I want you to know that I know that this is aggressive. We’re taking humble Chex Mix and kicking it into high gear… and then we’re naming it after Wayne’s World. (And then we’re buying a gun rack) (That’s a Wayne’s World joke. I don’t own a gun let alone many guns that would necessitate an entire rack.) (That was another Wayne’s World joke OK I’M DONE NOW MAYBE.)
I’m pretty low-maintenance in life (I bet that’s not true), but I’m pretty fancy high-maintenance when it comes to snacking. Snacks need to be crunchy, salty, spicy, sweet, earthy, cheesy, with doritos and pineapple? Too weird? Too specific? Too many adjectives? Well… throw doubt to the wind. It’s summer, call yo friends and pop on a bathing suit let’s party time, excellent.
You’ll need:
Chex Cereal… like, all of them.
Corn Pops. Yes, another cereal but this one is sweet.
Pretzel twists, cheese crackers, wasabi peas, roasted almonds, doritos chips, dehydrated pineapple.
Are we crazy? Yes.
Let’s also add Furikake, a seaweed sesame topping. Perfect!
The classic Chex Mix topping is a combination of melted butter, Worcestershire sauce, onion powder, garlic powder, and seasoning salt. No apologies. Not even one.
Find the biggest bowl you have.
This is me assuming that if we’re going to all the trouble of buying eighteen boxes of cereal that we’re to make a big ass batch of snacks. Ok?
Ok, so find the biggest bowl you have even if that is a big stock pot that you boil large amounts of pasta in. Great.
Toss. Use your arms. I mean… at this point… why not?
The buttery sauce gets poured atop and the whole mixture is tossed.
Onto a baking sheet to go chill in the oven until toasted brown and just lightly crackling.
And furikake to top just before serving.
It’s savory, salty, sweet, and yes of course it’s over the top. The words ‘party time’ and ‘excellent’ are in the recipe title.
Look at us, LIVING!
Now I do want you to know that this recipe is pretty malleable. If there’s something you don’t particularly enjoy in this recipe… heck, leave it out! The base of Chex cereal is pretty important. The light texture of this cereal is an important base. Everything else cam come and go.
I’ve found that this snack mix lasts for several days (5, if you don’t scarf it all up!) when kept at room temperature.
It’s excellent. Happy Summer!
Print
Party Time; Excellent! Snack Mix
- Prep Time: 15
- Cook Time: 45
- Total Time: 1 hour
Ingredients
For the mix
- 3 cups EACH Corn Chex, Rice Chex, Wheat Chex
- 4 cups Corn Pops
- 2 handfuls of pretzel twists
- handful of salty and roasted almonds
- 2 handfuls of cheese crackers
- 2 handfuls lightly crushed ranch Doritos, yes
- handful pf wasabi peas
- half a handful of dried pineapple or freeze dried pineapple, kinda finely chopped
- furikake, for topping generously after roasting
- fresh chives, for topping after roasting
For the sauce
- 1 1/2 sticks (12 tablespoons) unsalted butter, melted
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 5–6 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 2 1/2 teaspoons season salt
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
Instructions
- Place a rack in the center and upper third of the oven and preheat oven to 250 degrees F.
- In a medium bowl whisk together melted butter, olive oil, worchestershire, salt, garlic and onion powder.
- In a giant mega bowl toss together cereals and all of the ingredients up to and including the pineapple. Add the sauce and quick toss, trying to coat as much of the mix mixture in the sauce as you can.
- Spread is a single layer across two baking sheets and bake for about 45 minutes, tossing every 15 minutes or so. Remove. Allow to cool completely. Before serving sprinkle generously with furikake and fresh chives. Holy cow!
- Store in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
44 Responses
Big hit, the first time I made this my SIL ate so much she got a tummy ache ?, making it again for her b-day party tomorrow night.
I have been making snack mix forever for my four kids and all of their friends, now that they are married adults and parents, I love these ideas to raise the bar, I am trying it today for our family beach trip!
Excellent snack mix that will be a cocktail staple at our cottage this summer. I also like that I got to buy and try a new – for me – food – Furikake. I wonder what would happen to it if you added it when you add the sauce before baking. That way it would stick better. For vegetarians, just substitute either vegan Worcestershire if you can get it or Maggi seasoning. Thanks for a great recipe!
this is a really erotic level of snack mix, and i’m HIGHLY upset that I need to make this hahaha *runs to kitchen*
I made this for a river float/camping trip over the 4th, and it was a HUGE hit. The corn pops are an amazing balance to the otherwise salty ingredients. Substitutions are easy (I replaced Doritos with plantain chips, peanuts for the almonds, and goldfish as the cheese crackers).
I’m clapping my hands atcha!
