Gluten-Free Chex Mix

Gluten-Free Chex Mix is salty, crunchy, and totally addicting. Just like the original, only gluten-free, and easily made dairy-free, too!

Very quickly, I wanted to let you know that for one day only, this Monday, 11/30 I’m taking 40% off my ebook, Gluten-Free for Beginners: 30 Day Meal Plan and Guide for Gluten-Free Success for Cyber Monday! All you have to do is enter the code: CYBER40 at check out to receive an instant 40% off. Sign up for my newsletter to get a reminder!

But first, we feast. On Gluten-Free Chex Mix – YEEHAW!!! You guys, I’m dying. I don’t break out the caps all that often (HAHAHA YES I DO) but this time it’s for a good reason. The holidays have been saved thanks to Gluten-Free Chex Mix!

Ben and I both have fond memories of non-stop Chex Mix batches baking in our respective Mom’s ovens over the holidays. Is this a Midwest thing? Ben’s Mom has always traded Chex cereal for Crispix and added Cheerios, while my Mom version called for enough Worcestershire sauce to send an elephant into cardiac arrest.

Literally, on the hand written copy of the recipe she’s had in a plastic page protector for 15+ years it says, “shake Worcestershire sauce on every 15 minutes while turning for Krissi.” Busted. What can I say, Chex Mix drenched in flavor completes me, and having to go gluten-free isn’t going to stop me from eating it!

Ok, truthfully this recipe kind of feels like cheating. Homemade Chex Mix is like, 75% gluten-free already and it’s so easy adapt the other 25% that I feel ba- wait no I don’t, you need this recipe in your life – Ben and I can’t get enough of it! And by “it” I mean the three batches I’ve made in the last two weeks. Forget the fragrance of cinnamon and cloves – seasoned salt, butter, and Worcestershire sauce signals holiday time to us.

By the way, in an effort to give gifts that people can use/eat/drink this year, I’m giving away big mason jars of Gluten-Free Chex Mix for Christmas. Because come on – fuzzy socks, or jars of homemade Gluten-Free Chex Mix? No contest!

Star with your cereal. Wheat Chex is NOT gluten-free so we’re ditching it and sticking with 3-1/2 cups each gluten-free Rice and Corn Chex, plus 2 cups gluten-free O’s cereal. We loved this Nature’s Path brand – it gets way more crunchy in the oven compared to regular O’s!

Add the cereals to the largest bowl you own, along with 1 cup gluten-free peanuts. Peanuts can be difficult to find gluten-free (all nuts are naturally gluten-free but they can get cross contaminated when processed on lines shared with gluten-containing products.) That said, I buy certified gluten-free peanuts from Nuts.com.

Next, in a microwave-safe bowl combine 6 Tablespoons melted butter or Earth Balance Vegan Butter to keep the recipe dairy-free, which is what I did on account of Lincoln’s dairy allergy with 1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce (I like Lea & Perrins,) 2 teaspoons seasoned salt (recipe below,) plus 1/2 teaspoon each garlic and onion powders. Drizzle the mixture over the cereals then stir with a spatula until the cereals are evenly coated.

By the way, the original Chex Mix recipe calls for seasoned salt which is CRAZY easy to make at home. It’s just 1-1/2 Tablespoons salt, 3/4 teaspoons each paprika and garlic powder, and 1/4 teaspoon each sugar and onion powder. I just looked at the ingredient list of Lawry’s online and blended my own batch. SO GOOD. You’ll have some leftover after using 2 teaspoons for the Chex Mix recipe so use it on chicken, popcorn – anything, really!

Spread the mixture into a large baking dish like an 11×17, then bake for 45 minutes to 1 hour at 250 degrees, stirring every 15 minutes. My batches have been taking 51-52 minutes to get perfectly crunchy and golden brown.

Once the Chex Mix has cooled, stir in 1 cup bite-sized gluten-free pretzels. Normally the pretzels are baked right in with the cereal but GF pretzels don’t hold up well in the oven, which is why they’re stirred in at the end.

Scoop the Chex Mix into an airtight container then keep within arm’s reach on the kitchen counter for 3-4 days, or pour into a bowl and let your family go to town!

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As I mentioned, I like my Chex Mix on the EXTREMELY zesty side, so if you’re sensitive to salt I’d cut the seasoned salt amount back to 1-1/2 teaspoons or so. Otherwise, grab a bowl and enjoy!