Your search for the perfect homemade Chex mix ends here – this from scratch Chex mix is made with cereal, crackers, pretzels and nuts, and is SO much better than the recipe on the box!
Once you try making your own Chex party mix, you’ll never go back to the store bought kind again! It takes just minutes to make and is perfect when paired with other savory appetizer recipes such as a relish tray, bacon wrapped smokies, air fryer chicken wings, sausage balls, potato skins, cowboy caviar and fried shrimp.
January is kind of a funny month, because everyone is trying to eat healthy….but everyone is also eating football food on the weekends! So I decided to bring you a little bit healthy recipes, a little bit game day grub. I can’t believe I haven’t shared this homemade chex mix recipe with you yet, I’ve been making it for years! This party mix is at every birthday party, every family gathering. And this batch pictured here? Didn’t even last 24 hours!
Table of Contents
Chex Mix Ingredients
This recipe consists of three types of Chex cereal, oyster crackers, cheese crackers, pretzels, mixed nuts, butter, Worcestershire sauce, seasoned salt and onion powder.
How Do You Make Homemade Chex Mix?
Start by placing your Chex cereal, crackers, pretzels and nuts in a large bowl. In a smaller bowl, mix together the butter, Worcestershire sauce, seasoned salt and onion powder. Pour the butter mixture over the crackers and cereal, then toss well to combine. Microwave the Chex mix in 2 minute increments, stirring occasionally. Let the snack mix cool, then serve and enjoy.
Tips For The Perfect Party Mix
- This snack mix will stay fresh at room temperature in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks.
- I typically use Penzey’s brand smoky seasoned salt, but other brands can also be found in the spice aisle at all major grocery stores.
- If you have a nut allergy, you can omit the nuts and use more cereal or crackers in place of the nuts.
- It’s important to stir the cereal mixture after every 2 minutes in the microwave so that it doesn’t burn.
- If you don’t want to use the microwave, you can bake your snack mix in the oven instead. Spread the prepared mix onto a sheet pan, then bake at 250 degrees F for 45 minutes. Be sure to stir every 15 minutes.
- Chex snack mix can also be made in a slow cooker. Combine all the ingredients, then place them in the crock pot. Cook for 3 hours on low, stirring every 30 minutes.
Quick Tip
This recipe can easily be doubled or tripled if you’re serving a large crowd.
Recipe FAQs
Chex mix is seasoning contains Worcestershire sauce, seasoned salt and onion powder. Some versions also include garlic powder.
The dark brown items in store bought Chex mix are rye bagel chips. Feel free to add these chips to your snack blend if you’re looking for a version that’s identical to the store kind.
Generally speaking, it is cheaper to make your own Chex mix, especially if you can score your cereal boxes on sale. You will get a much larger quantity making it yourself compared to a bag that you might buy at the store.
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Flavor Variations
While I think this combination of crackers, cereal and nuts is pretty perfect, you can swap out some of the ingredients to customize the flavors to your tastes.
- Nuts: You really can use any variety of nut that you like including peanuts, walnuts, pecans, cashews, almonds or pistachios.
- Cereal: If you prefer one variety of Chex to another, you can use more of one flavor so long as the total cups of cereal in the recipe stays the same. You can also try adding other types of cereal such as Cheerios.
- Crackers: Feel free to use goldfish instead of cheese crackers; the rainbow goldfish are particularly fun if you’re feeding kids. Bagel chips are also a great addition.
- Seasonings: You can add other seasonings to the butter mixture such as garlic powder, hot sauce, finely grated parmesan cheese or even Cajun seasoning.
Once you try this homemade Chex mix, you’ll find yourself making it on a regular basis. This recipe is perfect for pretty much any occasion, so stock up on cereal and give it a go!
More Party Food Ideas
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Antipasto Skewers
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Chex Mix Video
Love This Recipe?
Please leave a 5-star 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 rating in the recipe card below & a review in the comments section further down the page.
Homemade Chex Mix
Ingredients
- 3 cups Corn Chex cereal
- 3 cups Rice Chex cereal
- 11/2 cups Wheat Chex cereal
- 1 1/2 cups oyster crackers
- 1 cup cheese crackers
- 1 cup pretzel twists
- 1 cup mixed nuts
- 6 tablespoons butter, melted
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 1/2 teaspoons seasoned salt I highly recommend Penzeys smoky seasoned salt
- 3/4 teaspoon onion powder
Instructions
- Place the cereal, crackers, pretzels and nuts into a large microwave safe bowl.