Sitting here in Toledo, Ohio eating Annie’s Organic “Cheddar Snack Mix” thinking about how to beef it up with this recipe while watching the video clip of Wayne’s World. Maybe it’s because I am also drinking sour cherry (from Michigan) margaritas, but I decided to include this link of Mike Meyers doing Wayne before SNL. You’re welcome.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VqyPqmy4IAE
Just made this for a pool party and it was a big hit, not surprisingly! I made a few substitutions and used some ingredients I already had – pepitas for almonds, sesame sticks for wasabi peas, purple (sweet chili?) instead of cool ranch, and garlic scapes for chives. It was def a parti mix. Cheez-its + dried pineapple is now my new favorite combo of any foods ever. Thank you!!!! Can’t wait to do it again and even weirder.
Every time I make this, people stand & cheer. It goes with everything…white claw, margaritas, hot dogs. I can never leave well enough alone & have added at different times bagel chips, gold fish crackers, bugles, smoked almonds or different nuts. Everything is welcome, everything works together. It’s a damn utopia in a bowl. I serve it at the cookout with a scoop & paper cups.
Looks yummy!!
Is season salt the same thing as Lawry’s Seasoned Salt (or similar mixture)? I assume so but want to make sure before I make this for the weekend!
Yes! Use Lawry’s or something similar!
Holy yum. Can’t wait to try this mix out! I grew up in Hawaii where a common snack is furikake popcorn (and I still love and make it to this day far away in England).
Also wanted to mention I love the Sunday articles you always share – solid stuff! ;)
Love this great snack mix!!! Perfect for any summer party. For a happy and yummy summer:)
I live in Wayne’s World (Aurora, IL). Born and raised. I hung out in basements just like the ones in the movie. Would have loved this snack mix while hanging out.
Aurora has been having a celebration of the 25th anniversary of the movie all year. They’ve even recreated the basement. It’s been a fun year.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/aurora-beacon-news/lifestyles/ct-abn-waynes-world-st-0203-20170127-story.html
Wow….they are fantastic to accompany a fresh drink or beer in summer! What I am waiting for?!
I am so happy to see all the Wayne’s World love. Zang!
Schwing!!
Oh Joy, you are wonderful. That is all, carry on!
Dammit, even your stockpot is super cute?! #goals. I am intrigued — dehydrated pineapple?? Then made savory?? Stay tuned. (Believe I could take down this entire recipe all by myself before it lost even a bit of its crunch.)
I felt immediately better about reading the title of this post in my best (probably worst) wayne’s world impression after I realized that it was indeed a reference to the movie. Thank you for making me feel less alone in the world. And providing snacks.
I’ll just pass on the Wasabi Peas part.
This snack mix looks so fun and easy! I can’t wait to try it!
Paige
https://thehappyflammily.com
Goddamn, Joy, I love you. In another life, you’ve written The Great American Novel and are widely celebrated for your genius. I’m happy that you’ve brought your writing chops to food, though, cuz we all can benefit from masterful snacking. You are the Babe-raham Lincoln of food blogging and we’re definitely not worthy!
I have always felt that the best Chex Mix has the seasoning applied to the cereal only with the extras mixed in at the end. Also it is necessary to make a 1.5x batch of sauce. Also, put some hot sauce in it.
I’m drooling now.
I’m making this, especially since I cannot eat peanuts and have a hard time finding a trail mix that doesn’t have some warning about peanut the ingredients. Thanks for posting!
Now THIS is a snack mix. Yes, yes, yes!
That is, in fact, my FAVORITE line from Wayne’s World.
I just quoted that gun rack line the other day. This is an excellent-ly named recipe.
Ah, chex. Little. Yellow. Different.
Your Wayne’s World references are no doubt because you watched it 1000x when it came out on VHS in the 80’s, courtesy of McDonald’s. Just me and my brother? In any case, I’m confident we did not get 80% of the jokes. Also, Doritos are everything, so thank you for including them.
This is wild. We’re not worthy! We’re not worthy!
Tia Carrere was my everything!!!
You’re not wrong. In fact, you’re very right.
WOW I’ thinking of making some for gifts (after I eat a lot myself)). Can the finished product be stored and if yes, for how long?
Is there an option to invite nobody over and eat this all by myself? I am also high maintenance when it comes to snacking and this mix is just perfect.
YES and YES
That first bit made me laugh out loud in bed. …While reading the post, to be clear.
This mix looks delicious (minus the wasabi peas, sorry), and NEW. And UNIQUE. Something I’m looking for in every recipe these days. You are an excellent resource for these parameters. :)
SHWING! That looks most excellent. Wish we could get Chex in the UK now. Does anyone know what a good alternative would be?
From living in the UK, I remember there’s a plain version of Shreddies that are quite similar to wheat chex. You could also use some broken up corn things, or things like mini bread sticks in this (like plain, or just kind of salty/savory crunchy things).
you’ll need a wheat, rice and corn cereal – those are the classic 3 chex flavors. Not sweet, but light and nicely toasted.
So so nom!!
Rxx
http://www.peppermintdolly.com
Yes, I really should have a party soon!
xx Rena
http://www.dressedwithsoul.com
Oh. My. Goodness. (Picks jaw up) this is the greatest thing I’ve seen this year!! Now excuse while I go buy everything I need right this second….