Alton Brown's Spicy 3-Ingredient Upgrade Makes Saltine Crackers Unforgettable

A package of plain saltine crackers may not seem very inspiring — hence why they are often crumbled and generously added to a bowl of homemade tomato soup. The dry, neutral experience of saltines isn't often something enjoyed on its own. Just take celebrity chef Alton Brown's reaction to eating a plain saltine cracker in his "Pantry Raid Series" video — he spits it out and proceeds to make something way more delicious. Described as Brown's "saltine hack," this three-ingredient creation couldn't be easier to make. All you need is some melted butter, mustard powder, and the hot sauce of your choice to recreate Brown's spicy saltine crackers.

In the video, Brown simply whisks together the three ingredients, then tosses a sleeve of crackers into the mix to coat. After a quick bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit, what emerges from the oven are golden-orange, seasoned saltine crackers — packing the punch of however much (and kind) of hot sauce you've used. Rich and buttery, fiery and tangy, these look to be particularly tasty. The end result gets a thumbs-up and a smile from Brown. Perfect for snacking on their own or dipping into a creamy concoction (we think queso would be perfect), there's no longer the need to settle for boring saltines.

First off, if your crackers come out a bit soggy, simply put them back in the oven for a few more minutes. Wondering which butter to use? We found Kerrygold to be the best butter in the grocery store – just make sure you go for the unsalted version, since saltines are already high enough in sodium. And when it comes to hot sauce, there's no need to splurge, since the hot sauce at Aldi is likely a Frank's Red Hot copycat. Sriracha, Cholula, Valentina, or Crystal are all solid choices as well.

If you choose to personalize your seasoned saltines, instead of mustard powder, you could go the cheesy route and use nutritional yeast or even Cheetos dust. (Remember the Cheetos duster from 2022?) For something more savory, consider ranch powder, Italian seasoning, or Parmesan cheese. If you are planning on serving with sour cream or queso, give taco seasoning a try, or perhaps a spicy chili powder blend. Depending on how and when you're serving these amped-up saltines, the flavor options really are endless.