This buttery homemade chex mix recipe is packed with your favorite crunchy snacks in one bite. Made with smokey ranch seasoning, it’s an easy, cheesy munch you won’t be able to resist.
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Why You’ll Love This Chex Mix Recipe
If you’re big on snacking, this cheesy baked chex mix is perfect for you:
- Extra crunchy: There’s Chex cereal, mini pretzels, and oyster crackers in every bite.
- Versatile: Add dried fruits, corn flakes, salty parmesan, or mini marshmallows for the perfect chex depending on what you’re craving.
- Savory: Tangy ranch dressing mix, Cheez-Its, and Goldfish bring cheesy goodness to the table.
- Salty-sweet: A brown sugar coating adds a touch of sweetness that’s irresistible when combined with the saltiness from goldfish crackers and pretzels.
- Prep-friendly: Make it in advance for an easy snack that’s always ready to go.
Ingredient Notes
The brown sugar melts into the butter and adds a lovely caramelized coating to all the snacks in this chex mix. Here’s a quick look at what you’ll need. Scroll to the recipe card at the bottom for a printable list.
- Butter: I prefer unsalted butter, but salted works too.
- Ranch dressing mix: Use your favorite. Don’t use liquid ranch dressing for this.
- Light Brown Sugar: Dark brown sugar is a good swap but reduce the amount by half.
- Worcestershire sauce: You can also use 1/2 tablespoon fish sauce.
- Cayenne pepper: Feel free to use chili powder.
- Corn Chex: The gluten-free kind is my favorite!
- Mini pretzels: They can also be pieces or nibblers.
- Oyster crackers: Roughly chopped salted crackers work too.
- Cheez-It crackers: Pepper Jack, Extra Toasty, and the Four Cheese varieties are my favorites.
- Goldfish crackers: Cheddar goldfish are best.
Tips & Variation Ideas
A handful of fluffy marshmallows, a sprinkle of pumpkin spice, and salty parmesan cheese can give your homemade chex mix recipe a whole new personality.
- Make it sweet-and-savory: Stir 1 cup dried cranberries or golden raisins into the chex mix once ready and cooled. 1 cup of toasted unsweetened shredded coconut works too.
- More cereal: Mix 2 cups plain corn flakes into the chex mix for more crunch.
- Spice it up: Add 3 teaspoons garlic powder, 1 teaspoon onion powder, 1 tablespoon dried chives, 1/4 teaspoon mustard powder, and 2 teaspoons smoked paprika into the seasoning mixture.
- Make it cheesier: Fold 1/2 cup freshly-grated parmesan cheese or pecorino romano into the baked chex mix once fully cooled for an extra savory bite.
- Skip the oven: Swap the Worcestershire sauce for 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin. Add all the ingredients to a large bowl and toss until well combined. Re-toss before serving to make sure the spices and sugar cover the crackers again. Enjoy!
- Go for fall flavors: Leave out the ranch mix and instead add 1/2 tablespoon pumpkin spice into the seasonings. Once the chex mix is cooled, fold in 1/2 cup mini marshmallows, 1/2 cup dried cranberries, and 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips.
How to Store
Place this homemade chex mix in an airtight container or Ziploc bag for up to 7 days. Avoid paper bags because moisture will get inside and soften the chex mix. Don’t store it in the fridge either.
More Snacks to Try
Homemade Chex Mix Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, melted
- 2 (1 oz) packets ranch dressing mix, the powder packets
- 4 tablespoons Dixie Crystals Light Brown Sugar
- 3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper, optional
- 5 cups corn chex
- 3 cups mini pretzels
- 3 cups oyster crackers
- 3 cups cheez-it crackers
- 2 cups goldfish crackers
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Instructions
- Preheat oven to 225°F. Line a 13 x 18-inch sheet pan with parchment paper (or two 9 x 13-inch sheet pans); set aside.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together butter, ranch dressing mix, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, and cayenne pepper. Set aside.
