Aah, Chex Party Mix. How I love you so. In my mind, it’s not a holiday celebration without the Chex mix. Since the Super Bowl is akin to a holiday to many people, I decided to put a (mildly spicy) spin on a beloved classic in its honor. Admittedly, I couldn’t care less about football and usually don’t watch the Super Bowl, but I am quite an appreciator of snacks, so the day’s not all bad in my book. If you’re looking for a fun party snack, look no further!
I started with the original Chex mix recipe and made edits from there. I replaced the Worcestershire sauce with Buffalo wing sauce and the standard seasonings with ranch dressing mix and celery salt. I kept the ratio of Chex cereals the same, but as long as it comes out to 9 cups, any blend of your choice should be fine. That also goes for the other mix-ins (dry-roasted peanuts, pretzel thins, and corn chips). If you don’t like one ingredient, you can always try a substitution as long as you maintain the overall volume of ingredients.
The ranch flavor isn’t entirely noticeable, but the flavor is good just the same. I am not at all a fan of hot things, but I was able to eat some of this, and Josh seemed to like it. Even if you’re a wimp like me when it comes to spicy foods, you should be ok, but if you reeeeeeally don’t want to use the wing sauce, you could go back to the usual Worcestershire. Alternatively, if you’re one of those crazy people who claims even ghost peppers aren’t really that hot, feel free to substitute the liquid fire hot sauce of your choice.
While most Chex mix recipes now tell you to do this in the microwave, I’ve always preferred the oven method. I like to get the ingredients a little toasted, and I don’t think you can really achieve that in the microwave. You can, of course, try it that way by following the instructions in the link above, but I make no guarantees about how it will come out. If you do experiment with the microwave, let me know how it goes!
Why You Will Love This Buffalo Chex Mix
Perfectly spicy but not overwhelming — even spice-sensitive snackers can enjoy it Oven baked — gets toasted and crispy in a way the microwave never achieves Completely customizable — swap mix-ins based on what you have One bowl snack — no plates, no forks, no mess Make ahead friendly — stays fresh for days in an airtight container Crowd size — makes 12 generous servings perfect for parties
Ingredients for Buffalo Chex Mix Recipe
For the snack mix:
- 3 cups rice Chex
- 3 cups corn Chex
- 3 cups wheat Chex
- 1 cup dry-roasted peanuts
- 1 cup pretzel thins
- 1 cup corn chips (think Fritos, not Tostitos)
- 6 Tbsp. unsalted butter
- 2 Tbsp. Buffalo wing sauce or hot sauce (I used Sweet Baby Ray’s)
- 1 packet ranch dressing mix
- ½ tsp. celery salt
Ingredient Notes:
Chex ratio: As long as your total Chex cereal equals 9 cups you can use any combination of rice, corn, and wheat Chex you prefer.
Mix-ins: The peanuts, pretzels, and corn chips are flexible too. Keep the total volume the same and substitute anything you like or have on hand.
Heat level: 2 tablespoons of wing sauce gives mild to medium heat. Increase to 3 tablespoons for more heat. Decrease to 1 tablespoon or replace with Worcestershire sauce for a non-spicy version.
Ranch flavor: The ranch seasoning adds a subtle background flavor that complements the buffalo sauce beautifully without overpowering it.
I’m a sucker for some punchy 80’s rock, and this bakeventure is no exception. I tend to stick with favorites such as Van Halen and Aerosmith, but basically any band whose lead singer can get more volume into his long, flowing locks than I can (I’m looking at you, Sebastian Bach) is going to be a good candidate.
Equipment You Will Need
- Large mixing bowl
- Large roasting pan or high sided baking dish
- Wooden spoon or silicone spatula
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Airtight container for storage
How to Make Buffalo Chex Mix — Step by Step
Step:1 Preheat your oven to 250°F.
In a large mixing bowl, stir together the Chex, peanuts, pretzels, and corn chips.
Step 2 — Cut the butter into tablespoons and put them in a roasting pan or other high-sided baking dish. Melt the butter in the oven (takes about 5 minutes). Stir in the wing sauce until well-combined. Then, stir in the ranch dressing mix and celery salt.
Step 3 — Pour approximately ⅓ of the Chex mix into the roasting pan and stir it until everything is well-coated in the sauce. Repeat the process twice with the remaining mix.
Step:4 Bake the Chex mix for an hour, stirring every 15 minutes. Try to keep all the ingredients evenly coated in the sauce throughout the baking time. If it starts to look like it’s about to burn before the hour is up, take it out early.
Important Note : At this point, DO NOT put it in your mouth because you will burn your tongue (I may or may not be speaking from a wealth of personal experience with homemade Chex mix…). Leave it to cool completely in the pan, then serve or store it in an airtight container.
Common Mistakes and How to Fix Them
Problem: Chex mix is soggy not crunchy
Cause: Not baked long enough or not cooled completely before eating.
Fix: Bake the full 60 minutes and cool completely in the pan. If still soft after cooling return to 250°F oven for 10 more minutes.
Problem: Some pieces are burnt and some are under seasoned
Cause: Mix was not stirred every 15 minutes during baking.
Fix: Set a timer every 15 minutes without fail. Stir thoroughly reaching the bottom of the pan each time.
Problem: Not enough buffalo flavor
Cause: Only 2 tablespoons of wing sauce gives mild heat.
Fix: Increase wing sauce to 3 or 4 tablespoons next time. You can also add a few dashes of hot sauce along with the wing sauce.
Problem: Mix tastes bland
Cause: Ranch seasoning flavor is subtle in this recipe.
Fix: Add an extra half packet of ranch seasoning or add a teaspoon of garlic powder to amplify the savory flavors.
How to Store Buffalo Chex Mix
Room temperature:
Airtight container → Up to 1 week
Best quality → First 3 days
Refrigerator:
Not recommended → Changes texture and makes it soft
Freezer:
Airtight freezer bag → Up to 6 weeks
Thaw at room temp → 30 minutes before serving
Make ahead:
Best made → 1 day before serving
Flavors develop and → Intensify overnight
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can I make Buffalo Chex Mix in the microwave?
Yes but the results are noticeably different. The oven method toasts the ingredients and creates a crunchier texture that the microwave cannot replicate. If you use the microwave follow the original Chex package instructions and substitute the buffalo ranch sauce for the standard seasonings.
Q: How spicy is this Buffalo Chex Mix recipe?
With 2 tablespoons of wing sauce this recipe is mild to medium heat. Most people who are sensitive to spicy food can still enjoy it comfortably. Adjust the amount of wing sauce up or down based on your heat preference
Q: Can I use a different hot sauce instead of buffalo wing sauce?
Yes. Any hot sauce works in this recipe. Frank’s RedHot is a popular choice. For more heat use a ghost pepper or habanero sauce. For less heat use a mild wing sauce or reduce the amount used.
Q: What is the best Chex cereal combination for this recipe?
Equal parts rice, corn, and wheat Chex is the classic combination. Rice Chex stays crunchiest, corn Chex has the most neutral flavor, and wheat Chex adds a slightly nutty depth. You can use any combination as long as the total equals 9 cups.
Q: Can I add other mix-ins to Buffalo Chex Mix?
Absolutely. Bagel chips, cashews, sunflower seeds, oyster crackers, or Goldfish crackers all work well. Keep the total volume of mix-ins at around 3 cups and maintain the 9 cups of Chex cereal for the right sauce to mix ratio.
Check Out Our Latest Blogs: