This homemade oven Chex mix recipe is the perfect party snack, afternoon snack, or anytime snack! This yummy snack mix combines Chex cereal, pretzels, bagel chips, and more in one delicious salty party mix with a crunch!
I’ll be the first one to tell you that I’m kind of a Chex Mix addict, really a snack food addict altogether, but Chex Mix is my weakness. It’s easily my favorite snack, especially when it’s homemade.
And it’s not just the original stuff.
I like the cheddar Chex Mix, the peanut version, and even the sweet version. I have since high school when Chex Mix was always my snack of choice. Well that and pizza loaf. There’s just something about the combination that makes it the perfect snack.
Now fast forward a few, okay a lot, of years, and while I still like a good handful of store-bought Chex Mix, what I crave is the homemade stuff.
There’s just something about homemade Chex Mix and how the flavors all mingle together in a different way that is so satisfying. And while some people like the microwave version, I personally prefer this oven Chex Mix recipe because everything gets all nice and crunchy!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
This homemade Chex Mix is similar to the store-bought kind but with stronger flavors and more of my favorites! It’s my favorite (and hopefully will be yours) because:
- It uses both rye and regular bagel chips and those are the best part of the mix anyway! Combine these with the other snack items and this is easily my favorite mix I’ve ever tried!
- I’ve amped up the flavoring a bit compared to a traditional Chex Mix recipe so every bite has flavor!
- Baking it in the oven (versus the microwave) really lets the flavors get into the snacks while still staying crispy rather than a bit soggy. It also makes it super easy to increase the number of servings and make huge batches of this delicious snack!
Ingredients
Ingredient Notes
- Chex cereal – while you can technically just make this with one or two kind of Chex cereal, it’s much better with the combinational of all three. I recommend using equal amounts of Rice Chex, Corn Chex, and Wheat Chex. You’ll need three cups rice chex, 3 cups wheat chex, and. 3 cups of corn chex.
- Seasoned salt – this recipe is based on using Lowry’s seasoned salt.
- Butter – since this is already a salty recipe (especially with the salty pretzels), use unsalted butter for this one.
- Chips – I really like the combination of both bagel chips and rye chips in this, crunched up into small bite size pieces. If you can’t find one or the other, you can use one but both is better to get the best crunchy snack mix possible.
How to Make Homemade Chex Mix
This homemade Chex Mix recipe is super easy to make! It does take a bit of time to make, but that’s simply because you’re going to roast the mixture in the oven for about an hour.
The actual making of the snack mix is super easy and quick! So let’s talk making homemade Chex Mix in the oven! Or if you’re more of a visual person, watch the video below!
1 – Mix All Your Crunchy Ingredients
Mix all of your snack items – different kinds of chex, pretzels, rye chips, and bagel chips in a large bowl. Make sure it’s large enough that you’ll be able to add the seasoning and mix it all together without everything falling out.
Or even better, if you have a large aluminum roasting pan – put it in that.
2 – Make the Seasoning
Melt butter either in the microwave in a microwave-safe bowl or on the stove in a small saucepan.
Combine the melted butter, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, and seasoned salt in a bowl until well combined.
3 – Combine the Mixtures
Add the butter mixture to the bowl or pan of snack items and stir around until all of the snack items are coated.
If you’re using a roasting pan, you’re all ready to put the Chex Mix in the oven. If not, I like to line a large baking sheet with parchment paper then pour the snack mix in a single layer over the prepared baking sheet for baking.
If you have more than a single layer, pour the extra on a second prepped baking sheet.
4 – Bake the oven chex mix
Bake in a 250 degree oven for about an hour, removing from the oven to stir the mixture around every 15 minutes.
Stirring will help the seasoning evenly distribute and make sure all the cereal mix dries and gets crunchy and baking at a low heat for an extended period of time helps keep everything from burning while it soaks up all that seasoning.
5 – Cool and Serve
Remove from the oven. If using a baking sheet, simply remove the parchment paper liner and place it on the counter to allow it to cool.
If using a roasting pan, place cereal mixture on a piece of parchment paper to cool for about 15 minutes.
