This easy recipe for Buffalo Ranch Chex Mix is crunchy, savory, and spicy too! Inspired by the classic flavor combo of buffalo sauce and ranch dressing, this homemade snack mix is perfect for game day - or for gifting during the holidays.
Best of all? It can be made in the oven, air fryer, OR slow cooker - it's totally up to you!
We are a big savory and salty family around here, and so one of my favorite things to make when we want a yummy snack is Chex Mix.
Not just for the holidays! This crunchy snack mix is filled with crispy Chex cereal, salty pretzels, and a buttery seasoning mixture - who can resist!
This buffalo ranch version is the perfect mix of spicy and crunchy, which easily makes it a top snack choice for movie night or your next party. It's super simple to make too, meaning you can enjoy it any time of year!
Why You'll Love It:
- A great spicy snack. If you like a little kick when you snack, you're going to love buffalo ranch snack mix. It's savory, salty, and the perfect amount of spicy. If you like it hot - add more seasoning!
- Perfect for gifting. Chex mix is a common Christmas gift, and if you know your friends and family like it spicy, this version is a great option.
- Great for watching the game. If you're a football fan (or just love sports in general), you know nothing goes together like football and spicy food.
- Cheaper than store-bought. Finding the flavors of store-bought Chex mix can be hard, and they aren't exactly cheap. Making your own is cheaper, and it tastes way better too!
You Will Need:
- Chex cereal: I like to mix cereals when making this recipe. It offers a variety in flavor and texture. You will need 4 ½ cups total - I do half corn and half rice, but you could use wheat Chex if you like.
- Pretzels: I've tried out many options, and the mini pretzel twists are our favorite by far! Pretzels sticks are a bit of a hazard, and the larger ones are just plain awkward.
- Mixed nuts: Use your favorite mixed nuts! I purchased the "Deluxe" blend from Costco, and it's always a hit.
- Mix-ins of choice: Cheez-its, bagel chips, rye chips, oyster crackers, or even sweet additions like M&Ms or chocolate chips (add those after baking though!).
- Buffalo ranch seasoning: Since you can't add hot sauce to a dry snack mix, using a premade seasoning blend is the best way to get that buffalo flavor. The one we used is made by Frank's Red Hot.
- Ranch seasoning (optional): The buffalo ranch seasoning alone doesn't give a strong "ranch" flavor. So if you're a ranch fan, add 1 package of dry ranch dressing mix (or 2-3 tablespoons of homemade ranch seasoning).
- Butter: You'll need ¼ cup of butter to drizzle on top. It's absolutely delicious!
- Worcestershire sauce: This adds a yummy savory flavor. Definitely do not skip!
- Seasoned salt: A classic ingredient in all Chex mix recipes, you can reduce this by half if using ranch seasoning (which contains ample salt).
Check the recipe card for a full list of ingredients and the quantities needed.
How to Make Buffalo Chex Mix
- Add 4 ½ cups of Chex cereals, ½ cup of mixed nuts, 1 cup of pretzels, and 1 cup of the mix-ins of your choice to a large bowl. Stir gently to combine.
- Melt ¼ cup of butter in a small microwavable bowl, then stir in 1 tablespoon of Worcestershire sauce, 1 teaspoon seasoned salt, 2-3 tablespoons of buffalo ranch seasoning (most commonly made by Frank's Red Hot), and 1 package of dry ranch dressing mix (optional; if using ranch dressing mix, reduce the seasoned salt to ½ teaspoon).
- Pour the melted butter and seasonings into the Chex cereal mixture.
- Gently stir until the Chex mix is lightly coated in the seasonings and butter.
- Spread it out on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
- Bake in a 275ºF oven for 25-35 minutes, or until lightly browned and crisp. Be sure to toss the mixture every 10-15 minutes to encourage even cooking.
Large batch: If you want to make a large batch for gifting, I recommend doubling the recipe and using two sheet pans. These can be rotated back in forth in the oven to ensure even cooking. You may need to add 5 minutes to the baking time, but the best way to know if it's done or not is to watch closely to check for browning.
Storing Chex Mix
Leftover Chex Mix can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for 1-2 weeks.
Top tip: For the best results, make sure that the snack mix is completely cooled before adding it to a container, as a warm mix will cause condensation in the jar, which accelerates spoilage.
For gifting: Add individual servings of your own Chex mix to pint or quart-sized jars, and add a pretty ribbon and custom label. Cellophane bags also work well.
