Quick Baked Cheesy Jalapeno Ranch Chips Appetizer

Make these quick cheesy jalapeno ranch chips for an easy and satisfying appetizer!

Perfect for sharing at gatherings or for a game day snack, these chips are cheesy and just a bit spicy from a little kick of jalapeno.

Serve with Greek yogurt ranch, salsa and guacamole for the ultimate spread!

I love a quick appetizer like these barbecue chicken nachos but these ranch chips are definitely a new favourite!

Using my favourite ranch dressing seasoning to flavour the cheese is the real magic of this recipe. Your taste buds will do a happy dance once you have a bite of the baked chips. If you love everything ranch, then these jalapeno ranch chips are for you!

Why you’ll love these quick ranch cheesy chips

• You get a blast of creamy ranch flavor by using ranch seasoning to flavour the cheese AND a dippable Greek yogurt.
• It’s a quick appetizer you can make in under 15 minutes.
• These cheesy chips have the perfect flavor of both cheesy and spicy for the ultimate appetizer bite!

Ingredients needed to make this jalapeno ranch chips appetizer

Potato chips:  I like to use plain ruffled chips for this recipe but other flavors of chips like barbecue

Ranch seasoning: use 1 packet of ranch seasoning that has flavours like onion powder, garlic powder and herbs both on the shredded cheese and save 1 tablespoon to mix in the yogurt!

Jalapenos: use diced jalapenos, with or without seeds depending on the amount of spice you want

Cheddar cheese: shredded cheddar cheese works best in this recipe

Greek yogurt: I like to use Greek yogurt to create a more thick ranch dip but you could also use sour cream

Salsa: enjoy these baked cheesy chips with your favourite kind of salsa

Guacamole: up-level these chips even more by serving with guacamole too

Step by step process to making these baked cheesy chips

Step 1: Preheat oven to 425 and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.

Step 2: Mix together 1 tbsp of the ranch seasoning with the Greek yogurt and set aside.

Step 3: Add the rest of the ranch seasoning to the shredded cheese and mix together.

Step 4: Sprinkle half of the shredded cheese mixture over the chips, making sure to evenly distribute. Sprinkle the diced jalapeno over the cheese and finish with the rest of the shredded cheese.

Step 5: Bake for 8 mins, let cool for 5 minutes before serving with dips.

Expert tips

• Make sure to leave the chips to cool for a few minutes before enjoying. While they are delicious straight out of the oven, I like the cheesy crunch you get when the chips have cooled slightly.
• Mix and match the toppings. Other delicious combinations:
  • Jalapenos and cooked bacon (2 jalapenos diced and 1/4 cup diced cooked bacon)
  • Green peppers and diced pepperoni (1/2 cup diced green peppers and 1/4 cup diced pepperoni)
  • Cheddar and monteray jack cheese (2 cups of each cheese for a total of 4 cups shredded cheese)
  • Pickled jalapenos as a topping once the chips are baked

Common questions about this appetizer

Can I use a different kind of chips for this recipe?
This recipe has only been tested with ruffled / wavy chips. However, I think a crunchy chip like plain kettle chips could also be delicious!

What if I don’t like a lot of spice?
Make sure to remove the seeds from the jalapeno to bring down the heat level. Alternatively you can use 1/2 cup diced green peppers.

How to store these baked chips

These baked chips are best enjoyed when they’re made!

More quick appetizers to love from the blog:

Easy Sheet Pan Kettle Chip BBQ Chicken Nachos Recipe

The Best Quick and Easy Spicy Buffalo Hummus Dip

Herb & Walnut Mini Cheese Balls Appetizer

Easy Garlic Bread Bites