Description
A spicy, savory, and slightly sweet homemade snack mix loaded with Chex cereal, Cheez-Its, pretzels, crackers, and nuts, all coated in a buttery ranch seasoning sauce. This addictive, easy-to-make snack is perfect for parties, game days, or anytime you need a tasty treat!
Ingredients
Units
Scale
Buttery Sauce:
- 1 cup unsalted butter
- 1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce
- 1 ounce packet ranch salad dressing and seasoning mix (such as Hidden Valley)
- 2 tablespoons light brown sugar, packed
- 1 1/2 teaspoons dried Italian seasoning
- 1 1/2 teaspoons crushed red pepper flakes
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper (or to taste; omit or reduce to 1/4 teaspoon for less heat)
Dry Mix:
- 3 cups corn Chex cereal
- 3 cups wheat Chex cereal
- 3 cups rice Chex cereal
- 1 1/2 cups Cheez-Its crackers (or similar)
- 1 1/2 cups mini pretzels (or pretzel rods)
- 1 1/2 cups mini Club Crackers (or substitute with oyster crackers, bagel chips, or pita crackers)
- 10 ounces salted mixed nuts
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven:
Preheat oven to 250°F and line one or two baking sheets with parchment paper or foil for easier cleanup. Set aside. - Prepare the Buttery Sauce:
In a microwave-safe bowl (or a large saucepan), melt the butter in the microwave. Add the Worcestershire sauce, ranch dressing mix, brown sugar, Italian seasoning, crushed red pepper flakes, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, and cayenne pepper. Stir to combine and set aside. - Prepare the Dry Mix:
In a very large mixing bowl, combine the Chex cereals, Cheez-Its, mini pretzels, mini Club Crackers, and mixed nuts. - Coat the Dry Mix:
Evenly pour the buttery sauce over the dry ingredients. Stir using a rubber-tipped spatula to coat everything evenly without breaking the cereal. - Bake the Mix:
Spread the mixture out in a single, even layer on one or two baking sheets. If using two sheets, don’t overcrowd the mix. Bake for about 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes to ensure even cooking. Continue baking until everything is toasted and crisp, but not burnt. The mix will continue to crisp up as it cools. - Cool and Store:
Let the snack mix cool completely on the baking sheet before transferring it to airtight containers (such as gallon-sized ziplock bags).
Notes
- The mix can be stored at room temperature in an airtight container for up to 1 month.
- You can also freeze the mix for up to 3-4 months, but I recommend enjoying or gifting it fresh rather than freezing.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 230
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 360mg
- Fat: 14g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 24g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 20mg