Gluten-Free Chex Mix
Published
This classic cereal snack just got a gluten-free upgrade. This gluten-free Chex mix recipe is nostalgic to me—I grew up snacking on this cereal and always looked forward to big bowls of homemade party mix during holidays or movie nights. Now I make a version that’s just as savory, crunchy, and addictive, minus the gluten. It’s so simple to throw together and totally customizable, whether you like it extra garlicky, want to add nuts, or need a dairy-free swap.
This mix checks all the snack boxes—crunchy, savory, and full of that buttery, seasoned flavor I’ve loved since childhood. It’s totally gluten-free thanks to a few easy swaps, and it’s one of my favorite things to prep ahead for gatherings or lazy weekend movie marathons. I use my homemade gluten-free Worcestershire sauce to give it an extra layer of rich, tangy flavor, and I love tossing in my favorite gluten-free pretzels or crackers. You can easily make it your own with whatever crunchy add-ins you have on hand.
Gluten-Free Chex Mix
Ingredients
- 4 cups Corn Chex cereal
- 4 cups Rice Chex cereal
- 3 cups gluten-free bite-sized pretzels
- 3 cups gluten-free bite-sized cheddar crackers
- 2 cups gluten-free O’s cereal
- ¾ cup unsalted butter, melted and hot
- ¼ cup Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tbsp seasoned salt
- 3 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 250°F.
- Combine Corn Chex, Rice Chex, gluten-free pretzels, gluten-free cheddar crackers and gluten-free O’s cereal into a deep 11” x 15” baking dish. Stir to mix well.
- Add the Worcestershire sauce, seasoned salt, garlic powder and onion powder to the hot melted butter and stir well until all spices are dissolved.
- Pour the butter mixture evenly over the cereal mixture and toss well to coat everything evenly. If your dish is too small to stir the mixture without spilling it, you can transfer it to a large bowl for stirring.
- Place the baking dish of Chex Mix into the oven and bake for 1 hour, removing from oven and stirring well after each 15 minutes of baking time. This helps to ensure an even baking time for the mixture and helps to prevent the pieces on the bottom from burning.
- Let cool before storing leftovers.
Notes
- If you don’t have a deep 11” x 15” baking dish, you can spread this mixture out evenly on a large baking sheet.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
How to Make Gluten-Free Chex Mix Step by Step
Gather all the ingredients: Gather all the ingredients together and preheat your oven to 250°F.
Mix the dry ingredients: In a deep 11” x 15” baking dish, combine 4 cups of Corn Chex, 4 cups of Rice Chex, 3 cups of gluten-free bite-sized pretzels, 3 cups of gluten-free cheddar crackers, and 2 cups of gluten-free O’s cereal. Stir gently to mix everything together.
Make the seasoned butter: In a separate bowl, whisk together ¾ cup of hot, melted unsalted butter, ¼ cup of Worcestershire sauce, 1 tbsp of seasoned salt, 3 tsp of garlic powder, and 1 tsp of onion powder until the spices are fully dissolved.
Coat the cereal mixture: Pour the seasoned butter mixture evenly over the cereal mixture. Toss well to coat all the pieces. If your baking dish is too full to stir without spilling, transfer everything to a large mixing bowl to toss, then return it to the baking dish.
Bake and stir: Bake for 1 hour, stirring the mixture every 15 minutes to ensure even baking and prevent anything from burning on the bottom.
Cool and store: Let the mix cool completely before storing. Enjoy!
Gluten-Free Cooking Tips
- Make sure your butter is hot when mixing in the spices—this helps them dissolve evenly and coat every piece of the mix. I’ve tried it with cooler butter before, and the seasonings clumped instead of spreading, which totally changes the flavor.
- Don’t forget to stir the mix every 15 minutes while it bakes. This helps it bake evenly and keeps the bottom from burning. I set a timer so I don’t lose track, especially if I’m multitasking in the kitchen (which I usually am!).
- Always double check that every ingredient—especially the Worcestershire sauce, pretzels, and crackers—is labeled gluten-free.
Serving Suggestions
This gluten-free Chex mix has become my go-to for just about everything—game days, cozy movie nights, even road trips where we need something salty to munch on. I’ve packed it into my kids’ lunchboxes more times than I can count, and it always comes home gone. Around the holidays, I love scooping it into little treat bags or jars as an easy DIY gift or party favor. Whether you’re serving it in big bowls for a crowd or portioning it into snack bags for grab-and-go ease, it’s always a hit.
Storage Instructions
Once the Chex mix is completely cool, store it in an airtight container at room temperature. It’s at its crispiest and most flavorful within the first three days, but it will keep for up to a week. I don’t recommend freezing it—the texture changes, and it loses that satisfying crunch that makes it so addictive.
