Craving something bold? These smoked ranch and cheddar Fritos Scoops are your new obsession—and they’re ridiculously easy to make!
Leveled Up Snack Time!
With just three simple ingredients and practically zero prep time, these smoked ranch and cheddar Fritos Scoops come together in a snap. This recipe is truly foolproof! The smoky crunch, cheesy kick, and tangy ranch flavor hit all the right notes. And trust me, once you start, it’ll be hard to stop snacking on these!
Just like my Garlic Onion Parmesan Potato Chips, these chips are a huge crowd favorite. These are perfect for game day, tailgates, movie nights, or casual get-togethers, and they’re super budget-friendly too! Whether you’re hosting a party or just treating yourself, this snack delivers big flavor without the fuss!
Cheddar Ranch Fritos Ingredients
This 3-ingredient recipe is so easy, but my gosh, it’s so good!!!
- Fritos Scoops
- Seasonings: Ranch Powder and Cheddar Cheese Powder
- Neutral Cooking Spray: canola, avocado, or grapeseed oil works
Chef Lori’s #1 Tip Regarding Wood Pellets
- Since you want a hint of smoke, go with a lighter fruit wood pellet versus a mesquite or even oak.
Prepare The Yoder Smokers YS640
- Preheat the smoker to 250°F using fruit wood pellets.
How to Make Smoked Fritos
- Whisk together the Ranch Powder and Cheddar Cheese Powder; set aside.
- Once the seasonings are all mixed, place half of the Fritos in a single layer in a pan, and lightly spray them with neutral cooking spray. Sprinkle half of the seasoning mixture over and gently toss with your hands to coat.
- Add the remaining Fritos on top, spray, and add the rest of the seasoning. Gently mix to coat.
- Cover with foil and place in the preheated smoker for 30 minutes. After 30 minutes, remove the foil and smoke for another 30 minutes.
- When they are done, remove the pan from the smoker and allow them to rest for about 10-15 minutes to re-crisp.
Pellet Smoked Fritos
I’ve made smoked potato chips before, but y’all smoked Fritos are EVERYTHING!
Since I covered them for half the time while cooking, they developed a mild smoke flavor, which I loved.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Aside from it being cheesy, crunchy, and tangy from the ranch, you’ll also love the following:
- ONLY 3 INGREDIENTS: No long grocery list or fancy ingredients.
- SERIOUSLY SIMPLE: Hardly any prep work or complicated steps. It’s perfect for beginners or seasoned pros.
- CROWD FAVORITE: These are always such a big hit for brunch and game day parties!
- BUDGET-FRIENDLY: Affordable ingredients that don’t break the bank for something truly delicious!
- TOTALLY CUSTOMIZABLE: Spice it up, tone it down, or add your own twist!
- ADDICTIVELY DELICIOUS: One bite and you’ll be hooked… consider yourself warned!
Smoked Fritos FAQs
- What type of cheese powder should I use? I am a HUGE fan of Hoosier Hill cheese powders, as I find those work the best and have the best flavors.
- Can I use store-bought ranch seasoning? Absolutely, though homemade buttermilk ranch powder is better!
- Can I make this ahead of time? Of course! Once the Fritos are completely cooled, transfer them to a lidded, airtight container and refrigerate for up to 2 days in advance.
- Can I use something other than Fritos? Yep! Smoked rippled potato chips, tortilla chips, and generic corn chips all work.
- Can I make it spicy? Absolutely! A pinch of cayenne, chili powder, or even hot ranch works!
- Do I need to stir these while they are smoking? You can, but I never do.
How to Store Smoked Fritos
- Air-Tight Container: It can be a plastic baggie or a container with a lid. You want to keep them covered once they are no longer warm from the smoker.
Other Ways to Make Smoked Fritos
Grill Instructions:
This requires you to set up your grill for Indirect cooking/ If you’re unsure how to do this, check out this post.
- Set up the grill for indirect cooking. Preheat the grill to 250°F. Place the covered container of Fritos on the indirect side. Cook for 30 minutes, uncover, and cook for another 30 minutes.
Oven-“Smoked” :
For this, add 3/4 teaspoon of smoked paprika to mimic the ‘smoked’ flavor, OR add 1/4-1/2 teaspoon of Hickory Smoke Powder (my choice).
- Preheat the oven to 250°F. Add the Smoked Powder or Smoked Paprika to the seasoning mix, then add it to the coated Fritos. Cover and bake for 30 minutes.
- Remove the foil and bake another 30 minutes.
What to Serve with Cheddar Ranch Fritos
While these are amazing on their own, they also pair perfectly with:
Easy Smoked Cheddar Ranch Fritos
Craving something bold? These smoked ranch and cheddar Fritos Scoops are your new obsession—and they’re ridiculously easy to make!
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
- Yield: 32 servings
- Category: snacks, gameday foods, tailgating, snack attack, fritos, corn chips, munchies, movie treats
- Method: smoker
- Cuisine: snacks, gameday foods, tailgating, snack attack, fritos, corn chips, munchies, movie treats
Ingredients
- 32 oz bag Fritos Scoops
- 2 1/2 Tablespoons Buttermilk Ranch Powder
- 2 1/2 Tablespoons Cheddar Cheese Powder
- Neutral cooking spray (like canola, avocado, or grapeseed oil)
Instructions
- Preheat the smoker to 250°F using fruit wood pellets.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the buttermilk ranch powder and cheddar cheese powder; set aside.
-
Once the seasonings are all mixed, place half of the Fritos in a single layer in a pan, and lightly spray them with neutral cooking spray. Sprinkle half of the seasoning mixture over and gently toss with your hands to coat.
-
Add the remaining Fritos on top, spray, and add the rest of the seasoning. Gently mix to coat.
- Cover with foil and place in the preheated smoker for 30 minutes. After 30 minutes, remove the foil and smoke for another 30 minutes.
- Remove from the smoker, allow to rest for 10 minutes before serving.
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