Finding the best crackers isn’t exactly a cake walk. First of all, there are a lot of crackers at the grocery store—there’s a whole dang aisle of them! Secondly, there are different crackers for different occasions. When you need the best crackers for cheese, you aren’t going to reach for Goldfish (but snack crackers deserve some credit, too; we included them here, but dinged them for lack of utility). And when you want the best saltine crackers to go with a bowl of clam chowder or chili, a seeded rice cracker just isn’t going to do the trick.
So, what do all the best crackers have in common? Well, no matter their size, shape, or intended purpose, all of the best crackers are crunchy, fresh tasting, and flavorful. Beyond that, it’s basically cracker chaos, but please allow us to make your next visit to the cracker aisle a little less overwhelming with our list of the best crackers, from big, sturdy crackers for charcuterie to the best gluten free crackers and, yes, our favorite Goldfish and Cheez-Its, too.
- Flavor Blasted Xtra Cheddar
-
If you want a cracker you can toss into a bowl of tomato soup without getting crumbs all over the dang place, Goldfish crackers are the best crackers. Regular cheddar Goldfish are fine, but when we tried every flavor of Goldfish in a head-to-head taste test, we were pretty blown away by the Flavor Blasted Xtra Cheddar variety. These are still among the best crackers for soup, but they have that extra (sorry, “xtra”) oomph that makes them extremely delightful to eat on their own. They have baked-in cheddar flavor and cheddar flavor dust. That’s twice the cheddar for your cracker buying bucks. Try these. —Gwynedd Stuart
Read the full ranking of every flavor of Goldfish
Credit: Merc / Vons
- Cheez-It Cheddar Jack
-
Cheez-Its can’t really be topped with slices of cheese or used to scoop up a nice, thick dip, but they’re crackers all the same. In fact, you could argue they’re among the best crackers because they’re meant to be eaten alone—no accoutrement needed. And while original Cheez-It crackers are nearly flawless, we have a real affinity for the Cheddar Jack version. They’re a little garlicky and have a powdered cheesy coating that’s just so savory and delicious. Plus, they have that crispy, fresh Cheez-It crunch you know and love. —Gwynedd Stuart
Read the full ranking of every flavor of Cheez-It
Credit: Merc / Target
- Kellogg’s Town House Pretzel FlipSides
-
FlipSides strike me as something a 60-year-old marketing agent pitched to try to remain relevant in a room full of teenagers. But lame name aside, these really are among the best crackers, especially if you’re a pretzel fan. The salty, pretzel-like cracker is thin and crunchy yet sturdy. These crackers won’t immediately snap in half if you dip them into a nice, thick hummus or spinach dip. The pretzel side of the cracker has a toasty, oven-baked quality to it that we kept coming back to during our taste test. Pair FlipSides with buffalo chicken dip, Nutella, or just eat them plain. —Danny Palumbo
Credit: Merc / Ralphs
- Kellogg’s Club Crackers
-
Club crackers are rather plain, but that simplicity is delicious in its own way. These crackers are synonymous with soup; those little packets of two Club crackers that a restaurant gives you with your bowl of clam chowder are iconic. And they’re definitely among the best crackers to eat with soup. In fact, I think they have an edge over Ritz when it comes to the best soup crackers. Why? Club crackers hold their shape in soup like a crouton or dumpling, while Ritz tend to be a little more crumb-like and less equipped to hold up to hot broth. —Danny Palumbo
Credit: Merc / Ralphs
- Sea Salt Organic Mediterranean Baked Crackers
-
The best crackers for charcuterie have to be sturdy and these Firehook are sturdy. as. hell. Pile them with salami and brie and jam—they can handle it. When editor-in-chief Justine Sterling did a full taste test of the best crackers for charcuterie, she was obsessed with their crunch. They have excellent bite as is, and big pieces of salt give them even more texture. If you need a cracker that can really take a licking, these are the best crackers to buy. —Gwynedd Stuart
Read the full ranking of the best crackers for charcuterie
Credit: Merc / Amazon
- Saladitas
-
Even if you really, really like saltines, you’ve probably been operating under the delusion that they’re all pretty much the same. But Saladitas, the best saltine crackers we found in a head-to-head taste test, are here to prove you wrong. These things are flaky, salty, and crispy, while still being sturdy enough to handle a big ol’ scoop of ceviche. They have a deep, fresh flavor that so many other saltines just can’t match. And best of all, these don’t instantly sap your mouth of moisture—calling them delectably fatty might be a bit of a stretch, but they definitely aren’t as dry as the saltines you’ve been settling for. If you swear by saltines, these are the best crackers to buy. We promise. —Gwynedd Stuart
