Slow Cooker Chex Mix Recipe - with Pretzels, Cheez-Its, and Chex Cereal! (2024)

by Jennifer Debth

27 Comments

5 from 4 votes

ThisSlow Cooker Chex Mixis easy to make and so addicting! A homemade version of a classic snack made with chex, crackers, and pretzels tossed in a tangy, slightly spicy sauce.

Quick Navigation

  • General
  • Ingredients
  • How to make
  • Get the recipe
  • Step-by-step video
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • How to prevent sogginess
  • Why did my chex mix burn?
  • How to bake
  • Variations
  • How to store
  • Nutrition information

When I tell you this slow cooker chex mix is addicting, I mean, I personally polished off half a sheet pan before it had even finished cooling.

Ingredients

This snack mix is even better than store-bought chex mix and *almost* as easy as ripping open a bag.

  • Unsalted Butter– adds a rich, creamy, buttery flavor to the mix. Unsalted butter is definitely preferred in this recipe to avoid being overly salted.
  • Worcestershire Sauce– gives that classic salty, tangy, bold chex mix flavor.
  • Spices: Ranch Salad Dressing and Seasoning Mix, Garlic Powder, and Chili Powder – ranch seasoning mix adds a creamy, herby, tangy flavor, garlic powder adds a nutty, earthiness, and the chili powder adds just a touch of smoky spice.
  • Chex Cereal– feel free to use rice chex, corn chex, or a combination of the two. Wheat chex may also be used.
  • Pretzels– salted, mini twisted pretzels provide the best flavor and texture, but any pretzel will be fine in a pinch.
  • Cheese Crackers – use Cheez-Its original to keep it classic, but play around with other flavors, if preferred, such as white cheddar, hot & spicy, etc.

How to make

Just few simple steps required to make this crockpot chex mix!

  1. Whisk together butter, worcestershire, ranch, garlic powder, and chili powder in a medium sized bowl.
  2. Place cereal, pretzels, and Cheeze-Its into a 6 quart crockpot, then toss with the sauce until evenly coated.
  3. Cover and cook on LOWfor 2-2.5 hours, stirring gently ever 30 minutes.
  4. Spread the chex mix onto a rimmed baking sheet to cool before serving.

Slow Cooker Chex Mix Recipe - with Pretzels, Cheez-Its, and Chex Cereal! (2)

How do you keep chex mix from getting soggy?

The key to avoiding soggy chex mix is to place a thin towel over the top of the crockpot before putting the lid on. This helps catch the condensation that forms on the lid as the chex mix cooks.

Be sure to also cool the chex completely before storing it in a sealed airtight container.

Why did my chex mix burn?

To prevent your chex mix from burning, make sure you’re stirring every 30 minutes throughout the 2 1/2 hour cook time. This re-distributes the mix-ins so the ones are the bottom aren’t cooking faster than those in the middle or on the top.

Pro tip

Make sure you stir gently so as not to break the chex cereal!

Can you bake slow cooker chex mix?

If you’re short on time, chex mix can be baked on a rimmed baking sheet lined with a silicone mat at 250ºF for 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes.

Slow Cooker Chex Mix Recipe - with Pretzels, Cheez-Its, and Chex Cereal! (3)

Variations

  • Use other mix-ins.Try rye chips, mixed nuts, oyster crackers, bagel chips, or other cereal.
  • Spice it up.Add a few drops of hot sauce or a few shakes of cayenne to the sauce for a kick of heat.

How to store

Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for 1 week or in the freezer for up to 3 months.

– Jennifer

Slow Cooker Chex Mix Recipe - with Pretzels, Cheez-Its, and Chex Cereal! (4)

Slow Cooker Chex Mix

5 from 4 votes

ThisSlow Cooker Chex Mixis easy to make and so addicting! A homemade version of a classic snack made with chex, crackers, and pretzels tossed in a tangy, slightly spicy sauce.

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 2 hours

Yield: 24 people

Print Pin Rate Recipe

Equipment for this recipe

(equipment shown are affiliate links)

Ingredients

US Customary - Metric

  • 1/4 cup unsalted butter melted and cooled slightly
  • 1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 (1 oz) packet ranch salad dressing and seasoning mix
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder
  • 1 (12 oz) box Chex cereal (I've used rice and corn)
  • 2 cups pretzels
  • 2 cups Cheez-Its

Recipe Video

Instructions

  • Whisk together melted butter, worcestershire sauce, ranch seasoning mix, garlic powder, and chili powder in a medium sized bowl. Set aside.

  • Stir together Chex, pretzels, and Cheez-Its in a 6 quart crockpot, drizzle with the sauce, then gently stir until the sauce has evenly coated the mix-ins.

  • Place a thin dish towel over the crockpot, place on the lid, then cook on LOW for 2 - 2.5 hours, gently stirring every 30 minutes.

  • Pour the cooked chex mix onto a rimmed baking sheet in an even layer and let cool to room temperature.

  • Serve immediately* or store in a sealed container.

  • Take 5 seconds to rate this recipe below. We greatly appreciate it!

Rate This Recipe

STORING

Room Temp:2 Weeks

Refrigerator:N/A

Freezer:3 Months

*Storage times may vary based on temperature and conditions

Notes

*Although this is great the day of, I think this actually tastes best after it's had about a day to sit...the flavors really have a chance to develop!

