5 Ritz Cracker Appetizers You Can Make in 5 Minutes

Need a fun and quick appetizer for any occasion? Check out these 5 RITZ Cracker appetizers you can make in 5 minutes!

Ritz crackers topped with cream cheese, veggies, and fruits

This post has been sponsored by RITZ. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Ritz cracker appetizers on a platter

I don’t know if there’s any hunger quite as ravenous as that of a pre-teen coming home from school. Apparently, navigating the rocky social landscape of a middle school for seven straight hours stirs up quite an appetite. I remember many afternoons busting through the door, throwing my backpack down, and heading straight for the pantry to find something to munch.

Back in my middle school days, my go-to snack was RITZ Crackers topped with sliced cheese, peanut butter, or my personal favorite, a smear of cream cheese. I’m sure if chocolate hazelnut spread had been a thing when I was a kid, that would’ve made the list too.

Ritz cracker topped with cream cheese and hardboiled egg

My mom would usually join me at the kitchen table, helping assemble cracker sandwiches while asking about my day. I’m sure there were days I didn’t say much, maybe only managing a few cracker-crumb laced mumbles, but I know that time was important. It was a moment to catch my breath, detox from the day, and rest in the knowledge I was loved, cared for, and safe.

I still use RITZ Crackers all the time in my kitchen (see thisย Hot Crab Dipย and these fabulousย Chocolate Dipped Fluffernutter RITZ cookies), but it had been years since I tried my favorite childhood snack. Unsurprisingly, the combo stands the test of time. Pairing RITZ Crackers and cream cheese is still fabulous and made even better with some quick toppings to dress it up and make this an appetizer worthy of an after school chat session or a grown-up dinner party.

Toppings for Ritz crackers on a platter

You can assemble these cracker bites in a jiffy, with ingredients you might already have on hand. I chose to stick with bright, crisp spring vegetables and fruits, but these can easily be mixed and matched based on what you have on hand. All you need to start is a cracker and a tub of Kroger’s whipped cream cheese. I love their whipped cream cheese, because it’s easy to spread and lower in calories. Whisk in a little lemon juice to make the flavors pop, then you’re off to the races! Here are the 5 RITZ Cracker appetizers I chose:

1) Cream Cheese + Cucumber + Dill. This is a re-creation of my favorite spring sandwich, Cream Cheese Cucumber Sandwiches, in cracker form. These are so refreshing and perfect for spring!

2) Cream Cheese + Radish- Very similar to the above, but with a nice kick from the radishes.

3) Cream Cheese + Raspberries + Honey- For a sweet option, I love combining lemony cream cheese with fresh berries and a drizzle of honey. Not surprisingly, these were my son’s favorite.

4) Cream Cheese + Hard Boiled Egg Slices + Capers + Dill- Oh my. Just like a deconstructed egg salad, these little bites really hit the spot, and they’re perfect for using up leftover hard boiled eggs from your Easter celebrations. For no-stress hard boiled eggs, I use this Air Fryer Hard Boiled Egg method.

5) Cream Cheese + Shredded Chicken + Grapes- This is an appetizer take on my favorite chicken salad, which always includes grapes. Of course, these could also be topped with dried cranberries, pecans, or pistachios. This is definitely one you should craft to your own tastes!

Ritz cracker toppings on a platter

I made this platter on a Tuesday afternoon, and then set it up on the counter to meet my hungry post-work, post-nap crowd. It wasn’t long before all of us were gathered around munching, mixing and matching toppings, and talking about our days. My hubby created one epic appetizer with the cream cheese, eggs, cucumber, radishes, dill, AND capers, and my son licked the honey off the raspberries and then ate the crackers and cream cheese (#kidsareweird).

After witnessing the power of the cracker appetizer for myself, I think I’ll be following in my mom’s footsteps and keeping RITZ Crackers stocked in the pantry for last minute gatherings or a spontaneous party with my two best guys. Try putting out your own cracker platter, and don’t be surprised if everyone suddenly wants to join you in the kitchen.

Ritz crackers topped with cream cheese and sweet and savory toppings

RITZ Cracker Appetizer

RITZ Cracker Appetizer

Yield: 4-8
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes

Ingredients

  • 8 ounces whipped cream cheese
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
  • Several sleeves RITZ Crackers
  • 1 Persian or mini seedless cucumber, sliced
  • 4 radishes, sliced
  • 3 hardboiled eggs, sliced
  • 3 teaspoons capers
  • 3 sprigs fresh dill, roughly chopped
  • 1/2 cup shredded cooked chicken
  • 5 grapes, halved
  • 10 raspberries
  • 2-3 teaspoons honey
  • Kosher salt

Instructions

Whisk together the cream cheese and lemon juice. To assemble the appetizers, start by spreading a spoonful of the cream cheese mixture on each RITZ Cracker. Top the crackers with your favorite combinations. My favorites are:

1) sliced cucumber and dill

2) sliced radishes and dill

3) egg, capers, and dill

4) chicken and halved grapes

5) raspberries and a drizzle of honey.

Finish any savory appetizers with a sprinkle of Kosher salt. Best served immediately. 

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4 Comments

  1. Hey Courtney,
    Great savory snack ideas for entertaining and casual eating. Saving this to Pinterest for those occasions. I’ll use rice crackers for those gluten-free options as well.

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