• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Everyday Eileen
  • Home
  • Recipes
  • Lifestyle
  • About
    • Let's Go Shopping
      • Privacy Policy
  • Contact
  • Subscribe
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Home
  • Recipes
  • Lifestyle
  • About
    • Let's Go Shopping
      • Privacy Policy
  • Contact
  • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • TikTok
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Home
    • Recipes
    • Lifestyle
    • About
      • Let's Go Shopping
        • Privacy Policy
    • Contact
    • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • TikTok
  • ×
    Home » Recipes » Air Fryer Recipes

    Homemade Cheez-Its, Air Fryer or Baked

    Published: Apr 16, 2021 · Modified: Apr 22, 2021 by Eileen Murphy Kelly

    Jump to Recipe

    Homemade Cheez-Its are delicious cheesy crackers that can be made in the air fryer or oven. The fresh ingredients give you a flavor explosion from the cheddar cheese. You'll never want a store made cracker again.

    An overhead view of homemade cheez-its made in the air fryer.
    Homemade Cheez-Its
    Shredded cheese, flour, butter, onion powder, garlic powder, and salt ti make homemade cheez-its.
    • All-purpose flour binds the ingredients together.
    • Unsalted butter gives the melt in your mouth flavor needed for a great cracker.
    • Cheddar cheese and a great quality cheddar is needed for amazing flavor.
    • Garlic and onion powder add another level of flavor for a great cracker.
    • Salt will bring out the flavor of the cheese and spices.

    Why you'll love this recipe

    • Just a few ingredients make delicious crackers.
    • Use either the air fryer or bake the cheez-its.
    • Homemade crackers taste so much better than store made.

    Instructions

    1. In a food processor, pulse the cheese, butter and spices together a few times.

    2. Add in the flour and pulse again, to combine ingredients. Add ice water, 1 tablespoon at a time, until the dough forms a ball.

    3. Split the dough into 3 dough balls. Cover and place into fridge for 1-2 hours.

    4. Remove and flatten each dough ball on a floured surface. Cut the edges to form a square and use a fluted pastry cutter to cut 1” squares. Salt and place in air fryer basket. Using a toothpick, punch whole in center of cracker to avoid puffing up.

    5. Cook on 370 for 6 minutes. Remove and let cool and dry.

    (Homemade Cheez-Its oven baked instructions are included in the recipe card below.)

    Equipment

    • Air Fryer
    • Food Processor
    • Rolling Pin
    • Pastry Cutter
    • Measuring Spoons and Cup
    • Cheese Grater
    • Use block cheese and grate it yourself to ensure the freshest cheddar flavor.
    • Be sure to let the dough rest in the fridge for at least 2 hours before forming the dough.
    • The crackers cook quickly. Do not let them over bake.

    Variations

    • Mix in a teaspoon of any of your favorite seasonings, such as Cajun, Homemade Seasoning, or Taco Seasoning.
    • Use any of your favorite cheese or cheese blends. Some great choices are Gouda, Fontina, Colby Jack, and Gruyere.
    • Combine different cheese with spices such as Rosemary and Gouda or Monterey Jack and Cumin.
    • Add in Ranch seasoning for a nice flavor to your crackers.
    • If you are on a Keto or Low-Carb diet, Almond flour can be used instead of all-purpose flour
    • Gluten-free option, Bobs Red Mill 1 for 1 flour works great.
    A side view of a glass bowl filled with homemade cheez-its.
    Homemade Cheez-Its

    Frequently asked questions

    Can the Homemade crackers be baked?

    Absolutely. Details will be below in the recipe card. The crackers wFollow the instructions until air frying. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Place either parchment paper or a Silpat on a baking sheet. Put the prepared uncooked crackers.

    Can Gluten-free flour be used for this recipe?

    We have experimented and Bob's Red Mill 1 to 1 Gluten-Free flour works well.

    Storage

    Homemade Cheez-Its can be stored in an air tight in the fridge for up to 5 days. We do not recommend keeping them out at room temperature because of the us of the cheese and butter.

    We love to double this recipe and make a second batch to keep in the freezer for a later day. The crackers can defrost in the fridge for a few hours.

    • Baked Spicy French Fries - These tasty fries have a spicy Cheez-itz coating. Use the homemade cheese crackers for a unique and tasty fry.
    • Air Fryer Twice Baked Potatoes - Another great recipe that is cheesy and so delicious.

    Serving Suggestions

    Enjoy a great snack? Me too! How about noshing on this tasty Beer Cheese Dip along with pretzels and these cheese crackers?

    Instant Pot Hummus and Boursin Cheese dip are both delicious dipping ideas for this cheez-it recipe.

    The form you have selected does not exist.

    Keep up to date with recipes and posts by following me on:

    FACEBOOK INSTAGRAM, PINTEREST, TWITTER

    Love this recipe, it would be awesome if you give it a 5-star rating and share comments below.

    📖 Recipe

    An overhead view of homemade cheez-its made in the air fryer.

