Homemade Chex Mix Recipe (2024)

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Forget bland, boring snacks – this Chex Mix recipe is a bold, flavorful explosion in every bite, with a crunchy-salty flavor and texture. Grab a bowl, and get ready to rediscover the joy of a snack that's both classic and crazy-good. It'll keep you coming back for seconds (and thirds). This is a huge, delicious batch with lots to share!

Homemade Chex Mix Recipe (1)

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Whatever you call it, the Bits & Bites, Nuts & Bolts or Chex mix, or whatever name you use, it's so good! It is so good! The the beautiful thing about this recipe is that it's versatile. You can adapt it. You season it for your family. I'll give you the ingredients and variations I have used. This is a big batch. It gets better as it ages for a couple of days. I love the big batch because I always give some away. And the bits & bites (aka Chex Mix or Nuts an Bolts) are always appreciated!

If you love these snacks, look at my easy seasoned pretzel recipe. The pretzels are seasoned with garlic and ranch mix! Yum. If you are looking for a sweet snack, try this delicious puppy chow!

Table of contents

  • Why I love this recipe
  • Ingredients
    • The cereal mixture
    • The seasoning mixture
  • Instructions
  • Storage
  • FAQs
  • Delicious treats

Why I love this recipe

I love the flavor and the texture of this snack mix. It's deliciously salty and crunchy! Somehow, this recipe became a holiday tradition in my family about 20 years ago when my kids were little.

It seems to get better over time! Let it sit for a couple of days if you can, and then the flavor will be even better!

This recipe is good enough for gift-giving. I have given it to friends, neighbors, teachers and hosts over the years. It has always been enjoyed and appreciated by others!

Ingredients

The cereal mixture

  • Two boxes of Chex mix - one wheat and one corn. I have substituted Crispex cereal and that worked well too! It had one side corn and the other side wheat.
  • A large box of Cheerios. For this recipe I use the regular brand name Cheerios. Use the brand that your family regularly eats.
  • A pound of co*cktail peanuts. The salty ones!
  • Pretzels - a pound of either the small traditional ones or the small sticks.

Other items you can add or substitute into this mixture would be cheese puffs, cheese crackers, rye chips, goldfish crackers, bagel chips, and/or whole wheat Chex cereal.

The seasoning mixture

  • One cup of butter (2 sticks)
  • light-tasting vegetable or canola oil (not olive oil)
  • Celery Salt (Onion salt can be substituted)
  • Garlic Salt
  • Seasoned salt (I like Lawry's)
  • Worcester sauce

Instructions

Preheat oven to 250º Fahrenheit.

Step 1
Get the biggest roasting pan you own. Or two of them. Or buy a couple of foil roasting pans. As I mentioned earlier, this makes LOTS!

Mix all the cereal, peanuts, and pretzels together. These Chex mix Bits and Bites are meant to be shared! It makes lots but stores well.

Step 2
In a saucepan, melt the butter. Easy on the heat; you don't want to scorch it. Add the oil.

Add all your seasonings and Worcester sauce to the oil mixture. Keep the heat low and keep stirring for about 5 minutes. The seasonings won't all dissolve. You are doing this so the butter/oil mixture will become flavored with the seasonings.

Step 4
Take off the heat and let cool for a couple of minutes. Then, take a large serving spoon, stir your mixture of goodness, and make sure you grab some of the seasonings at the bottom of the oil & seasoning mixture.

Step 4
Drizzle over the top of the cereal mixture. Continue until you have used about ⅓ of your oil mixture. Mix well. Add another ⅓ of the oil mixture, then mix well again. Repeat once more

Step 6
Place it into your preheated oven. After 15 minutes, stir the mixture well. After an hour in the oven at 250ºF, turn the oven off and leave the mixture in the oven. Leave it for at least 2 hours or overnight. Give it a good stir every few hours unless you are leaving it overnight.

Storage

1. Use that big metal popcorn container you kept from last year.
2. Any large food container.
3. Gallon sized closable plastic bags (like Ziplock)

I put mine in batches into gallon-sized closable plastic bags. Even if you put your bits and bites in a large container, I recommend plastic zip-type bags. It just helps keep the flavors in and prevents staleness. If you keep them sealed, they will last about a week. If you can store your snacks in a cooler area, I have kept mine for up to 2 weeks.

FAQs

This is a BIG batch. Can I cut it in half?