Read the full ranking of the best saltine crackers
Credit: Merc / Instacart
- Sprouts Multigrain Pita Crackers
-
The best multigrain crackers have to be packed with grains, yes, but they don’t have to taste like health food. Sprouts Multigrain Pita Crackers are proof. These sizeable crackers are made with bran, millet, oats, rye flour, sunflower seeds, flax seeds, and more, but they still eat like a treat, especially if you top them with cheese or use them to scoop up big dollops of hummus. They’re crunchy, hearty, and have a wonderful dusting of salt that brings all those grains to life. These are the best crackers if you want to eat more grains but also want something more crunchy and complex than even the best saltine cracker. —Gwynedd Stuart
Read the full ranking of the best multigrain crackers
Credit: Merc / Instacart
- Chicken in a Biskit
-
Chicken in a Biskit crackers are wild, ya’ll. I still don’t really know what’s going on here. The powdery flavor dust that permeates every inch of these crackers is almost certainly onion powder and MSG. And the crackers themselves, defying everything we know and love about the best crackers at the grocery store, are a bit soft. Still, against all odds, these things are really good. They don’t pack the same crunch as Triscuits or the rice crackers that made our list, but the savory flavor scores huge points here. You can’t do a whole lot with Chicken in a Biskit, but they immediately upgrade a salad or soup with their pronounced flavor. Think of them like soft croutons. Oh, and if you’re wondering whether or not there’s actual chicken flavor in here, the answer is yes: Chicken in a Biskit advertises that it’s “made with cooked chicken for natural flavor.” Hey, don’t ask too many questions and just enjoy it, man. —Danny Palumbo
Credit: Merc / Target
- Crunchmaster Multi-Seed Roasted Garlic
-
Seeded rice crackers are plenty flavorful without a specific flavor profile, but Crunchmaster takes things to the next level with these crunchy roasted garlic crackers, which happen to be at the top of our list of the best gluten free crackers you can buy. These multi-hyphenate beauties are salty, nutty, and punchent, thanks to a light dusting of garlic powder. You can eat these alone or top them with a nice, nutty Swiss cheese. Crunchmaster is truly the master of crunch and we love them for it. —Gwynedd Stuart
Read the full ranking of the best gluten free crackers
Credit: Merc / Amazon
- Triscuit Original with Sea Salt
-
Triscuits are divisive—some people swear by them, other people swear they taste like hay. We’re among the people who think Triscuits are among the best crackers you can buy. When Triscuits are fresh, it’s hard to beat their coarse texture, unique bite, and deliciously wheat-y flavor. As the box loves to advertise, these are great for hors d’oeuvre. Top them with good cheese, pickles, and meat. For me, this is the go-to cracker to eat with store bought hummus. Even if you think you don’t like Triscuits, we’d encourage you to give them another shot.—Danny Palumbo
- Trader Joe’s Savory Thins
-
If you like big, bold crunch, rice crackers are the best crackers for you. Take Trader Joe’s Savory Thins. They’re super thin and delicate, but they’re just so crunchy, too. And the flavor is out of this world—these rice crackers are speckled with sesame seeds and coated in an imperceptible dusting of salt, giving them a deeply nutty, savory flavor. These are the best crackers for cheese if you’re dealing with a thick spreadable cheese that a Ritz is just too light and crisp to handle. If you shop at Trader Joe’s, these crackers are a must-buy item. They’re always in my cart. —Gwynedd Stuart
Read the full ranking of the best rice crackers
Credit: Merc
- Ritz
-
Unanimous decision: Ritz are the best crackers of them all. If you need proof, just check out the sheer number of brands attempting to imitate this classic cracker. Most of them fall short, though; nothing can quite replicate salty, buttery, toasty, crunchy Ritz. Ritz crackers can be eaten all on their own, but their signature flavor is only enhanced by whatever you top them with. Their closest companion is cheese, but as Sporked’s Jordan Myrick pointed out, the salt factor in Ritz crackers also goes great with sweet stuff. “I want it with a s’more,” said Justine. Crumble these on top of a casserole, use them to bread chicken—when it comes to Ritz, there are a lot of possibilities. That’s why Ritz are number one. —Danny Palumbo
Credit: Merc / Walmart
Best Goldfish
Best Cheez-It
Best Pretzel
Best Soup Crackers
Best for Charcuterie
Best Saltines
Best Multigrain
Best Flavor
Best Seedy
Best Texture
Best Rice Crackers
Best of the Best
