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Crowd-Pleasing Ranch Christmas Chex Mix: Easy Holiday Snack

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This savory, buttery, ranch-flavored Chex mix is the ultimate crowd-pleaser for holiday gatherings. Made with simple pantry ingredients, it comes together in under an hour and disappears before the sweet stuff.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 9 cups Rice Chex cereal (or Corn Chex, or a mix)
  • 3 cups pretzel twists, broken into bite-sized pieces
  • 2 cups Cheez-Its (original or white cheddar)
  • 1 cup mixed nuts (unsalted or lightly salted; cashews, almonds, pecans)
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
  • 1 packet (1 oz) ranch seasoning mix
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, freshly ground

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 250°F (120°C).
  2. Line a large rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
  3. In a large mixing bowl, combine 9 cups Chex cereal, 3 cups broken pretzels, 2 cups Cheez-Its, and 1 cup mixed nuts. Toss gently to distribute evenly.
  4. In a small microwave-safe bowl, melt 1/2 cup unsalted butter in 30-second intervals until fully melted (45-60 seconds total). Let cool for a minute.
  5. Whisk the entire packet of ranch seasoning mix, 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder, 1/2 teaspoon onion powder, and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper into the melted butter until smooth.
  6. Pour the butter mixture evenly over the dry ingredients. Gently fold with a rubber spatula until everything is lightly coated, being careful not to crush the cereal.
  7. Spread the mixture in an even layer on the prepared baking sheet.
  8. Bake for 45 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes, until the mix is dry and lightly golden at the edges.
  9. Remove from the oven and let cool completely on the baking sheet. The mix will continue to crisp as it cools.
  10. Once completely cool, break up any large clumps and transfer to a serving bowl. Store in an airtight container at room temperature.

Notes

For gluten-free version, use certified gluten-free Rice Chex, gluten-free pretzels, and gluten-free cheese crackers. For spicy version, add 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper or 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes. For dill pickle version, add 1 tablespoon dried dill and 1 teaspoon pickle juice powder. For everything bagel version, sprinkle 2 tablespoons everything bagel seasoning before baking. Store in airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 weeks. Can be frozen for up to 3 months. Flavors improve after a day or two.

Nutrition

Keywords: ranch Chex mix, Christmas snack, holiday snack mix, savory Chex mix, easy party snack, crowd-pleasing snack

Find it online: https://coracooks.com/crowd-pleasing-ranch-christmas-chex-mix-easy-holiday-snack/