Devilishly Spicy Chex Mix

By
Leah Maroney
Leah Maroney
Leah Maroney
A recipe developer and food photographer, Leah Maroney is an ardent home cook and food blogger who has written over 300 recipes for The Spruce Eats.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 02/15/23
Devilishly spicy Chex mix recipe

The Spruce / Emily Hawkes

Prep: 15 mins
Cook: 60 mins
Total: 75 mins
Servings: 12 servings
Yield: 12 cups

Leave your boring Chex Mix recipe at home. This spicy rendition of a popular crunchy snack is super easy to put together and full of spicy flavor.

Buffalo-seasoned pretzels, Flamin' Hot Cheetos, sriracha, and some cayenne pepper give the Chex Mix an unbelievable kick. It's perfect for a grown-up party and adds a pretty and devilish look to a Halloween snack table—the Bugles even resemble witches' fingers. Package it as a party favor with cute Halloween colors, or just serve it in a large bowl.

Ingredients

  • 3 cups Corn Chex cereal

  • 3 cups Rice Chex cereal

  • 1 cup Bugles corn snacks

  • 1 cup oyster soup crackers

  • 1/2 cup salted peanuts

  • 1 cup bite-sized pretzels, buffalo-seasoned, if possible

  • 8 tablespoons butter or margarine

  • 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce

  • 1 1/2 teaspoons seasoned salt

  • 3/4 teaspoon garlic powder

  • 1/2 teaspoon onion powder

  • 2 tablespoons Sriracha

  • 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper

  • 1 cup Flamin' Hot Cheetos

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients. Preheat the oven to 250 F.

    Spicy Chex mix ingredients
    The Spruce / Emily Hawkes 

  2. In a large bowl, gently stir together the Chex cereal, Bugles, oyster crackers, peanuts, and pretzels.

    Gently stir together ingredients
    The Spruce / Emily Hawkes

  3. Add the butter to a measuring cup or another microwave-safe dish that is easy to pour from, and microwave until melted.

    Add the butter
    The Spruce / Emily Hawkes

  4. Whisk the seasoned salt, garlic powder, onion powder, hot sauce, and cayenne pepper into the butter until it is completely combined. 

    Whisk seasoned salt
    The Spruce / Emily Hawkes

  5. Gradually pour the butter mixture over the cereal mixture, stirring as you pour so that all of the cereal is completely coated.

    Gradually pour mixture into bowl
    The Spruce / Emily Hawkes

  6. Spread the cereal onto a large ungreased rimmed baking sheet. Make sure it is spread out in one even layer. Place the baking sheet in the oven, and bake for 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes to ensure all pieces get crispy.

    Spread out onto baking pan
    The Spruce / Emily Hawkes

  7. Allow the mixture to cool and then add the Flamin' Hot Cheetos. (Do not add at the beginning. They do not stay crispy when mixed with the butter mixture.)

    Allow mixture to cool
    The Spruce / Emily Hawkes

  8. Serve right away or store in an airtight container. The mix will stay fresh for about a week.

    Serve right away
    The Spruce / Emily Hawkes

Tip

  • The Chex Mix will be crispier if you use the oven instructions. However, if you need to whip up this mix in less time, you can use the microwave. It only takes six minutes and tastes almost as good as the oven-baked version. After tossing the mixture with the spices and butter, microwave for six minutes, but make sure to stop every two minutes to stir. Allow to cool on a baking sheet and serve.

Recipe Variations

  • Hot pretzels: If you cannot find buffalo-seasoned pretzels, use the regular kind of pretzels and add an extra teaspoon of hot sauce to the mixture. It will still be quite spicy even without the buffalo seasoning.
  • Nut substitutes or additions: Instead of peanuts, you can substitute other nuts like cashews or pecans. Or, to give your mix a nuttier taste, include them all in the mixture.
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
240 Calories
12g Fat
30g Carbs
5g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 12
Amount per serving
Calories 240
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 12g 16%
Saturated Fat 6g 28%
Cholesterol 20mg 7%
Sodium 454mg 20%
Total Carbohydrate 30g 11%
Dietary Fiber 2g 8%
Total Sugars 3g
Protein 5g
Vitamin C 4mg 22%
Calcium 37mg 3%
Iron 3mg 14%
Potassium 215mg 5%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)