This Savory Christmas Snack Mix is the best Chex Mix recipe and is perfect for Christmas, with festive red tortilla chips, green pistachios, and dill sprinkles added to the mix. It also makes a great edible holiday gift, although this nuts-and-bolts recipe is perfect for any time of the year!
There are a lot of Chex Mix flavors out there, but I couldn't find one that was a festive party mix, with both red and green colors, that wasn't a sweet snack mix. So, I set out to create my own savory Red & Green Chex mix cereal recipe, and this was the delicious result. You won't believe how the dill makes this recipe shine. This holiday snack mix is popular during the holiday season, is perfect for your next holiday party or potluck, and makes a great edible gift! It was inspired by my Harvest Savory Popcorn.
Recipe Overview: Savory Holiday Chex Mix
- Ready in: 1 hour 40 minutes (10m prep + 1.5h bake)
- Serves: 36 servings (approx. 1 cup per serving)
- Calories: 241 kcal
- Main Ingredients: Chex cereal (Corn, Rice, Wheat), Pretzels, Bagel Chips, Peanuts, Worcestershire sauce, Butter, Spices.
- Dietary Info: Healthy, Low-Sugar, Vegetarian option (check Worcestershire labels).
- Weight Watchers Points: 6 WW Points (based on 1 cup serving).
- Difficulty: Easy
- Why You'll Love It: This is the ultimate "Nuts and Bolts" recipe with a festive holiday twist! By using a "low and slow" baking method, we ensure a professional crunch that stays fresh for weeks. The addition of dill and ranch makes it an addictive, savory alternative to sugary holiday treats.
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- 🥘 Ingredient Notes
- 📖Substitutions & Variations
- Savory vs. Sweet: Why this is the Ultimate Party Mix
- Holiday Chex Mix vs. Traditional "Nuts and Bolts"
- The Secret to the Crunchiest Holiday Chex Mix
- 🔪Step-by-Step: How to Make Christmas Snack Mix!
- How to Package Holiday Chex Mix for Gifting
- 👪 Serving size
- 🌡️Storage
- ❔Recipe FAQ's
- Didn't find the answer you're looking for?
- 🎄More Holiday Snacks
- 📋 Savory Christmas Snack Mix Recipe
This savory Christmas Chex Mix recipe is the ideal snack for your Christmas celebrations, holiday parties, and family gatherings.
Looking for more crunchy savory snacks? Try my Parsnip Crisps - soo good you'd never even know they're made from vegetables!
🥘 Ingredient Notes
You'll need these simple ingredients:
- Butter. Salted butter is best for this recipe.
- Worcestershire sauce. Gives it a nice tang!
- Dill. Dill weed adds a herbaceous, grassy, and slightly tangy flavor to this mix, elevating the flavor!
- Dry ranch dressing *I use Hidden Valley "the original Ranch seasoning and salad dressing mix".
- Cheerios, Rice Chex, and Life Cereals. The mixture of these 3 cereals makes for the perfect snack mix.
- Shelled pistachios. I use unsalted and shelled.
- Cheese nips (affiliate link). Cheese Nips are exactly the same as Cheese Nibs (as you see in the ingredient photo). I could only find Nibs the last time I made this. I like to use the mini ones, but either will work well.
- Bugles (affiliate link) Sadly, this product has been discontinued in Canada. If you can't find Bugles where you live, try an Asian supermarket like A-Mart or T & T Market and buy some Tongari Corn (it's a Japanese snack that is almost exactly the same as Bugles)!
- Cheese bits (affiliate link)- are little cheese sticks.
- Red tortilla chips. I buy a bag of red and white and use the red.
- Pretzels Sticks. (Below)
*See recipe card for full list of ingredients and quantities
📖Substitutions & Variations
- Lighter - this recipe uses lots of butter, so to lighten it up, you can use light butter instead.
- Spicier - add Tabasco sauce or another type of hot sauce and/or chili pepper flakes, or add ½ teaspoon paprika, ½ teaspoon cayenne, and ½ teaspoon chili powder, and whisk it in when you are whisking in the dry ranch dressing
- Chex cereal - you could use wheat Chex or corn Chex cereal instead of rice Chex or a different variety of cereal (i.e., Shreddies).
- Butter - you could use unsalted butter and add salt to your preference (I would recommend using ½ tsp, as a cup of salted butter generally has about ¼ teaspoon of salt)
- Pretzels-You could use pretzel twists instead.
- Add-ins - bagel chips, parmesan cheese, or Goldfish crackers
Savory vs. Sweet: Why this is the Ultimate Party Mix
While "Muddy Buddies" and chocolate-covered mixes are popular, a Savory Holiday Chex Mix is almost always the first thing to disappear at a party. Why? Because it provides the "Umami" balance that people crave during a season of sweet treats.
This recipe is inspired by the traditional "Nuts and Bolts" recipe that many of us grew up with in Canada. By focusing on a savory blend of Worcestershire sauce, seasoned salt, and garlic, you get a sophisticated snack that pairs perfectly with a glass of wine, a holiday cocktail, or a cold beer. It's the ultimate "munchie" that keeps people coming back to the snack bowl!
