makes these seasoned oyster crackers impossible to stop eating.
Recipe Tip
Use a rimmed baking pan. I like to use a sheet pan, about 13 x 18 inches. The rim will keep the crackers from sliding off the pan which makes stirring so much easier!
How to Make Seasoned Oyster Crackers
Make the seasoning mixture. Add the butter, oil, garlic powder, oregano, and pepper to a small saucepan set over medium-low heat. Gently warm the mixture until the butter melts. (If you prefer, this can be done using your microwave oven instead.)
Season the crackers. In a big bowl, lightly toss the parsley with the crackers, then pour in the seasoning mixture, and toss to coat.
Make them cheesy. Spread the seasoned oyster crackers on a sheet pan. Sprinkle with cheese and toss gently to combine. Spread the crackers into an even single layer again.
Bake. Place the pan in a 250ºF oven and bake for 15 minutes; stir, spread in an even layer, and bake again for 10 minutes, or until the oyster crackers are golden brown.
Cool. Let the crackers cool, then store in an airtight container. (Storing the crackers before they cool will make them soggy!)
Recipe Variations
- Make them spicy. Add cayenne pepper for a kick. Remember, a little goes a long ways! I would start with ¼ teaspoon, and increase to taste.
- Try ranch seasoned oyster crackers. Swap the seasoning mixture for my homemade ranch seasoning. These are so good with crockpot white chicken chili!
- Make Cajun oyster crackers. Use my Cajun seasoning in place of the garlic powder, oregano, black pepper, and parsley.
Serving Suggestions
As a snack. Serve crunchy seasoned oyster crackers as a party or game day snack with other crowd-pleasing apps like bacon-wrapped water chestnuts, sweet and spicy candied bourbon pecans, or slow cooker spinach artichoke dip.
A tasty chili topper. Use your seasoned oyster crackers as the ultimate chili topper! Try them with beef chili, slow cooker Texas chili, Instant Pot white chicken chili, or vegetarian chili.
Instead of croutons. Float a handful of these extra crispy oyster crackers on smoky roasted tomato soup, Instant Pot cauliflower potato soup, or white bean soup. Try them on your favorite salads for a little extra wow!
Once the seasoned oyster crackers have completely cooled, store them in an airtight container in a cool dry location for up to 3 days.
More Snack Recipes
Seasoned Oyster Crackers
Ingredients
- ½ cup unsalted butter (1 stick)
- 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon coarse ground black pepper
- ⅓ cup finely minced fresh parsley (or 2 tablespoons dried parsley)
- 1 bag (9 ounces) oyster crackers (4 heaping cups)
- ½ cup grated Parmesan or Romano cheese
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 250℉.
- In a medium saucepan, over medium-low heat, combine butter, olive oil, garlic powder, oregano, and pepper. Heat until butter is melted. If you prefer, the mixture can be heated in the microwave, using a microwave-safe measuring cup. Heat in 30 second increments, stirring each time.½ cup unsalted butter, 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, ½ teaspoon dried oregano, ½ teaspoon coarse ground black pepper
- Meanwhile, in a large bowl, combine parsley and oyster crackers. Pour melted butter mixture over crackers and parsley. Toss to combine until crackers are fully coated with butter.⅓ cup finely minced fresh parsley, 1 bag (9 ounces) oyster crackers
- Spread on a rimmed sheet pan (about 9×13-inches), sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and toss gently to combine. Spread the crackers out so they are in a single layer.½ cup grated Parmesan or Romano cheese
- Bake for 15 minutes, stir gently (return back to a single layer) and bake for 10 more minutes or until golden brown.
- Serve immediately or cool completely before storing.
Notes
- Serving suggestions: Serve crunchy oyster crackers as a snack, party appetizer, salad, soup, or chili topper. They make a great substitute for croutons.
- Storage: Seasoned oyster crackers taste best eaten immediately but can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. Make sure they are completely cool before covering them.
- Variations: Add cayenne pepper for a kick. Start with ¼ teaspoon, and increase to taste. Swap the seasoning mixture for my homemade ranch seasoning or Cajun seasoning.
Video
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Did You Make This?Share a comment and rating below! I love hearing what you think!
How much of trhe homemade ranch or cajun should be used if substituting?
There is about 2 teaspoons of seasonings in the recipe, so I’d start there.
Can anyone advise if Amazon has oyster crackers….I cannot find them anywhere in Ontario Canada (not even sold at Bulk food stores or gourmet type grocers)…Help!
Or maybe a substitute cracker????
I’m seeing lots of oyster crackers on Amazon! Here’s some:
I use your recipe and the crackers are delicious. I sprinkle with Parmesan since that’s what I have on hand. Very addicting. Thank you.
So glad you like them!
I bet that these would be fantastic in place of croutons for french onion soup!
I love that idea!
This didn’t go over as well as I had hoped. It was good, but people thought that it was just a little weird eating oyster crackers. Nevertheless, I’ll continue to make them to go along with soup.
Oh no! That hasn’t been my experience at all, but maybe the snack competition was too strong at your house. ;) Glad to hear you still like them for soup, though!
Oh my. I added in some seasoned salt and dried parsley too and chipotle pepper powder. These are sooooo good! Addicting for sure. I doubled it and made two batches. This will be gone for sure. Excellent recipe and you can add more or less for your tastes. I’m glad I had unsalted butter. You definitely need that. I’m going to try with pretzels next!
Oooh yum! Let me know how it turns out with pretzels!!!
Good grief, I should have never made these! I’m on my second batch in two days after my friends demolished the first one in about 10 minutes. Delicious little snack crackers: I doubled all the spices, added a tsp of salt (my crackers are unsalted), and used dried parsley instead of fresh (we’re in the middle of a snowstorm). Really tasty, nice addition to a snack platter with wine.
They are dangerous little things, aren’t they? So happy to hear you liked them so much you’re making more! Thanks for sharing your substitutions/adaptations!