Spicy Ranch Pretzels (Dot’s Homestyle Copycat)

The Snack That Always Goes First at the Party

If you have been here before you know that we love to have people over for a visit and food always plays a huge part in our get togethers. One of my absolute favorite snacks to make is Dot’s Homestyle Pretzel copycat recipe.

We have been making them for years and I have yet to make them and have anyone figure out that they aren’t buying them in the store. This recipe is so easy, comes together so fast and I’m telling you they are addicting!!

My husband discovered freezing these by accident one fall. He made a double batch that he stored away and forgot about for three months.

When we had a neighbor drop by unexpectedly, I remembered about them and pulled them out of the freezer. It was a hit with her.

Having these in the freezer saves me from ever feeling like I’m scrambling when we have people over unexpectedly. The first time I had a lot of people come by our house to visit, I pulled out a big bowl of these along with paper plates.

People could help themselves throughout our conversation. They’re ideal when you have people stopping by, whether welcoming a new baby into the world or when you’ve lost someone special.

It is a recipe that takes minimal effort with little cleanup, a bowl and a bag and no baking required. These have been in rotation for about 5 years now.

Summer cookouts, card games, potlucks, no matter the occasion these are the first thing to disappear, usually before the dip.

What Makes These Taste Like Dot’s (Not Just Ranch Pretzels)

• a bag of Snyder’s pretzels, though you could probably use any brand
• popcorn oil, which is where you get that great toasty buttery flavor you wouldn’t get with vegetable oil
• 1/2 of a sachet of ranch dressing mix, though I have seen recipes calling for more than half
• dill and a hint of cayenne pepper.
• Add seasoning to oil and whisk to combine.
• Add pretzels to a gallon size zip-top bag. Pour seasoned oil over pretzels and shake to combine.
• Allow pretzels to sit for at least an hour, overnight is best.

Tips for success: Use popcorn oil like Dot’s. Shake well.

Let them sit to absorb the seasoning. Double batch and freeze.

Spicy Ranch Pretzel Ingredients

The two unusual ingredients in these Spicy Ranch Pretzels are popcorn oil and dried dill weed. Everything else should be in your pantry.

The main thing that makes Dot’s Spicy Ranch Pretzels stand out is the amount of dill. People rave about how much they love the flavor of dill in Dot’s Spicy Ranch Pretzels, which tells me dill is the main flavor that leaps off the page.

The recipe below calls for 1 Tablespoon of dried dill weed. Don’t be scared to go with 1 Tablespoon on your first batch of Spicy Ranch Pretzels.

However, if you don’t care for dill that much, use 1 1/2 teaspoons instead.

As for popcorn oil: you could use vegetable oil. However, using straight vegetable oil doesn’t yield pretzels with the same flavor.

Dot’s Pretzels have a definite buttery flavor that can’t be ignored. You can replicate the flavor of Dot’s Spicy Ranch Pretzels more accurately by adding popcorn oil.

You can find Snappy brand popcorn oil and Orville Redenbacher’s brand popcorn oil in the aisle where microwave popcorn bags and popcorn kernels live. It’s inexpensive and can be used to make popcorn later on.

The recipe below requires 5 oz of popcorn oil or about 2/3 of a cup.

Can I use something else besides popcorn oil? Use three tablespoons of vegetable oil and three tablespoons of melted butter.

As for pretzels, this recipe calls for 16 oz Snyder’s Pretzels (or two nine ounce bags of pretzels at Aldi). You can use a 16 oz bag of mini pretzel twists, pretzel nibblers (my favorite!), or pretzel pieces.

Pretzel nibblers have more surface area for seasoning. Sourdough pretzel nibblers add an acidic bite.

They also hold up better than twists. Once they’re in the bag, you will be squeezing the bag to coat the pretzels evenly with seasoning.

Thinner pretzel sticks and twists will break. Stay away from pretzel rods since they’re too large to season evenly.

About that packet of Hidden Valley Ranch Mix. The recipe calls for 1/2 packet or about 1 Tablespoon.

A whole packet is a tad too much, resulting in pretzels that taste like ranch powder, and not snack mix. One packet is one ounce, so this recipe uses a tad over half of one packet.

Garlic Powder and Onion Powder: 1/2 teaspoon each

Cayenne Pepper: 1/2 teaspoon

Now that we’ve gone through all of the ingredients, it’s time to learn how to make spicy ranch pretzels.

How to Make Spicy Ranch Pretzels

Combine the Popcorn Oil and remaining ingredients together in a small bowl until thoroughly mixed. If done correctly, it should smell like ranch dip.

Transfer the pretzels to a gallon-size, zip-top bag. Drizzle the popcorn oil mixture over the pretzels.

Seal the bag, squeezing out as much of the air as possible. Turn and squeeze the pretzels in the bag for 1-2 minutes or until shiny.

If the pretzels don’t appear shiny, give them another minute.

Transfer to a large bowl when ready to serve, making sure they’re at room temperature.

Tips for Success:

If you leave out the garlic powder and onion powder, the pretzels won’t be terrible, they’ll just not have that fully flavored pretzel taste, more just oil and ranch. These two ingredients will take this recipe to the next level and they’re likely pantry staples anyway.

I know that cayenne pepper may seem scary, but trust me, 1/2 tsp. is nothing. Those who don’t like spicy food will likely enjoy them at this level of heat.

If you’re looking for a bit of a kick, add another teaspoon. Want to serve them to littles?

