Slow Cooker Bold Chex Mix Recipe (2024)

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By: The Chunky Chefpublished: 12/05/2018

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This bold and zesty chex mix recipe, is so simple to make for a party! Made super easily in the slow cooker, and easy to customize!

If you’re a fan of the store-bought chex mix, you HAVE to give this homemade version a try!

Slow Cooker Bold Chex Mix Recipe (1)

You guys, I have a serious chex mix addiction. I want all the bold, zesty, salty snack pieces I can get! So naturally, instead of paying $3-4 a bag (that’s half filled with air), I wanted to make my own. I’ve made chex mix before, in the oven, and even the microwave, but somehow it never occurred to me to try it out in the slow cooker!

I was doing some recipe testing for a yummy cheeseball (recipe to come shortly!), and my oven was occupied with a BIG pan of bacon, so I decided to give the crockpot recipe a try. Man, it did NOT disappoint!! I used this recipe from Ali over at Gimme Some Oven as my base method, and changed up my mixture and butter sauce.

Slow Cooker Bold Chex Mix Recipe (2)

WHY MAKE A CHEX MIX RECIPE IN THE SLOW COOKER?

Honestly, it wasn’t any less “work” than the other oven and microwave versions, and it tasted exactly the same… so why do it? Well there might be a time when your oven is on the fritz, or it’s busy baking something else… plus you can make this large batch without having to use a cumbersome roasting pan or extremely large baking sheet.

Bottom line, there’s no wrong way to make chex mix! And I’ve detailed the oven and microwave directions for you below the recipe.

HOW LONG DOES HOMEMADE CHEX MIX LAST?

Around here, not very long! Seriously we plow through a bag in about 3 days. But if you keep it sealed in an airtight container at room temperature, it should last you about 3-4 weeks. If you can make a batch last that long, please, PLEASE tell me your self-discipline secrets!

Slow Cooker Bold Chex Mix Recipe (3)

WHAT ELSE CAN YOU ADD TO A CHEX MIX RECIPE?

There are so many options! For starters, you can use any combination of chex cereals you like; you just want 9 cups total. Here are a few of my favorite add-ins:

  • Crunchy Cheetos
  • Mini Breadsticks
  • Plain Cheerios
  • A variety of nuts
  • Raisins (add in AFTER the chex mix has cooked and cooled completely)
  • M&M’s (add in AFTER the chex mix has cooked and cooled completely)

Slow Cooker Bold Chex Mix Recipe (4)

PRO TIPS FOR MAKING SLOW COOKER CHEX MIX:

  1. Stir GENTLY when you’re tossing the chex mix and butter mixture. Those delicate chex cereal pieces can break pretty easily.
  2. Play around with the seasonings if you’d like! Want more of a flavor punch? Use 1/3 cup Worcestershire sauce, 1 1/2 Tbsp seasoned salt and 1 1/4 tsp of the garlic powder and onion powder. Want less zest? Use a little less of all the seasonings. It’s a really flexible recipe.
  3. Make sure you thoroughly stir the chex mix every hour and at LEAST 2 times during the last hour of cooking. The bottom of the chex mix can burn and scorch, and then not only will it not taste good… it will smell pretty awful.
  4. This chex mix recipe makes a great gift during the holidays! Package some up in a festive tin and pamper your friends and neighbors.

OTHER GREAT SNACK RECIPES:

  • Italian Herb Snack Mix
  • Barbecue Roasted Mixed Nuts
  • Gingerbread Caramel Corn
  • Vanilla Cinnamon Candied Almonds

Slow Cooker Bold Chex Mix Recipe (5)

SHOP THE RECIPE:

Slow Cooker Bold Chex Mix Recipe (6)

Did you make this? Be sure to leave a review below and tag me @the_chunky_chef on Facebook and Instagram!

Slow Cooker Bold Chex Mix Recipe (7)

Slow Cooker Bold Chex Mix Recipe

4.80 from 10 votes

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 3 hours hours

Total Time: 3 hours hours 10 minutes minutes

Calories: 423

This bold and zesty chex mix recipe, is so simple to make for a party!

Ingredients

  • 3 cups corn chex cereal
  • 3 cups rice chex cereal
  • 3 cups wheat chex cereal
  • 1 1/2 cups bagel chips
  • 1 1/4 cups peanuts
  • 1 cup pretzels
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
  • 4 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 Tbsp seasoned salt
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp onion powder
  • 1/4 tsp smoked paprika (optional)

Instructions

  • Add cereals, bagel chips, peanuts and pretzels to the bottom of a large crockpot; set aside.

