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

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

Homemade Chex Mix is cheaper AND better tasting than anything you can buy at the store. Does homemade Chex Mix need to be refrigerated? You can store homemade Chex Mix at room temperature in an airtight container for up to 4 days.

What is the Chex mix seasoning made of? ›

The official Chex Mix recipe calls for 1½ tablespoons seasoned salt, ¾ teaspoons garlic powder, and ½ teaspoon onion powder.

Why did my Chex mix turn out soggy? ›

Spread out on parchment paper to cool. Why is my homemade Chex mix soggy? If you added too much butter or Worcestershire sauce this could be the reason, but the mostly likely reason is that you poured too much of the butter seasoning mixture over just one portion of the mix.

How long will homemade Chex mix keep? ›

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.

Is Chex Mix healthy or not? ›

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.

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.

Why did my chex mix burn? ›

Why did my Chex Mix burn? Over-cooking and forgetting to stir the mixture throughout may cause your chex mix to burn. For best results, stir the mixture every 15 minutes while cooking. This ensures the mixture is evenly coated and that no parts of it get burned.

Can I freeze nuts and bolts? ›

Cool completely in pan on a rack. Store in an airtight container in a cool dry place for up to 1 week or freeze for up to 1 month.

Why isn't Chex Mix sold in Canada? ›

Chex has really not caught on as a brand in Canada. Although many other products of General Mills, like Cheerios, are very popular, Chex is seen as a “niche” product.

What are the circle brown things in Chex Mix? ›

What Is This Brown Thing In My Chex Mix??? The question of the day is: what are these round, brown disks in my Chex Mix? Answer: Melba toasts. And they are clearly the best part of the whole thing.

Is chex mix better with butter or margarine? ›

You can mix and match to suit your taste—just use a total of 9 cups of cereal. Healthy: To reduce the fat to 2 grams and the calories to 80 per serving, use 3 tablespoons margarine instead of the 6 tablespoons butter, omit mixed nuts and use fat-free bagel chips.

How to fix chex mix that is too salty without? ›

Melt butter with sugar, garlic powder and Worcestershire sauce on medium heat. In a bowl mix cereals and chips. You can even add kakimochi or peanuts. Then add the butter mixture, a little at a time, and mix until the cereal mixture is evenly coated.

Is it cheaper to make or buy Chex Mix? ›

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.

What is a good substitute for Chex cereal? ›

If you're looking for some alternative ingredients, try some of these: Use Crispix instead of Chex. Yep, it will still turn out great! Try freshly popped popcorn instead of the puffed cereal for a fun change.

Why are Chex Mix so good? ›

Chex mix is the ultimate DIY snack. It's crunchy, just the right amount of salty, and stays good for several weeks, making it the perfect thing to keep on the counter for midday or pre-dinner nibbling. Plus, our version can be made with whatever cereal, toasted nuts, and crunchy snacks you've stocked up on.

Is it more expensive to make your own trail mix? ›

So, the pre-made trail mix is actually cheaper than making your own. Who knew?? Of course, there are ways that you could make this mix more cheaply.

How much Chex is in a box? ›

One standard-size (12-ounce) box of Rice Chex cereal contains about 11 cups of cereal. Save yourself the hassle of measuring out 9 cups and dump the entire box into your largest bowl. It's easier, it feeds more people, and you don't have an awkward amount of cereal left over. 2.

How many cups of Chex are in a family size box? ›

A family size (18 ounces) box of Chex has a little bit over 17 cups of Chex (enough for 2 batches of Muddy Buddies!), and a regular, 13.8-ounce box of Chex yields 8 cups (perfect for 1 batch of Muddy Buddies!).

What is the difference between regular Chex mix and Bold Chex mix? ›

What makes the Bold flavor so special? Think of it as Traditional Chex Mix on steroids. The savoriness is so epic that it's beyond your wildest dreams. It's like Chex Mix took the Traditional flavor and added even more butter, more garlic powder, more onion powder, and, most noticeably, more Worcestershire sauce.

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