Today we’re feasting 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 gluten free Rice and Corn Chex, plus 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 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 like buying from Nuts.com or Planters unsalted roasted peanuts.
Next, in a microwave-safe bowl, combine melted butter or Earth Balance Vegan Butter with gluten free Worcestershire sauce (I like Lea & Perrins,) plus homemade seasoned salt which includes garlic powder, onion powder, salt, paprika, and a pinch of sugar. Drizzle the mixture over the cereals then stir with a spatula until the cereals are evenly coated.
Spread the mixture into a large baking dish like an 11×17, then bake for about an hour at 250 degrees, stirring every 15 minutes, or until the cereals are light golden brown. Last step is to stir in gluten free pretzels.
Normally 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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Gluten-Free Chex Mix
Description
Gluten-Free Chex Mix is salty, crunchy, and totally addicting. Just like the original, only gluten-free (easily made dairy-free, too!)
Ingredients
- 3 cups Rice Chex
- 3 cups Corn Chex
- 3 cups gluten-free O’s cereal
- 1 cup gluten free peanuts
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) salted butter or vegan butter
- 1/4 cup gluten-free Worcestershire sauce (I like Lea & Perrin's)
- 2 teaspoons seasoned salt (recipe below)
- 1 cup bite-sized gluten-free pretzels
- For the Homemade Seasoned Salt (NOTE: You will not use all of this!)
- 1-1/2 Tablespoons salt
- 3/4 teaspoon paprika
- 3/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/4 teaspoon sugar
Directions
- Preheat oven to 250 degrees. Combine ingredients for Homemade Seasoned Salt in small bowl then set aside.
- Add Rice Chex, Corn Chex, O's cereal, and peanuts to a very large mixing bowl then set aside.
- Add butter to a medium sized bowl then microwave until melted, 50-60 seconds. Add worcestershire sauce plus 2 teaspoons Homemade Seasoned Salt then stir to combine. Pour butter mixture over cereal mixture then stir with a spatula to coat. Pour into an 11x17" or larger baking dish then bake for 45 minutes to 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes, or until cereal is golden brown. Stir in pretzels then cool and serve.
Notes
- If you are sensitive to salt, cut the seasoned salt amount down to 1-1/2 teaspoons.
This recipe is courtesy of Iowa Girl Eats, http://iowagirleats.com.
How long does this last once it’s made? If it’s in sealed containers, or does it last longer if you refrigerate it? I couldn’t find info about this, I’m eager to try this recipe if I know the longevity of it for gifts this holiday.
Hi Ruth! In a sealed container it should be food for 5-7 days.
Thanks. I also read the photo of the written recipe; in her original, did she use all of the seasoning salt on one batch?
It’s my understanding that she used that entire mixture in her original!
You don’t use bagel chips? The recipe on the box has bagel chips. Have you tried it with gf bagel chips?
I don’t know of any GF bagel chips that exist on the market. If you find some you can definitely add!
Where do you find gluten free pretzels and bagel chips?
This is such a great seasoning recipe! I’ve used it mulitple times and it tastes great no matter what else you add/substitute.
I’m soo glad you loved it, Alexandra! Thank you so much for your feedback and recipe rating!
Does anyone have her Buffalo Cheddar-Ranch Chex Mix recipe? The link redirects me to the regular Chex Mix; we miss the Buffalo!
I will email it to you, Michelle!
For my family’s taste: decrease Worcestershire to 4.5 teaspoons. Try Crispix for a slightly sweeter taste. Or try honey roasted peanuts.
Yummy!! So glad you were able to make it your own, Angela! My husband’s family always includes Crispix in their mix, but they’re not gluten free so I personally need to steer clear.
I usually follow your recipe but because of gluten sensitivity vs. celiac disease, Crispix can be ok for me. Wish they would certify a few more cereals but know it is pricey for the manufacturing plants.
Can this be made in small batches in the microwave? My oven is on the blink and I really need this~
That should be fine!
Sooo good! I used the broken bits of pretzel chips at the bottom of the bag instead of regular pretzels and added them in at the beginning and it turned out awesome. Adding the worcestershire in dashes at the stirring intervals is a stroke of genius.