People Also Viewed

Crockpot

Slow Cooker Carne Asada Recipe

Crockpot

Slow Cooker Caramel Apple Dump Cake Recipe

Crockpot

Slow Cooker Ramen Noodles Recipe

Crockpot

Slow Cooker Kung Pao Chicken Recipe

Cake and Cupcakes

Easy Slow Cooker Carrot Cake Recipe

Crockpot

Slow Cooker Chicken Enchiladas

Nutrition Information

Nutrition Facts

Slow Cooker Chex Mix

Amount Per Serving (1 handful)

Calories 122 Calories from Fat 36

% Daily Value*

Fat 4g6%

Saturated Fat 2g13%

Trans Fat 1g

Polyunsaturated Fat 1g

Monounsaturated Fat 1g

Cholesterol 5mg2%

Sodium 328mg14%

Potassium 92mg3%

Carbohydrates 21g7%

Fiber 2g8%

Sugar 2g2%

Protein 2g4%

Vitamin A 180IU4%

Vitamin C 2.2mg3%

Calcium 42mg4%

Iron 5.1mg28%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

*Note: Nutrition information is estimated and varies based on products used.

Keywords: crockpot snack mix, football food, salty snack, slow cooker snack, snack mix

Enjoy this recipe?

Tag @showmetheyummy on Instagram and hashtag it #showmetheyummy

Course: Snack

Cuisine: American

Slow Cooker Chex Mix Recipe - with Pretzels, Cheez-Its, and Chex Cereal! (2024)

FAQs

Is Chex cereal the same as Chex mix? ›

Chex Mix (stylized as Chex mix) is a type of snack mix that includes Chex breakfast cereal (sold by General Mills) as a major component.

How do you keep Chex mix from getting soggy? ›

The best tip for avoiding the sogginess is the make sure to stir up the mixture well each 15 minutes as it bakes. This will allow the chex mix to cook evenly and allow all pieces to get baked and crispy. After baking, make sure to store in a airtight container or Ziploc.

Is it cheaper to buy Chex mix or make your own? ›

Homemade Chex Mix Is Cheaper AND More Delicious Than The Store-Bought Stuff. Chex Mix offers variety: the crisp cereal, toasty pretzels, the unique crunch of the bagel chips. This homemade recipe puts the store-bought to shame.

Why does my Chex mix taste burnt? ›

4. Overcooking your snack mix. Most snack mixes are cooked with relatively low heat, making it seemingly impossible to overcook. In fact, the fragile flavorings will burn before the cereal will ever appear overcooked, making for a less-than-delicious-tasting finished mix.

Is Chex Mix healthy or unhealthy? ›

Chex mix also includes vitamins and minerals like vitamin B6, calcium, potassium, sodium, and many more that are essential for better propagation of health. In general, it is slightly low in protein, and fiber, and high in sodium, which might affect your body if you consume it in high quantities.

What is the fancy name for Chex Mix? ›

Original Chex Party Mix | Nuts and Bolts Snack Mix Recipe.

Why is my homemade Chex Mix soggy? ›

Why is my homemade Chex Mix soggy? 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.

How long will homemade Chex Mix stay good? ›

Store in freezer-safe container or bag for up to 3 months. Serve immediately or store in a sealed container for up to 2 weeks. Other Mix-in's and Variations: Substitute your favorite mix-in's in a ratio of 1:1 for the mix ins in this recipe.

What are the brown toast things in Chex Mix? ›

The question of the day is: what are these round, brown disks in my Chex Mix? Answer: Melba toasts. And they are clearly the best part of the whole thing.

What is a substitute for Worcestershire sauce in Chex mix? ›

“Try a combination of 1 part ketchup to ½ part soy sauce and ½ part malt vinegar to start," Malivert says, "and play with the proportions to balance the flavor.” Use this as a 1-to-1 substitute for Worcestershire sauce.

What is the least favorite Chex mix piece? ›

Other than the rye chip, nothing brought more people together than pretzels — combined, 38% marked the circle and square pretzels as the worst pieces.

Why is Chex called Chex? ›

The name "Chex" reflects the square checkerboard logo of Ralston Purina.

Can I freeze Chex Mix? ›

This party mix recipe is perfect for making ahead in bulk, freezing, and then enjoying whenever you want. It's also great for homemade gifts! It'll keep in freezer-friendly bags for 4-6 months. No need to thaw!

Why is Chex Mix so good? ›

Chex mix is the ultimate DIY snack. It's crunchy, just the right amount of salty, and stays good for several weeks, making it the perfect thing to keep on the counter for midday or pre-dinner nibbling. Plus, our version can be made with whatever cereal, toasted nuts, and crunchy snacks you've stocked up on.

What can I use instead of Chex cereal? ›

If you're looking for some alternative ingredients, try some of these: Use Crispix instead of Chex. Yep, it will still turn out great! Try freshly popped popcorn instead of the puffed cereal for a fun change.

What is a Chex cereal? ›

It's a cereal. It's a snack. It's a pantry staple. From classics like Rice and Corn to exciting flavors like Chocolate and Peanut Butter, there's a box of Chex cereal for every family member and every time of day.

What came first, Chex Mix or Chex cereal? ›

Chex cereal was introduced in 1942 by the Ralston Purina Company. By the1950s, the recipe for the Party Mix started appearing on the back of the cereal boxes. According to legend, the Chex Mix originated in St. Louis around 1954 or 1955 (sources vary) from the son of one of the founders.

What are Chex cereal made of? ›

Whole Grain Corn, Corn Meal, Sugar, Corn Starch, Salt, Baking Soda. Vitamin E (mixed tocopherols) Added to Preserve Freshness.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Trent Wehner

Last Updated:

Views: 6055

Rating: 4.6 / 5 (56 voted)

Reviews: 95% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Trent Wehner

Birthday: 1993-03-14

Address: 872 Kevin Squares, New Codyville, AK 01785-0416

Phone: +18698800304764

Job: Senior Farming Developer

Hobby: Paintball, Calligraphy, Hunting, Flying disc, Lapidary, Rafting, Inline skating

Introduction: My name is Trent Wehner, I am a talented, brainy, zealous, light, funny, gleaming, attractive person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.