    Homemade Cheez-Its, Air Fryer or Baked

    Enjoy this homemade version of Cheese Its crackers made in either the air fryer or oven baked. They are preservative free and taste so much better than store bought boxed crackers. Enjoy the classic recipe or vary the cheese and seasonings. The crackers also freeze very well.
    5 from 1 vote
    Print (Email Required) Pin Rate
    Prevent your screen from going dark
    Course: Snacks
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: Air Fryer Cheez-Its, Homemade Cheez-Its, Homemade Cheez-Its Recipe
    Prep Time: 20 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 6 minutes minutes
    Refrigerate: 2 hours hours
    Total Time: 2 hours hours 26 minutes minutes
    Servings: 36 servings
    Calories: 90kcal
    Author: Eileen Kelly

    As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases

    Equipment Needed:

    • As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases
    • Cosori 5.8 Quart Air Fryer
    • Pastry Cutter
    • Food Processor

    Ingredients

    • 8 ounces cheddar cheese, shredded Note 1
    • 5 Tablespoons unsalted butter
    • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
    • ½ teaspoon onion powder
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • 2 + 2 Tablespoons cups all-purpose flour 2 Tablespoons of flour will be for the flat surface the crackers are cut on so they do not stick. Note 2 - Gluten-Free option
    • 2-3 Tablespoons water
    • ½ teaspoon Kosher salt, optional topping before baking

    Save the Recipe?

    Enter your email below and we'll send the recipe straight to your inbox to view anytime. Plus the bonus of regular recipes to you for inspiration!

    Instructions

    How to Make Air Fryer Cheez-Its

    • In a food processor, add the shredded cheese, butter, garlic powder, onion power, and salt. Pulse a few times to blend the ingredients.
    • Mix in the flour and pulse to blend into the other ingredients.
    • Add 1 Tablespoon of water and pulse 2-3 times. If the dough has not yet formed a round ball, add the second Tablespoon of water. Again, pulse a few times. The dough should form a ball.
    • Cut the dough into 3 separate balls of dough. Cover and place into fridge for 1-2 hours. This allows the dough to get nice and cold so it cuts easily.
    • Remove one piece of dough from the fridge. Place on a lightly floured work surface and flatten the dough.
    • If you plan to salt the crackers, do so now. Use a fluted pastry cutter to cut the dough into 1" squares. Use a toothpick to punch a hole in the center of each cracker. This avoids them puffing up.
    • Put the crackers in the air fryer basket. Bake at 370°F for 6 minutes. Remove crackers. Let them cool and dry on a wire cooling rack.
    • Repeat this process with the 2 other balls of dough.

    How to Bake Homemade Cheez-Its

    • Follow steps 1 through 6 above.
    • Preheat oven to 375°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or Silpat.
    • Place the cut and prepared crackers from step 6 onto the baking sheet.
    • Bake in the heated oven about 15 - 16 minutes. The edges will be golden brown.
    • Remove from the oven and let cool on a wire rack.
    • The cheez-its can be stored in an air tight container in the fridge for about 5 days.

    NOTES

    *Servings size is 6 crackers per person based on 216 crackers. 
    Note 1: For best results, use block cheese and shred yourself. Pre-shredded cheese can have a coating on it which makes it more difficult to melt. 
    Note 2: For Gluten-Free crackers, I use Bob Red Mill 1 to 1 Gluten-Free flour with much success. 
    Variations:
    • Mix in a teaspoon of any of your favorite seasonings, such as Cajun, Homemade Seasoning, or Taco Seasoning.
    • Use any of your favorite cheese or cheese blends. Some great choices are Gouda, Fontina, Colby Jack, and Gruyere.
    • Combine different cheese with spices such as Rosemary and Gouda or Monterey Jack and Cumin.
    • Add in Ranch seasoning for a nice flavor to your crackers.
    Storage:
    Homemade Cheez-Its can be stored in an air tight in the fridge for up to 5 days. We do not recommend keeping them out at room temperature because of the us of the cheese and butter.
    We love to double this recipe and make a second batch to keep in the freezer for a later day. The crackers can defrost in the fridge for a few hours.
     
    I’m not a registered dietician, I do my best to provide the most accurate nutritional values. Any nutritional data I provide is an approximation. Actual dietary information can vary based on ingredients and portion sizes

    Nutrition

    Serving: 6crackers | Calories: 90kcal | Carbohydrates: 11g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 11mg | Sodium: 72mg | Potassium: 22mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 112IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 48mg | Iron: 1mg
    Tried this recipe?Mention @Everyday_Eileen or tag #everydayeileen!

    More Air Fryer Recipes

    • Baked apple chips with cinnamon in a bowl.
      Baked Apple Chips Recipe
    • A bowl of crispy chickpeas made in the air fryer.
      Air Fryer Crispy Chickpeas
    • Air fryer bagels with everything seasoning on top of the bagels.
      Air Fryer Bagels
    • Panko Crusted fish sticks on a white plate with an air fryer in the background.
      Homemade Air Fryer Fish Sticks

    Thank you for sharing!

    445 shares
    • Share46
    • Tweet

    Primary Sidebar

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Shop with me
    • Accessibility

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact

    As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2025 Everyday Eileen, Eileen Murphy Kelly

    445 shares