Try this homemade chex mix recipe the next time you need a good bar snack, appetizer, or game-day treat. It’s way better than store-bought snacks and is so easy to make!
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Cheesy Chex Mix recipe
Salty snacks are my love language, and Chex mix is like the ultimate salty snack. It has the most addictive garlicky flavor and finger-lickin good salty surprise. Making a big bowl of this for holiday parties, game day gatherings and even just for an evening snack is always a good idea.
Sure, you could go to the grocery store and buy a bag of original Chex party mix, but I promise it’s not as good as homemade. There’s something about the fresh butter and garlic salt on crunchy cereal that is so much better than store-bought.
Oh, and if you’ve never tasted homemade Chex mix while it’s still slightly warm, you’re gonna want to give me a hug after making this recipe! A good Chex mix, seasoned perfectly and slightly warm is the most comforting snack ever.
Pair it with some homemade strawberry lemonade or homemade ginger ale for a chill and delicious snack time. Or, turn it into the perfect bar snack when you’re serving dive bar drinks like a whiskey and coke or a tequila sunrise.
More bar snacks: Air Fryer Mozzarella Sticks • Fried Pickles • Cheddar Cheese Popcorn
Why you’ll love this recipe
This is the best chex mix recipe, I can guarantee it. Actually, my taste buds can guarantee it:
- Making your own snack mixes is a great way to ensure you know exactly what’s in it. There’s no added flavors or ingredients like store-bought snacks, only the seasonings you add yourself!
- You can make an super big batch and easily serve a crowd. This is a fabulous recipe for parties and gatherings and is always a crowd favorite.
- Chex mix stores super well and doesn’t go bad quickly. Make it ahead of time and store until you need it.
Tools & equipment
This is one of my favorite things to make, not only because it’s tasty but because the clean-up is easy. There are not a whole lot of tools required to make a batch of this perfect snack! You will need a large baking sheet or even a large roasting pan. Parchment paper will also be useful and helps keep clean-up easy.
Make sure you have a saucepan or small microwaveable bowl in which you can melt butter. You’ll also need a large mixing bowl to combine the cereal with the butter mixture. Either use your hands to combine the ingredients, or a silicone spatula or mixing spoon so that you don’t crush the cereal as you stir!
Ingredients
These simple ingredients are all you need to make this easy recipe. Make sure you add these things to your grocery list before you go shopping:
- rice Chex
- honey-nut Chex
- corn Chex
- bite-sized pretzels
- mixed nuts
- cheez-it crackers
- goldfish crackers
- butter
- garlic salt
Substitutions and Variations
You can just use specific nuts like cashews or peanuts if you prefer them to mixed nuts. If you have a nut allergy, feel free to leave out the mixed nuts.
Pretzel sticks will work just as well as pretzel twists. Those bite-sized square pretzels will work too.
Add in anything you want to this original chex mix recipe. Rye chips, sesame sticks, potato sticks, pumpkin seeds, oyster crackers, cheerios — the list could go on!
Use any type of Chex cereal you want. Wheat Chex could be swapped out as a substitution, or added in as an extra cereal. Any combination of these crunchy cereals will work.
Both salted and unsalted butter will work in this recipe. You can also simply use a mixture of garlic powder and salt if you do not have garlic salt.
For a cheesy twist on this recipe, mix the finished product with some cheddar cheese popcorn salt. Just keep in mind that you’ll likely need to reduce the garlic salt to balance out the flavors.
How to make this Chex Mix recipe
Follow these step by step instructions to make this classic favorite snack:
Preheat your oven to 300°F (150°C) and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
In a large bowl, mix cereals, pretzels, nuts and cheeze-its together. Then, melt butter in a small microwave-safe bowl or on the stovetop in a sauce pan. Mix in the garlic salt and then pour the butter mixture over the dry ingredients.
Stir the cereal mixture as you pour the melted butter so that all of the ingredients are well incorporated.
Pour the seasoned Chex mix onto the previously prepared baking sheet and spread it into a single layer. Bake for 15-20 minutes.
Allow to cool, then pour it into a large serving bowl, add the goldfish, and serve!
Tips & tricks
Check out these few simple tips to make this delicious snack extra perfect:
- If you are unable to fit all of the chex mix in one layer on the parchment paper lined baking sheet, then bake in batches. Don’t overcrowd the cereal mixture or the buttery seasoning won’t get baked into the cereal well.
- Be careful when mixing the butter into the Chex mixture. Don’t crush the cereal, pretzels, or crackers!
- Allow the snack mix to completely cool before storing. Any condensation in a storage container would cause the cereal and crackers to become stale or soggy.
What to serve with Chex Mix
If you’re a fan of salty and sweet combos, this snack mix pair wonderfully with some caramel corn or puppy chow corn. Regular puppy chow would be great too! Or, you could even mix in some candies like M&M’s or chocolate chips once the Chex mix has cooled.
Pair this salty snack with other delicious favorites like spicy southern cheese straws and homemade pita chips with whipped feta dip.
This would be the perfect snack pairing with drinks like beeritas, sangrita, or a ranch water cocktail too. Anything a bit citrusy would be so tasty with this crunchy and salty Chex mix recipe!
FAQ
Generally speaking, it is going to be more affordable to make homemade versions of your store-bought favorites. That is definitely true with Chex mix! Making your own snack mix packs more bang for your buck than buying it in a store.
The buttery mixture over cereal requires that this snack mix be baked long enough that it soaks in and crisps up the cereal. It is also important not to overcrowd the cereal so that there is plenty of space for each piece to bake well. Try to keep the Chex mix in a single layer on the baking sheet so that it bakes evenly and thoroughly.
Chex mix is best fresh, but it will last up to a week in an airtight container or ziptop plastic bag at room temperature. During the holidays, you can put it in holiday tins to gift too!
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Easy Chex Mix
ingredients
- 2 cups Rice Chex
- 2 cups Honey-Nut Chex
- 2 cups Corn Chex
- 2 cups bite-sized pretzels
- 1 cup mixed nuts
- 1 cup Cheez-Its
- 1 cup Goldfish crackers
- ½ cup butter melted
- 2 teaspoons garlic salt
instructions
- Preheat oven to 300℉ (150°C) and line your cookie sheet with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, mix together all of the Chex cereals, pretzels, nuts and Cheez-its.
- Mix the garlic salt with the melted butter and slowly pour over the cereal mixture, stirring to incorporate the butter mixture in with the cereal mixture.
- Add the whole mixture to your lined baking sheet in one layer and bake for 15-20. The mixture should be lightly toasted, you’ll know when it's done when they start to golden. (Repeat if the Chex mix mixture doesn’t fit in one layer on your lined baking sheet.)
- Allow to cool fully. Then add to a bowl and stir in the Goldfish.
notes
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