Best Homemade Chex Mix Recipe

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This homemade Chex Mix recipe is a tried and true, slow-roasted, savory, spicy, crunchy, buttery combination of ordinary but different everyday nibbles. What sets this recipe apart from all the other thousands of Chex Mix recipes is the perfect blend of butter, spices, and Cheese Puffs…yes Cheese Puffs…need I say more?

The original recipe for this special Chex mix has been in my husband’s family for as long as he can remember. He has very special memories of his sweet mom Mildred making it every Christmas. When she passed his big sister took over and has diligently carried on the tradition following the original recipe to the peanut (LOL)!

Long story short…she never makes enough for my family of four, her family, her grandkids, and friends to adequately satisfy everyone’s Chex mix cravings…she would have to start in June to accomplish that! So I had to start making it!

Of course, as always, I never follow a recipe exactly…gotta put my spin on things…so here’s my take on Mildred’s Chex Mix.

THE BEST CHEX MIX INGREDIENTS

Dry Ingredients

• 4 cups Cheese Puffs (cheese curls, Cheetos), I mixed Cheese Puffs & White Cheddar Cheese Puffs
• 2 cups thin pretzels
• 2 cups Cheerios
• 1 cup mini saltines (or oyster crackers)
• 2 cups Rice Chex
• 2 cups Corn Chex
• 1.5 cup dry roasted peanuts more or less to taste

Sauce Ingredients

• 8 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• 3 tbsp chili powder more or less to taste
• 1 tsp cumin powder
• 2 tsp hot sauce more or less to taste
• 2 tsp onion powder
• 1 tbsp garlic powder more or less to taste
• 1 stick butter (8 tbsp)

HOW TO MAKE THE BEST CHEX MIX

Instructions

• STEP ONE: Place the first 7 ingredients in a large bowl or roasting pan. Mix up gently.
• STEP TWO: Over low heat melt the butter…be careful not to burn. Add the seasonings…Worchestershire, chili, onion, garlic, cumin powder, and hot sauce to taste.
• STEP THREE: Pour over the dry snack mix and stir preferably with a rubber spatula or wooden spoon. Mix until everything is evenly coated….this will take about 15 minutes of constant gentle stirring.
• STEP FOUR: Heat oven to 215°. Place coated mix on large baking sheets (this will probably take 2) or use a large roasting pan with at least 2″ sides. Make sure the mix is spread out evenly and not deep.
• STEP FIVE: Stir every 15 minutes for an hour or until crispy and yummy.
• STEP SIX: Cool on cut-up brown paper sacks, newspaper, or paper towels until cool.
• STEP SEVEN: Store in large plastic bags or plastic tubs. Enjoy!!!

OPTIONAL CRUNCHY INGREDIENTS

Just browse throught the snack isles and you can come up with your own version of this special treat. A few items I’ve included over the years are below👇

• garlic rye crisps
• goldfish
• fritos
• wheat chex
• oyster crackers
• pecans
• cheez its
• cashews
• bagel chips

CHEESE PUFF CHEX MIX RECIPE ITEMS

ALTERNATIVE CHEX MIX BAKING METHODS

While oven roasted Chex Mix is the prefered method with…in my opinion…the most delicious outcome, you can also make this vintage snack mix in the Crockpot or the Air Fryer!

While the Crockpot might seem like it would be the easiest, hands free method, the truth is it takes more time (2 hours at the least on low) and you still have to stir it. Plus, in my opinion, it’s not as toasty. The enclosed area is much smaller than an oven and it tends to “steam” the mix.

The Air Fryer Method is a really good alternative method to oven roasting especially if you want to make an individual portion. I filled the Air Fryer basket half way up with the Chex Mix mix, set the fryer on 300 degrees for 10 minutes. In 2 minutes intervals, I pulled the basket out and shook it…then resumed cooking. It was super yummy and a lot less clean up!

HELPFUL KITCHEN ITEMS

KITCHEN TIPS FOR CHEX MIX

Chex Mix is one of those tasty treats that never comes out the exact same and is so easily personalized to fit your taste buds.

The recipe is very straight forward and extremely simple to double.

If you like a little more garlic flavor…like my husband does… replace one of the chili powder tablespoons for garlic powder.

Use 1 tablespoon of Chiplote Chili Powder in place of regular Chili Powder for a different spice taste. If you really like it hot then try substituting 1 or 2 tablespoons of Chili Powder with Jalapeno Powder…Yum!

You can make this mix weeks ahead and store in sealed plastic bags or containers…it’s really much better if you allow the flavors to “meld” over a week or two.

Give this cherished family Chex Mix as friend and family gifts around the holidays. Everyone needs their own can of this glorious stuff!

Print Pin

Spicy Chex Mix

Crunchy, spicy, savory Chex Mix with Cheetos, mini saltines, pretzels, nuts, and chex cereal.

Course Appetizer, Snack

Cuisine American

Keyword cereal, cheetos, chex, savory, spicy

Servings 12

Calories 120kcal

Author Elise

Ingredients

• 4 cups Cheese Puffs (cheese curls, cheetos) I mixed Cheese Puffs & White Cheddar Cheese Puffs
• 2 cups thin pretzels
• 2 cups Cheerios
• 1 cup mini saltines (or oyster crackers)
• 2 cups Rice Chex
• 2 cups Corn Chex
• 1.5 cup dry roasted peanuts more or less to taste

Sauce Ingredients

• 8 tbsp worchestershire sauce
• 3 tbsp chili powder more or less to taste
• 1 tsp cumin
• 2 tsp hot sauce more or less to taste
• 2 tsp onion powder
• 1 tbsp garlic powder more or less to taste
• 1 stick butter (8 tbsp)

Instructions

• Place the first 7 ingredients in a large bowl or roasting pan. Mix up gently.
• Over low heat melt the butter…be careful not to burn. Add the seasonings…Worchestershire, chili, onion, garlic, cumin powder, and hot sauce to taste.
• Pour over the dry snack mix and stir preferable with a rubber spatula or wooden spoon. Mix until everything is evenly coated….this will take about 15 minutes of constant gentle stirring.
• Heat oven to 215°. Place coated mix on large baking sheets (this will probably take 2) or use a large roasting pan with at least 2" sides. Make sure the mix is spread out evenly and not deep.
• Stir every 15 minutes for an hour or until crispy and yummy.
• Cool on cut up brown paper sacks, newspaper, or paper towels until cool.
• Store in large plastic bags or plastic tubs. Enjoy!!!

Notes

Extra Notes: Make weeks ahead of the holidays and give this as a delicious gift.

 

MORE GOOD SNACKING STUFF FROM THE CONTRACTOR’S CASTLE

Simple Spicy Everything Snack Crackers

Easy Italian Dill Snacks

Zesty Italian Mini Pretzels

Easy Fiesta Chedder Crackers

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