Easy Gluten-Free Chex Mix

Emily — Wed, 07 Sep 2022 05:00:00 +0000

How To Make Gluten-Free Chex Mix. Our savory gluten-free chex mix recipe is the perfect party snack! You’ll love the crunch & flavor!

Homemade Chex mix is such a perfect party snack, whether it’s a game day, movie night, sleepover, or holiday gathering. My husband Michael’s mom got me hooked at Christmas a few years ago, and I’ve been a big fan ever since.

Despite the fact that almost all Chex cereal is gluten-free, most savory Chex party mix recipes are NOT gluten-free. They include things like Wheat chex, crackers, pretzels, bagel chips, and even seasoning mixes that can contain gluten.

So, since friends don’t let friends miss out, I’ve put together my favorite EASY gluten-free Chex mix recipe, made with gluten-free ingredients most grocery stores carry these days with brands you can recognize and find. Our gluten-free Chex snack mix has all the familiar crunch and savory flavor you love from traditional chex mix, made simply without any gluten in sight.

It’s a great snack for your next party, since it requires minimal effort and makes a nice, large batch that’s perfect for sharing.

Ready to make a batch? Here’s what you’ll need to get started…

Simple Ingredients To Start

Another thing that makes this a great recipe? Simple ingredients! Let’s take a look:

Rice Chex Cereal & Corn Chex Cereal. Three cheers for gluten-free Chex cereals! I like a blend of Rice Chex and Corn Chex for gluten-free Chex Mix. Then, we’ll fill out the rest of the Chex Mix with…
Gluten-Free Pretzels. I like plenty of pretzels in Chex Mix! Our favorite gluten-free pretzels are these gluten-free pretzels from Snyders, but you can use other brands of gf pretzels, like Glutino or Quinn Snacks brands instead!
Cheerios. Next up is Cheerios. I use these for a fun textural & shape contrast.
Mixed Nuts Or Peanuts. I usually reach for a good mixed nuts blend for making Chex Mix, but you can stick with cocktail peanuts, almonds, cashews, or your favorite nuts, if you prefer. (If you need a nut-free Chex mix, just add 3/4 cup more pretzels and 3/4 cup more Cheerios instead.)
Butter (Or Vegan Butter). For the “sauce” you’ll pour over the dry ingredients, you’ll start with melted butter (or melted dairy-free butter, as needed). We’re Kerrygold butter fans at our house!
Worcestershire Sauce. A little Worcestershire sauce (pronounced WOO-stuh-sure) adds that classic little “something” to savory Chex Mix. Be sure you’re using gluten-free Worcestershire sauce (like Lea & Perrins in the United States!), as many brands contain wheat-based soy sauce.
Seasoned Salt. Next up is seasoned salt. I’ve tried mixes WITH and WITHOUT seasoned salt, and I really prefer the Chex Mix made with seasoned salt. It’s all about the blend of seasonings together!
Garlic Powder & Onion Powder. Let’s be honest: gluten-free Chex mix won’t win you a fresh breath contest, but adding plenty of onion powder & garlic powder gives our homemade chex mix recipe the flavor you’re looking for.

How To Make Gluten-Free Chex Party Mix, Step By Step

As always, you can find the full recipe, with ingredient amounts, detailed instructions, and tips in the recipe card below.

Preheat The Oven & Prep Your Pan. To start, heat oven to 250 degrees F. Line a baking sheet/cookie sheet (13″x18,” often called a half sheet pan) with parchment paper.
Combine The Dry Ingredients. In a large bowl (a BIG bowl!), combine gluten-free pretzels, corn Chex, rice Chex, Cheerios, and Nuts. Stir to combine well, so everything is pretty evenly distributed.
Mix Up Your Seasoning Sauce. In a small microwavable bowl, melt the butter in 15-second increments until fully melted and liquid. Stir in Worcestershire sauce, seasoned salt, garlic powder, and onion powder. Stir or whisk to combine until uniform and well blended.
Toss To Coat. Pour butter mixture over the dry ingredients and stir to combine. Stir for at least a full minute, to really distribute the sauce well.
Spread Out. Turn the coated cereal mixture out onto your prepared pan and spread into an even layer.
Bake, Stir & Cool. Then, bake the Chex mix in the oven at 250 degrees F for one hour, stirring every 15 minutes for even browning. Allow the Chex mix to cool completely before storing (so that it’s as dry as possible).
Serve Or Store. Then, dive in and serve immediately or place leftover snack mix in an airtight container and store at room temperature up to 5 days.

FAQ + Tips And Tricks For The Best Gluten-Free Chex Mix

CAN I MAKE GLUTEN-FREE VEGAN CHEX MIX? You bet! You just need to use vegan butter (like Earth Balance) and a vegan-friendly Worcestershire sauce, like Simple Truth Vegan Worcestershire sauce (if you buy another brand, be sure it’s both gluten-free AND vegan, as many are just one or the other). Corn chex, rice chex, Snyder’s gluten-free pretzels, Cheerios, nuts & the seasonings are all naturally gluten-free & vegan-friendly.

WHAT CAN I USE INSTEAD OF SEASONED SALT? Lawry’s Seasoned Salt is considered gluten-free, but if you don’t have it or are looking for a substitute, this homemade seasoned salt is a great option made from pantry staples!

CAN I DOUBLE THIS RECIPE? You bet! This delicious snack mix works great for a crowd, though you might have to make it as two separate batches rather than one big batch, unless you have an industrial-sized bowl! If you’re baking two pans at once, rotate them every 15 minutes after stirring so they bake evenly.

Ingredient Check: Is It Gluten-Free?

Gluten-free friends don’t let gluten-free friends get gluten-ed! Here are a few ingredients to be mindful of when making gluten-free classic Chex mix:

Peanuts & Mixed Nuts = Check the package–some brands use shared equipment or seasoning blends. Look for brands with simple ingredients like nuts, oil, and salt, with no other seasonings or additives. We have good luck with Planter’s brand cocktail peanuts or mixed nuts, which clearly label any potential allergens in the ingredient list.
Worcestershire Sauce = Most brands of Worcestershire sauce use wheat-based soy sauces, so it’s important to double check that the brand you’re using is gluten-free. Lea & Perrins Worcestershire sauce is gluten-free & our sauce of choice. (Most grocery stores in the U.S. tend to carry this brand!).
Pretzels. Most pretzels are NOT gluten-free, so be sure to buy gluten-free pretzels.
Chex Cereal = All Chex cereals are gluten-free except for the wheat Chex, so Rice Chex & Corn Chex are gluten-free! If you use a generic brand, just be sure it’s gluten-free (Aldi’s brand is!).
Cheerios = Many Cheerios products are gluten-free and their original Cheerios ARE gluten-free. Again, if you’re reaching for a generic or store brand, be sure it’s gluten-free!
Seasoned Salt = Lawry’s seasoned salt is gluten-free! (and MSG-free, these days!)

More Gluten-Free Chex Mix Recipes To Try

Gluten-Free Christmas Chex Mix

Gluten-Free Sweet Chex Mix (Coconut Almond)

Gluten-Free Cookies & Cream Muddy Buddies

Gluten-Free Leprechaun Bait

PS – Love Chex Mix? Don’t miss our other yummy cereal treats & snack mixes!

Did You Make This Recipe?

Tell me all about it! Leave a star rating below when you try our Gluten-Free Chex Mix recipe. I can’t wait to hear how it goes!

Tap to Leave a Review