This Cheesy Ranch Chex Mix brings a flavor-packed combination with a variety of textures, tastes, and flavors including cheese it crackers, rice chex, pecans, and oyster crackers, coated in a bold and zesty ranch spice mixture.
I have always been a fan of homemade Chex party mix since way back in my childhood. I am not sure what it is about it, but with that savory combination of rice cereal and other crunchy, salty mix ins, it has always been one of the perfect savory snacks in my option. So one day when Steve and I were reminiscing about some of our favorite party snack foods from our childhood (his was muddy buddies, by the way), I realized that it had been many years since I had eaten homemade Chex mix. I could just see 10 year old Emily glaring at me asking how is that even possible since I am now a grown adult who can make it whenever she pleases.
So obviously, I had to do my younger self some justice and make a batch of homemade Chex mix soon. With so much riding on it, I knew this could not just be any plain old Chex party mix. It had to be the Best. Chex. Mix. Ever. And so this Cheesy Ranch Chex Mix was born.
How Do You Make Cheesy Ranch Chex Mix?
Whenever there is homemade Chex mix, I always feel like people pick out the good stuff first, leaving the less desirables behind at the bottom of the bowl. But with this Cheesy Ranch Chex Mix, it’s ALL good stuff, so grab a handful and munch away.
For this recipe, I picked some of my favorite snack mix ingredients for a blend that brings a balanced combination of salty, cheesy, nutty, and crunchy. This includes:
- Rice Chex – I love the light, airy crunch you get from these.
- Cheese It Crackers – Probably my all time favorite snack.
- Oyster Crackers – Did anyone else grow up eating oyster crackers coating in a buttery dill mixture, or was that just me? Either way they were AMAZING and they bring that same flavor to this snack mix.
- Pecans – To add a slightly sweet, and nutty crunch.
- Ranch Dressing Mix – Not just for dips or dressing, this is a secret ingredient in so many recipes for packing lots of flavor in each bite.
To make this Cheesy Ranch Chex Mix, you just toss everything together, mix in melted butter and olive oil (the olive oil helps lighten it up and add an extra layer of flavor), sprinkle on the spices, and bake until lightly toasty.
Make This Ranch Chex Mix Your Own
While I absolutely love this Cheesy Ranch Chex Mix recipe exactly as written (I have already made it several times for parties, and always find myself happily polishing off the last of any leftovers by the handful at home), you can also customize this recipe to your tastes.
For example, you can:
- Swap out peanuts, cashews, almonds, or even pistachios for the pecans
- Substitute all or half of the oyster crackers for the same amount of pretzels
- Use corn Chex instead of the rice or even go for a mixture of half of each
Looking for Other Party Snacks and Appetizers?
This Cheesy Ranch Chex Mix is the perfect savory snack mixture whether you are serving at a party, bringing it along as a road trip snack, munching it by the pool or beach, eating it on game day or at the tailgate, or just packing it in lunches for a tasty surprise.
Here are some other easy snack worthy recipes I love:
- Sweet and Salty Chex Mix – A crunchy snack mix recipe that combines the flavors of both sweet and savory
- Mustard Beer Cheese Dip – Serve it with pretzels, cut up sausages, or even just chunks of bread
- Smoky Chipotle & Roasted Beet Hummus – A healthy and vibrant addition to any snack table
- Dill Pickle Dip – It’s like dill pickles and French onion dip had a delicious baby
The Best Cheesy Ranch Chex Mix
Ingredients
- 4 cups rice Chex (or any rice cereal squares)
- 2 cups cheese it crackers
- 2 cups oyster crackers
- 1 cup pecans
- 6 tbsp unsalted butter (melted)
- 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tsp garlic powder
- 2 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp dried dill
- 2 tbsp ranch dressing mix
- ¼ tsp salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325°
- Mix chex, cheese its, oyster crackers, and pecans in a large bowl.
- Add melted butter and oil, and stir to coat.
- Sprinkle remaining ingredients over mixture and stir until evenly mixed and coated.
- Spread out on baking sheet and cook 20 minutes - stirring after 10 minutes.
- Let cool and serve immediately or transfer to an airtight container to store.
Question: About how long will this ranch Chex snack mix keep?
I think it should stay fresh for about 2 weeks when stored in an air-tight container – if it is even around that long. It usually disappears pretty quickly around here!