Sounds fabulous, Jessica!! I’m so glad you loved it the chex mix! Thank you so much for your feedback and recipe rating!
Not sure if you know this already or not but Worcestershire sauce usually has gluten in it.
At the time of this writing, 1/22, in the US, Lea and Perrins is gluten free. As always, be your own advocate and check labels before purchasing/consuming.
HELP!!! You’ve changed your recipe. Can I please have the original with the seasoned salt?
I went to make a batch today and noticed the change, too! My husband says this version is good, but previous version was better!
From the old version I have saved:
“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.”
So I think it’s the same ingredients, just without calling it seasoned salt
Hi guys!! This recipe just incorporates the seasoned salt ingredients into it so you don’t have to make the SS separately (since you don’t even use all of it for this recipe anyway!) Sorry for the confusion!
I’ve been digging through the comments to see if anyone else made this sort of comment! I know this is the recipe I’ve used before but I’ve never been able to make it as good as the first time I did! And I thought I was going crazy but now I’m realizing maybe it was because the recipe changed! I remember making the seasoning and then you saying how much to use. Can you advise on that?! I swear it tasted different! It was spicier or something!
Did this get updated from 2022? I made it a bunch last Christmas, but don’t remember the homemade Seasoned Salt as an ingredient…can you list it both ways, maybe? It seems like maybe it was this way with the seasoned salt, then changed, and now changed back?
I mean from 2021. LOL. It IS 2022 now. :D
Hi, yes, could you please post the old recipe? I have made that one several different times and really liked it, however, came to the site to make it for my family’s holiday celebration this weekend and noticed the seasoned salt, instead of just the measurements for the spices. Also, the new version tastes pretty bland and just like salt…I can’t really taste the spices at all. Thank you!
This is my go-to chex mix recipe!
Woo! Thrilled to hear it, Dexter!
Hi, I love your story and your blog. Even tho’ I could be your granny, your blog is an inspiration to me for my IBS blog. This trail mix is so perfect and I can change it for low fodmap and IBS safe. Would you mind if I tweak this recipe on my IBS blog and credit Iowa Girl Eats for the original? Even tho you are not an IBS person, celiac people have much in common with us. Wheat allergy for one, even tho it isn’t gluten for us, it is a fodmap called fructan. Also, does your brother still give out blogging advice? If so, where can I find it? Merry Christmas to you and your adorable family.Btw every time I ask BLue Sky to help me with my blog, I show them yours and I say to them, “I want to flow like this one.” They never can do it (sob)
No problem at all, Joan!
Oh my goodness! I have been waiting for a gluten free recipe for Chex mix! Thank you so much! It will satisfy my salt and sweet cravings all at once!
Cant keep enough around. Only wish I could find corn chex.
Thought Worcestershire sauce wasn’t GF because of the malt vinegar in it? Is there a substitute for this sauce?
Lea & Perrins worcestershire sauce contains no malt vinegar and is GF. That said, I believe the Lea & Perrins sold in Canada is *not* GF, so read labels carefully.
Have an allergy to soy…..cannot have worcheshire sauce by Lea&
Perrin…any suggestions?
I actually thought it was bland, so I doubled each spice. Yum!
This looks like a great recipe, but I need to tell you that I’m Canada, Lea & Perrin Worcestershire Sauce has gluten in it. Specifically, malt vinegar. Canadian brand French’s and American Heinz are both gluten free versions, though. I haven’t tried this yet, I just found it tonight!
Not sure if you’ll read this, but I live in Ontario and just found French’s Worchestershire Sauce at our local Fortino’s and it’s clearly labelled “Gluten-Free”. I was soooo happy!!!!
One note of caution. My problem isn’t Celiac disease but an allergic reaction to wheat. I started subbing GF “breads” (bread, crackers, cereals, etc.). Only to discover that the substitute for wheat gluten is various forms of tapioca – which I now have a far worse reaction to than wheat. I only mention this because according to my allergist she is seeing more and more severe allergic reactions to tapioca.