Sure, you can do that! I just don't like the partial boxes of cereal left over.

Can I just melt the butter in the microwave?

Yes, you can. Just make sure to heat once more once everything is mixed and let it sit for a few minutes to cool, prior to drizzling onto the cereal mixture.

Can I substitute something for the 5 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce?

I never have and I wouldn't make this recipe without it.

Delicious treats

  • Easy Puppy Chow Recipe
  • Peanut Butter Cookies - 3 Ingredients
  • Easy Seasoned Pretzels

Homemade Chex Mix Recipe (15)

Homemade Chex Mix Recipe

Forget bland, boring snacks – this Chex Mix recipe is a bold, flavorful explosion in every bite, with a crunchy-salty flavor and texture. Grab a bowl, and get ready to rediscover the joy of a snack that's both classic and crazy-good. It'll keep you coming back for seconds (and thirds). This is a huge, delicious batch with lots to share!

5 from 1 vote

Print Pin Rate

Course: Snack

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 5 minutes minutes

Roasting and cooling time: 3 hours hours

Total Time: 3 hours hours 15 minutes minutes

Servings: 20 servings

Calories: 352Kcal

Author: Susan Moncrieff

Equipment

  • 1 Large Roasting pan that will hold 3 boxes worth of cereal.

Ingredients

Cereal and Snack Mix

  • 1 box Chex cereal - wheat
  • 1 box Chex cereal - corn
  • 1 box Cheerios Large box
  • 1 lb co*cktail peanuts
  • 1 lb pretzels the smaller twist ones or the sticks

The Seasoning Mix

  • ½ lb butter two sticks
  • ½ cup vegetable or canola oil
  • 1 tablespoon celery salt can substitute onion salt
  • 1 tablespoon garlic salt
  • 1 tbsp seasoned salt I like Lawry's
  • 5 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 250℉

  • I use a large roasting pan to mix and heat. Or, foil pans are also an option.

  • Mix all ingredients under the label of Cereal and Snack Mixture.

  • In a saucepan, melt butter. Add oil. Then add all the ingredients under Seasonings. Heat on low for 5 minutes, stirring often.

    Not all of the seasonings will dissolve into the butter and oil mixture.

  • Cool for 5 minutes then using a large spoon, drizzle oil and seasoned mixture over cereal mixture. I usually do ⅓ of the oil and seasoning mixture, mix well into the cereal mixture and repeat two more times.

  • Place in the 250℉ oven for 1 hour, mixing every 15 minutes.

    Turn off oven and leave mixture in oven for 2 or so hours, stirring occasionally. I leave it in the oven overnight to cool!

  • Once cooled to room temperature, package in gallon-sized zip-closing bags. Or, if you have large food storage containers that close, that works too!

Notes

Storage

1. Use that big metal popcorn container you kept from last year.
2. Any large food container.
3. Gallon sized closable plastic bags (like Ziplock)

I put mine in batches into gallon-sized closable plastic bags. Even if you put your bits and bites in a large container, I recommend plastic zip-type bags. It just helps keep the flavors in and prevents staleness. If you keep them sealed, they will last about a week. If you can store your snacks in a cooler area, I have kept mine for up to 2 weeks.

Nutrition Disclaimer

Nutrition information is an estimate only provided as a courtesy using an ingredient database. Garnish and optional ingredients are not included in the calculations.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 352Kcal | Carbohydrates: 23g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 26g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 8g | Monounsaturated Fat: 9g | Trans Fat: 0.4g | Cholesterol: 24mg | Sodium: 1555mg | Potassium: 264mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 291IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 37mg | Iron: 2mg

Originally published Dec. 13, 2014 - yes, a long time ago!

Homemade Chex Mix Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How to make Chex mixes? ›

  1. In large microwavable bowl, mix cereals, nuts, pretzels and bagel chips; set aside. In small microwavable bowl, microwave butter uncovered on High about 40 seconds or until melted. Stir in seasonings. ...
  2. Microwave uncovered on High 5 to 6 minutes, thoroughly stirring every 2 minutes. Spread on paper towels to cool.

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

Homemade Chex Mix Is Cheaper AND More Delicious Than The Store-Bought Stuff. Chex Mix offers variety: the crisp cereal, toasty pretzels, the unique crunch of the bagel chips. This homemade recipe puts the store-bought to shame.

