Spicy Pretzels Recipe with Nacho Cheese Seasoning
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Spicy Pretzels are crunchy, buttery, salty, and spicy. They’re the perfect make-ahead finger food snack and impossible to pass without grabbing a handful.
Spicy Pretzels combined with a nacho cheese seasoning is an easy baked finger food snack perfect for any get-together. Be sure to make plenty because this spicy snack is irresistible!
Spicy Pretzels are the kind of pull up your sleeves, grab a beverage, and dig in kind of snack recipe.
Appetizers can mean so many things. They can be served as finger food snacks, or as a light starter before a beautiful meal or casual tailgating snacks.
I probably spend more time planning appetizers when entertaining than I do the main meal.
I love dips and finger foods and always try to have something for everyone.
Something salty, sweet, dips and chips, and something new as well as the tried and true. These spicy pretzels are all of that!
I was wondering why it’s so hard for me to come up with a new snack or appetizer.
Entertaining in my book always requires easy make-ahead dips and plenty of finger food snacking.
The name of the game is to serve items that your friends can help themselves too and that aren’t going to require a lot of your time while people are there.
People want to visit with you, not watch you serve them. It took me a while to figure that one out until I watched my friends do what I was doing and wishing they weren’t working so hard.
Spicy Nacho Cheese Pretzels are delicious and so easy to make. Best of all, they can be made ahead of time!
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Spicy Pretzel Ingredients
With only 5 ingredients, they’re quick to put together and budget friendly too.
- Pretzels – You can use twists or sticks. I like using the smaller ones. They make the perfect finger food snack.
- Vegetable Oil – You can use any neutral oil such as canola.
- Garlic powder – The powder variety sticks well to the pretzels
- Cayenne pepper – Oh yeah baby, make it as spicy as you want.
- Nacho Cheddar Seasoning – Using seasoning mixes makes this homemade spicy pretzel recipe easy to make.
How to store Spicy Pretzels
Make them a couple of days in advance and store them in an airtight container at room temperature.
How to make this Spicy Pretzel Recipe
- Combine the seasoning and oil in a small bowl. I like mixing mine in a 2-cup measuring cup for easy pouring.
- Spread the pretzels out on rimmed baking sheets. I cover mine with foil for easy clean-up.
- Pour the spiced oil mixture over the pretzels, using a spatula to distribute the mixture evenly.
- Bake
Make it a spicy snack mix
You can add a variety of ingredients to make it a spicy snack mix by adding the following:
- Small crackers such as soup crackers or goldfish crackers
- Cereal such as Chex or Crispix
- Peanuts or other nut varieties
If you liked this Spicy Pretzel Recipe, here are a few you may enjoy
I hope you enjoyed this delicious recipe as much as we do. Drop me a comment below, and don’t forget to give it a star rating. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐. Your comments and ratings help others decide if this recipe is for them too.
Spicy Pretzels with Nacho Cheese Seasoning
Equipment
Ingredients
- 24 oz pretzels small
- 1 cup vegetable oil
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 2 tsp cayenne pepper
- 3 tbsp nacho cheddar seasoning plus extra for dusting
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 200 °F.
- In a bowl, combine all ingredients except for the pretzels. Whisk for a few minutes to combine.
- Spread pretzels out on two rimmed baking sheets.
- Pour oil/spice mixture evenly over pretzels. Use a spatula and stir the pretzels to coat.
- Bake for 1 to 1-1/2 hours or until oil mixture is absorbed. Stir and turn trays approximately every 15 minutes. Remove from the oven and sprinkle additional nacho cheese powder over pretzels, stirring to combine.
- Cool and store in airtight ziplock bags or containers until serving.
Nutrition
Nutritional Disclaimer
This recipe was calculated using the exact brands and measurements I used to make this recipe. If you are following a strict diet please note changing anything will cause the nutritional info to change. My calculations are intended as a guide only.
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These pretzels will definitely be in the tried and true category for my next tailgating gathering that I’m hosting or attending. You just can’t help yourself to walk by without grabbing a handful!
