Whip up this popular snack mix in your slow cooker with this easy to make Crock-Pot Chex Mix recipe! Perfect for gift giving at the holidays or snacking anytime!
Slow Cooker Chex Mix
One of my families favorite snacks is a good old fashioned Chex Mix party mix. We make is an everyday snack, packaging it up in snack sized Ziplock baggies so that the kids can take it to lunch.
We make it at the holidays and give away containers to friends and family who stop by.
We just make it to munch on on the weekend while we watch movies together as a family.
I also like to set out bowls for guests to snack away on during parties. This Chex Mix is always a huge hit at our annual Super Bowl party!
Classically Chex Mix is baked in the oven. And there is nothing wrong with that! Sometimes I do that too.
3 Reasons To Make Chex Mix In Your Slow Cooker Instead Of Your Oven:
No need to heat up the oven – On a hot muggy summer day the last thing you want to do is turn the oven on!
Less likely to burn – Because the slow cooker runs at a little lower heat you are less likely to forget that you are cooking your snack mix and burn it. Better for busy or easily distracted folks.
Portable – Your slow cooker is portable and can be used anywhere you have a source of electricity to run it. I have made Chex Mix while camping in the RV and I had had the kids make it as a classroom project (every kid brought a little something to add to the mix…it was interesting!).
Chex Mix is also so versatile. You can totally mix it up by adding your own favorite ingredients. Use different cereals (Cheerios, Kix, Life, etc.), use different nuts (or omit them if you are allergic to nuts), add different snack items (Goldfish crackers, Cheez-It crackers, Oyster crackers, pretzel squares or sticks, Wheat Thins). And if you want to have a sweet-salty combination you can add some candy or dried fruit after it is cooked and cooled. M&M’s, raisins, chocolate chips, etc all work great!
Use your imagination and most of all…have fun making your Chex Mix!
In a 6 quart or larger add all of the dry cereal, pretzels and nuts.
In a small mixing bowl, combine together the remaining ingredients and mix well. Pour over cereal in slow cooker and mix well using a rubber spatula.
Cook on HIGH heat UNCOVERED for 90 minutes, stirring the mixture every 15 minutes to prevent the cereal from burning on the bottom.
After 90 minutes, turn slow cooker to LOW and continue cooking for an additional 20 to 30 minutes, stirring every 5 to 10 minutes until the Chex Mix is crispy.
Spread Chex Mix on a parchment paper lined rimmed baking sheet and allow to cool to room temperature.
Store finished Chex Mix in airtight food storage containers for up to 2 weeks.
Notes
To make clean up easier you may wish to either line your slow cooker with a slow cooker liner or spray with non-stick cooking spray.To personalize this recipe and make it your own, feel free to change up some of the ingredients to use your favorite unsweetened cereals or snack mix ins. Some ideas might be to use Cheerios, Goldfish Crackers, pretzel squares or sticks, wasabi peas, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, peanuts, honey roasted nuts. The possibilities are endless!
Homemade Chex Mix is cheaper AND better tasting than anything you can buy at the store. Does homemade Chex Mix need to be refrigerated? You can store homemade Chex Mix at room temperature in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
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.
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.
Who doesn't love traditional Chex Mix? It's salty, crunchy, and everyone has a favorite item– the perfect party snack! 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.
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.
The brown, round things you are referring to in Chex Mix are known as "Wheat Chex." Wheat Chex is a type of cereal made from whole wheat, and it is a common ingredient in various Chex Mix varieties.
To freeze: Chex mix freezes great! 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.
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.
Once the Chex mix is done you'll need to leave it out to cool, we usually do this overnight before putting it in a large container or ziplock bag. It should keep for a few weeks, but it will never last that long! If you're looking for party ideas be sure to check out our Loaded Baked Potato Dip as well!
You can bring them back to an edible state by heating them in the oven. This works wonderfully for snacks like crackers, Chex mix, tortilla chips, pretzels and even whole loaves of bread. (If you have stale sliced bread you are better off making toast, crostini or bruschetta.)
However, in general, Chex Mix tends to be a calorie-dense snack that is relatively high in fat, sodium, and carbohydrates. It's only fattening if you eat enough of it that you go over your daily calories burned.
Chex Mix is such a perfect food because it is balanced. Each individual piece retains its own individual texture, shape and flavor, yet together the pieces compliment one another and are coated in the same spice blend. Not all pieces absorb the flavor in the same way — some, like the pretzels, are merely coated in it.
While Chex Mix can be included in a weight loss plan, it's important to monitor portion sizes and factor in its calorie content. Opting for lower-calorie variations or making homemade versions can be a healthier choice.
Making homemade snacks is almost always cheaper, healthier and better for the environment because there are no packets. We have great ideas and recipes here, but sometimes you just need a grab-and-go snack!
Slow cooker: Transfer the mixture to slow cooker and cook on LOW for 3 hours, stirring ever 45 minutes. Make Ahead Instructions: Chex mix tastes freshest when served within 2-3 days of making it, but it will last stored in an air-tight container at room temperature for up to 2 weeks.
Chex Mix is a healthier alternative if you eat potato chips as a snack. Chips have a lot of oil, carbs, and salts. Eating a lot of chips in one go is also not great for you in terms of health. You're not getting any protein or fiber, and thus, you're very far away from a balanced diet.
Introduction: My name is The Hon. Margery Christiansen, I am a bright, adorable, precious, inexpensive, gorgeous, comfortable, happy person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
We notice you're using an ad blocker
Without advertising income, we can't keep making this site awesome for you.