Why is my homemade Chex mix soggy? ›

Using too much liquid. Don't go over the recipe's suggested liquid amounts; that is a sure way to get soggy mix (which, again, nobody wants). Follow this tip: If you need to make a change in liquid ingredients, just keep the amount the same.

What is a substitute for Worcestershire sauce in Chex mix? ›

The best Worcestershire sauce substitute? A combination of soy sauce, ketchup, and white wine vinegar! This combination is a mix of pantry ingredients that tastes oddly similar to the real thing.

What is in traditional Chex mix? ›

Original Chex™ Party Mix (1/2 Batch)
  • 3 tablespoons butter or margarine.
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce.
  • 3/4 teaspoon seasoned salt.
  • 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder.
  • 1/4 teaspoon onion powder.
  • 1 1/2 cups Corn Chex™ cereal.
  • 1 1/2 cups Rice Chex™ cereal.
  • 1 1/2 cups Wheat Chex™ cereal.

What makes Chex mix so good? ›

Seasoned salt: This old-school seasoning has a blend of onion, garlic, spices, and salt. We like Lawry's for Chex mix. Onion and garlic powders: These give the Chex mix a deeper, more savory taste. Worcestershire sauce: A generous amount of lends a subtle savoriness that rounds all the flavors out.

Is Chex Mix healthy or unhealthy? ›

Who doesn't love traditional Chex Mix? It's salty, crunchy, and everyone has a favorite item– the perfect party snack! But sadly, what makes it taste so good also makes Chex Mix not the healthiest option. It's full of refined grains, sugar, and tons of sodium.

Is homemade Chex Mix healthier than chips? ›

Chex mix is a better option to consume than regular potato chips and is high in calories. Manufacturers add niacin and thiamine mononitrate into the chips to increase nutrients.

How do you keep Chex Mix from getting soggy? ›

The best tip for avoiding the sogginess is the make sure to stir up the mixture well each 15 minutes as it bakes. This will allow the chex mix to cook evenly and allow all pieces to get baked and crispy. After baking, make sure to store in a airtight container or Ziploc.

What is the dark brown thing in Chex Mix? ›

The brown, round things you are referring to in Chex Mix are known as "Wheat Chex." Wheat Chex is a type of cereal made from whole wheat, and it is a common ingredient in various Chex Mix varieties.

What is the least favorite Chex Mix piece? ›

Other than the rye chip, nothing brought more people together than pretzels — combined, 38% marked the circle and square pretzels as the worst pieces.

How long is homemade Chex Mix good for? ›

Make Ahead Instructions: Chex mix tastes freshest when served within 2-3 days of making it, but it will last stored in an air-tight container at room temperature for up to 2 weeks. Freezing Instructions: Chex mix freezes great! Store in freezer-safe container or bag for up to 3 months.

What is the secret ingredient in Worcestershire sauce? ›

And then add you to the sauce. Seriously, British and American Worcestershire sauce's secret ingredient is fermented fish (usually anchovies). It was originally derived from Greco-Raman condiment called garum.

What cancels out the taste of Worcestershire sauce? ›

Dilute with Water. One of the simplest ways to reduce the salty and pungent flavor of too much Worcestershire sauce is to dilute it with water. This will lower the concentration of the sauce, resulting in a less intense flavor. You can also add a bit of sugar or honey to.

What flavor does Worcestershire add? ›

Much like fish sauce or soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce is known for its punchy umami flavor—that deeply savory characteristic that makes you want to add it to everything. In Worcestershire sauce, this comes from anchovies.

How is Chex Mix cereal made? ›

Combine the Corn Chex, Wheat Chex, Rice Chex, Cheerios, pretzels, and nuts in a large disposable aluminum pan or roasting pan. In a medium bowl, whisk together the butter, Worcestershire sauce, seasoned salt, garlic powder, onion powder, and thyme. Pour slowly over the snack mix, stirring as you go, to coat evenly.

What are the brown chips in Chex Mix made of? ›

Rye chips – ever wonder what the little brown things in Chex mix are? They are rye chips, and our favorite little thing that makes this version stand out from other homemade types! If you're making this on the fly, garlic bagel chips are usually easier to find at the grocery store, and still really tasty.

Is Chex Mix healthier? ›

With a total fat amount of just 15% of the daily limit and only 2.8 grams of sugar, Chex Mix is perhaps one of the healthiest snacks (other than fruits and veggies) that you can have. We recommend simply limiting your amount to one or two ounces because of the fairly high sodium content.

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