Cowboy Butter Snack Mix

Cowboy butter snack mix takes Chex cereal, crackers, pretzels and nuts and coats them in butter seasoned with dried herbs, Dijon, Worcestershire, smoked paprika, lemon and crushed red pepper. Baking the mixture gives the seasoning time to flavor the different cereals and crackers while everything becomes crisp.

Course Appetizer, Snack

Cuisine American

Keyword cowboy butter Chex mix, cowboy butter recipe, cowboy butter snack mix, game day snack, homemade Chex mix, party mix, savory snack mix, seasoned Chex mix

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 40

Cooling 30

Total Time 1 20

Servings cups

Calories 270kcal

Author Cathy Pollak

Equipment

very large mixing bowl You need enough room to toss 11 cups of snack mix without crushing the cereal and crackers.
2 baking sheet (large) Dividing the mixture between two pans gives it enough surface area to bake evenly.
parchment paper Lines the baking sheets and makes cleanup easier after baking the butter-coated mixture.
2 mixing bowls (medium). One for the dry seasonings and one for the melted butter mixture.
whisk Distributes the Dijon, Worcestershire, liquid smoke, herbs and seasonings throughout the melted butter.
rubber spatula or spoon (large). Useful for coating the snack mix and stirring it halfway through baking.

Ingredients

Dry Seasoning Mix:

1 tbsp (2 g) dried chives
1 tbsp (3 g) dried dill
1 tbsp (2 g) dried parsley
½ tbsp (2 g) dried thyme leaves
1 tbsp (7 g) smoked paprika
1 tsp (6 g) fine sea salt
½ tsp (1 g) ground black pepper
½ tsp (1 g) red pepper flakes
3 packets (2.4 g) True Lemon Crystallized Lemon

Cowboy Butter Mixture:

1½ cups (340 g) unsalted butter melted
1 tbsp (15 g) Dijon mustard
½ tsp (2.5 g) liquid smoke
1 tsp (5 g) Worcestershire sauce

Snack Mix Base:

2 cups (120 g) Cheez-It crackers
1 cup (60 g) broken into chunks Triscuit crackers (if you can find mini Triscuits, those are fine too)
1 cup (145 g) roasted, salted peanuts
1 cup (120 g) walnut pieces
1 cup (40 g) mini pretzels
1 cup (50 g) oyster crackers
2 cups (56 g) Rice Chex cereal
2 cups (56 g) Corn Chex cereal

Instructions

Preheat oven to 250°F (121°C). Line two large rimmed baking sheets with parchment paper.
Combine the dried chives, dill, parsley, thyme, smoked paprika, sea salt, black pepper, red pepper flakes and True Lemon crystals in a medium bowl.
1 tbsp (2 g) dried chives, 1 tbsp (3 g) dried dill, 1 tbsp (2 g) dried parsley, ½ tbsp (2 g) dried thyme leaves, 1 tbsp (7 g) smoked paprika, 1 tsp (6 g) fine sea salt, ½ tsp (1 g) ground black pepper, ½ tsp (1 g) red pepper flakes, 3 packets (2.4 g) True Lemon Crystallized Lemon
Whisk the melted butter, Dijon mustard, liquid smoke and Worcestershire sauce in a separate bowl until thoroughly blended.
1½ cups (340 g) unsalted butter, 1 tbsp (15 g) Dijon mustard, ½ tsp (2.5 g) liquid smoke, 1 tsp (5 g) Worcestershire sauce
Add the dry seasoning mixture to the melted butter mixture and whisk until the herbs and seasonings are evenly distributed.
Add the Cheez-It crackers, broken Triscuits, roasted peanuts, walnuts, pretzels, oyster crackers, Rice Chex and Corn Chex to a very large mixing bowl. Pour the cowboy butter mixture over the snack mix and toss carefully until the cereal, crackers, pretzels and nuts are evenly coated.
2 cups (120 g) Cheez-It crackers, 1 cup (60 g) broken into chunks Triscuit crackers, 1 cup (145 g) roasted, salted peanuts, 1 cup (120 g) walnut pieces, 1 cup (40 g) mini pretzels, 1 cup (50 g) oyster crackers, 2 cups (56 g) Rice Chex cereal, 2 cups (56 g) Corn Chex cereal
Divide the snack mix between the prepared baking sheets and spread into an even layer.
Bake for 40 minutes, stirring each pan after 20 minutes and redistributing the mixture into an even layer before returning it to the oven.
Cool completely on the baking sheets before serving or transferring to an airtight container for storage.

Notes

I use True Lemon Crystallized Lemon because it gives the seasoning the lemon flavor I wanted without adding fresh lemon juice.
I tested garlic in this mix and left it out because it overwhelmed the herbs and lemon without adding anything I missed in the finished recipe.
Whisk the cowboy butter mixture again immediately before pouring it over the snack mix since the dried herbs and seasonings can sink as it sits.
Use a very large mixing bowl so there is enough room to coat the cereal, crackers, pretzels and nuts without crushing them.
Let the snack mix cool completely on the baking sheets before transferring it to a container so it stays crisp.

Nutrition