Best Chex Mix Recipe

5 from 9 votes
9 Comments

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This Chex mix recipe is the BEST snack for family get-togethers or parties with friends. It is toasty, savory, and completely addicting! This Chex mix recipe comes together quickly and is much better than the store-bought version.

Three bowls of chex mix on a table
Feautred with this recipe
  1. Chex Mix Recipe Ingredients
  2. Seasoning Sauce Ingredients
  3. Step by Step Instructions
  4. Make it Gluten-Free
  5. Tips and Variations for the Classic Chex Mix
  6. Rave Reviews
  7. Frequently Asked Questions
  8. Storing and Making Ahead Homemade Chex Mix
  9. More Snack Recipes
  10. More Chex Mix Recipes
  11. How to Make Chex Mix
  12. Best Chex Mix Recipe Recipe

When our family gets together we love to play games, especially team card games that tend to go on for hours. All the vigorous gaming activity means we need to stock up on snacks to keep everyone filled and energized. I have a pretty lengthy list of snacks that I make on rotation, but this Chex mix recipe almost always makes an appearance. Plus, it will fill your house with the most amazing flavor as it bakes, which is a win-win in my book.

This Chex mix recipe is also the perfect snack for football games, parties, and any other type of get-together. Just place a serving bowl out with a scoop and some individual bowls and watch it fly off the table. I can practically guarantee you will not have any leftovers.

Chex Mix Recipe Ingredients

Another reason to love this simple homemade Chex mix recipe is that it can be customized to your preferences. I have a list of suggested ingredients below, but if you don’t like one of the ingredients, just leave it out and adjust the volume of something else to make up for it!

  • Chex cereal – Combine three Chex mix kinds of cereal together. Rice, corn, and wheat have different textures and flavors to each of them. The wheat Chex cereal is a dark brown color, harder, and dry compared to the other two. Some people also like to use Crispix cereal.
  • Club cracker minis – These are so cute, and adorable, and pop in your mouth so easily. They are buttery and rich in this sweet and savory mix. Other options are goldfish crackers or mini ritz crackers.
  • Pretzel sticks – Added in for more of a salty crunch! You can also do mini pretzels.
  • Cheerios cereal – Sweetness is needed with this savory combination. These little round “o’s” are the perfect little snack to add to the snack mix.
  • Peanuts – Crunchy and salty is just what this mix needs. It brings in a delicious boost of flavor every time! You can also add or sub other nuts like almonds, pistachios, cashews, or hazelnuts.
Ingredients for chex mix including, corn chex, wheat chex, rice chex, pretzel sticks, cheerios, mini club crackers, peanuts, garlic powder, seasoning salt, worcestershire sauce, and butter.


Seasoning Sauce Ingredients

Mix ingredients together to make a sweet, salty, and savory sauce that is drizzled over the top of the mixture. It is a buttery and delicious flavor that bakes right into the famous snack. It is the best combination!

  • Butter – Melt the butter in the microwave to easily stir together. The melted butter mixture will combine all the seasonings together and give the Chex mix a crispy texture when baked.
  • Worcestershire sauce – This sauce is hard to say but it has so many amazing flavors within it! Sweet, savory, tangy, and salty make the perfect balance among the Chex mix mixture.
  • Seasoning salt – Salty, strong, and savory seasoning has loads of flavor and can be used on so many recipes. Be sure to keep this in your pantry to have on hand!
  • Garlic powder – Add in the garlicky taste and flavor! It is a MUST for this party mix.
A close up view of chex mix showing off all of the ingredients

Step by Step Instructions

Our Chex mix recipe is loaded with 3 kinds of Chex cereal, crackers, Cheerios, pretzels, and peanuts tossed and baked in savory flavors. Bagel chips, nuts, and cereal mixture in every bite. It is salty, savory, and addicting!

  1. Stir – Add all the dry ingredients to a large bowl and toss them together. In a small bowl, whisk together the ingredients for the seasoning sauce.
  2. Seasoning sauce – Pour the sauce over the dry ingredients while mixing. Continue to mix until all the ingredients are evenly coated with seasoning.
  3. Baking sheet – Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper or a Silpat baking mat. Spread the Chex mix mixture in an even layer over the top of the baking pan.
  4. Preheat oven – Bake at 250 degrees for 1 hour, then spread out over paper towels on the counter to cool.
  5. Cool to Room Temperature

Make it Gluten-Free

This recipe can also be turned into a gluten-free Chex mix recipe fairly easily. Chex cereal itself is gluten-free, except for the wheat flavor. This Chex mix recipe calls for corn and rice Chex, both of which are already GF. Rather than doing all three Chex bowls of cereal, just do a mix of the corn and rice versions and skip the wheat altogether.

You’ll just need to sub in whatever your preferred gluten-free pretzels and crackers are, and make sure to choose a GF Worcestershire sauce and you’re set. As an added bonus, this Chex mix recipe is already vegetarian as well. In short, this really is the perfect snack to make that nearly everyone can munch on and enjoy.

A vertical shot of three bowls of chex mix

Tips and Variations for the Classic Chex Mix

You know there are always great ways to add in, substitute, or make Chex mix even better with these helpful tips and variations. Try new ways and ingredients in your Chex party mix!