Here are some great snacks from some of my favorite bloggers
- Skillet Pizza Bombs by Life Currents
- Easy Cheesy Salsa Bean Dip by Bowl me Over
- Frito Pie Skillet Dip with Corn Chip Scoops by Take Two Tapas
- Hot Beef & Bean Dip by An Affair from the Heart
I love this idea taking the pretzel to a new taste level. Going to try this for the upcoming Super Bowl.
Whhhhheeeeewwwwww…
I only put in 1/2 the amount of cayenne pepper…. and quite spicy,, now it did have them “ marinate “ before baking them…. maybe that is why….. but still addictive
I’m so glad that you liked them, Brenda! We make these for work functions a lot and I go easy with the spice. John would like it doubled but he has a cast-iron stomach LOL.
Simple, fast and easy— and did I mention DELICIOUS~ . had them while watching the game yesterday— definitely making this again!
Thank you Michele!
Everything about these pretzels is right on! I love the spicy with the salty and the crispy!! I could eat the whole bowl!
Thank you, Jennifer! That’s definitely my problem!
This sounds great! And like an excellent excuse to get more gluten-free pretzels, yum!
Perfect Nell! Thank you for stopping by!
Oh yum! I wouldn’t have any problem snacking on these, love the spiciness, I bet it works perfectly wit the salty pretzels!
Thank you, Petra! They are very easy to make and to munch.
I first thought Julie has made all of these cute pretzels and then I looked twice and saw they all looked the same. You know with all of your fantastic bread baking I figured you could make anything. I had a party here for the game yesterday so I am just now joining in the party – very busy and tired after 2 days of cooking and entertaining. Next game I will make these. Happy FF!
I have been trying to make a few things that I can throw together in a jiffy for a tailgating. I love entertaining too and go so crazy that like you, am exhausted by the time it’s over. I’d love to attend one of your gatherings. I’m sure they are fun and everyone has a great time.
These are right up my alley!! They would disappear at our tailgate in a flash!
Thank you Michaela! Easy peasy for me.
Mmmmm! Love great finger food and this fits the bill – be perfect for snacking & watching the game!!
Thank you so much, Debra! It is perfect for tailgating!
Thank you so much, Debra! I love that it’s something that you can just leave out and people can help themselves.
Great snack Julie!
I’ve never heard of the nacho cheese seasoning but I’m sure I’d love it!
Thanks for the recipe!
Michelle
Thank you Michelle! I find that seasoning over by where they sell popcorn in the grocery store. They have all kinds of flavors.
Such a great combination of flavors! These sound so good!
Thank you so much! They are hard to resist!
OK, these are seriously making me drool.
Thank you, Justine!
Yummy! While tailgating isn’t something we do here, in fact even while I lived in America I never really figured out tailgating, these sound like a great addition to any party.
Thanks for joining us at Fiesta Friday 🙂
I never heard of tailgating when I was young either Maggie. These pretzels are just a little too easy to munch on! Thank you so much for co-hosting this week. It’s a great bunch of folks!
What a great snack Julie! I don’t eat pretzels often enough, and this is a great reason to buy some. They sound amazing!
Thank you Antonia! They are pretty darned easy to munch on.
They look delicious and I’m sure they go well with wine. Or beer. 🙂
Yep Ana, they would at that! Thank you for stopping by my friend!
What a delicious and easy snack!! I could eat that whole bowl if given the chance haha!
Thank you, Angela! I made my husband take the leftovers to work. They were too easy to grab a handful.
I would be as big as a house, making snacks like these….yum!!!!
I hear you! I made John take half to work. Unfortunately half is still calling my name. Thank you, Debbie!
I have never thought about seasoning my own pretzels but i do love the honey mustard ones. This a great idea! I’ll have to try and let you know how it is! excited!
Thank you so much Mary! I wold love it if you’d let me know what you think. thank you for stopping by!
These loo so good! And so perfect for a tailgating snack! I’m pretty sure I have all these ingredients in the house now, though I need to check on the cheese seasoning. I’ll be making this soon, for sure!
Thank you, Debi! They are so easy, and we really liked them.