Original Chex Mix Recipe

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You found it! The Original Chex Mix Recipe! Original Chex mix is a holiday staple in my house. It’s so easy to make yet, I only seem to make it at Christmas. It’s great to wrap up in cellophane bags, tie with a pretty ribbon, and share with friends and neighbors.

Original Chex Mix in a blue bowl.

For me, the Original Chex mix is synonymous with Christmas. My Mom always made this EVERY holiday season. When she was no longer able, it became my job because it’s not only a family favorite, it’s a family tradition.

I love it, my boys love it, neighbors and friends love it, my husband does not love it. More for us!

The last time my brother visited he enjoyed a good deal of it and I sent the rest on the plane with him as a snack. I bet the people sitting around him were jealous.

The ingredients for Chex mix in a silver pan.

This recipe is my Mom’s that she clipped, possibly from a magazine too many years ago to mention. It’s in a journal type book with other clipped and hand-written recipes I will treasure until the end of my days.

This particular clipping is worn, the page in the book is detached but now repaired by me so it doesn’t get lost. There’s even a torn piece of paper with Chex Mix written on it as a makeshift bookmark so it’s easily found. Plus, her notes are invaluable.

Many may not know that the Original Chex mix did not have bagel chips or pretzels or anything else than what’s here. I know, my Mom’s been making this for close to 40 years, if not longer.

In recent years there have been boatloads of Chex cereal recipes both savory and sweet, including spicy Chex mix, cookies and cream muddy buddies, ranch chex mix, Easter muddy buddies, sweet and salty chex mix but, to me, this original is best. No pretzels, no bagel chips.

Overhead photo of Chex mix in a blue bowl.

My Mom made one substitution and that was garlic powder for the seasoned salt. When my Dad was put on a salt-free diet, she made the change and never looked back. You’ll notice there is no salt in this Chex recipe. Why? Because Worcestershire sauce is salty. 

I don’t even remember it the other way. Oh, and it’s Chex Party Mix, not just Chex mix. Perfect for any party. It’s also great for hostess gifts, treats in your cookie tin, and an after school snack.

Chex Party Mix Box with the Recipe

I found this vintage cardboard box in my Mom’s things. It’s copyright the Ralston Purina company in 1986. I was in college in 1986 and my Mom had been making Chex mix for at least a decade. This is REALLY the ORIGINAL, sans pretzels and bagel chips and everything that’s added these days and called original chex mix.

Original Chex mix is a holiday staple in my house. It's easy to make yet, I only seem to make it at Christmas. It's great to wrap up in cellophane bags, tie with a pretty ribbon, and share with friends and neighbors. #OriginalChexMix #ChexPartyMix #FoodGifts Click to Tweet

Use a 9 x 13-inch pan it’s easier to stir with higher sides. If you were to use a rimmed baking sheet you’d spill it all over the oven or counter when you stirred it. Actually, the pan I use was my Mom’s that I will, hopefully, pass along to my party mix loving son.

If a nut allergy is a concern, feel free to omit them and substitute anything mentioned below. Make this gluten-free by omitting the wheat Chex variety. In fact, use any combination of Chex you’d like.

What can I add-in to the Original Chex mix?

Popular add-ins include:

  • Dried Cranberries
  • Dried Cherries
  • Coconut
  • Pretzels
  • Sesame Sticks
  • Bagel Chips

The ingredients are probably readily available in your pantry. We call those pantry staples, cereal, nuts, Worcestershire sauce, and garlic powder. 

Original Chex Mix

You found it! The Original Chex Mix Recipe!
5 from 20 votes
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time45 minutes
Total Time55 minutes
Course: Appetizers and Snacks
Cuisine: American
Servings: 7 cups

Ingredients

  • 6 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 4 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 cups Chex Corn cereal
  • 2 cups Chex Rice cereal
  • 2 cups Chex Wheat cereal
  • 1 1/2 cups mixed nuts

Instructions

  • Melt butter and pour into a 9 x 13-inch pan.
  • Stir in garlic powder and Worcestershire sauce.
  • Add Chex cereals and nuts, stirring until all pieces are coated. Heat in 275° degree oven for 45 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes.
  • Spread out onto absorbent paper towels to cool. Once cool store in an airtight container.

Originally published December 19, 2012, updated December 13, 2020, and December 22, 2022.

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7 Comments

  1. I don’t think I have ever made Chex Mix. I love eating bags of it but never made it. I need to fix that. Maybe I’m adding the ingredients to my shopping list right now…

  2. My kids LOVE Chex Mix, and my little guy would like your version with the nuts. You’re right – this isn’t just for the holidays but a recipe for all year round!

  3. My mother-in-law used to make tons of this at Christmas would send home a tin of it with us for the New Year. All we had to do was to remember to bring the tin back!

  4. I always forget about Chex mix to make as gifts, it’s so easy! Not to mention yummy and you can change the flavors up, too.

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