Original Chex Mix Recipe (Best Party Snack)

This is the original Chex Mix recipe that’s been gracing our homes for over 50 years. It’s as beloved as before as it is today.

It’s the super easy and insanely addictive DIY snack ever. Period.

The medley of breakfast cereals, nuts, and pretzels gives you different levels of crunchiness, and they’re all ridiculously delicious.

What takes it to the next level, though, is that sauce.

Made with melted butter and seasonings, it transforms the snack from ordinary to extraordinary.

It’s ideal both as an everyday snack or as a party appetizer. It won’t last long, either way.

Original Chex Mix Recipe

This Chex Mix recipe is a lot similar to Texas Trash, but it’s a lot easier to make. 

In this version, there’s no need to preheat the oven. The microwave will take care of all the cooking! How awesome is that?

Don’t underestimate its flavor, though. Just because the recipe is simpler doesn’t mean it’s not as delectable. 

This Chex Mix is just as crunchy and flavorful. Trust me, one bite will get you hooked.    

What is in Chex Party Mix?

It’s very easy to remember: a hodgepodge of crunchy things + seasoned butter.

As long as you follow this formula, your snack will be a hit. Here’s my personal combination of choice, though.

Chex Cereals – I use a mix of corn, rice, and wheat Chex, but again, do your own thing.

Mixed Nuts – I’m a sucker for walnuts, cashews, and almonds, but any assortment works.

Bite-sized  Pretzels – Aside from the crunch, I just love how cute they are. They make the mix more appetizing.

Bagel Chips – Oh my God, these chips taste glorious once they absorb the buttery and garlicky goodness of the sauce!

The Sauce – It’s a mix of melted butter, Worcestershire sauce, seasoned salt, garlic powder, and onion powder. It’s what coats and ties all the mix-ins together and gives it the most addictive flavor. 

Tips for Making The Best Snack 

As forgiving and customizable as the recipe is, you still might encounter blunders that might mess up the snack.

But stick with me and I’ll steer you away from all these possible snafus.

How Do You Make Chex Mix Not Soggy?

Snack mixes need enough time to dry out properly.

Don’t store it until it completely soaks up the butter seasoning. It’ll only take about 20 to 30 minutes.

It’s also best to spread it thinly on a baking sheet. The greater the surface area, the faster it’ll dry up.

Also, don’t go beyond the amount of butter stated in the recipe, unless you plan on adding more mix-ins, of course.

Adding too much liquid will make the snack soggy.

Why Did My Chex Mix Burn?

Yes, this is possible, even in the microwave. This recipe requires you to microwave the mix on high for 6 minutes, but not all on one go.

I can’t stress enough how important this is: pause every 2 minutes of microwaving and give the mix a stir.

This is the key to keeping both the butter and mix-ins from burning.

More Must-Read Tips:

The great thing about this snack is you can add as many cereals, nuts, and nibblers to the mix and it’ll still be delicious.

If you’re allergic or not feeling the nuts, feel free to omit them. Want a sweet contrast to all the savoriness?

Chocolate chips will do the trick. For a chewy surprise, go for raisins, dried cranberries, or apricots.

It doesn’t have to be just Chex cereals, either.

Other cereals and snacks such as Cheerios, popcorn, Cheetos, breadsticks, rice crackers, saltines, and goldfish crackers make great additions, too.

If you plan on adding any fragile ingredients, such as Cheetos, popcorn, marshmallows, and chocolate chips, here’s a tip.

Don’t do so until after you microwave the rest of the ingredients. Heat will make these ingredients either lose their crunch or melt.

You can also season the butter however you please.

If you want some heat to your snack, you can’t go wrong with a dash of Tabasco sauce or cayenne pepper.

Or, if you want your snack to be mainly sweet, skip the salty seasonings and flavor the butter with honey or cinnamon instead.

You can even throw in M&M’s, marshmallows, and small candies to the mix.

Speaking of butter, here’s a super important tip: don’t skimp on it. It will seem like the recipe calls for a lot.

But don’t worry, it’s just enough to coat all the ingredients.

Also, if you plan on adding more mix-ins, be sure to increase the amount of butter and seasonings as well.

But again, you don’t want to overdo this, otherwise, the supposed crunchy treat will become a soggy mess.

To ensure that every piece of mix-in gets coated with seasoning, use a large bowl that will fit all of them with room to spare.

This will make it easier to toss them.

It’s also a good idea to mix in the butter in two additions. Pour half the sauce first, toss, pour the remaining half, and toss again. 

Once it’s out of the microwave, dump the mix onto a baking dish lined with parchment paper. Spread it thinly so it cools quicker. 

Once cooled, you can either snack on it right away, or store it in an air-tight container.

This Chex Mix snack will keep well for up to 2 weeks, as long as the container is sealed well.

You can even freeze it for up to 3 months. Double or triple the recipe so you have something to snack on any day you crave.

Want More Addictive Snacks?

Texas Trash

Puppy Chow

Christmas Reindeer Crack

Rice Krispie Treats

Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Balls