Make a batch of spicy garlic chex mix for your next party or gathering. Chex cereal, cashews, and pretzels are coated in a blend of spicy cayenne pepper, savory seasonings, and aromatic garlic.

Chex mix is a fun and easy snack to make for your next party or movie night at home. If you like a little heat and a lot of flavor, this spicy garlic chex mix is a must try!
You'll love this recipe because it takes about ten minutes to mix together and toasts up nice and crunchy in the oven. It's savory with a bit of heat and plenty of garlic flavor.
Take this salty, crunchy snack mix to the beach, to Sunday football parties, or on your next road trip. It's great any time of year!
Ingredients and substitutions
- Chex cereal - Rice, corn, and wheat chex cereals are the most popular combination when making chex mix. Feel free to use your favorite one or two flavors if you don't want to purchase a box of each. I used corn and wheat chex in the photos.
- Pretzels - Adds crunchy, salty flavor to your chex mix. I like using small twists, but snaps or sticks work well too.
- Cashews - Can be substituted with your favorite nuts, like peanuts, almonds, or pistachios. For a nut-free chex mix, they could also be substituted with cheese crackers (like in my buffalo ranch chex mix recipe) or more pretzels.
- Butter - Coats the cereal and other mix-ins, adds buttery flavor, and helps the seasoning adhere.
- Worcestershire sauce - Adds savory, umami flavor to the chex mix.
- Seasoning - Garlic powder, seasoned salt, cayenne pepper, and parsley add savory flavor with a bit of heat. For a milder flavor, cut the cayenne pepper in half.
Tips and tricks
Adjust the spice to suit your tastes - This snack mix is has a medium level of spice. If you have a complete aversion to spicy foods, this recipe is probably not for you. If you'd like to make it less spicy, cut the cayenne pepper in half. For a mild flavor, replace the cayenne pepper with paprika.
Stir until evenly coated - After adding your seasoned butter mixture to the cereal, gently stir (and keep stirring!) until everything is evenly coated.
Use parchment paper - I like to use parchment on my sheet pans when making chex mix because it's easy to pick up and funnel straight into a serving bowl.
Allow to cool completely - Your chex mix will crisp up further as it cools, so allow it to cool completely before storing or serving. Warm chex mix releases steam as it cools and can get soggy if stored while still warm.
Storage
Homemade chex mix will keep for about 1 to 2 weeks in a tightly sealed airtight container at room temperature.
Frequently asked questions
Bagel chips, rye chips, cheese crackers, Cheerios cereal, and oyster crackers are great additions to chex mix.
No, I recommend storing chex mix at room temperature in an airtight container. If it's sealed well, it will keep for up to two weeks.
Feel free to add a splash of your favorite hot sauce to the butter mixture. You could also add extra cayenne pepper or some red pepper flakes.
Recommended
📖 Recipe
Spicy Garlic Chex Mix
Ingredients
- 8 cups chex cereal, any variety
- 2 cups small twist pretzels
- 8 ounces cashews
- ½ cup unsalted butter, melted
- ¼ cup worcestershire sauce
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 2 teaspoons seasoned salt
- 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 teaspoon parsley
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 250℉. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
- In a large bowl, add chex cereal, pretzels, and cashews. Set aside.
- In a small bowl, add melted butter, worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, seasoned salt, cayenne pepper, and parsley. Stir to combine.
- Drizzle seasoned butter over chex mixture and stir until evenly coated.
- Spread chex mix evenly over the prepared baking sheet. Bake for about 45 minutes, stirring once halfway through.
- Remove from oven and allow to cool completely.
Equipment Recommendations
Notes
- Homemade chex mix will keep for 1-2 weeks in an airtight container at room temperature.
- As written, this chex mix has a medium level of spice. For a less spicy chex mix, cut the cayenne pepper in half. For a mild savory flavor, replace the cayenne pepper with paprika.
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