- Mix together the melted butter, Worcestershire sauce, seasoned salt and onion powder.
- Pour the butter mixture over the cereal and toss to coat evenly.
- Microwave for 5-6 minutes, stirring thoroughly every 2 minutes; then spread onto paper towels to cool.
- Serve immediately or store in a sealed container for up to 1 week.
Notes
- You can omit the nuts and use more of the crackers and pretzels in the same quantities if allergies are a concern.
- When I make this chex mix for kids, I often use the rainbow colored goldfish crackers instead of standard cheese crackers to make it more fun and eye catching!
Just made this with broken up triscuits and honey peanuts added in place of the pretzels. It’s divine 😍
So glad to hear you enjoyed it, love your additions!
I always include honey nut Chex and I use pistachios , garlic parmesan pretzels and m& ms for a bit of sweetness!
Love this idea!! Will try it next time.
I made this but added too much seasoning salt so it’s too salty how can I remedy this?
You could try making another half batch where you completely omit the salt, and stir the unsalted batch in with the over salted batch. I hope this help!
I made this for college finals care packages today using red and green Goldfish for the holidays. Followed the directions and used the smoked paprika…yum! I used the oven instead of microwave. Excellent recipe. Thanks!
Love the idea of using colored goldfish!! Will try that next time!
I use something similar to this for my party mix but always add Cheerios and a tablespoon of soy sauce. Have always used the oven but may try the microwave. Would certainly be quicker. Thanks for the recipe. Have never used goldfish; will now.
Hope you enjoy, I need to try it with Cheerios next time!
I would like to makes this mix for my daughters party.
Question….can I make it a day in advance? Are they still crunchy then?
Yes, you can make it up to a week in advance! You want to make sure that the chex mix is completely cooled before you put it away, it will stay crispy that way.
I’m sure glad to see that someone else uses things that are not in the “traditional” Chex mix….I myself do not bother with the wheat Chex, as I just do not like the taste of them. I also use cheese crackers of various brands-depends on what is on sale and I also use Bugles sometimes.
I love the idea of bugles, I need to try that!
What is the serving size
How would I make this in the oven
Thx
The serving size is 1/2 cup. You can bake this at 250 degrees for 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes.
I serve this for my Bunco group and it’s always a favorite!
Smoked paprika was so clever. I am a newbie to the world of cooking and I love discovering new spices and this is one of the best. Thanks for the tasty recipe. I’m a forty year old mother of one and resigned from my busy medical practice so I didn’t miss another minute of my sons maturation. I’m still trying to prove to the mother in law I can cook but it’s never right. I don’t think she can diss this one.
I’m so glad to hear you enjoyed it!! Hope your mother in law likes this one too 🙂
I will have to try this recipe for chex mex. I am always in need for something to munch on when I work and I think this is going to be perfect.
Oooh, a smoky seasoning salt you say? Now, that definitely sounds like a scrumptious way to jazz it up from the boring box recipe!
This made me wish I had all the ingredients in my pantry to make it right away. We have the cheese crackers, but that’s it. Yum!
This would be fun to make for the family, as a snack after school or if we’re ever having a movie night. It think it’s definitely something that they’ll like.
The homemade Chex Mix is way better than store bought. I always feel like there are a bazillion preservatives in the mixes you can buy in the store already made.
Chex mix is such a handy item to have around especially for game days and entertaining. Thanks for sharing this recipe, I’m sure everyone will love it.
I love making my own snack mixes because you know what’s going in the mix. Not to mention, it’s perfect for parties and game night with the family! I’d love to keep the recipe!
Mmmmm, I love Chex Mix. I’ll have to try your version.
That looks so good! I need to make up a huge batch of this. We love Chex Mix, and I’m sure the homemade variety is so much tastier than the store bought.
Today I made this version of Chex mix with the leftover ingredients from Christmas Chex mix. I’m pretty old school, so I had my doubts this would turn out using the microwave. Boy, was I surprised! It turned out with the perfect crunch, and the spices were just the right balance – delicious!! Thanks so much for sharing it.
I made this and it is amazing! 10 out of 10! Best Chex mix ever!