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    Home » Kitchen Laughter Recipes Blog » Appetizer

    Queso Ranch Smoked Cheez Its {One Hour}

    Published: Jun 26, 2021 · Modified: Nov 4, 2021 by Ginny C · This post may contain affiliate links ·

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    These Queso Ranch Smoked Cheez Its will become one of your favorite snacks for movie nights, tailgating, game days or sitting by the fire at a campout. These are quick and easy to make and you’ll make them time and time again.

    bowl of smoked cheez its in front of the disposable aluminum pan used on the grill.
    Queso Ranch Smoked Cheez Its will be the Hit of the Party!
    Contents hide
    1 🍽️ Why This Works
    2 🧀 Ingredients
    3 🔥 Instructions
    4 ❗ Expert Tips
    5 Best Smoked Party Foods
    6 Recipe FAQ
    7 Queso Ranch Smoked Cheez Its

    When you are looking for a quick and easy snack to make for your bbq or game day, this will quickly be one of the first ones you go towards. We like to make these and put in little baggies like we do for the Smoked Trail Mix and Smoked Pretzels for road trips or to nibble on for Saturday night movie night. However you use them, be prepared for a new addiction.

    🍽️ Why This Works

    Easy | There is nothing complicated about this recipe at all. If you can spray the oil and shake a Ziploc with the seasoning, you got this!

    Addicting | The light salt and cheesy taste mean you can’t stop easting at just a few! I bet you and your guests will finish the bowl in record time!

    Flexible | Simply change up the seasoning and the snack is completely different every time.

    🧀 Ingredients

    ingredient photo showing everything o na lined sheet pan with labels.
    Ingredients You Already Have in the Pantry

    Cheez Its | These are fun to eat by themselves, but add a bit of smoke and some seasoning, and you’ll have an addicting snack that everyone will love!

    Ranch Seasoning | I used the prepackaged variety. This adds a bit of that cool and creamy flavoring to the mix.

    Taco Seasoning | The Cheez Its already have a bit of salt in them, so I chose a low sodium variety of this. For a fun twist, opt for the spicy variety.

    🔥 Instructions

    process photos showing seasoning the cheez its, adding to a disposable pan, smoking and serving.
    These Instructions to Super Easy!

    Step One: Pour a box of Cheez Its in a glass bowl or a large Ziploc bag. Spray them with a little bit of olive oil. This will help the seasoning stick to the crackers.

    Step Two: Sprinkle the Taco Seasoning over the crackers and then add the ranch. Mix them all up to evenly coat the crackers.

    Step Three: Pour everything into a shallow disposable aluminum pan. Don’t worry about how much you put in, as the smoke get to all of them.

    Step Four: Heat up the grill to 250 degrees using indirect heat. For the Kamado style grills, add a plate setter. For gas grills, turn off the center burners.

    Step Five: Add your favorite wood chips. For gas grills, use a smoking box. For stronger flavors, try a Hickory or Mesquite. For a more mild and subtle flavor, stick with the fruit woods.

    If you have never tried your hand at smoking on the grill, don’t worry. There are many different varieties of wood to choose from. Use this handy cheat sheet to help you decide which wood is best for you.

    Step Six: Stir every 15 minutes and remove them after 60-90 minutes. You’ll see them darken substantially. The longer you keep them on the grill, the more intense the smoke flavor will become.

    Step Seven: Remove them from the grill and let them cool. Add to a large bowl and let your friends and family snack on them. Enjoy!

    ❗ Expert Tips

    Make a Double Batch – I made the mistake of using a single box of Cheez Its the first time I made this and it just wasn’t enough. These will go fast!

    Mix and Match – Try different seasonings. I have made this with Chili packets, Cool Ranch, Fajita, and Sour Cream and Chives. See what you have in the pantry and give it a shot. Do me a favor and leave a comment below on what you tried. I would love to see! Another idea is to take off the taco seasoning and just do the ranch for an even simpler recipe that kids will love.

