Spicy Chex Mix is a great party snack that has a nice variety of mix-ins to please every palate. We’ve got the typical Chex cereal plus lots of pretzels, crackers, and nuts. Bake in some spicy flavor and we’re ready to party.
This Spicy Chex Mix is a staple at our family holiday parties courtesy of my sister-in-law.
She makes this nearly every year and we gobble it all up.
This is one of Emily’s favorites!
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Key to Success #1 – Make the Spicy Sauce
This Spicy Chex Mix recipe has a nice, spicy flavor thanks to some Worcestershire sauce, Tabasco sauce, and chili powder.
But that’s not the only flavors we’re adding to the mix.
We’re using a solid base of garlic salt and seasoning salt, which has flavors like paprika, turmeric, onion, and garlic.
I like to use Lawry’s Seasoned Salt with 25% less sodium, but any variety will work.
You are getting plenty of salt from garlic salt and the butter if using salted butter so I do not miss the additional salt.
Speaking of butter, we’re adding plenty of it to this Chex Mix for lots of buttery flavors.
This is one of the standout parts of this recipe.
Melt the butter in a small bowl then add in all the sauces and spices.
Stir well to combine all the flavors.
Key to Success #2 – Bake But Stir Often
In a large bowl, mix together the cereal, pretzels, and crackers.
Pour the savory butter sauce over the Chex Mix then stir well to coat.
Be sure to get all the way down to the bottom of the bowl to make sure all the mix-ins are well-coated.
Pour the coated cereal mix onto a rimmed baking sheet that has been lined with foil.
You may need to use more than one pan. Or you can use a large roasting pan.
I use a disposable foil roasting pan sometimes so that I don’t have to store it after I’m done cooking.
My local grocery store carries them around the holidays so I usually grab one for my Homemade Cracker Jacks at Thanksgiving.
The Chex Mix cooks in a low 250 degree F oven.
That’s 250 degrees, not 350 degrees.
Make sure you are baking it at a low temperature so that it will not burn.
Bake the Chex Mix for 1 hour, but remove it from the oven and stir it very well every 15-20 minutes.
Stirring often will ensure that the Chex Mix is evenly coated with the spices and evenly crispy.
Key to Success #3 – Customize It As You Wish
After the Chex Mix comes out of the oven, stir in the mixed nuts before spreading the mixture out onto a sheet of waxed paper to cool and dry.
We always add the mixed nuts after the Chex Mix has been baked since the nuts are already roasted.
But you can add them in from the start if you want them to be more toasted.
Instead of mixed nuts, you can use all roasted peanuts. Really, any type of nuts that you like would work just fine.
You can use any shape of pretzels that you have on hand.
I used the pretzel sticks for a different texture, but pretzel twists would be just as good.
If you have leftover pretzels, make these Spicy Ranch Pretzels!
You can customize this Chex Mix with your favorite snackers.
An easy switch up would be adding Goldfish crackers in place of the Cheez-its.
You can easily add in other items like Bugles corn chips or sunflower seeds.
Add-in more deliciousness to your heart’s content.
Save this Spicy Chex Mix recipe to your favorite Snacks board or your Game Day Food board.
Spicy Chex Mix
Ingredients
- 1 box 12 oz Rice Chex cereal
- 1 box 12 oz Wheat Chex Cereal
- 1 box 8 oz Cheerios
- 1/2 pound pretzel sticks
- 1 box 12 oz Cheez-its
- 1 can 14 oz mixed nuts
- 3 1/2 sticks butter melted
- 1 1/2 Tbsp Tabasco sauce
- 1 1/2 tsp seasoned salt
- 2 1/2 tsp garlic salt
- 5 tsp chili powder
- 5 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 250 degrees F. Line large rimmed baking sheet with foil.
- In a small bowl, combine melted butter, Worcester sauce, Tabasco sauce, and all the spices. Stir well.
- In a large bowl, combine cereal, pretzels, and Cheez-its. Pour butter mixture over the cereal and stir well to coat.
- Pour cereal mixture out into the prepared pan. Bake uncovered for 1 hour, stirring well every 20 minutes.
- Remove from the oven and stir in mixed nuts. Spread Chex Mix onto a sheet of waxed paper to cool. Cool completely.
Equipment
Nutrition
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