Naughty and Nice Party Mix Recipe (2024)

My Naughty and Nice Party Mix Recipe is an updated take on classic Chex mix combining spicy, salty, and sweet flavors into one seriously irresistible snack. It’s endlessly customizable, just make sure to save some for Santa!

Naughty and Nice Party Mix Recipe (1)

Homemade party mix is a holiday tradition

Does your family make a snack mix around the holidays? My mom never made the original that was so popular ever since it was ‘invented’ in the 1950s. But I’m crazy about salty/crunchy snacks, so it was only a matter of time before I met one of these Chex mixes and fell in love.

Naughty and Nice Party Mix Recipe (2)

The beauty of this party mix is that it’s totally customizable!

I loaded this version with all my favorite things, but of course, but everybody’s mix will be a little different. Don’t love cheese crackers? Ditch them. Love bagel chips? Put ’em in! Nut allergies? Leave them out and add in more of what you like. You get the idea.

Naughty and Nice Party Mix Recipe (3)

Why bother to make homemade party mix when you can buy it in a bag?

It’s all about freshness, flavor, and texture ~ this homemade version is so much better than the bagged original because you toss your ingredients with a souped-up melted butter sauce, and then bake them until all that flavor is absorbed and the mix has dried out. You end up with something super buttery and with great flavor that no bag can match.

Naughty and Nice Party Mix Recipe (4)

Ingredients for sweet & spicy party mix ~

I chose to riff on the flavors of a classic buffalo sauce ~ it’s a little bit sweet, and a little bit spicy. This recipe hits all the sweet spots, taste-bud wise: sweet, salty, spicy, and umami.

  • corn Chex cereal
  • cheese crackers
  • pecans
  • peanuts
  • pretzels
  • kettle corn
  • butter
  • hot sauce
  • brown sugar
  • smoked paprika
  • garlic powder
  • Worcestershire sauce
Naughty and Nice Party Mix Recipe (5)

Don’t be afraid of a little hot sauce

It’s kick gets subdued once the sauce is tossed throughout the snack mix and everything is baked for an hour, so I suggest making the sauce a little bit hotter than you think you want. But of course, adjust to your own taste and according to the heat of the hot sauce you’re using.

And don’t forget, the sweet kettle corn in this recipe offsets the heat in a really nice way.

Naughty and Nice Party Mix Recipe (6)

How much party mix to make per person?

Now that’s a loaded question. It depends on how hungry/ravenous your guests are. This recipe makes 6 cups of party mix, and I’d allow 1/2 cup per person, so this recipe serves 12.

But you can easily scale this recipe up or down. Just make sure you keep everything in roughly a single layer on the baking sheets for baking so the mix will stay nice and crisp.

How long does homemade party mix last?

This party mix will last at least 2 weeks, in an airtight container at room temperature.

Naughty and Nice Party Mix Recipe (7)

Love crunchy snacks? Try these ~

  • Root Veggie Kettle Chips
  • Baked Pita Chips
  • Multi Seed Crisps
  • Oat Crackers

Naughty and Nice Party Mix Recipe (8)

Christmas Party Mix

4 from 12 votes

My Naughty and Nice Party Mix Recipe is updated take on classic Chex snack mix combining spicy, salty, and sweet flavors into one seriously irresistible snack. It's endlessly customizable, just make sure to save some for Santa!

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Prep Time:5 minutes minutes

Cook Time:1 hour hour

Total Time:1 hour hour 5 minutes minutes

Ingredients

  • 2 cups corn Chex cereal
  • 1 cup pretzels
  • 3/4 cup unsalted pecan halves
  • 1/2 cup unsalted peanuts
  • 3/4 cup cheese crackers
  • 1 cup kettle corn

For the sauce

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 250F.

  • Add all of the mix ingredients EXCEPT the kettle corn to a large mixing bowl.

  • In a small saucepan, melt the butter and whisk with the rest of the sauce ingredients.

  • Pour the sauce over the mix and gently toss until everything is evenly coated.

  • Spread the mix onto a large baking sheet and bake for about 1 hour, tossing a couple of times as it bakes. Use 2 baking sheets if necessary.

  • Allow to cool before adding the kettle corn.

NEW FEATURE! Click here to add your own private notes.

Course: Appetizer, Snack

Cuisine: American

Author: Sue Moran

Keyword: appetizer, nuts, pecan, pretzels, snack

Nutrition

Calories: 315 kcal · Carbohydrates: 38 g · Protein: 5 g · Fat: 17 g · Saturated Fat: 5 g · Polyunsaturated Fat: 3 g · Monounsaturated Fat: 6 g · Trans Fat: 0.2 g · Cholesterol: 16 mg · Sodium: 333 mg · Potassium: 127 mg · Fiber: 3 g · Sugar: 13 g · Vitamin A: 331 IU · Vitamin C: 1 mg · Calcium: 58 mg · Iron: 2 mg

Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and is an estimate only. This information comes from online calculators. Although The View from Great Island attempts to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures are only estimates.

