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Crowd-Pleasing Sweet & Spicy Buffalo Ranch Chex Mix

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This sweet and spicy buffalo ranch Chex mix is the ultimate crowd-pleasing snack, combining crunchy cereal, pretzels, and nuts with a perfectly balanced coating of heat, cool ranch, and a touch of brown sugar. Ready in under 30 minutes, it’s perfect for parties, game nights, or any gathering.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 3 cups Corn Chex cereal
  • 3 cups Rice Chex cereal
  • 2 cups mini pretzels
  • 1 cup cheese crackers (e.g., Goldfish)
  • 1 cup peanuts or cashews (optional, roasted unsalted)
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
  • 1/4 cup hot sauce (e.g., Frank’s RedHot Original)
  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar, packed
  • 1 packet (1 oz) ranch seasoning mix
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 250°F (120°C).
  2. In a large mixing bowl, combine Corn Chex, Rice Chex, mini pretzels, cheese crackers, and peanuts (if using). Toss gently to distribute.
  3. In a small saucepan over low heat, melt the butter. Remove from heat and whisk in hot sauce, brown sugar, ranch seasoning mix, garlic powder, smoked paprika, and cayenne (if using) until smooth and sugar is dissolved.
  4. Slowly pour the warm sauce over the dry ingredients while stirring continuously with a spatula, ensuring even coating.
  5. Line a half-sheet baking pan (18×13 inches) with parchment paper. Spread the coated mix in a single even layer.
  6. Bake for 15 minutes. Remove from oven, stir gently with a spatula, and spread back into an even layer.
  7. Bake for another 10-15 minutes until the coating is dry and set (not sticky). Check at 10 minutes.
  8. Remove from oven and let cool completely on the pan (about 20-30 minutes).
  9. Once cool, gently break apart any clumps with your hands.

Notes

For best results, use fresh ranch seasoning packets. Let the mix cool completely before storing to maintain crunch. The mix tastes even better the next day as flavors meld. For a dairy-free version, use vegan butter and dairy-free ranch seasoning. For extra heat, add more cayenne or use a hotter hot sauce.

Nutrition

Keywords: Chex mix, buffalo ranch, sweet and spicy, snack mix, party snack, game day snack, homemade snack mix

Find it online: https://dinadishes.com/crowd-pleasing-sweet-and-spicy-buffalo-ranch-chex-mix/