Spicy Chex Mix
User Reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Excellent
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Prep Time
7 mins
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Cook Time
1 hr
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Total Time
1 hr 7 mins
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Servings
20
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Calories
454 kcal
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Cuisine
American
Spicy Chex Mix
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Spicy Chex Mix - Sometimes called firecracker Chex Mix because of the kick, but no matter what you call it, everyone loves this EASY homemade snack mix recipe! Chock full of Chex cereal, Cheez-Its, mini pretzels, mini Club Crackers, and mixed nuts. Melted butter seasoned with ranch dressing mix, garlic and onion powder, smoked paprika, and more give this BAKED snack mix recipe a bit of heat, savory, salty, and tiny bit sweet rolled into every addictive handful!
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Ingredients
Buttery Sauce
- 1 cup unsalted butter
- ¼ cup Worcestershire sauce
- 1 ounce packet Ranch salad dressing and seasoning mix such as Hidden Valley
- 2 tablespoons light brown sugar packed
- 1 ½ teaspoons dried Italian seasoning
- 1 ½ teaspoons crushed red pepper flakes
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper or to taste* (if very sensitive to heat either omit or reduce to 1/4 teaspoon)
Dry Mix
- 3 cups corn chex cereal
- 3 cups wheat chex cereal
- 3 cups rice chex cereal
- 1 ½ cups Cheez-Its Crackers or similar
- 1 ½ cups mini pretzels or pretzel rods
- 1 ½ cups Mini club crackers oyster crackers, bagel chips, or bite-sized pita crackers may be substituted
- 10 ounces salted mixed nuts
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 250F and line one or two baking sheets with parchment or foil, if desired for easier cleanup; set aside.
- Buttery Sauce - To a microwave-safe bowl (or you can use a large saucepan although I prefer the microwave), add the butter and heat on high power to melt.
- Add all remaining sauce ingredients, and stir or whisk to combine, making sure everything has dissolved. Set aside momentarily.
- Dry Mix - To a very large mixing bowl (the biggest one you have) add all the dry mix ingredients.
- Evenly pour the buttery sauce over the dry ingredients, and stir to combine and coat evenly. Tip - I find it easiest to stir using a rubber-tipped spatula (like you'd use to scrape the bowl when making cookies) because they're more gentle than other types of spoons and you can flip, toss, and really get in there an mix everything on the bottom of the bowl and flip it to the top, without breaking the cereal.
- Spread the mixture over the one or two baking sheets in a single, even, flat layer. Tip - If in doubt, use two because you don't want it extremely crowded and packed in because air needs to circulate.
- Bake for about 1 hour, stopping every 15 minutes to flip, toss, and stir. Again, use a rubber-tipped spatula so you don't break the cereal. Notes- Baking time is approximate and if your mix is done after 45 mintes, or takes 75, that's fine; bake until the pieces are toasted and crisped, without being burnt. They will also crisp up more as they cool. If you're baking on two baking sheets, I recommend rotating the placement of the baking sheets as well midway through since whichever is below will be 'shaded' by the one on top and won't be as well-cooked.
- Cool the snack mix on the baking sheet(s) before transferring it to airtight containers (I like gallon sized ziplock bags) for storage. Make sure it's completely cooled (a few hours) before transferring it and sealing it or it will become soggy.
- Storage - Mix will keep airtight at room temp for up to 1 month. I have frozen it too and it'll keep airtight for up to 3-4 months, but I recommend consuming or gifting it rather than freezing it.
Notes
- Spiciness - I would say that this homemade mix has kick but it isn’t crazy spicy. Here’s how to customize the heat level:
- If you’re making this for a group and aren’t sure you want to go all-in on the spiciness and prefer a milder mix, then you can scale back on the red pepper flakes and omit the cayenne pepper or reduce it to 1/4 teaspoon.
- If you want more heat, up the cayenne and red pepper flakes, add a tablespoon of chili powder, or even add a teaspoon or tablespoon of your favorite hot sauce to the mix. Something like a few shakes of sriracha is great.
Nutrition Information
Show Details
Serving
1
Calories
454kcal
(23%)
Carbohydrates
61g
(20%)
Protein
10g
(20%)
Fat
20g
(31%)
Saturated Fat
8g
(40%)
Polyunsaturated Fat
12g
Cholesterol
25mg
(8%)
Sodium
431mg
(18%)
Fiber
6g
(24%)
Sugar
5g
(10%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 20Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 454 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 1 | |
| Calories | 454kcal | 23% |
| Carbohydrates | 61g | 20% |
| Protein | 10g | 20% |
| Fat | 20g | 31% |
| Saturated Fat | 8g | 40% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 12g | 71% |
| Cholesterol | 25mg | 8% |
| Sodium | 431mg | 18% |
| Fiber | 6g | 24% |
| Sugar | 5g | 10% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
Genuine Reviews
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5.0
3 reviews
Excellent
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