What Are Crackers and How Can I Use Them?

If crackers have turned up in a recipe or caught your eye at the store, here's what you need to use them with confidence and how to choose them, cook them, store them, what to substitute, and 133 recipes to try them in.

What are crackers?

Crackers are thin, crisp wafers baked from flour and water with a little fat. The bake is what separates them from bread. Low moisture, often docked with little holes so they stay flat, and baked until they are rigid all the way through.

That dryness is the whole point. It gives crackers a long shelf life and a clean snap, plus a neutral or lightly salty flavor that carries whatever you put on top.

Saltines, water crackers, butter crackers like Ritz, stoneground wheat, and seedy entertaining crackers all share that basic crisp backbone.

Ways to Use Crackers

The obvious job is a vehicle. A cracker holds cheese or a soft spread without competing, which is why it anchors a snack board.

A salmon spread like Easy Salmon Pate Dip or a soft cheese spread like Easy Pesto Cheese Spread both want a plain, sturdy cracker that won't crack under the load.

The less obvious job is structural. Crushed to crumbs, crackers become a binder and a coating.

They soak up moisture in meatballs and patties, they hold a meatloaf together, and they form a crisp crust on baked fish or casseroles. A cracker crumb brings built-in salt and fat that plain breadcrumbs lack.

In a casserole topping they go on last, sometimes tossed with melted butter, so they brown and crisp while the inside stays soft. Bev's Green Bean Casserole and plenty of corn casseroles lean on a buttered cracker top for exactly that contrast.

You can also crumble them straight into soup or chili as a quick crouton stand-in. Saltines on tomato soup soften slightly, thicken the broth a touch, and add a little salt.

Pairing and Common Mistakes

Match the cracker to the topping. A buttery, flaky cracker flatters mild cheese and fruit. A plain water cracker steps back so a strong blue or a sharp spread leads. Seedy, heavily flavored crackers fight delicate toppings, so save those for eating on their own.

The most common mistake is letting them go stale before serving. Crackers pull humidity from the air and turn soft and leathery, the opposite of what you want. A few minutes in a 300°F (150°C) oven crisps a softened cracker right back up.

The second mistake is salting a dish twice. Saltines and many snack crackers already carry plenty of salt, so taste before you add more to a crumb-bound meatloaf or a cracker-topped casserole.

Substitutes

For a snacking board, any sturdy cracker swaps for another; just match richness to the topping. Melba toast and crostini do the same vehicle job.

For crumbs in breading or binding, dry breadcrumbs or panko are the closest swap. Crackers bring the salt and butter that plain crumbs lack, so cut back on added salt when you sub crumbs in. Crushed cornflakes or pretzels work when you want extra crunch on a coating.

For a soup topper, croutons or a torn piece of crusty bread cover the same ground.

Buying and Storing Crackers

Buy for the job. Plain saltines and water crackers are the workhorses for crumbs and soup and any neutral base. Butter crackers and seedy varieties are for eating and boards. Check that the box is sealed and the crackers feel rigid, not bendy, through the wrapper.

Once opened, the enemy is air. Reseal the inner sleeve tightly or move crackers to an airtight container, and keep them somewhere cool and dry away from the stove.

Stored that way an opened box stays crisp for a few weeks, and an unopened box keeps for months past purchase.

If crackers do go soft, they are not ruined. Spread them on a sheet and warm at 300°F (150°C) for about 5 minutes, then cool; they re-crisp as they come back to room temperature. Toss any that smell of stale oil, since the fat in richer crackers eventually goes rancid.

Nutrition

Quick facts

Where to find crackers: Crackers are usually found in the snacks section or aisle of the grocery store or supermarket.

Food group: Crackers are a member of the Baked Products US Department of Agriculture nutritional food group.

In Chinese

饼干

British (UK) term

Crackers

en français

craquelins

en español

galletas

How much do crackers weigh?

Related

Baked Products

Recipes using crackers

There are 133 recipes that contain this ingredient.

Chicken Nuggets (Air-fryer or oven baked)

These air-fryer (or oven based) chicken nuggets are popular combination of savory and crispy, with the rich taste of chicken complemented by the crunch of a cracker crumb coating complete with 4 varieties of dipping sauces.

Homemade Birthday Snack

Make a kids’ birthday party more fun and tasty! This recipe is a kid-friendly fun snack. Try this recipe!

More Power To Ya Meatballs

Smoky barbecue meatballs simmered in a sauce of ketchup, brown sugar, tomato paste, and liquid smoke. A crowd-pleasing party meatball that holds well in the slow cooker.

Edamame & Roasted Bell Pepper Hummus

What a tasty hummus. If you have never tried to make a hummus with edamame, roasted bell peppers, and peanut butter, you should add this one to your to-try list. Carrot, celery, chips or crackers all go deliciously well with it.

