Savory Baked Chex Mix with Crunchy Nuts and Spicy Seasoning Recipe
This Savory Baked Chex Mix is a crunchy, flavorful snack blend made with Chex cereal, pretzels, mixed nuts, and cheese crackers, all coated in a spicy, smoky seasoning and baked to perfection. Ideal for parties or casual snacking, this mix combines the satisfying crunch of toasted nuts and cereal with the boldness of hot sauce and smoked paprika, balanced by buttery richness and a hint of Worcestershire sauce.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
- Yield: Approximately 8 servings 1x
- Category: Snack
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Core Ingredients
- 3 cups Chex cereal (rice, corn, or wheat mix)
- 1 cup pretzels (small twist or sticks)
- 1 cup mixed nuts (such as almonds, pecans, and cashews)
- 1 cup bagged cheese crackers
Seasoning Mixture
- ½ cup unsalted butter (melted)
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon hot sauce (adjust to taste)
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper (adjust to taste)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
Optional Garnish
- 1 tablespoon dried parsley (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Set your oven to 250°F (120°C). This low temperature ensures the Chex mix bakes evenly and develops a crunchy texture without burning.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, gently combine the Chex cereal, pretzels, mixed nuts, and cheese crackers to avoid crushing the cereal pieces.
- Prepare the Seasoning: In a separate bowl, whisk together the melted butter, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, cayenne pepper, salt, and black pepper until fully blended.
- Coat the Mix: Pour the seasoned butter mixture over the bowl with dry ingredients. Toss thoroughly with a spatula or large spoon until all pieces are evenly coated with the seasoning.
- Arrange for Baking: Spread the seasoned mix in a single layer on one or two large baking sheets lined with parchment paper to ensure even baking.
- Bake and Stir: Place the baking sheets in the preheated oven and bake for 1 hour. Stir the mixture every 15 minutes to promote even toasting and prevent any burning.
- Cool the Mix: Remove the baking sheets from the oven and allow the Chex mix to cool completely on the sheets; this step helps it become crunchier.
- Store and Garnish: Once cooled, transfer the mix to an airtight container for storage. Optionally, sprinkle dried parsley over the mix to add a fresh color before serving.
Notes
- Adjust the amount of hot sauce and cayenne pepper to control the level of spiciness.
- Mix gently when combining dry ingredients to prevent breaking or crushing the cereal.
- Stirring the mix every 15 minutes during baking ensures even flavor coating and crisp texture.
- Allow the mix to cool completely on the baking sheets to maximize crunchiness.
- Store the Chex mix in an airtight container to maintain freshness for up to two weeks.
Keywords: Chex mix, baked snack, savory snack, spicy Chex mix, party snack, crunchy snack mix
