Everything Ranch Cheese Pretzel Snack

The smell that fills my kitchen when this snack mix is baking is absolutely ridiculous. My roommate actually came home from work early once because she thought I was making something much more complicated than tossing stuff in a bowl. The combination of ranch and everything bagel seasoning creates this savory aroma that somehow tricks people into thinking you've been cooking for hours.

I brought a batch to my friend's game night and ended up having to text her the recipe three days later because her husband kept asking for it. They served it at their Super Bowl party and apparently people were hovering around the bowl like it contained gold. Something about that crunch mixed with the tangy ranch just makes people lose their minds a little.

Ingredients

• Mini pretzels: The salt on these already does half the work for you and their shape catches all that seasoned butter in the little holes
• Cheddar cheese crackers: These get extra crispy in the oven and add that cheese element that makes ranch seasoning taste complete
• Roasted salted cashews: Cashews have a natural sweetness that balances the sharpness of the ranch and garlic
• Rye chips: These are the secret weapon because they stay ridiculously crunchy and hold onto seasoning like nothing else
• Unsalted butter: Use unsalted here since the ranch seasoning and pretzels already bring plenty of salt to the party
• Ranch seasoning powder: This is what ties everything together with that familiar tangy dill flavor everyone recognizes immediately
• Everything bagel seasoning: The garlic and onion in here plus those sesame seeds add layers of flavor without you having to measure five separate spices
• Garlic powder: Even though the everything seasoning has some garlic this extra bump makes it feel more bold and restaurant style
• Onion powder: This works with the garlic to create that savory base that makes snack mix completely addictive

Instructions

Get everything ready:

Preheat your oven to 300°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper because the buttery seasoning will stick and you do not want to clean that off later

Make the base mix:

Grab your biggest mixing bowl and dump in the pretzels cheese crackers cashews and rye chips

Whisk the coating:

In a small bowl whisk together the melted butter ranch seasoning everything bagel seasoning garlic powder and onion powder until it looks like a thick paste

Coat everything:

Pour that seasoning paste all over your snack mix and toss gently with a spatula or your hands until every single piece looks covered

Spread it out:

Dump the mixture onto your prepared baking sheet and spread it into as close to a single layer as you can get

Bake until golden:

Bake for 20 to 25 minutes but definitely stop halfway through to stir everything around so nothing burns and it all gets evenly crispy

Let it cool completely:

Walk away and let it cool on the pan because this is when it gets that extra crunch and if you eat it warm you will burn your mouth and not even care

Save

My mom now keeps a jar of this in her pantry at all times and says it is the only thing her grandkids will actually eat when they come over. She puts it in those little clear bags and ties them with twine for gifts which feels fancy but takes about two minutes.

Making It Your Own

I have tried adding little corn cereal squares and they work beautifully because they are basically flavor sponges. You could also throw in some tiny cheese balls or even those little breadstick things but honestly the original combination is pretty perfect as is. The key is keeping everything roughly the same size so nothing gets lost or overcooked.

Storage Solutions

This keeps for about a week in an airtight container though it never lasts that long at my house. I have also frozen it before a party and just thawed it on the counter a few hours beforehand and it was totally fine. The texture stays good as long as you seal it up tight.

Serving Ideas

This is perfect for parties because you can make it ahead and set it out in bowls and people will gravitate toward it naturally. I have also put it in those little treat bags as party favors and people were surprisingly excited about it. It works alongside anything else you are serving but also stands alone as something people will keep returning to throughout the event.

• Set out small bowls instead of one giant one so people do not feel guilty about double dipping
• Make a double batch because one will disappear faster than you expect
• Keep the seasoning ingredients on hand because once you serve this you will be asked to make it again

Save

Every time I make this now I think about how something so simple can bring people into the kitchen just to see what smells so good. Food does not have to be complicated to make people happy.

Recipe FAQ

→ How long can I store this snack?

Once cooled completely, this savory snack can be stored in an an airtight container for up to one week, maintaining its delightful crunch and flavor.

→ Can I customize the ingredients?

Absolutely! Feel free to swap cashews for other nuts like almonds or peanuts. You can also experiment with different types of cheese crackers or snack bites to suit your preference.

→ What if I don't have everything bagel seasoning?

While everything bagel seasoning adds a unique punch, you can adjust. Consider using extra ranch seasoning, or a blend of sesame seeds, garlic flakes, and onion flakes for a similar aromatic profile.

→ How can I add a spicy kick?

For those who enjoy a bit of heat, simply add a pinch or two of cayenne pepper to the seasoning mixture before tossing it with the snack components. Adjust to your desired level of spice.

→ Is this suitable for vegetarians?

Yes, this crunchy snack is suitable for vegetarians as it contains no meat products. It features cheese crackers, butter, and various snack components along with seasonings.

→ What's the best way to ensure even seasoning?

After whisking the melted butter and seasonings, pour it over the snack mix in a large bowl. Toss gently but thoroughly with a spatula or your hands, ensuring every piece is well coated before baking.