  • Add – Try popcorn, chocolate chips, marshmallows, cheese crackers, or another type of Chex cereal.
  • Seasoning – Substitute garlic powder for onion powder or add it with the garlic powder. Cinnamon or cayenne pepper is also another great savoy and spicy seasoning to try.
  • Nuts – Use a softer nut like cashews, pecans, or almonds.
  • Roasting pan – Double the recipe and use a large roasting pan to bake. Stir every few minutes to bake evenly coat with the seasoning.

Rave Reviews

“This was so easy to make! Loved this homemade version and so much better than store bought.”

-Emily L.

We’ve been trying a few of your Chex Mix recipes. They are so delicious. I love this savory one. I tend to add more garlic powder.

-Lizet

Frequently Asked Questions

Where did the Chex mix originate from?

Chex was created by the Ralston-Purina Company back in the 1950s. They were not able to sell as many at that time so it was a form of combining to help them sell Wheat and Rice Chex cereal. At that time there was no corn Chex cereal. Now, the company has gone through several ownership changes and today it is part of General Mills.

Is it cheaper to buy Chex mix or make your own?

Homemade is always best! Making your own and seeing exactly what ingredients are going into the recipe is always rewarding and most of the time healthier. Making your own Chex mix is cheaper than buying a bag at the store. The first time you make it, the ingredients may seem high but creating several batches and seeing the number of batches you can make compared to buying is a lot cheaper.

Why is my Chex mix soggy?

If your Chex mix is chewy, then you can add more mixture ingredients. This can mean there was not a good balance of the liquid and snack mixture or there are parts of the mixture that was not stirred and mixed together leaving a few chewy and soggy areas.

A bowl of chex mix

Storing and Making Ahead Homemade Chex Mix

This Chex mix can be made ahead of time and either stored in jars or bags or eaten right away. Chex mix tastes freshest when served within two to three days. It will last in an airtight container for up to two weeks long.

More Snack Recipes

More Chex Mix Recipes

I wasn’t joking when I said we love a good Chex mix recipe. Here are a few other versions of this simple, quick snack you can try.

How to Make Chex Mix

A side view of three bowls of chex mix

Best Chex Mix Recipe

5 from 9 votes
This Best Chex Mix is the perfect snack for family get togethers. It is toasty and savory and addicting! So much better than store bought! 
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 10 minutes
Course Appetizer, Snack
Cuisine American
Servings 12

Video

Ingredients

  • 3 cups rice chex cereal
  • 3 cups corn chex cereal
  • 3 cups wheat chex cereal
  • 2 cups Club cracker minis
  • 2 cups pretzel sticks
  • 1 cup Cheerios cereal
  • 1 cup peanuts

For the seasoning sauce:

  • 1/4 cup butter melted
  • 1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tablespoon seasoning salt (I use Lawry's or Johnny's seasoning salt)
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder

Instructions

  • Add all the dry ingredients to a large bowl. In a small bowl.
    Dry ingredients for chex mix inside a bowl
  • Whisk together the ingredients for the seasoning sauce.
    A bowl of Seasoning Sauce for chex mix.
  • Pour the sauce over the dry ingredients while mixing. Continue to mix until all the ingredients are evenly coated with seasoning.
    A bowl of chex mix that has been stirred and mixed with seasoning sauce.
  • Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper or a silpat baking mat, and spread the mix evenly over the top.
    Chex mix laid on a pan with parchment paper.
  • Bake at 250 degrees for 1 hour, then spread out over paper towels on the counter to cool.
    A close up view of chex mix showing off all of the ingredients
  • When completely cool, store in an airtight container, or ziplock bag.
    A bowl of chex mix

Nutrition Information

Calories: 290kcalCarbohydrates: 43gProtein: 8gFat: 11gSaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 10mgSodium: 1087mgPotassium: 260mgFiber: 4gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 720IUVitamin C: 6.8mgCalcium: 113mgIron: 11.5mg

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About the author

Emily Walker

Emily lives in Meridian, Idaho, with her husband, Beau, a physician assistant, and her three incredible children: a son and two daughters. Travel is one of her favorite ways to experience new cultures and cuisines, and she has a love for all things Disney.

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Southern Utah University and Ricks College

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Co-Author of Favorite Family Recipes 3 Cookbooks:
Favorite Family Recipes
A Year of Favorites
and Most Requested Copycat Dishes

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Comments

    1. I either use Lawry’s Seasoning Salt or Johnny’s Seasoning Salt. Either one works great. Thanks for asking!

  1. Note: This recipe isn’t vegetarian if using true Worcestershire sauce, even per your link, as it includes anchovies (fish). There are different vegan varieties of Worcestershire sauce out there, if anyone is trying to make this as a vegetarian snack.

  2. When my aunt did this years ago they had no small crackers in it. At the time it was called
    nuts and bolts because of the pretzel sticks and cherrios. Was great then and it should
    be now. Will make some for this holiday.

  3. 5 stars
    We’ve been trying a few of your Chex Mix recipes. They are so delicious. I live this savory one. I tend to add more garlic powder 🙈😁

  4. 5 stars
    This sounds so easy to make and so delicious too! I love a good Chex Mix and this one looks great.