Slow Cooker Bold Chex Mix Recipe (2024)

Home / Holidays and Events / Christmas / Appetizers

4.80

/5

3 hours hours 10 minutes minutes

15 Comments

Jump to Recipe Print Pin

By: The Chunky Chefpublished: 12/05/2018

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

This bold and zesty chex mix recipe, is so simple to make for a party! Made super easily in the slow cooker, and easy to customize!

If you’re a fan of the store-bought chex mix, you HAVE to give this homemade version a try!

Slow Cooker Bold Chex Mix Recipe (1)

You guys, I have a serious chex mix addiction. I want all the bold, zesty, salty snack pieces I can get! So naturally, instead of paying $3-4 a bag (that’s half filled with air), I wanted to make my own. I’ve made chex mix before, in the oven, and even the microwave, but somehow it never occurred to me to try it out in the slow cooker!

I was doing some recipe testing for a yummy cheeseball (recipe to come shortly!), and my oven was occupied with a BIG pan of bacon, so I decided to give the crockpot recipe a try. Man, it did NOT disappoint!! I used this recipe from Ali over at Gimme Some Oven as my base method, and changed up my mixture and butter sauce.

Slow Cooker Bold Chex Mix Recipe (2)

WHY MAKE A CHEX MIX RECIPE IN THE SLOW COOKER?

Honestly, it wasn’t any less “work” than the other oven and microwave versions, and it tasted exactly the same… so why do it? Well there might be a time when your oven is on the fritz, or it’s busy baking something else… plus you can make this large batch without having to use a cumbersome roasting pan or extremely large baking sheet.

Bottom line, there’s no wrong way to make chex mix! And I’ve detailed the oven and microwave directions for you below the recipe.

HOW LONG DOES HOMEMADE CHEX MIX LAST?

Around here, not very long! Seriously we plow through a bag in about 3 days. But if you keep it sealed in an airtight container at room temperature, it should last you about 3-4 weeks. If you can make a batch last that long, please, PLEASE tell me your self-discipline secrets!

Slow Cooker Bold Chex Mix Recipe (3)

WHAT ELSE CAN YOU ADD TO A CHEX MIX RECIPE?

There are so many options! For starters, you can use any combination of chex cereals you like; you just want 9 cups total. Here are a few of my favorite add-ins:

  • Crunchy Cheetos
  • Mini Breadsticks
  • Plain Cheerios
  • A variety of nuts
  • Raisins (add in AFTER the chex mix has cooked and cooled completely)
  • M&M’s (add in AFTER the chex mix has cooked and cooled completely)

Slow Cooker Bold Chex Mix Recipe (4)

PRO TIPS FOR MAKING SLOW COOKER CHEX MIX:

  1. Stir GENTLY when you’re tossing the chex mix and butter mixture. Those delicate chex cereal pieces can break pretty easily.
  2. Play around with the seasonings if you’d like! Want more of a flavor punch? Use 1/3 cup Worcestershire sauce, 1 1/2 Tbsp seasoned salt and 1 1/4 tsp of the garlic powder and onion powder. Want less zest? Use a little less of all the seasonings. It’s a really flexible recipe.
  3. Make sure you thoroughly stir the chex mix every hour and at LEAST 2 times during the last hour of cooking. The bottom of the chex mix can burn and scorch, and then not only will it not taste good… it will smell pretty awful.
  4. This chex mix recipe makes a great gift during the holidays! Package some up in a festive tin and pamper your friends and neighbors.

OTHER GREAT SNACK RECIPES:

  • Italian Herb Snack Mix
  • Barbecue Roasted Mixed Nuts
  • Gingerbread Caramel Corn
  • Vanilla Cinnamon Candied Almonds

Slow Cooker Bold Chex Mix Recipe (5)

SHOP THE RECIPE:

Slow Cooker Bold Chex Mix Recipe (6)

Did you make this? Be sure to leave a review below and tag me @the_chunky_chef on Facebook and Instagram!

Slow Cooker Bold Chex Mix Recipe (7)

Slow Cooker Bold Chex Mix Recipe

4.80 from 10 votes

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 3 hours hours

Total Time: 3 hours hours 10 minutes minutes

Calories: 423

This bold and zesty chex mix recipe, is so simple to make for a party!

Ingredients

  • 3 cups corn chex cereal
  • 3 cups rice chex cereal
  • 3 cups wheat chex cereal
  • 1 1/2 cups bagel chips
  • 1 1/4 cups peanuts
  • 1 cup pretzels
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
  • 4 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 Tbsp seasoned salt
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp onion powder
  • 1/4 tsp smoked paprika (optional)

Instructions

  • Add cereals, bagel chips, peanuts and pretzels to the bottom of a large crockpot; set aside.

  • To the melted butter (make sure it's still hot!), add Worcestershire sauce, seasoned salt, garlic powder, onion powder, and smoked paprika (if using). Whisk until seasonings have dissolved into the hot butter mixture.

  • Pour butter mixture over the top of the chex mixture (as evenly as you can), then use a rubber spatula to gently toss everything together. Mix it well, so the butter mixture is evenly distributed through the chex mix.

  • Cover and cook on LOW for 3 hours, stirring every hour, and at least twice during the last hour to prevent burning or scorching.

