BBQ Chex Snack Mix

BBQ Chex Snack Mix coats two kinds of Chex cereal, pretzels, cheese crackers and roasted peanuts with real BBQ sauce, butter and smoky seasonings before baking everything slowly in the oven. The low baking temperature dries the BBQ coating onto the mix while keeping the cereal crisp.

Course Snack

Cuisine American

Keyword BBQ Chex mix recipe, BBQ Chex Snack Mix, BBQ Snack Mix

Prep Time 15

Cook Time 40

Total Time 55

Servings cups

Calories 309kcal

Author Cathy Pollak

Equipment

measuring cups and spoons For measuring the cereal, mix-ins, sauce and seasonings.
mixing bowls (extra large and small). One gives you enough room to thoroughly toss the cereal and mix-ins with the BBQ coating without crushing the Chex and the other is for whisking the BBQ sauce, melted butter and seasonings.
wooden spoon or silicone spatula. For tossing the snack mix with the coating and stirring it during baking.
whisk Incorporates the melted butter and dry seasonings evenly into the BBQ sauce.
2 rimmed baking sheets Dividing the mixture between two pans provides enough surface area for moisture from the BBQ sauce to evaporate.
parchment paper Prevents the BBQ coating from baking directly onto the pans and makes cleanup easier.

Ingredients

4 cups (120 g) Rice Chex cereal
4 cups (125 g) Corn Chex cereal
1½ cups (60 g) pretzel twists
1½ cups (93 g) Cheez-It crackers
1 cup (145 g) roasted, salted peanuts
½ cup (120 ml) BBQ sauce
2 tbsps (28 g) unsalted butter melted
2 tsps (4 g) smoked paprika
1 tsp (3 g) garlic powder
1 tsp (2 g) onion powder

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 250°F (120°C) and line two large rimmed baking sheets with parchment paper.
Add the Rice Chex, Corn Chex, pretzels, Cheez-It crackers and peanuts to an extra-large mixing bowl, tossing briefly to distribute the smaller ingredients throughout the cereal.
4 cups (120 g) Rice Chex cereal, 4 cups (125 g) Corn Chex cereal, 1½ cups (60 g) pretzel twists, 1½ cups (93 g) Cheez-It crackers, 1 cup (145 g) roasted, salted peanuts
Whisk the BBQ sauce, melted butter, smoked paprika, garlic powder and onion powder in a small bowl until the butter and seasonings are fully incorporated into the sauce.
½ cup (120 ml) BBQ sauce, 2 tbsps (28 g) unsalted butter, 2 tsps (4 g) smoked paprika, 1 tsp (3 g) garlic powder, 1 tsp (2 g) onion powder
Pour the BBQ sauce mixture over the cereal mixture and toss thoroughly until the sauce is evenly distributed and there are no heavily coated or completely dry sections of cereal.
Divide the snack mix between the prepared baking sheets and spread it into an even layer, giving the moisture in the BBQ sauce enough exposed surface area to evaporate as the mixture bakes.
Bake for 30 to 40 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes, until the coating feels dry rather than wet or tacky.
Allow the BBQ Chex snack mix to cool completely on the baking sheets before serving or storing, as the coating will continue to firm as it cools.

Notes

Use a BBQ sauce you already like the flavor of because its flavor becomes more concentrated as the coating bakes and dries. A thicker, sweeter bottled BBQ sauce works especially well for this recipe.
Do not crowd the entire batch onto one baking sheet. The BBQ sauce adds considerably more moisture than a traditional dry-seasoned Chex mix, and dividing it between two pans gives that moisture more room to evaporate.
The snack mix will continue to crisp as it cools, so allow it to cool completely before transferring it to an airtight container.
Because BBQ sauce and packaged cereals, crackers, pretzels and peanuts vary considerably by brand, the sodium and nutrition information will change depending on the products used.

If you’re making this BBQ Chex Snack Mix, check out the full post. That’s where I keep extra tips, FAQs, and details that don’t always make it into the recipe card

Nutrition info is an estimate and will vary depending on the brands you use.

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Nutrition