Creative Uses for Ritz Crackers

Make Quick Snacks and Appetizers for Your Party

Amy Brantley
There are so many wonderful convenience products that can be turned into creative snacks and appetizers. One such product is Ritz Crackers. Ritz Crackers are not only tasty with cheese, but can be turned into a snack or appetizer that your guests will think is truly creative. Here are just a few creative ideas to get you started.

Creative Uses for Ritz Crackers #1: Mini Bologna and Cheese Sandwiches

Every once and a while it's fun to throw a party for adults that features foods that you ate when you were younger. One food that everyone seems to remember is bologna and cheese sandwiches. To create this fun appetizer all you need is cracker sized bologna, Kraft Cracker Cuts cheese, and Ritz Crackers. Assemble the sandwiches right before the party and the Ritz will stay nice and crispy.

Creative Uses for Ritz Crackers #2: Buttery Buffalo Chicken Fingers

If you love spicy food, you will love this idea. To make these chicken fingers you will need buffalo sauce, crushed Ritz Crackers, and chicken. You can either use chicken breasts cut into strips or chicken tenders. Dip the chicken into the buffalo sauce and then into the crushed Ritz. Place on a cookie sheet that has been coated with non-stick cooking spray and bake at 425 until the chicken is cooked through. Serve with bleu cheese or ranch dressing.

Creative Uses for Ritz Crackers #3: Mini Sausage "Biscuits"

Another fun appetizer is mini sausage "biscuits". Take a one pound package of breakfast sausage and pat it out to about half an inch thickness. Then take a small round cookie cutter and cut out the patties. You can either fry these or you can use your oven and bake them. When the patties are done, drain them on paper towels and then place them on Ritz Crackers right before serving.

Creative Uses for Ritz Crackers #4: Cheesy Meatball Bites

This is another great appetizer for casual parties. You can either make homemade meatballs or you can use store bought. Once you have your fully cooked meatballs, cut them in half. On a cookie sheet, place a layer of Ritz Crackers. On top of each cracker, place half a meatball. Then spoon over a dab of spaghetti sauce. Sprinkle each meatball with mozzarella cheese and place under the broiler, just until the cheese melts. Serve immediately.

Creative Uses for Ritz Crackers #5: Easy Chicken Nachos

A great appetizer to serve at a Mexican themed party is chicken nachos. All you need to make chicken nachos is Ritz Crackers, spicy cheese sauce, boneless skinless chicken breasts, chicken taco seasoning, sour cream, green onions, and tomatoes. Use a medium skillet to cook the chicken according to the taco seasoning package. Once the chicken is cooked, heat the cheese sauce. On a large platter, place a layer of Ritz and then put a spoonful of cheese sauce on each cracker. Then add the chicken, sour cream, diced green onion, and diced tomato. Serve immediately.

Creative Uses for Ritz Crackers #6: Chocolate Dipped Ritz

If you love salty and sweet snacks, you'll love this idea. All you need to do is melt a bag of milk chocolate chips in a double boiler and then dip in your Ritz Crackers. Be sure to get each cracker completely covered or they will become soggy. Allow the chocolate to harder and enjoy.

Creative Uses for Ritz Crackers #7: The Ultimate Casserole Topper

One of my favorite ways to use Ritz Crackers is for casserole. Simply mix a stick of melted butter with a sleeve of crushed Ritz Crackers. Place the mixture on top of your casserole and bake. This topping gets extra crispy and is extremely buttery and delicious.

Published by Amy Brantley - Featured Contributor in Lifestyle

A passionate writer who specializes in food-related content and has hopes of changing the way people think about cooking. Has published over a thousand pieces of food-related content. Amy is available for wr...  View profile

13 Comments

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  • Britt6/24/2010

    Those all sounded kind of gross, or strange.

  • Michelle L Devon (Michy)9/9/2008

    Yup, I love snacking on crackers with garnishes, or dipping them into things. Quick, easy. Always looking for creative ideas to make things taste better and try new flavors. I featured your article here on my recipe blog today. You can find it here: http://michysrecipes.blogspot.com/2008/09/appetizers-snacks-party-foods.html. Hopefully others will come and read and get ideas about snacking with crackers too! Good stuff!

  • v land11/28/2007

    looking for the ham salad by rachael ray cant find on the boxes of ritz

  • Rebecca Haughn10/3/2007

    If we can get the box to stay untampered with lol we will be trying many of these ideas. Thanks for the wonderful ideas.

  • MARY MOSS8/13/2007

    As always. . . amazing food ideas! I love to make a ritz peanut butter sandwich and dip the sandwich in the chocolate -- I use white chocolate at Christmas time and top them with red and green sprinkles.

  • Lea Anderson8/13/2007

    Totally going to do the chocolate covered ritz idea! :)

  • Charlotte Kuchinsky8/12/2007

    You forgot the Mock Apple Pie that can be made with Ritz. It's spectacular!

  • Amanda Cartwright8/12/2007

    I just eat them out of the box! Maybe I'll get more creative!

  • Kat Mitschke8/10/2007

    Yum! Great ideas!

  • Sophie8/9/2007

    I've not used Ritz crackers in a casserole before. That's a creative idea.
    Sophie

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