Enjoy immediately after cooled! Or store in a Ziploc bag or airtight container for up to a week. This is one of my favorite things to bring for road trip snacks, just pass out little individual bags to everyone (or keep it all to yourself).
Expert Tips
Break up the bagel and rye chips it small pieces so they go further in the snack mix and you get some in almost every bite.
Get the smallest pretzels you can find since they’re the biggest part of this snack mix. The smaller the pretzel, the better they fit into this mix.
Substitute other snack items if there are things you may not like, just make sure to keep measurements (e.g., 1 cup of Cheerios for 1 cup of the Chex) the same. If you add in other things rather than substituting them, the seasoning measurements will be off.
Make a double batch and give some to friends with one of these fun gift tags!
Pour a little bit of a seasoning into the mixture at a time, stir, then pour some more. This will help coat all of the cereal mixture without one portion ending up soggy and over flavored.
Recipe FAQs
If you store it in an airtight container, this homemade Chex Mix can last up to four weeks, if it lasts that long.
It’s not necessarily cheaper to make your own Chex Mix unless you already have all of the ingredients on hand and want to use them up. So the first time it’ll be more expensive for sure but making second and third batches can be cheaper. It is however delicious, easier to control what goes in it, and a fun change from the traditional bagged stuff.
If you poured all of the seasoning on one section of the mixture, it may end up soggy. If it’s soggy, you can always put it back in the oven for an additional 15 minutes and hope it’ll dry it out a bit.
Yes, you can store in freezer-friendly bags in the freezer for up to six months. However, I prefer it fresh and recommend just making another fresh batch over freezing. If you do want to freeze, put the chex mix into a freezer-safe container or bag and freeze.
More Easy Snacks
- Pepperoni rolls
- Queso fundido
- Buffalo chicken dip
- Mini calzones
- Spinach artichoke dip
- Pulled pork sliders
Homemade Chex Mix
Ingredients
- 8 TBS butter melted
- 1 TBS seasoned salt
- 2 tsp garlic powder
- 2 ½ TBS Worcestershire sauce
- 3 cups Corn Chex
- 3 cups Rice Chex
- 3 cups Wheat Chex
- 1 cup Tiny Twist pretzels
- 1 cup bagel chips broken into small pieces
- 1 cup rye chips broken into small pieces
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 250 degrees.
- If you do not have a roasting pan, line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. If you have a large metal roasting pan, no need to line with parchment paper.
- Mix all of your snack items – cereal, pretzels, rye chips, and bagel chips in a large bowl.
- Combine melted butter, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, and seasoned salt in a bowl until well combined.
- Add butter mixture to the cereal mixture, a little bit at a time, stirring it in to evenly combine.
- Pour coated cereal in large roasting pan or on the parchment lined baking sheet. Shake quickly to let cereal mixture settle into a layer.
- Bake in oven for 1 hour, stirring the mixture every 15 minutes. If mixture is still soggy after 1 hour, add 15 more minutes.
- Remove from oven, remove from pan and cool on the piece of parchment paper. If using a roasting pan, lay out on pieces of paper towels or parchment paper to cool for 15 minutes.
- Enjoy immediately or up to four weeks, stored in an airtight container.
Tina says
For a heart health friendly version, use less Lowry’s and add Everything Bagel seasoning. Adding nuts helps as well!
Blake Seitz says
You have to have nuts and celery salt. I like to put a little smoked paprika in too
Britni Vigil says
Thanks for sharing!
Cindy Salisbury says
Perfect recipe! I did add mixed nuts!
Deb Krall says
My family looks forward to Chex mix for the holidays.
I usually make for Forth of July and birthday gatherings as well. We like to sit and snack while chatting and playing games.
Courtney says
I like the idea of the bagel chips, but like rye chips too.
I would love to add a sweet component to this savory mix, maybe some m&ms.
Anytime is a good time for Chex Mix!
Haven’t made it yet, but it sounds delicious!
Patty says
I add peanuts, and sometimes M&Ms at the time.
Stacy says
My mother always made it in the oven well she used too now microwave I like it better in the oven — I would add mixed nuts!! We also do a spicy version!