The Buttered Saltine: A Southern Snack That Never Really Went Away

Buttered Saltines are rumored to have started during the Great Depression. No one really knows but one thing that is for certain….it’s a snack that has stood the test of time.

So Many Families Grew Up Eating Buttered Saltines

If you grew up in the South, there’s a good chance buttered saltines found their way into your childhood at least once or twice. My grandmother made them all the time, and the moment we smelled those crackers warming in the oven, my father, Anne, and I would come running.

I can still picture her pulling the baking sheets out out of the oven, full of rows and rows of golden, glistening crackers. I mean it’s just so simple, but for some reason unbelievably addictive. It’s funny how the things that take the least effort sometimes carry the biggest memories. I made them again recently, and one bite and I was right back in her kitchen, gathered around the table enjoying them with my family.

No matter the holiday, she offered this simple snack. I love it when something so easy can become such a treasured tradition in a family. You know how it goes, that whenever the family gets together, someone asks “where’s the buttered saltines?” You just know they are showing up. We all have those dishes that are synomonous with our family gatherings and this was definitely one of ours.

What are Buttered Saltines?

They’re nothing more than melted butter and saltine crackers baked in the oven, but somehow this combination works so well. Seriously, this is the easiest snack you’ll ever make. Now….purist will not include any seasonings at all. However, through the years many people have added all kinds of different spices (red pepper flakes for some heat!) and concoctions to these simple crackers. For our family…it’s simply butter and crackers and that’s it!

Buttered Saltines

Leigh Walkup

Buttered Saltines have been around for generations. This southern snack is only two ingredients and so good!

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Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Total Time 10 minutes mins

Servings 6 crackers each

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 2 standard-size sleeves of Saltine crackers 48 crackers
• ½ cup of butter melted

Instructions

 

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees and place an oven rack in the middle of the oven. Arrange the crackers on a rimmed baking sheet, then pour melted butter over each cracker. Make sure to coat each cracker thoroughly. Bake for 8-12 minutes or until the butter soaks in and the crackers start to golden. Serve warm.

Notes

These are fantastic on their own, but you could easily add a little cinnamon sugar for a sweeter version, add red pepper flakes for heat or once out of the oven, add a dollop of pimento cheese.

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