cheese ritz™ cracker crumbs

Cheese Ritz Cracker Crumbs are a processed snack ingredient composed of finely crushed Ritz crackers—salted, round wafers made primarily from enriched wheat flour, vegetable oil, and cheese flavoring. The crackers are produced by Mondelēz International, originally introduced in 1934. The base cracker consists of a thin, crisp wafer with a characteristic dimpled surface and salt crystals; the cheese variety incorporates cheddar cheese powder and other cheese-derived flavorings. When processed into crumbs, the crackers are mechanically broken into irregular granular pieces ranging from fine powder to small fragments, retaining the original crackers' salty-savory flavor profile with subtle cheese notes.

Cheese Ritz Cracker Crumbs function primarily as a breading, coating, or textural binder in both home and professional cooking. They are commonly used as a crust for fried chicken, fish, and seafood; mixed into meatloaf or burger mixtures; sprinkled over casseroles before baking; or incorporated into pie crusts for savory applications. The ingredient also serves as a textural component in mac and cheese, layered dips, and as a topping for baked vegetables. The inherent saltiness and cheese flavoring reduce the need for additional seasoning, making them convenient for quick preparations while imparting a distinctive savory-umami quality.