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My Ranch Trail Mix is a family favorite savory and crunchy snack that combines the classic flavor of ranch with a variety of textures and shapes. The mix’s crunchy texture and varied shapes make it an excellent snack for parties, gatherings, road trips, or even just a quick and easy snack to enjoy at home!
You can use my homemade Ranch Dressing Mix for this recipe and try my other favorite homemade snacks like smoked trail mix and Guiness Sweet and Spicy Trail Mix.
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At Sweet C’s, I add lots of tips in all of my recipes – because I am a home cook without any formal training, and I find I am more confident making dishes when I understand why it works, and what each ingredient means to the flavor of a recipe. My goal is for even the most beginner home cook to feel empowered in the kitchen.
Table of Contents
Ranch Flavored Chex Mix
The crispy corn Chex cereal, crunchy pretzels, and zesty ranch seasoning results in a savory, tangy, and slightly spicy taste, making it an irresistible snack for any occasion. Ranch seasoning can be made at home or purchased pre-mixed at most grocery stores, try my recipe!
How to Make Ranch Chex Mix
To make this recipe, you will need the following ingredients:
- Rice Chex cereal: Provides a light and crispy texture to the mix, as well as a neutral base for the other flavors to stand out.
- Cashews: Add a rich and buttery flavor and a satisfying crunch to the mix.
- Pretzels: Provide a salty and slightly sweet contrast to the other ingredients and a satisfying crunch.
- Cheese crackers: Bring a savory and cheesy flavor to the mix that pairs well with the ranch seasoning.
- Oyster crackers: Add a crispy and cracker-like texture to the mix and help absorb the ranch seasoning for maximum flavor.
- Unsalted butter: Melts into the mix during baking to help distribute the seasoning and add a rich and buttery flavor.
- Ranch seasoning dry powder: The star ingredient that provides the tangy, zesty, and savory flavor that gives the mix its name.
- Grated parmesan: Adds a salty and nutty flavor to the mix that complements the ranch seasoning and cheese crackers.
- Dried parsley flakes: Add a pop of color and a mild herbal flavor that balances out the other savory and salty elements of the mix.
Steps to Make Ranch Chex Mix
To make this recipe, we will use the following steps:
Prep
Preheat oven to 300 degrees F. Line a large rimmed jelly roll sheet with parchment paper.
Mix
In an extra large mixing bowl, combine rice cereal, cashews, pretzels, cheese crackers, and oyster crackers. Gently toss with large slotted spoons. Melt butter in microwave and toss together with mixture in bowl. Combine ranch seasoning powder, grated parmesan, and dried parsley. Sprinkle over mixture then gently toss together.
Bake
Pour mixture evenly over prepared pan. Bake in oven 30 minutes, tossing mixture halfway through baking.
Cool
Allow to cool then store in airtight container. Enjoy!
Tips and Tricks for Perfect Ranch Trail Mix
Don’t skip the butter—it’s key for flavor. Melted butter helps the ranch seasoning stick evenly to every piece and adds that rich, savory depth.
Toss gently but thoroughly. Use large spoons (or clean hands) to mix so you coat everything evenly without crushing the cereal or crackers.
Layer seasoning instead of dumping it all at once. Sprinkle, toss, then sprinkle again if needed—this helps avoid clumps and ensures even flavor distribution.
Bake low and slow for maximum crunch. A lower oven temp (around 300°F) helps dry everything out evenly without burning, giving you that perfect crisp texture.
Stir halfway through baking. This prevents uneven browning and keeps pieces from sticking together while ensuring everything gets evenly toasted.
Let it cool completely before storing. Warm mix creates steam, which leads to soggy trail mix—cooling fully keeps it crisp.
Customize to your taste (and pantry!). Add-ins like extra nuts, seeds, or even a pinch of cayenne or smoked paprika can totally change the vibe of your mix.
Use unsalted ingredients when possible. Since ranch seasoning and crackers already bring salt, starting with unsalted nuts or butter helps balance the flavor.
More Homemade Snacks
Try these other snack recipes next:
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Ranch Trail Mix
Equipment
Ingredients
- 5 cups rice cereal such as Rice Chex cereal
- 2 cups cashews
- 5 cups pretzels
- 3 cups cheese crackers
- 2 cups oyster crackers
- 4 ½ tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 1 ounce ranch seasoning dry powder
- ¼ cup grated parmesan
- ½ tablespoon dried parsley flakes
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 300 degrees F. Line a large rimmed jelly roll sheet with parchment paper.
- In an extra large mixing bowl, combine rice cereal, cashews, pretzels, cheese crackers, and oyster crackers.
- Gently toss with large slotted spoons.
- Melt butter in microwave and toss together with mixture in bowl.
- Combine ranch seasoning powder, grated parmesan, and dried parsley.
- Sprinkle over mixture then gently toss together.
- Pour mixture evenly over prepared pan.
- Bake in oven 30 minutes, tossing mixture halfway through baking.
- Allow to cool then store in airtight container.
- Enjoy!
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Ranch Trail Mix FAQs
Yes, you can use gluten-free Chex cereal and pretzels to make a gluten-free version of ranch Chex Mix.
Yes, you can use any type of seasoning you prefer or experiment with different flavor combinations. Some popular alternatives to ranch seasoning include garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne pepper, and smoked paprika.
Absolutely! You can add nuts, seeds, dried fruits, or any other crunchy or chewy snack you like. Just keep in mind that some ingredients may affect the shelf life of the mix, so adjust the storage time accordingly.
Yes, you can easily make a big batch of ranch Chex Mix and store it in an airtight container for up to two weeks. It’s a great snack to have on hand for impromptu get-togethers, school or work lunches, or when you need a quick and easy snack.
While you can technically reheat the mix to restore its crunchiness, it’s not recommended. Heating the mix can cause the seasoning to become too intense or even burn the ingredients, ruining the flavor and texture. It’s better to make a fresh batch if the mix becomes stale.