Holiday Chex Mix vs. Traditional "Nuts and Bolts"
You might hear this called Nuts and Bolts, Party Mix, Bits and Bites, or Trash Mix, depending on where you live! In Western Canada, we almost always call it "Nuts and Bolts." Whatever you call it, the "Lazy Way" secret is the same: a balanced ratio of cereals, a heavy hit of savory spices, and a long, slow bake to ensure every bite is a "treasure" of flavor. I added in the red tortilla chips and pistachios for festive color!
The Secret to the Crunchiest Holiday Chex Mix
The #1 complaint about homemade snack mixes is that they turn out "soggy" or unevenly seasoned. If you've ever had a batch where the bagel chips are drenched and the cereal is dry, you need a Stir Strategy.
To ensure an Award-Winning crunch that lasts for weeks, follow these two rules:
- The Low and Slow Method: We bake this mix at 250°F (120°C). Many recipes try to rush it at higher temperatures, but that only burns the spices and leaves the center of the cereal damp. A low temperature "dries" the glaze onto the mix, creating a crisp, professional texture.
- The 15-Minute Timer: Set a timer and stir the mix every 15 minutes. This redistributes the butter and spices that settle at the bottom of the pan, ensuring every single pretzel and Chex piece is perfectly coated and toasted.
🔪Step-by-Step: How to Make Christmas Snack Mix!
This Holiday Chex mix is simply a bunch of stuff like bugles, cereal mixes, pretzels, nuts, and cheese crackers mixed together with butter and spices, then baked. I added red tortilla chips and pistachios, as well as dill for the festive red and green colors!
PREP : Spray a large roasting pan with non-stick cooking spray. Heat oven to 250 F/121 degrees C.
- Step 1: Melt butter in a large microwave-safe bowl for 30 seconds to 1 minute or until melted. Or you can melt butter in a small saucepan on the stove top. Whisk 3 tablespoon dry ranch dressing and Worcestershire sauce into melted butter.
- Step 2: In a very large bowl, mix Cheerios, Life cereal, Chex cereal, pretzels (missing in photo), Bugles, pistachios, cheese nips, cheese bits, and red tortilla chips.
- Step 3: Pour butter mixture over the chex mixture (pretzels missing in photo), stir well, coating evenly. Then add garlic powder, onion powder, dill, lemon pepper and remaining 3 teaspoon of dry ranch dressing and mix well.
- Step 4: Pour mixture into prepared roasting pan and bake for 1 ½ hours. Stir every 15-20 minutes. (*pretzels missing in photo)
- Step 5: Sprinkle on some additional dill to garnish. Allow to cool for 20 minutes before moving to a large serving bowl or packaging for gifting.
Expert Recipe Tips
- The "Double Stir" Rule: For the most even flavor, whisk your butter and spices in a small bowl before pouring. Then, pour half, toss, pour the second half, and toss again. This prevents one single bagel chip from soaking up all the spice!
- The "Cooling" Commandment: Never package your Chex mix while it is even slightly warm. The steam will get trapped in the jar or bag and turn your crunchy snack soggy. Let it cool completely on a flat baking sheet for at least 30 minutes.
- The "Zero-Waste" Hack: If you have broken cereal bits at the bottom of the boxes, don't throw them in! They will burn faster than the whole pieces. Save the "dust" for breading chicken or topping a savory casserole
Although this makes a great Christmas snack mix, you could eat this Chex Christmas mix any time of the year! It also makes great gifts for friends, neighbors, and teachers!
How to Package Holiday Chex Mix for Gifting
This savory snack is one of my favorite edible Christmas gifts because it is shelf-stable, sturdy for transport, and always a hit with neighbors and teachers who are tired of getting plates of sugar!
- The Mason Jar Hack: Pack the mix into wide-mouth quart jars. Add a festive fabric circle under the lid and tie it with a piece of twine and a sprig of fresh rosemary for a "gourmet" look.
- Cellophane Bags: For a classic look, use clear cellophane bags tied with red and green ribbons. Pro-Tip: Make sure the mix is 100% cool before bagging. If there is even a hint of warmth, steam will build up inside the bag and turn your crunchy masterpiece soggy.
- The "Nuts and Bolts" Tin: If you're giving this to family, a vintage-style holiday tin lined with parchment paper is a beautiful, nostalgic way to share the love.
👪 Serving size
This easy Chex Christmas Mix recipe makes a very large batch - 36 cups! And that's another reason it's a great edible gift. However, you can reduce the servings by clicking on the number of servings in the recipe card, and selecting the number of servings you'd like and the ingredient amounts will adjust accordingly.
And if you have a lot of gifts to make and you want to make a double batch (with lots leftover for yourself), just click on the serving size.
🌡️Storage
Storing: This salty snack mix can be stored, in an airtight container, at room temperature, for up to 2 weeks.