  • To the melted butter (make sure it's still hot!), add Worcestershire sauce, seasoned salt, garlic powder, onion powder, and smoked paprika (if using). Whisk until seasonings have dissolved into the hot butter mixture.

  • Pour butter mixture over the top of the chex mixture (as evenly as you can), then use a rubber spatula to gently toss everything together. Mix it well, so the butter mixture is evenly distributed through the chex mix.

  • Cover and cook on LOW for 3 hours, stirring every hour, and at least twice during the last hour to prevent burning or scorching.

  • After chex mix is cooked, spread it evenly in a very large baking sheet lined with parchment paper, or onto a countertop lined with parchment or wax paper. This cools the chex mix, and it will crisp up more as it cools.

  • Once cooled, store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3-4 weeks.

Want to save this recipe for later? Click the heart in the bottom right corner to save to your own recipe box!

Chef Tips

To prevent condensation from the lid of the slow cooker from falling onto the chex mix and making it soggy, place a kitchen towel over the slow cooker and place the lid tightly on top of the towel. *do so at your own risk, as it could potentially be a fire hazard - although I do this all the time and have never had any issues*

OVEN DIRECTIONS

  • Mix chex mix and butter mixture in a large mixing bowl, then spread evenly in a very large baking sheet or roasting pan.
  • Bake at 250 F degrees for 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes.
  • Spread on parchment to cool and store as directed.

MICROWAVE DIRECTIONS

  • Mix chex mix and butter mixture in a large mixing bowl, then transfer to a large microwave-safe container (you may need to break the mixture up into batches).
  • Microwave for 5-6 minutes, stirring every 2 minutes.
  • Spread on parchment to cool and store as directed.

Nutrition Disclaimer

The Chunky Chef is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, we recommend running the ingredients through whichever online nutritional calculator you prefer. Calories can vary quite a bit depending on which brands were used.

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Slow Cooker Bold Chex Mix Recipe (8)

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Meet The Chunky Chef

Hey there! I'm Amanda. Wife, mother, photography nerd, and bacon lover! I believe that delicious meals should be easy to make. Now that you’re here, stay a bit, browse a few recipes, and let’s get cookin’!

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  1. Diane says

    This is my FAVORITE Chex mix recipe! The smoked paprika…chef’s kiss!

    Reply

  2. Diane says

    The absolute best chex mix with bold flavor! I make it every holiday season.

    Reply

  3. Thalia Menninger says

    This recipe did not turn out well for me at all. The flavor certainly wasn’t bold–in fact, it was pretty much tasteless, and I had even increased the amounts of the seasonings. It just came out tasting strangely oily and blah. I think salted butter would be better, for a start. I did like cooking it in the slow cooker.

    Reply

  4. Ken Buckmaster says

    Very tasty! A crowd pleaser. I have made many times. Always great around the holidays. I also add a touch of cayenne or spicy peanuts.

    Reply

  5. Lauren says

    Which of the cooking methods do you prefer? I’m torn between the oven and crockpot. Thanks!

    Reply

    • The Chunky Chef says

      I tend to use the crockpot, just because it’s a little less hands-on 🙂

      Reply

  6. Vikki Beswick says

    The smoked paprika is brilliant, I am glad for this recipe, and it sure kicked it up a notch.
    Maybe this is a helpful hint, maybe not: I always dump all the seasonings into a pyrex cup with the butter, and melt it all together in the microwave, which combines everything no fuss no muss, and also ensures the butter is still hot and totally melted when poured on the dry stuff.
    Again, thanks for the great add to a timeless recipe.

    Reply

  7. Rose says

    Love your recipe! But I had to laugh at the last tip. “Once cooled, store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3-4 weeks.” Lol like it would last that long in my house!

    Reply

  8. Brian Hebert says

    Love this recipe so much! Think it’s my 3rd year in a row making it at the holidays! Please don’t ever delete it!

    Reply

  9. Allison says

    This is seriously addicting! I can’t stop eating it!

    Reply

  10. Melanie Bauer says

    Looks absolutely fabulous! I’m sure this will quickly disappear on our table, need to make this!

    Reply

  11. Chrissie Baker says

    LOVE this idea to use the slow cooker. I cannot wait to try it this Christmas!

    Reply

  12. Demeter says

    This is always the first to disppear when we have company over. Who can resist it?!

