Packed with seasoned sweet and salty flavors and the perfect crunchy texture, this Savory Ranch Chex Mix recipe combines no less than 7 of our favorite snackable ingredients to create AMPLE quantities for your next party.
We take snacking seriously. It’s why our stable of Super Bowl recipes runs 5 pages deep.
And it’s why I’m constantly asking myself whether I’m craving a sweet snack or a savory one.
Luckily, with this Ranch Chex Mix, you don’t need to choose. You get the best of both, with a baked in crunch that is perfection. Plus it’s all coated in ranch seasoning (because, isn’t everything better with ranch?)
On its surface it may sound like a strange marriage of ingredients, but just like how our nation is a melting pot, this Ranch Chex Mix recipe results in a combination that is greater than the sum of its parts. (Getting a little teary/patriotic just thinking about it… sniff.)
Why You’ll Love this Ranch Chex Mix Recipe
- It’s easy to prepare – Do you have a big bowl and 15 minutes? You can get this Chex mix in the oven in that amount of time.
- Use up open snacks/cereals – This party mix is great for clearing out that dastardly, unorganized shelf in your pantry.
- Customizable – Made perfectly to your taste, you can mix and match snack ingredients to exactly your preferences.
- Makes a bunch – The quantity of Ranch Chex Mix that this recipe produces is enough for a LARGE gathering (or one where there’s lots of nervous snacking going on). Leftovers also keep well, so the snacking train can keep on rolling.
Key Ingredients for Ranch Chex Mix
Like all Chex mixes, this one is made with a variety of Chex cereals and other snack foods. This recipe includes 18 cups of cereals or snacks total. How you get there is up to you.
You can absolutely substitute your own favorites, or omit one snack and double up on another. Make it work for you, your taste buds, and your pantry!
That said, here are our absolute FAVORITE savory Chex mix ingredients:
- Chex cereals – Chex is an all-star snack ingredient. Those perfect little lattice pillows have a beautiful crunch, but they also just grab whatever is drizzled on them (like chocolate and peanut butter in this puppy chow). Here, the ranch seasoning just clings to all those nooks and crannies. We use a combination of wheat, rice, and honey nut Chex. Again, that hint of sweet is BOMB.
- Pretzels – We used pretzel twists here, but mini pretzel rods also work well. (If you have any leftovers after making this party mix, be sure to check out our Pretzel Toffee Bark.)
- Bugles – Bugles have got to be one of the most underrated snack foods. I just love how crunchy they are. We usually double up on the Bugles, because they’re the first to mysteriously disappear from the bowl.
- Cashews – I like to include some nuts for protein. Cashews are my personal favorite snacking nut (also featured prominently in this healthy trail mix recipe), but walnuts, almonds, or peanuts also work well.
- Cheerios – We use honey nut cheerios, because again, I’m a sucker for a little sweet in my savory foods, but plain cheerios also work well.
- Cheez-Its – We love getting a burst of sharp cheddar in the mix. Goldfish or Cheese Nips could also work well here.
For the seasoning, you’ll need:
- Ranch seasoning packet
- Dried dill– The extra dill in this seasoning really amps up the ranch flavor!
- Garlic powder
- Vegetable or canola oil
How to Make Ranch Chex Mix
- Prep. Preheat the oven to 250 degrees. Line two rimmed baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Combine cereals. In a LARGE bowl, combine the Chex cereals, pretzels, bugles, cashews, cheerios, and Cheez-its.
- Add ranch seasoning. In a measuring cup, whisk together the ranch seasoning, dried dill, garlic powder, and oil. Drizzle the ranch mixture over the cereals, and use your hands or a large spatula to stir until everything is evenly coated.
- Bake. Divide the mixture in half and spread over the two baking sheets. Bake for 45 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes, until the mixture is light golden brown. Cool for a few minutes before serving.
Storage and Make Ahead Instructions
Once the Chex mix has cooled, it should be stored in an airtight container at room temperature.
Ranch Chex mix will keep for several weeks. It’s fabulous to have around for mid-day snacking, particularly when you’re busy wrapping presents or making Christmas cookies!
Chex Mix Variations
- Buffalo Ranch- Add up to ¼ cup buffalo sauce to the ranch mixture.
- I used to make this Chex mix with waffle crisp cereal when it was a bit easier to find. Sounds strange, but the sweet maple flavor was actually a lovely surprise!
- Other favorite additions include Wheat-thins, goldfish, and honey roasted peanuts. Really, check out your cabinet and see what odds and ends you could throw in!
Ingredients
- 2 cups Wheat Chex
- 2 cups Rice Chex
- 2 cups Honey Nut Chex
- 2 cups Pretzel twists
- 2 cups Cashews
- 2 cups Honey Nut Cheerios
- 3 cups Bugles
- 3 cups Cheez-Its
For the seasoning:
- 1 package Ranch dressing Mix
- 2 tsp. dill
- 1 tsp. garlic powder
- 3/4 cup canola oil
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 250°F. Line two rimmed baking sheets with parchment paper.
- In a large GIANT bowl, combine the Chex cereals, pretzels, bugles, cashews, Cheerios, and Cheez-its.
- In a measuring cup, whisk together the ranch seasoning, dried dill, garlic powder, and oil. Drizzle the ranch mixture over the cereals in stages, mixing well with your hands or a large spatula until everything is evenly coated.
- Divide the mixture in half and spread over the two baking sheets. Bake for 45 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes, until the mixture is light golden brown. Cool for a few minutes before serving.
- Store in an airtight container for up to 2-3 weeks at room temperature.
Notes
We prefer some sweet salty AND cheesy flavors but customize the snack and cereal ingredients to your taste and what you have available. Goldfish, roasted peanuts, Wheat-thins, or even spicy Cheez-Its all make good additions/substitutes.
Recommended Products
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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 40
Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving:
Calories: 278Total Fat: 12gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 10gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 272mgCarbohydrates: 39gFiber: 2gSugar: 15gProtein: 5g
Please note nutritional information for my recipes is calculated by a third party service and provided as a courtesy to my readers. For the most accurate calculation, I always recommend running the numbers yourself with the specific products you use.
Similar Recipe Favorites
If you can’t get enough of sweet and salty snacks, be sure to check out our Homemade Popcorn Seasonings to find a combo that hits the spot.
Alternatively, try this White Chocolate Popcorn for a richer snack, or for the ultimate indulgence, try these Double Chocolate Sea Salt Truffles.
For a cookie that scratches the itch, try these Salted Chocolate Chip Cherry Oatmeal Cookies.
Or if you’re on the hunt for more things to smother in ranch, look no further than this Easy Garden Salad Recipe, or our delicious Ranch Burgers.
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