Ideas for Mix-Ins
- Bagel chips (or rye chips)
- Cheerios
- Cheese sticks
- Cheese crackers (Cheez-its, goldfish, etc)
- Oyster crackers
- Candies
- M&m's
- Reese's Pieces
- Extra nuts or pretzels
Note about Mix-ins: If you select a sweet or meltable mix-in, leave it out until after the Chex mix has baked and cooled completely. Once the snack mix is cooled, add it in and stir gently to distribute it.
Expert Tips
- Stir during cooking. Steam can get trapped under the cereal if you're not stirring every so often. A good rule of thumb is every 10-15 minutes, or about 2-3 times total.
- Let it cool down. One of the biggest mistakes I notice when people are gifting food in jars is packing it while still warm! The warmth creates condensation in the jar or container, which leads to a soggy texture and early spoilage. Make sure to let it cool down completely.
- Customize it for you. Depending on the level of spiciness, you may want to scale the seasoning up or down. I found 2 tablespoons to be the perfect amount for my spicy-ish self, while my husband preferred 3 tablespoons. If you like a strong ranch flavor, use ranch seasoning mix - but be sure to scale back the seasoned salt to account for the extra sodium.
Substitutions
Worcestershire sauce: If you don't have this on hand but still want to make homemade Chex mix, try using soy sauce, tamari, coconut aminos, malt vinegar, or ketchup in its place.
Without Chex: Crispix or Life cereals make a good substitute for Chex. If you live in Canada or the UK, Shreddies is a good option as well.
Gluten-free: Use gluten-free varieties of Chex cereal (rice and corn), gluten-free pretzels (I like Snyder's gluten-free mini twists), and a gluten-free mix-in option (or more nuts).
Dairy-free: Use your favorite plant-based spread in place of the butter in this recipe.
Slow Cooker Method
Yes, you can make Chex mix in a Crock Pot! Here's how:
- Add the Chex cereal, nuts, pretzels, and the mix-ins of your choice (unless they are sweet and meltable) to a large crock pot insert. Stir well.
- Melt the butter, then add the Worcestershire sauce and seasonings.
- Pour the butter mixture over the cereal mixture and stir well until everything is well coated.
- Cook on "low" for 3 hours, stirring every 1 hour to prevent burning.
- Turn off the heat, remove the crock from the base, and remove the lid.
- Allow to cool to room temperature before serving or storing.
Air Fryer
If you want to make a really quick and easy batch, Air Fryer Chex Mix is the method for you!
- Add the Chex cereal, nuts, pretzels, and the mix-ins of your choice (unless they are sweet and meltable) to a large crock pot insert. Stir well.
- Melt the butter, then add the Worcestershire sauce and seasonings.
- Pour the butter mixture over the cereal mixture and stir well until everything is well coated.
- Cook at 300ºF (149ºC) for 6-8 minutes, shaking the basket 1-2 times.
- Remove the basket once there are lots of lightly browned pieces.
- Allow to cool to room temperature before serving or storing.
More Snack Mixes
If you loved this recipe for Buffalo Ranch Chex Mix, let me know by leaving a 5-star review in the recipe card or comment below! You can also tag me on Instagram @dashfordinner.
Buffalo Ranch Chex Mix
Ingredients
- 4 ½ cups Chex cereal a mix of your choice - I used rice and corn
- ½ cup mixed nuts
- 1 cup pretzels
- 1 cup mix-ins of your choice Cheez-its, bagel chips, goldfish, cheerios, etc.
- ¼ cup butter
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon seasoned salt (if using ranch seasoning, this can be reduced to ½ teaspoon)
- 2-3 tablespoons Buffalo Ranch seasoning or more, if you like it very spicy
- 1 package dry ranch dressing mix optional (or 2-3 tablespoons of homemade ranch seasoning)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 275ºF and line a rimmed sheet pan with parchment paper.
- Add the Chex cereals, mixed nuts, pretzels, and the mix-ins of your choice into a very large bowl.
- In a separate microwave-safe bowl, add the butter. Heat in 30-second intervals until completely melted.
- Add the Worcestershire sauce, seasoned salt, buffalo ranch seasoning, and ranch dressing mix (if using) to the melted butter and stir well to combine.
- Pour half of the melted butter mixture over the cereal and mixins, and toss well to coat. Add the remaining half of the butter mixture, and toss well until everything is evenly coated.
- Spread the prepared Chex mix evenly over each sheet.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 25-35 minutes, stirring every 10-15 minutes, until lightly browned and crisp.
- Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely on the baking sheet.
- Transfer to a bowl with a tight lid or an airtight container.
Notes
Nutrition
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