Use a scant 1/4 teaspoon or leave them out completely.

The ranch and the strong dill are the stars of the show here so be sure not to skimp out.

How Long to Let Them Sit and Why Overnight Is Worth It

It is best to let Spicy Ranch Pretzels sit at room temperature for no longer than 1-2 hours, though you can let them sit for 4 hours. That said, my favorite way to make them is the night before I need them.

Simply follow the above directions and let them sit overnight, flipping every 30 minutes so the popcorn oil mixture doesn’t collect on top of the bag. Trust me when I say that they’re worth it.

I like to let them sit for 2-4 hours, though. It’s nowhere near as long as waiting the full 14 hours, but the flavors of the ranch and dill really come through, and the seasoning has time to soak in with the oil.

These Spicy Ranch Pretzels are a bit of a labor of love, so to speak. If you’re in a rush, you can reduce the resting time, though.

One hour will be enough for the spices to adhere to the pretzel so they don’t rub off. However, if you do this, you’re going to have oil and spices on pretzels and won’t get that deeper flavor of Dot’s Spicy Ranch Pretzels.

I typically make these after dinner and let them sit out overnight, enjoying them throughout the next day. They do NOT get soggy sitting out for up to 24 hours.

By the next afternoon, all of the oil has been absorbed and they’re super crunchy again. The flavor is SO good, though.

Highly recommend letting them sit.

Four Ways to Mix These Up

Mixed Snack Version

You can also add in other things and make a mixed snack. We sometimes add 2 cups Chex cereal, 1 cup oyster crackers, and 1 cup mixed nuts to this recipe, using the same ratio of seasonings and oils.

It’s a hit with teenagers.

Buffalo Ranch

Add 1-2 Tbs Frank’s Red Hot to this recipe just prior to adding in the oil mixture. The amount depends on your group’s preference for spice.

Extra Spicy

Add 1 tsp cayenne and 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes for a zesty heat that starts slow and builds in your throat.

Garlic Parmesan

Omit the ranch and dill and use 2 Tbs shredded parmesan, 1 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp Italian seasoning, and 1/2 tsp black pepper.

Spicy Ranch Pretzel FAQ

Can I use a different pretzel brand?

Use any brand or size of pretzel you’d like. Some of my favorites are Snyder’s, Rold Gold and Utz.

I like Snyder’s sourdough nibblers the best since it’s the easiest for me to find. You can use mini pretzel twists of any kind too.

I would recommend traditional pretzels though as opposed to the flavored pretzels, like honey mustard.

Can I bake them instead of letting them sit?

If you’d like, spread pretzels onto a baking sheet and bake for 30 minutes, giving them a stir halfway through. Pretzels will be a little crunchier/drier that way.

Personally, I like the sitting method since it’s less effort, with no waiting around or monitoring, and I’ve found them to be just as tasty.

Where do I find popcorn oil?

Popcorn oil, made by Snappy, Orville Redenbacher’s and Boyer’s, among other companies, adds a delicious, buttery flavor. You can find it at many grocery stores in the same aisle as microwave popcorn bags and popcorn kernels.

What if I can’t find popcorn oil?

If popcorn oil isn’t an option, try using 3 tablespoons melted butter and 3 tablespoons oil.

How do you store them and how long do they keep?

These are best when freshly made, but will stay fresh for two weeks stored in an airtight container or zip-top storage bag at room temperature. The enclosed oil actually intensifies the pretzel flavor.

For longer storage of up to 3 months, put pretzels into a gallon freezer storage bag and pop into the freezer. Grab some whenever you’re craving them with no need to thaw.

How spicy are these?

These are on the mild-to-medium side, especially if you’re not accustomed to spicy foods. The heat builds up as you munch away on pretzels, but I’ve found it’s a spice level most can handle.

For a completely mild version, omit cayenne since these are delicious without it and still have lots of flavor from the ranch and dill.

What to Do With Extra Pretzels

Enjoy any extra pretzels as a flavorful snack anytime.

We love snacks around here. They’re easy and convenient.

Sometimes it’s nice to be able to reach into a container or bag and pull out something tasty without heating anything up or preparing anything at all.

So if you’ve got a favorite snack that’s simple, let’s jazz it up! For example: Spicy Ranch Pretzels!

They’re fantastic as-is. You can munch on them as-is.

But here are some ideas:

Soup Topper

Crush these pretzels a little and sprinkle them over tomato soup, chicken noodle soup, or chili. Crunchy goodness!

Pretzel-Crusted Chicken

Place raw chicken tenders in a shallow pan. Cover the chicken with mayonnaise, not too much, and set aside.

In the meantime, put Spicy Ranch Pretzels into a food processor and give them a whirl to break them up a bit. Dredge chicken through pretzels to coat.

Bake at 425 for about 15 minutes. Yum!

Trail Mix Base

Toss some of these pretzels with peanuts, dried cranberries and M&Ms for a speedy and tasty lunchbox item that will disappear faster than you can say Kate’s kids.

A Few Snacks We Make Around Here

For a change of pace with Spicy Pretzels try our sweet and crunchy Microwave Caramel Chex Mix recipe – perfect for a snack or to munch while watching a movie. If you’re looking for some easy party food try our coldSeven Layer Dip recipe or our warm Chili’s Skillet Queso Copycat recipe.

Of course, dips are a must and we’ve got another favorite – Jalapeno popper dip is a blend of cream cheese, sour cream, shredded cheddar cheese and chopped crispy jalapenos baked until golden and bubbly.