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 Chex party mix.
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 Chex Mix 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. If you can’t find smaller bagel chips, you can break up regular-size bagel chips into smaller pieces as well.
- Worcestershire sauce – I haven’t really found any substitutions for the tablespoons of Worcestershire sauce in this recipe, it’s a distinct part of the flavor.
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).
Chex mix Recipe Video
If you’re more of a visual person, you can see how simple this homemade oven Chex Mix is to make in the video below!
Tips & Storage Info
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.
If you like nuts, you can definitely add nuts to this recipe! I personally like it without the nuts, but if you want to add them, peanuts, cashews, and even almonds would be good!
More Easy Snacks
If you’re a snack fan, add these delicious snacks to your must-try list of recipes next!
- Pepperoni rolls – these delicious homemade pepperoni rolls are the perfect game day or game night snack!
- Buffalo chicken dip – the ultimate classic game day food and this is the best recipe out of all of them!
- Mini calzones – pizza toppings wrapped up in pizza dough to make mini calzones, one of the best simple snacks!
- Marshmallow popcorn balls – is there a more classic snack than popcorn?
- Slow cooker candied nuts – I could snack on these all day long especially since they’re so simple to make!
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.
Jaime V says
Chex mix is the best!! It’s always an extra big hit when I add cheez-its in to mine! SO GOOD!
Chrissy Garcia says
This was sp good. Going to make it again for the next Cowboys game!!!
LC says
I’ve made this as a sweet treat before, adding dried cranberries and white chocolate chips!
Tracy Bruce says
I really liked the recipe will make again. Rye crisps are my fav though and I use the Dots Seasoned pretzels for another layer of flavor.
Thank you for sharing.
Elaine Pennartz says
I love this recipe. My family loves it too. From the oldest to the youngest, this recipe is delicious!
Rena says
Homeade Chex mix is a traditional snack made during the Christmas Holidays at my house. This tradition goes all the way back to my childhood. My mother used a recipe just like this, however she would leave out the wheat Chex cereal because none of the kids liked the “brown ones” haha!
Renea S. says
I was just talking with a coworker today as she was eating store bought Chex Mix and I asked her if it was any good. I explained that I love the homemade Chex Mix and have always wanted to have it but have NEVER made it and did not have the recipe. Now I do and you can bet I will be making it soon as it is fall and a great time for this tasty snack. The holidays are also the perfect time for this recipe. I love bagel chips and rye chips so this recipe is perfect! All of your recipes are wonderful. I do like to have pecans or peanuts in my mix, which adds some protein instead of all carbs!
Susan Pavlak says
I loved this recipe, it looks very easy to make. However, I prefer to mix in mini M&M’s or chocolate chips with mine. 😋
Kathy Metcalf says
I add cheezits to my chex mix either cheddar or white cheddar and nuts.
Sheri C says
I’m having a pool party in about 1 week and I think this would be a great snack to serve (that I can prepare ahead of time)!
Deb Krall says
Love the addition of the rye chips. What a great idea!
Paula Walton says
I love you added both Rye and Bagel chips….those are my favorites! I can’t wait to try this recipe and add some
Cheese Itz to it also.
Kimberly Short-Stahlschmidt says
I really like the bagel chips and rye chips together because I like both flavors and textures:) I might add something a little sweet because I like salty/sweet combos. Maybe white chocolate chips (I wish they came in minis). Anytime is good for a snack but I really like this for road trips! It’s quick, easy, travels well, and best of all, TASTY!
Amy says
I love both, but rye chips win. I don’t think there is anything else to add, it’s perfect the way it is.
Kimball Crum says
Add peanuts!
Patti says
My family loves Chex Mix! Rye Crisps are amazing in it! Sometimes I include Honey Nut Chex. The sweet and spicy makes a great combination. If I can find really soft, fresh raisins, I add them also. Again, the sweet and savory combination really works.
Lora says
I love Chex mix snacks and this recipe sounds easy enough to be able to make my own any time I want some!