Dessert

Party Snack Mix Recipe

Byrami Hayes January 23, 2026January 23, 2026

Introduction

This Party Snack Mix is a crunchy, flavorful combination of cereals, pretzels, cheese crackers, and peanuts, all tossed in a seasoned buttery sauce. Perfect for gatherings or casual snacking, it’s easy to make and sure to please any crowd.

A wooden round bowl filled with a snack mix made up of yellow square cereal pieces, small pretzels in brown color, and twisted crispy snacks in a light orange shade. The bowl is on a white marbled surface, next to a folded blue cloth. In the background, there is another small wooden bowl filled with similar snack pieces. The textures look crunchy and dry. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Ingredients

3 cups square corn cereal (e.g., Chex or Crispix)
3 cups square wheat cereal
3 cups square rice cereal
3 cups Cheetos or similar cheese-flavored snacks
3 cups Bugles
2 cups mini pretzel twists
2 cups small square cheese crackers
2 cups dry roasted peanuts
1 cup butter
3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon seasoned salt
1 1/2 teaspoons garlic powder
1 1/2 teaspoons onion powder
1 teaspoon dark chili powder
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
Few dashes hot sauce (to taste)

Instructions

Step 1: Preheat the oven to 250°F (120°C). Prepare an extra large rimmed baking pan or two large sheet pans for baking.
Step 2: In an extra-large mixing bowl (or directly on the pan), combine the corn cereal, wheat cereal, rice cereal, Cheetos, Bugles, pretzels, cheese crackers, and peanuts. Stir gently to mix everything evenly.
Step 3: In a microwave-safe bowl, melt the butter. Stir in Worcestershire sauce, seasoned salt, garlic powder, onion powder, dark chili powder, smoked paprika, ground cumin, and a few dashes of hot sauce to your preference. Whisk or stir until all the spices dissolve and the mixture is smooth.
Step 4: Pour the seasoned butter mixture over the dry snack mix. Using a large spoon or rubber spatula, gently stir to coat every piece evenly without breaking the snacks.
Step 5: Spread the coated snack mix evenly on the prepared baking pan(s) in a single layer.
Step 6: Bake in the preheated oven for 1 hour and 15 minutes. Every 15 minutes, carefully remove the pan and stir the mix to ensure even baking and prevent burning.
Step 7: Once baked, spread the snack mix onto parchment paper to cool completely. This helps it crisp up and prevents sticking.

Tips & Variations

For a gluten-free option, make sure to use gluten-free cereals and pretzels.
Add nuts like cashews or almonds for extra crunch and variety.
Adjust the hot sauce amount based on how spicy you want your mix.
Store the mix in an airtight container to keep it fresh and crunchy.

Storage

Store the cooled snack mix in an airtight container at room temperature. It will keep fresh and crunchy for up to 2 weeks. If it loses crispness, you can reheat it in a 250°F oven for 5–10 minutes to refresh the texture.

How to Serve

The image shows a white square bowl filled with a mix of snack pieces. Inside the bowl, there are several layers of snacks: light brown square cereal pieces with a rough texture, brown pretzel shapes with visible salt grains, round slices of brown nuts, and longer, flat rectangular pieces. There are some almonds and pecans mixed in, adding darker brown colors and rough textures. Around the bowl on a white marbled surface, a few snack pieces are scattered. The lighting highlights the natural colors and textures of the snack mix. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I use different types of cereal?

Yes, you can substitute with similar square-shaped cereals you prefer, but avoid cereals that are too delicate or sugary, as they may not hold up well during baking.