- In an extra large bowl, combine Corn Chex, mini pretzels, oyster crackers, cheesy crackers, and goldfish. Pour butter mixture on top of Chex Mix mixture and toss to coat well.
- Spread in an even layer on prepared cookie sheet and bake for 1 hour, stirring every 20 minutes.
Notes
Storage Instructions
- Place it in an airtight container on the counter for up to a week.
Nutrition
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This is the only chex mix I make now. It’s so good and my family and coworkers LOVE IT! There’s just something about the sweet and savory that just works. It’s not overly sweet and rounds the flavors out.
I am anxious to try this recipe it am not sure about the brown sugar. What was the reason for adding this?
A little sweetness helps round out the flavors! You can skip it, or cut it in half, but it’s delicious as is!
This was very good! Will make again. I tweeked a bit, halved the butter, brown sugar & worshishire sauce and omitted the red pepper. Got several compliments!
Would this be okay without the brown sugar? Or perhaps if the brown sugar was cut in half? If anyone has tried this please let me know.
Yes you can skip the sugar!
I like to use original Cherrios. I’d probably sub for the oyster crackers. And Orville Redenbacher makes a buttery oil that’s quite good as a sub for butter. I use it in other recipes. For this, I’d start out with a little less.
Too much cayenne pepper, way too spicy. I think I’d leave it out next time.
Wow yummy recipe, thanks for sharing it. I watch football with this recipe and True Elements Party Mix as a yummy party option and they are really tasty and healthy. This party mix made my football party hit!
I am always want to try different things.I got to give this a try for sure.
Interesting note – in your comments it says you use Rice Chex but in the recipe it calls for Corn Chex. Not really a problem as I like both…just glad it didn’t say Wheat Chex as I don’t really care for them! Anxious to make it!
Thanks for catching that! You can use any of them! They all work great in this recipe!
There isn’t any cheese why is it called cheesy ranch
It has cheeze its and goldfish, making it plenty cheesy!
So good! Sub’d butter for oil due to A dairy restrictions and it was a hit!
Ranch Cheesy Chex™ Mix
Time: 5m
Bake/Cook Time: 1h
Yield: 16 servings
Loaded with flavor and crunchy goodness, this Ranch Cheesy Chex Mix is the new ultimate tailgating party snack mix! It is also wonderful for an after school snack and stores well for up a week in an airtight container.
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Ingredients
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, melted
2 (1 oz) packets ranch dressing mix (the powder packets)
4 tablespoons Dixie Crystals Light Brown Sugar
3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper, optional
5 cups Corn Chex™
3 cups mini pretzels
3 cups oyster crackers
3 cups cheese crackers
2 cups goldfish crackers
Directions
Preheat oven to 225°F. Line a 13 x 18-inch sheet pan with parchment paper (or two 9 x 13-inch sheet pans); set aside.1
In a medium bowl, whisk together butter, ranch dressing mix, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, and cayenne pepper. Set aside.2
In an extra large bowl, combine Corn Chex, mini pretzels, oyster crackers, cheesy crackers, and goldfish. Pour butter mixture on top of Chex Mix mixture and toss to coat well.3
Spread in an even layer on prepared cookie sheet and bake for 1 hour, stirring every 20 minutes.4
Let cool and serve or store in an airtight container for up to a week.
Where is the recipe? The link doesn’t work.
IT WORKED FOR ME ?
That’s a great idea! My son loves Cheesy Ranch too much. I try to make, but, maybe I can’t like yours! Learnt something new to apply for the next time! Thank you so much for sharing! 🙂
I make chex mix in the crockpot. it takes longer but so good. I always add more seasoning.
The link does not take us to a recipe. Either post the entire thing or not at all. Frustrating.
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I thought I bough the right ounce packets
Just now looking at them and they are 4 oz.?
Hi Sue! As long as they are the ranch seasoning packets, you will want to use half of the 4oz packet. The recipe calls for 2 (1 oz) packets, for a total of 2 oz. So since your packets are 4 oz, just use half of 1 packet! Hope this helps!