    Spray Oil – The seasoning won’t stick to the crackers without a bit of help. The best thing I have found to use is spray oil. You don’t need a lot.

    bowl of seasoned and smoked cheez its.
    As they Smoke, they will Darken

    Best Smoked Party Foods

    When whipping up a few favorites straight from the smoker to the table for friends and family, these Smoked Pretzels, Smoked Beer and Cheese Dip, Smoked Beer and Cheese Queso, Smoked Pumpkin Seeds or Smoked Chicken Wings.

    Recipe FAQ

    Can you smoke a Cheez It?

    You bet! Pick your favorite wood and add some seasoning to the Cheez Its. The light smoking will add a deep, rich and complex flavor that works so well with the cheese flavor!

    How Many Cheez Its are in a Serving?

    You may be surprised to learn that there are 27 in a single serving. That is the equivalent of about 30 grams.

    How to store leftovers, if there are any?

    Store in a sealed container for up to a month.

    Can I substitute a different cracker instead of Cheez Its?

    Absolutely, just use what you like and keep the technique the same. I’ve seen Fish, Saltines and even pretzels will work.

    Related Recipes

    • Smoked Salmon Dip {30 Minutes}
    • Beer Corn Crack Dip {25 Minutes}
    • Smoked Goose Breast Pastrami
    • Grilled Chicken Livers Wrapped in Bacon {35 Minutes}

    Tried this recipe? Please leave a star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating in the recipe card below and/or a review in the comments section further down the page. You can also stay in touch with me through social media by following me on Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook!

    bowl of smoked cheez its in front of the disposable aluminum pan used on the grill.

    Queso Ranch Smoked Cheez Its

    Add some seasoning and your favorite wood smoke for this amazing smoked snack!
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    Course: Snack
    Cuisine: American
    Diet: Vegetarian
    Prep Time: 3 minutes
    Smoking Time: 1 hour
    Total Time: 1 hour 3 minutes
    Servings: 8
    Calories: 209kcal
    Author: Jason

    Ingredients

    • 1 box Cheez Its
    • Olive Oil Spray
    • 1 packet Taco Seasoning
    • ½ tbsp Ranch Seasoning dry, we used Hidden Valley

    Instructions

    • Pour the box of Cheez Its into a glass bowl or a large Ziploc bag.
    • Spray the crackers with a little bit of olive oil. This will allow the seasoning to stick.
    • Add the Taco and Ranch Seasonings and mix well to coat them evenly.
    • Add the seasoned crackers to a disposable aluminum pan that will fit on your grill.
    • Heat your grill to 250 degrees using indirect heat. If you have a gas grill, turn off the center burners. For a Kamado style grill, add a plate setter.
    • Add your favorite wood chips to the charcoal or a smoking box.
    • Let the Cheez Its smoke for 60-90 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes. You'll see them darken over that time. Watch that they don't burn.
    • Remove them from the grill and let them cool before serving!

    Notes

    Seasonings: Substitute any seasoning you like for the taco and ranch. Use ranch alone and leave out the taco seasoning for a great cheesy/ranch taste. 
    Amount of Seasoning: If you like a lighter seasoning on your foods, consider cutting the seasoning amount in HALF and then smoke. It’s times like this that it is best to use less as you can’t take the taste off of this recipe. 
    Storage: Store in a sealed container for up to 2 months in the pantry.  
    Wood Choice: Use a mild wood chip for this one or if your family like a super light smoke, don’t add the wood at all. The long, slow process of “smoking” without wood will still infuse a bit of woodsy taste without the extra. We do this a lot when having kids over for a bbq when they are new to smoked food. It’s a great way to work into it. 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 209kcal | Carbohydrates: 31g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 14mg | Sodium: 778mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 410IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 57mg | Iron: 1mg
    Tried this recipe?Mention @kitchenlaughter or tag #kitchenlaughter!
    Queso Ranch Smoked Cheez Its {One Hour}Queso Ranch Smoked Cheez Its {One Hour}
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