Freezing: This recipe freezes well for up to 4 months. I always make it in advance and freeze it
Gifting: If you are giving it away, put it in a festive resealable food-storage bag!
❔Recipe FAQ's
I freeze this snack mix in a large freezer bag, but you could freeze it in an airtight container as well. It will stay fresh for up to 3 months in the freezer.
It's important to mix well when you add the butter mixture. Baking it at a low temperature, while stirring the mixture every 15-20 minutes, also helps prevent it from getting soggy. It will also dry out even more as it cools. Make sure you store it in a cool, dry place in an airtight container for no more than 2 weeks. You can also freeze it for up to 3 months.
Chex mix seasoning usually contains Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, onion powder, and dry ranch dressing mix: These pantry staples are key to building that bold, savory flavor. I add lemon pepper and dill for an extra tangy flavor boost.
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So, if you are looking for a savory holiday snack mix recipe, one that is the perfect combination of salty and savory, with no sweet stuff, you'll love this Savory Christmas Snack Mix! You'll also love the zing of the dry ranch dressing, mixed with lemon pepper, dill, and other spices, but you'll especially love that it's festive and purely savory.
Happy Holiday munching!
🎄More Holiday Snacks
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📋 Savory Christmas Snack Mix Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 ½ cups butter
- 4 tablespoon Worcestershire Sauce
- 3 tablespoon +3 teaspoon Dry ranch salad dressing and seasoning mix * I use Hidden Valley
- 4 cups "Cheerios" cereal
- 4 cups Rice Chex cereal
- bag of Pretzel sticks
- 4 cups Life whole grain cereal
- 1 170g -bag roasted and unsalted shelled pistachios
- 1 213 g -bag "bugles"
- 1 200g -box cheese nips (crackers)
- 1 200g -box cheese bits crackers
- 2 cups red tortilla chips, broken up * I buy a 300 g bag of red and white and use the red - it's the perfect amount!
- 2 tablespoon Lemon pepper
- 3 tablespoon garlic powder
- 2 tablespoon onion powder
- 4 tablespoon dill weed (dried)
Garnish
- additional dill to garnish
Instructions
- Spray a large roasting pan with non-stick cooking spray.
- Heat oven to 250 F/121 degrees C.
- Melt butter in a large microwave-safe bowl for 30 seconds to 1 minute or until melted. Or you can melt better in a small saucepan on the stove top.
- Whisk 3 tablespoon dry ranch dressing and Worcestershire sauce into melted butter.
- Mix Cheerios, Life cereal, Chex cereal, pretzels, Bugles, pistachios, cheese nips, cheese bits and red tortilla chips together.
- Pour butter mixture over the cereal mixture, stir well, coating evenly. Then add garlic powder, onion powder, dill, lemon pepper and remaining 3 teaspoon of dry ranch dressing and mix well.
- Bake for 1 ½ hours. Stir every 15-20 minutes Sprinkle on some additional dill to garnish.
Notes
- This salty snack mix can be stored, in an airtight container, at room temperature, for up to 2 weeks.
- This recipe freezes well for up to 4 months. I always make it in advance and freeze it
- If you are giving it away, put it in a festive resealable food-storage bag !
Gail Benjamin says
Thanks Terri. I’ve been looking for a Nuts and Bolts recipe with a twist. I never thought of adding lemon pepper.
I’m making my Christmas batch tomorrow and I’m using your recipe.
Liz says
What are cheese “bits”?
Terri Gilson says
Hi Liz,
They are cheese favored crackers in the shape of a little stick- like goldfish crackers in stick form. Christie makes them and you can get them at Walmart and most grocery stores. Hope that helps!
Terri
Kristen Kaethler says
I love this, what a perfect snack to have out during the holidays.
Terri Gilson says
Thanks, Kristen!
Denise from Urbnspice says
I am also definitely a savoury snacker too, Terri. The ideas for making your Chex mix more festive are so awesome! Thanks so much for sharing. I am pinning to try. ??
Terri Gilson says
Thanks, Denise!
Colleen says
I guess we all must have similar memories of parent's parties. I haven't had a Chex Mix in so long, now I can't wait to make it. I love the festive look of this one, and the ranch dressing addition.
Terri Gilson says
Hi Colleen- thanks! I hope you enjoy it!
Leanne | Crumb Top Baking says
I have the same memories from my childhood and the holiday parties my parents would host! And the leftover snacks the next day were definitely a nice treat. I really like what you've done with this snack mix Terri. It's festive, with so much variety!
Terri Gilson says
Thank you, Leanne!
Jo Vanderwolf says
Yaaas! Love me some Chex Mix. The addition of the red and green bits is super genius for the holidays! I'll have to give your version a try this year!
Terri Gilson says
Hi Jo - thanks - hope you enjoy it!
Vanessa | Zest & Simmer says
Snack mixes like this are my weakness, they are so hard to stop eating but SO delicious! Love that yours includes the red tortilla chips and pistachios!
Terri Gilson says
Thanks, Vanessa!