Best Chex Mix Recipe

This delicious Chex Mix recipe makes a bold, crunchy, salty and completely irresistible treat! And it always makes me think of my sweet grandpa. Chex mix and peanut brittle were his two specialties that he always made during the holidays. As a child, I have so many amazing memories of passing around the Christmas tin filled to the brim with his addicting snack mix. My mom always stole the cashews and I always had to get the perfect ratio of wheat to rice to corn Chex. Sometimes he would even mix in Crispix cereal.

We typically reserve Chex Mix for Christmastime, but really it’s perfect for any holiday celebrations, birthdays, potlucks, game days — you name it! This crispy, savory, nutty snack mix is the perfect shareable treat. It also makes a great edible gift for friends or neighbors during the holiday season.

My grandpa’s recipe was pretty simple and similar to the original Chex party mix. However, he didn’t include the pretzels or bagel chips. I’ve taken his cherished recipe and made just a few tweaks to make it even tastier. We’re adding bagel chips, Dot’s Homestyle Pretzels and even more flavor! You’ve got to try this crowd favorite! Trust me, your family will be so in love with this amazing treat!

Ingredients needed

We have picked out all of the different ingredients for the perfect combination for this Chex mix recipe. However, it’s super easy to customize, so feel free to use preferred amounts or other ingredients you like. Here’s everything you’ll need:

• Chex cereal. The perfect ratio of cereal (in my opinion) is 3 cups Corn Chex, 3 cups Rice Chex, and 2 cups Wheat Chex. Use any combination of the three that you prefer. You can even mix in Cheerios and/or Crispix.
• Mixed nuts. We upped the nuts from 1 cup to 1 1/2 cups for extra crunchy nuttiness. I like to use Planters brand containing: peanuts, almonds, cashews, Brazil nuts and pecans; just like my grandpa did.
• Bite-size pretzels. You can totally use regular pretzels, but I highly recommend giving Dot’s Homestyle Pretzels a try (seen in the photo below). They’re SO good and available at most grocery stores and Target.
• Bagel chips. We like New York Style roasted garlic flavored bagel chips, but any brand and flavor works great.
• Butter. Melted butter is necessary for giving the snack mix that golden brown exterior and buttery flavor.
• Worcestershire sauce. A must for adding a complex umami (savory flavor).
• Seasoned salt. I like Lawry’s brand, but any that you have on hand should be fine.

How to make this recipe

Besides being delicious, this Chex mix recipe is also quite effortless. Toss, stir and bake! It’s ready in less than an hour. What’s not to love?! Here’s the simple method:

1. Prepare ingredients. Add all of the Chex cereal, nuts, pretzel sticks and bagel chips to a very large bowl and mix to combine. Set aside. You are going to mix all of these ingredients with a delicious butter seasoning before baking.
2. Make the seasoned butter. In a small bowl, whisk the melted butter with Worcestershire sauce and seasoned salt. Pour butter mixture over cereal mixture and stir gently to combine.
3. Bake. Line a very large sheet pan (21×15-inch), large roasting pan or two smaller baking sheets with foil or parchment paper. Transfer the Chex mix to the sheet pan(s) and spread out as evenly as possible. Bake at 250ºF for 45 minutes total, stirring every 15 minutes.
4. Cool and enjoy. Cool for about 30 minutes before storing for later or serving.

Expert tips

• Slow & low. Baking the Chex Mix at a low temperature for a long period of time is the key to a perfectly crisp snack. It bakes the buttery seasoning into the ingredients until they are golden and toasted. We recommend mixing it well every 15 minutes throughout the cooking process, so that it will toast slowly and evenly.
• Baking vs. microwaving. Many Chex mix recipes (including the original) have you simply melt some butter, pour it over the ingredients and microwave everything. For best results, we recommend baking it in the oven. It will be toastier, crunchier and way more flavorful. Think of it like the difference between raw nuts and toasted nuts. Toasted is always better!
• Ratio of ingredients. The specific amounts of cereal, nuts, pretzels, bagel crackers, butter and seasoning is what makes this the best Chex Mix recipe ever! I’ve tried the original recipe on the Chex website and this is SO much tastier.
• Gift-giving. Give this classic Chex mix away as a delicious holiday treat. We love to make extra batches for the mailman, teachers and others. Place it in a mason jar and tie a cute ribbon around it.

Variations

Snack mix recipes like this one are super easy to customize. The important thing is the ratio of dry to liquid ingredients, so just make sure to keep the total number of cups of dry snacks the same as the recipe and you’re golden! Otherwise, mix and match as you please. Here’s some options:

• Nuts. If you only want cashews in your mix, then only add cashews. To make this nut-free, simply omit all of the nuts and add in 1 to 1 1/2 cups of a different dry ingredient.
• Cereal/crackers. If you hate wheat Chex, leave them out and use more of a different cereal. If you are always eating the bagel chips first, then add more!
• Other add-ins. Cheez-Its or any cheese crackers, Goldfish crackers, miniature breadsticks, M&Ms, chocolate chips, raisins are all great choices!
• Make it spicy. Add a dash or two of cayenne pepper to the butter mixture for some heat.
• Half the recipe. Want a small batch? Simply cut all of the ingredients in half. The cooking instructions remain the same.

Frequently asked questions

Storage tips

• Storing: Store leftovers in an airtight container or a gallon-size zippered plastic storage bag with as much air as possible pressed out. It will keep for a couple of weeks. Will it last that long? Probably not. Unless you hide it.
• Freezer option: If you want this to last longer than a couple of weeks, store it in a freezer-safe container and freeze for up to 3 months.

If you try this recipe, let me know! Leave a comment and if your family loves it as much as mine does, be sure to give it a five star ⭐️ rating! Also, tag @kimscravings on Instagram with a picture of your creation. Be sure to subscribe to our mailing list to receive more healthy delicious recipes straight to your inbox.