Buffalo Chex Mix
Kick your snacks up a notch with this buffalo chex mix! Hot sauce and ranch flavoring combine for a craveworthy taste in this easy-to-make snack.
One thing we always have to keep on hand at my house is chex mix.
My entire family goes crazy for it and a batch doesn’t last long. That means I’m always whipping up different varieties to keep things interesting.
While we love taco chex mix and puppy chow, one of our favorites is buffalo chex mix.
It has just enough heat to get your taste buds tingling, combined with classic ranch flavor. It’s reminiscent of buffalo chicken wings!
What can I add to buffalo chex mix?
One of the great things about chex mix is that you can put almost anything into it.
In addition to the mix of Chex cereals, I like to add things like Cheerios, rye crackers, cheddar cheese crackers, or even popcorn. White cheddar crackers are particularly good in this mix!
When it comes to nuts, peanuts, cashews, and almonds are my favorites to add.
Don’t feel like you need to be constrained by typical chex mix ingredients. I always check my pantry first to see what we have on hand, so don’t forget about those half bags of pretzels or forgotten nuts!
What kind of hot sauce should I use?
I recommend using a hot sauce that is not too spicy, unless you love the heat!
You also want a hot sauce that is not too thick. This helps it coat the cereal ingredients evenly instead of making them clump together.
Here are a few hot sauces I recommend to make your chex mix:
- Frank’s Red Hot
- Tabasco
- Louisiana Hot Sauce
- Crystal Hot Sauce
- Cholula
You can always mix things up by using smoked hot sauce, green hot sauce, or any of your favorite kinds. You don’t need to make a special trip to the store — grab what you have!
Can I make this Chex mix recipe in the microwave?
If you don’t want to turn on the oven, this recipe can be done in the microwave. This is a great option for cooking with kids!
First, be sure to use a microwave-safe bowl. Keep in mind that the bowls will get hot, so use oven mitts to remove from the microwave if needed.
If you don’t have large bowls, you might need to divide the recipe into batches to fit.
Melt your butter in a small bowl and mix in the buffalo sauce, then pour it over your cereal mix. Sprinkle on the ranch seasoning and coat evenly.
Microwave on high for about 3 minutes, stirring every 60 seconds. Depending on your microwave’s wattage, you might need less time.
Spread the mix onto a rimmed baking sheet to cool completely, then store in an airtight container.
Chex mix will last in an airtight container for up to one week, but you won’t need to worry about that. You’re going to love this snack!
Buffalo Chex Mix
Ingredients
- 4 cups corn chex cereal
- 4 cups rice chex cereal
- 2 cups wheat chex cereal
- 2 cups white cheddar cheese crackers
- 2 cups pretzels
- 1 cup peanuts
- ½ cup butter melted
- ¼ cup hot sauce or to taste
- 2 tablespoons ranch seasoning powder or to taste
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 300°F. In a large roasting or baking pan, combine cereals, crackers, pretzels, and peanuts.
- In a small bowl, whisk together melted butter and hot sauce until blended. Drizzle over cereal mixture and stir well to coat. Sprinkle on ranch seasoning and stir again.
- Bake for 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes.
- Let cool completely, then store in an airtight container.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is an estimate based on online calculators and provided as a courtesy. Any nutritional information should be used as a general guideline only.
