The 2-Ingredient Upgrade for Truly Memorable Chex Mix

Salty, sweet, and spicy—you can’t eat just one handful.

By
Laurel Randolph
Laurel Randolph
Laurel Randolph
Laurel has over 10 years of experience developing recipes and writing about food. She is the author of 4 cookbooks, including the bestselling The Instant Pot Electric Cookbook.
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Published December 13, 2023
Laurel Randolph
Sweet and spicy chex mix in a bowl at a table setting with two glasses of beer and a yellow kitchen towel

Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

In my house, it is simply not the holidays without Chex Mix. My mom would always make batches and batches for us to munch on around Christmas, a salty counterpoint to the countless cookies and sweets we also consumed. She made the recipe on the box, and it was always delicious.

Since I started making my own Chex Mix many moons ago, I’ve tried lots of variations. I regularly swap out the mix-ins, although I have my favorite combinations. I’ve added hot sauce, various spices, browned the butter, and more. And I think I’ve arrived at my favorite combo yet: sriracha hot sauce and honey.

Sweet and spicy chex mix in a bowl at a table setting with two glasses of beer and a yellow kitchen towel

Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

Sriracha + Honey, a Match Made in Heaven

Sriracha, with its fresh, vinegary spiciness, pairs wonderfully with sticky sweet honey. It’s a truly magical flavor combination when applied to Chex Mix. A little soy sauce adds some savory saltiness, and butter makes everything better (and crispy). 

The flavor of this snack mix sneaks up on you a bit. It’s pleasant enough when you pop it in your mouth, but then the spice and other flavors grow, making it impossible to eat just one handful. It’s not too spicy, making it a total crowd-pleaser.

Recipe Variations

It’s easy to change up this recipe to suit your tastes. Here are some options:

  • No nuts: Swap the nuts for more of another mix-in or more Chex.
  • Other mix-ins: You can swap out the pretzels, cheese crackers, and/or nuts for other mix-ins, such as bagel chips, peanuts or mixed nuts, oyster crackers, Cheerios, and more. I especially like adding sesame sticks.
  • Hotter: Add up to 2 more tablespoons of sriracha, swapping 1:1 for the soy sauce so the mixture doesn’t get too wet. Add a sprinkle or two of salt in place of the soy sauce.
Close-up: sweet and spicy chex mix

Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

Munchable Homemade Snacks

Sriracha Honey Chex Mix

Prep Time 10 mins
Cook Time 50 mins
Total Time 60 mins
Servings 12 to 16 servings
Yield 12 cups

The amount range for the pretzels and cheese crackers accounts for what type you choose to use. If using smaller mix-ins (mini pretzels, goldfish crackers), go with the smaller amount. If using larger mix-ins, like snaps (the square, waffle-shaped pretzels) or Cheez-Its, use the larger measurement.

Ingredients

  • 8 cups Chex (any mix of rice, corn, and/or wheat) cereal

  • 1 1/2 to 2 cups pretzels

  • 1 to 1 1/2 cups cheese crackers

  • 1 cup roasted cashews

  • 6 tablespoons salted butter, cubed

  • 1/4 cup honey

  • 3 tablespoons sriracha hot sauce

  • 2 tablespoons soy sauce

Method

  1. Preheat the oven to 250°F.
  2. Prepare the ingredients:

    Add the Chex, pretzels, cheese crackers, and cashews to a large mixing bowl and toss gently to combine.

    Add the butter to a microwave-safe bowl and microwave for 30 seconds, just so it starts to melt. Add the honey, sriracha, and soy sauce and stir. Microwave in 10-second intervals, stirring each time, just until melted and combined.

  3. Mix:

    Stir the sauce and drizzle half of it over the Chex mixture. Use a rubber spatula or large wooden spoon to toss, coating with the sauce. Drizzle the rest of the sauce over the mixture and toss, until everything is evenly coated.

  4. Bake:

    Dump the mixture out into a large roasting pan or divide it between two rimmed half-sheet pans. Spread out as best you can.

    Bake for 20 minutes, then stir and spread the mixture back out. Repeat two more times for a total of 45 minutes of baking time—if using two pans, swap them from top to bottom after each stir. The mix should be fragrant and lightly toasty. It will continue to crisp up as it cools.

  5. Cool and serve:

    Let cool before serving or storing. The Chex mix will keep in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week.

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Nutrition Facts (per serving)
265 Calories
10g Fat
39g Carbs
5g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 12 to 16
Amount per serving
Calories 265
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 10g 13%
Saturated Fat 4g 20%
Cholesterol 12mg 4%
Sodium 416mg 18%
Total Carbohydrate 39g 14%
Dietary Fiber 1g 4%
Total Sugars 6g
Protein 5g
Vitamin C 1mg 6%
Calcium 25mg 2%
Iron 1mg 8%
Potassium 124mg 3%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.