Easy Pesto Cheese Spread

This simplest of pesto recipes becomes an easy and delicious cracker spread by adding softened cream cheese.

Sun-Dried Tomato Cheese Ball Rolled in Walnuts

Sun-Dried Tomatoes make for a lively and colourful presentation

Olive Tapenade with Feta

This salty spread uses two types of olives and crumbled feta cheese, but no anchovies. Serve on crackers, toasted sliced baguette or pita chips.

Eastern European Kotlety (Meat Patties)

While growing up, my Polish-Russian grandmother, who lived with our family, made these little meat patties quite often and they were a family favorite. Here is my rendition, from what I remember when cooking with Grandma, as she never wrote the recipe down. The patties were always served with mashed potatoes, green beans, applesauce, and, of course, plenty of ketchup for the patties.

Bev's Green Bean Casserole

Green bean casserole built with cream of celery soup, sour cream, sweet corn, and a buttery Ritz cracker topping crowned with slivered almonds. A creamier, crunchier riff on the holiday-table classic.

Waikiki Meatballs

These were delicious after a little bit of tweaking. I don't think I've ever made meatballs without some garlic, so I felt the need to add one large clove of minced along with a teaspoon of soy sauce, replacing the 1/2 teaspoon of salt, in the meat mixture...

Easy Salmon Pate Dip

A delicious change from the standard Krab or Clam dip.

Honey-Mustard Turkey Meatballs

These were so tasty. I'd make them again and again. I used bread crumbs instead of crackers and a red bell instead of a green bell. I could see trying this with different fruit juice and cheese combos! Make this, I don't think you'll be disappointed.

Cheese Stuffed Salisbury Steaks

Salisbury steak stuffed with cheese and smothered in onion gravy. Deceivingly easy homemade Salisbury steak with a surprise inside.

Mix & Match Casserole

An easy yet delicious recipe. I followed the recipe, and used whatever I had on hand. Then just mixed them up, and baked in the oven until the cheese was nicely browned. I let the casserole rest for about 10 minutes, then served it. Overall a great dish.

Horseradish Cheese Spread

Creamy horseradish cheese spread made from melted processed cheese, mayonnaise, and prepared horseradish. Three ingredients, five minutes, and you have a sharp, tangy party dip that firms up perfectly when chilled.

Herbal Avocado Sour Cream Dip

Add a new taste to your tortilla chips or serve on burgers.

Dead Sea Soup

A quick, fun Halloween soup made with artichoke hearts, celery, and rice with chicken. Just toss everything together, simmer, and serve with crackers.

Lemon Supreme Chiffon

Lemon chiffon dessert with a graham cracker crust, fluffy lemon Jello and egg white filling, topped with sweetened whipped cream. A retro no-bake icebox treat.

Sweet & Salty Honey Cheese Spread

Goat cheese rolled in salted sunflower seeds, drizzled with honey, and topped with fresh berries. This stunning no-cook appetizer takes 10 minutes and wows every crowd.

Nutty Cheese Brulee

Nutty cheese brulee: warm Brie drizzled with fruit or chocolate ice cream topping and a scatter of toasted pecans, microwaved until soft and served with crackers and fresh fruit. A 3-minute appetizer.

Pork Cutlet with Orange & Thyme(Keebler)

Cracker-crusted pork cutlets pan-fried and finished in a fresh orange juice and thyme sauce. No egg wash needed, just press and chill for a crust that sticks on its own.

Feather Light Strawberry Cheesecake

Microwave strawberry cheesecake lightened with stiffly beaten egg whites for an airy, mousse-like texture. A no-bake-style cheesecake on a zwieback crust with sour cream topping and fresh strawberries.

Tomato Oyster Casserole with Cracker Topping

Juicy tomatoes and briny oysters bake under a buttery cracker crust spiked with cumin and allspice. This easy layered casserole delivers bold flavors with minimal prep, ready in under an hour.

Ham Loaf Van Allen

Ham loaf made with ground ham and pork, saltine crackers, eggs, and condensed tomato soup. A classic Midwestern meat loaf that divides into four freezer-friendly portions.

Vermont Cheddar & Maple Crackers

Whole-grain crackers topped with sharp cheddar, pecans, and maple syrup, broiled until bubbly. These Vermont-inspired appetizer bites vanish fast at any gathering.

Rotting Crone's Kisses

Rotting Crone's Kisses Halloween appetizer with green-tinted cream cheese mouths, pimiento lips, and pea and raisin teeth on crackers. A creepy, fun no-cook Halloween snack kids love to make.

Broccoli Castlerole

White Castle sliders layered with broccoli and smothered in melted Velveeta, topped with buttery crushed Ritz crackers. A wildly indulgent, no-apologies casserole.