  • After chex mix is cooked, spread it evenly in a very large baking sheet lined with parchment paper, or onto a countertop lined with parchment or wax paper. This cools the chex mix, and it will crisp up more as it cools.

  • Once cooled, store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3-4 weeks.

Want to save this recipe for later? Click the heart in the bottom right corner to save to your own recipe box!

Chef Tips

To prevent condensation from the lid of the slow cooker from falling onto the chex mix and making it soggy, place a kitchen towel over the slow cooker and place the lid tightly on top of the towel. *do so at your own risk, as it could potentially be a fire hazard - although I do this all the time and have never had any issues*

OVEN DIRECTIONS

  • Mix chex mix and butter mixture in a large mixing bowl, then spread evenly in a very large baking sheet or roasting pan.
  • Bake at 250 F degrees for 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes.
  • Spread on parchment to cool and store as directed.

MICROWAVE DIRECTIONS

  • Mix chex mix and butter mixture in a large mixing bowl, then transfer to a large microwave-safe container (you may need to break the mixture up into batches).
  • Microwave for 5-6 minutes, stirring every 2 minutes.
  • Spread on parchment to cool and store as directed.

Nutrition Disclaimer

The Chunky Chef is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, we recommend running the ingredients through whichever online nutritional calculator you prefer. Calories can vary quite a bit depending on which brands were used.

Did You Make This?Tag @the_chunky_chef on Instagram and hashtag it #thechunkychef so I can see what you made!

Tag on Insta! Leave a Rating Save for Later

Slow Cooker Bold Chex Mix Recipe (8)

You May Also Like...

  • Easy Slow Cooker Mongolian Beef Recipe

  • Slow Cooker Glazed Carrots

  • Easy Slow Cooker Rotisserie Chicken

  • Easy Slow Cooker Mongolian Beef Recipe

Previous Post
Next Post

Meet The Chunky Chef

Hey there! I'm Amanda. Wife, mother, photography nerd, and bacon lover! I believe that delicious meals should be easy to make. Now that you’re here, stay a bit, browse a few recipes, and let’s get cookin’!

Learn More

Reader Interactions

Leave a Comment

  1. Diane says

    This is my FAVORITE Chex mix recipe! The smoked paprika…chef’s kiss!

    Reply

  2. Diane says

    The absolute best chex mix with bold flavor! I make it every holiday season.

    Reply

  3. Thalia Menninger says

    This recipe did not turn out well for me at all. The flavor certainly wasn’t bold–in fact, it was pretty much tasteless, and I had even increased the amounts of the seasonings. It just came out tasting strangely oily and blah. I think salted butter would be better, for a start. I did like cooking it in the slow cooker.

    Reply

  4. Ken Buckmaster says

    Very tasty! A crowd pleaser. I have made many times. Always great around the holidays. I also add a touch of cayenne or spicy peanuts.

    Reply

  5. Lauren says

    Which of the cooking methods do you prefer? I’m torn between the oven and crockpot. Thanks!

    Reply

    • The Chunky Chef says

      I tend to use the crockpot, just because it’s a little less hands-on 🙂

      Reply

  6. Vikki Beswick says

    The smoked paprika is brilliant, I am glad for this recipe, and it sure kicked it up a notch.
    Maybe this is a helpful hint, maybe not: I always dump all the seasonings into a pyrex cup with the butter, and melt it all together in the microwave, which combines everything no fuss no muss, and also ensures the butter is still hot and totally melted when poured on the dry stuff.
    Again, thanks for the great add to a timeless recipe.

    Reply

  7. Rose says

    Love your recipe! But I had to laugh at the last tip. “Once cooled, store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3-4 weeks.” Lol like it would last that long in my house!

    Reply

  8. Brian Hebert says

    Love this recipe so much! Think it’s my 3rd year in a row making it at the holidays! Please don’t ever delete it!

    Reply

  9. Allison says

    This is seriously addicting! I can’t stop eating it!

    Reply

  10. Melanie Bauer says

    Looks absolutely fabulous! I’m sure this will quickly disappear on our table, need to make this!

    Reply

  11. Chrissie Baker says

    LOVE this idea to use the slow cooker. I cannot wait to try it this Christmas!

    Reply

  12. Demeter says

    This is always the first to disppear when we have company over. Who can resist it?!

    Reply

  13. Sabrina says

    I need this in my life! I’m running to the store right now so I can make it!

    Reply

  14. Meghan says

    I love a good bold chex mix! I can never stop eating it.

    Reply

Slow Cooker Bold Chex Mix Recipe (2024)
Top Articles
Latest Posts
Recommended Articles
Article information

Author: Neely Ledner

Last Updated:

Views: 5559

Rating: 4.1 / 5 (62 voted)

Reviews: 85% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Neely Ledner

Birthday: 1998-06-09

Address: 443 Barrows Terrace, New Jodyberg, CO 57462-5329

Phone: +2433516856029

Job: Central Legal Facilitator

Hobby: Backpacking, Jogging, Magic, Driving, Macrame, Embroidery, Foraging

Introduction: My name is Neely Ledner, I am a bright, determined, beautiful, adventurous, adventurous, spotless, calm person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.