    Reply

  13. Sabrina says

    I need this in my life! I’m running to the store right now so I can make it!

    Reply

  14. Meghan says

    I love a good bold chex mix! I can never stop eating it.

    Reply

Slow Cooker Bold Chex Mix Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What's the difference between Chex Mix and bold Chex Mix? ›

What makes the Bold flavor so special? Think of it as Traditional Chex Mix on steroids. The savoriness is so epic that it's beyond your wildest dreams. It's like Chex Mix took the Traditional flavor and added even more butter, more garlic powder, more onion powder, and, most noticeably, more Worcestershire sauce.

Why is my homemade Chex Mix soggy? ›

Using too much liquid. Don't go over the recipe's suggested liquid amounts; that is a sure way to get soggy mix (which, again, nobody wants). Follow this tip: If you need to make a change in liquid ingredients, just keep the amount the same.

What is the Chex Mix seasoning made of? ›

The official Chex Mix recipe calls for 1½ tablespoons seasoned salt, ¾ teaspoons garlic powder, and ½ teaspoon onion powder.

What is the best part of Chex Mix? ›

Corn Chex

Corn Chex are indisputably the best part of a bag of Chex Mix. If you've ever tasted Corn Chex on their own, you know they don't need to be doused in seasoning to be enjoyable—you could easily eat them plain.

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.

Is it cheaper to make your own Chex Mix? ›

The three types of cereal are usually Corn Chex, Rice Chex, and Wheat Chex. Beyond that, pretzels, peanuts, and some kind of cracker or rye chip are standard. Is it cheaper to buy Chex Mix or make your own? Homemade Chex Mix is cheaper AND better tasting than anything you can buy at the store.

Is Chex mix healthy or unhealthy? ›

Is Chex mix a healthy snack. In terms of snacks, this one certainly isn't the worst. On the other hand, if you've got high blood pressure, you definitely need to be careful of mindlessly eating it. In just a half cup, traditional Chex mix has 250 mg of sodium.

Is Chex mix healthy or not? ›

But sadly, what makes it taste so good also makes Chex Mix not the healthiest option. It's full of refined grains, sugar, and tons of sodium. That's why I love to make my own healthy, Gluten Free Chex mix that's just as addicting without the ultra-processed stuff.

Why did my Chex mix burn? ›

NOTE: Many readers have had issues with their mix burning at 325 degrees. I haven't had this problem, but I would recommend baking at 250 degrees F to avoid this potential issue. In a large roasting pan, stir together the cereals, pretzels and nuts.

Why is Chex Mix not in Canada? ›

Chex has really not caught on as a brand in Canada. Although many other products of General Mills, like Cheerios, are very popular, Chex is seen as a “niche” product.

What makes Chex Mix so good? ›

Seasoned salt: This old-school seasoning has a blend of onion, garlic, spices, and salt. We like Lawry's for Chex mix. Onion and garlic powders: These give the Chex mix a deeper, more savory taste. Worcestershire sauce: A generous amount of lends a subtle savoriness that rounds all the flavors out.

What does Chex Mix stand for? ›

Chex Mix is a type of snack mix that includes Chex breakfast cereal as a major component. There are many recipes for homemade Chex Mix also known as Chex Party Mix. Though contents vary, the mixes generally include an assortment of Chex cereals, chips, hard breadsticks, pretzels, nuts or bagel bites.

What is the fancy name for Chex Mix? ›

First off this recipe can be found under many names besides Party Mix such as Chex Mix, Nuts and Bolts, TV Mix, or Snack Mix.

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.

What are the chips in Chex Mix called? ›

They're called rye chips. There's a company called gardetto's that makes them and you could buy them by the bag. Side note chex owned by general Mills corporation gardettos is now owned by general Mills too.

What is bold Chex Mix? ›

Seasoned Chex pieces, mini bread sticks, pretzels, crackers and rye chips. 40 percent less fat than regular potato chips. Bold and irresistible.

What's in Chex Mix bold? ›

Instructions. Add the Chex, pretzels, Cheerios, and peanuts together in a large microwave-safe mixing bowl, and gently stir a bit to combine. In a separate bowl, whisk together the melted butter, worcestershire sauce, seasoned salt and garlic powder together until combined.

How many types of Chex Mix are there? ›

In total, General Mills produces 13 varieties of Chex Mixes, not including limited editions. These flavors can be broadly divided into three categories: savory, chocolate (usually marketed as "Muddy Buddies"), and sweet 'n salty.

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