Seafood Glace'

A retro Southern appetizer of boiled shrimp suspended in seasoned consommé aspic with lemon, green onion, and a kick of hot sauce. Unmold onto crackers for a showstopping starter.

Strawberry Meringue Pie

Elegant meringue pie shell filled with fresh strawberries, chocolate drizzle, and billowy whipped cream. This crispy, nutty crust bakes overnight in a cooling oven.

Graham Cracker Honey Ice Cream

Homemade [honey](/recipes/honey) ice cream shot through with crushed graham crackers. Floral honey sweetness meets the toasted, cinnamon-tinged crunch of a graham cracker pie crust, churned into a frozen scoop.

Crispy Cracker-Coated Chicken Breasts with Gravy

Pounded chicken breasts get an extra-crispy cracker coating that stays crunchy even under a blanket of smooth, savory gravy. This quick weeknight version skips the fuss while delivering satisfying texture and rich, comforting flavors.

Elegant Baked Fish

Elegant baked fish fillets topped with a spiced mayo of Creole mustard, hot sauce, Worcestershire, curry powder, and a Ritz cracker crust. Baked until flaky.

After School Bars

After school bars are no-bake layered cracker treats with a buttery brown sugar coconut filling sandwiched between Club crackers and topped with sweet vanilla frosting. A retro lunchbox classic kids can't stop reaching for.

Dilly Dill Dip

Cucumber, cream cheese are featured in this tangy make-ahead dip.

Venison Savory Stew

Slow cooker venison stew that runs 12 to 16 hours on low, building deep game flavor with white wine, Worcestershire, lentils, and unpeeled root vegetables for maximum nutrition.

Dipped Peanut Butter Sandwich Cookies

No-bake peanut butter cracker sandwiches dipped in melted white chocolate. A four-ingredient sweet-and-salty treat that takes 20 minutes and tastes like a homemade candy bar.

Holiday Appetizer Quiche

Holiday appetizer quiche baked in a sheet pan with Swiss cheese, ham, scallions, and pimentos in a buttery cracker crust. Cut into 50 small squares for easy party finger food.

Peppered Meat Loaf

Pepper your meat loaf with this savory recipe that will find a place in your heart and your tummy.

Spanish Omelet

Quick Spanish-style scrambled eggs with canned tomatoes, onion, hot sauce, and grated cheese served over crackers. A spicy, Cajun-inspired egg dish ready in 15 minutes.

Turkey Vegetable Burgers

Healthy turkey burgers bulked up with sauteed onion, celery, and garlic, bound with cracker crumbs and egg white. Low-fat, water-sauteed vegetables keep the patties moist without added oil.

Shrimp with Spicy Black Bean Spread

Shrimp and spicy black bean spread on crackers with jalapeño, lime, garlic, and cilantro. Easy make-ahead party appetizer from the pantry.

Lemony Strawberry Cheese Cake

Lemony strawberry cheesecake builds a cinnamon-zwieback crust under a citrus-bright cream cheese filling, crowned with cooked strawberry topping. A retro three-layer dessert.

Pate in Crust

Pate in crust (pate en croute), layered ground pork, brandy-marinated chicken and sliced ham wrapped in a buttery pastry crust and baked. Classic French charcuterie for dinner parties, picnics and cheese boards.

Liptauer Cheese

Liptauer cheese spread with cream cheese, butter, sweet paprika, capers, anchovies, shallot, and caraway seeds. A bold Austrian appetizer that chills overnight for deep flavor.

Country Hearth Stew

Country hearth stew with sauteed beef, egg noodles, and mixed vegetables in a thyme and sage broth, finished with a crunchy cracker crumb topping.

Oysters a la Grand Isle

Oysters a la Grand Isle sauteed in butter with onions, then stirred into cream of mushroom soup off the heat and served on crackers. A quick Gulf Coast oyster appetizer with just five ingredients.

Cracker Pecan Pie

Cracker pecan pie with a meringue-like base of stiff egg whites, crushed crackers, and sugar topped with pecans and broiled milk chocolate. A crustless, no-flour dessert.

Poor Mans Steak

Poor Man's Steak turns ground beef and cracker crumbs into tender, gravy-smothered patties. An old-school Depression-era dinner with a scratch mushroom cream sauce.

Ritz Apple Pie

Mock apple pie made entirely from Ritz crackers, sugar syrup, and cinnamon. The Depression-era classic that fooled families when apples were scarce or expensive, still uncannily convincing today.

Liptauer Cheese #1

Liptauer cheese spread with cream cheese, butter, anchovies, capers, and caraway seeds. A bold Austrian appetizer that chills overnight for the deepest flavor.

All 133 recipes