Did You Make This?We love seeing what you’ve made! Tag us on social media at @theviewfromgreatisland for a chance to be featured.

Naughty and Nice Party Mix Recipe (9)
Naughty and Nice Party Mix Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How to fix bland chex mix? ›

Combine all of the dry ingredients — seasoned salt, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, cayenne (if using), and MSG — together in a bowl or jar. Stir or shake well to combine. Use with Worcestershire sauce (and sometimes melted butter) to bring out the Chex Mix flavors.

Why is my homemade chex mix soggy? ›

Using too much liquid. Don't go over the recipe's suggested liquid amounts; that is a sure way to get soggy mix (which, again, nobody wants). Follow this tip: If you need to make a change in liquid ingredients, just keep the amount the same.

What is party mix made of? ›

Original Chex™ Party Mix

In large microwavable bowl, mix cereals, nuts, pretzels and bagel chips; set aside. In small microwavable bowl, microwave butter uncovered on High about 40 seconds or until melted. Stir in seasonings. Pour over cereal mixture; stir until evenly coated.

What is the chex mix seasoning made of? ›

Chex Mix Seasoning:

It's a super simple mix of melted butter, Worcestershire sauce, seasoned salt, and garlic powder. Make sure that you use SEASONED salt and not regular table salt! I use Lawry's brand because that's what is easiest for me to find.

How do you make something less bland? ›

Adjust the seasoning with salt, acid, and herbs. A squeeze of lemon juice can make nearly any dish better (we always add a few dashes to cream of broccoli soup, for example, to help balance the richness). And don't forget the fresh herbs!

Is it cheaper to buy Chex mix or make your own? ›

Homemade Chex Mix is cheaper AND better tasting than anything you can buy at the store. Does homemade Chex Mix need to be refrigerated? You can store homemade Chex Mix at room temperature in an airtight container for up to 4 days.

Is it cheaper to make or buy Chex mix? ›

Generally speaking, it is cheaper to make your own Chex mix, especially if you can score your cereal boxes on sale. You will get a much larger quantity making it yourself compared to a bag that you might buy at the store.

How to keep Chex mix from getting soggy? ›

To avoid soggy Chex mix, make sure to toss the ingredients well with the butter mixture and spread out on a large pan. Keeping toasting in the oven and tossing until the Chex mix is well-coated and dry. It will further dry out as it cools.

Who makes Chex party mix? ›

Chex Mix – Brands – Food we make - General Mills.

How was party mix invented? ›

There are at least two origin stories for the party mix. Snackhistory says the recipe was perfected in the Ralston Purina kitchens to help the lagging sales of Wheat Chex and Rice Chex. The recipe appeared on the cereal boxes in 1953, after appearing in “Life.”

What is the history of party mix? ›

History of Chex Party Mix

Wheat Chex cereal was introduced in 1937 and Rice Chex in 1950 by Ralston Purina. In 1952 an advertisem*nt for Chex party mix appeared in Life Magazine with a recipe that included Wheat and Rice Chex. In 1958 Corn Chex was introduced and added to the recipe.

What does Chex Mix stand for? ›

Chex Mix is a type of snack mix that includes Chex breakfast cereal as a major component. There are many recipes for homemade Chex Mix also known as Chex Party Mix. Though contents vary, the mixes generally include an assortment of Chex cereals, chips, hard breadsticks, pretzels, nuts or bagel bites.

Is Chex Mix healthy or not? ›

Who doesn't love traditional Chex Mix? It's salty, crunchy, and everyone has a favorite item– the perfect party snack! But sadly, what makes it taste so good also makes Chex Mix not the healthiest option. It's full of refined grains, sugar, and tons of sodium.

Which Chex cereal is healthiest? ›

Unlike other Chex varieties, Wheat Chex are made from 100% whole-grain wheat. One serving contains only 130 calories but boasts 7 grams of protein and 8 grams of fiber. While it is on the higher end for sugars, the overall nutrient profile of this cereal is still noteworthy.

How to fix chex mix that is too salty without? ›

Add a squeeze of 🍋 or lime. The sharp bite will help mask and offset the salt. 2️⃣ Sugar! Sweet can balance salty.

How to fix chex mix that is too salty? ›

Add an Acidic Ingredient

It won't reduce the sodium level of your dish, but adding an acidic ingredient, such as lemon juice, vinegar, or even a tomato product, can neutralize the saltiness of a dish. Start with a dash or a squeeze, stir well to combine, and give it a taste before adding any more.

Why is my chex mix burning? ›

Over-cooking and forgetting to stir the mixture throughout may cause your chex mix to burn. For best results, stir the mixture every 15 minutes while cooking. This ensures the mixture is evenly coated and that no parts of it get burned.

What is the least favorite Chex Mix piece? ›

Other than the rye chip, nothing brought more people together than pretzels — combined, 38% marked the circle and square pretzels as the worst pieces.

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