Bacon makes everything better, so don’t settle for the plain old traditional recipe – this Bourbon Bacon Chex Mix recipe is the smoky, salty version of the famous snack that you didn’t know you were craving!
Is it just me, or has Chex mix kind of fallen off people’s radars?
Maybe it’s just my experience, but I can’t even remember the last time I saw a snack mix at a party or get-together.
Then again, when you have friends like I have, you’re more likely to find 3 slow cookers full of different cocktail meatballs, pretty cheese boards, and a giant roaster pan of wings staying warm in the oven.
What happened to the simple days of throwing relatively bland cereal in a bowl with some other carb-laden nibbles and calling it a day? Pretty much zero effort, but way more ROI from the end result than should be legal.
I support the return of Chex mix – in the form of this Smoky Bourbon Bacon variety.
Few things make me as happy as a strip of crispy bacon or a tumbler of good bourbon (on the rocks, please.) It made perfect sense to incorporate them into a snack that’s perfect for any football Sunday, summer shindig, or holiday party.
No worries about getting sloshed from eating a few handfuls of this, though; the alcohol cooks out of the bourbon before it even touches the cereal. You’re left with a faint but pleasant aftertaste of the spirit.
And it goes so well with that damn crispy bacon.
Add a few drops of liquid smoke and you’ll feel like you’re sitting around a campfire, breathing in the summer air with every bite. I’m not even kidding.
How do you make your own Chex Mix?
Easily! Just toss the nibbles of your choice in a bowl with some melted butter and seasonings (bacon grease and bourbon also, in the case of this recipe), bake it up to dry it out and infuse the flavors, and start snacking!
The original Chex snack mix recipe is nothing but a trio of Chex cereals, pretzels, and bagel chips, but putting your own mark on the mix is a welcome change.
If the flavors of bourbon and/or bacon aren’t your thing, you can create your own recipe for homemade Chex mix !
Chex mix recipe variations
As far as add-ins, you can substitute anything in this rather bold Chex mix recipe 1-to-1 for anything you’d like, including:
- Not a fan of Cheez-Its? Add Goldfish or crunchy Cheetos
- Swap the pretzels for popcorn or corn chips (add the popcorn after the mix cools, though!)
- Leave out the bagel chips and add granola clusters for a different texture
- Don’t like peanuts? Try pistachios, pecans, and cashews, or leave them out completely for those allergic
- Trade the greasiness of bacon for leaner beef jerky
- Like sweets? After the mix is cooled, stir in some chocolate chips, M&Ms or Reese’s Pieces, dried fruit, or mini marshmallows
- For a spicy mix, add hot sauce or cayenne pepper to taste to your melted butter
If you want a sweet and savory mix, try swapping in of the sweet Chex cereals (honey, vanilla, chocolate, cinnamon). Even adding other cereals in place of some of the Chex would be tasty:
- Crispix is a close cousin to Chex texture-wise
- Cheerios have wonderful crunch, and come in many flavors
- Maybe some Cinnamon Toast Crunch for a bit of sweetness
- Cocoa Puffs for chocolate lovers
- Reese’s Puffs for peanut butter fiends
Really, the possibilities are endless, so let your childhood imagination run wild. Honestly, the best Chex mix recipe is the one you find yourself making over and over again!
Other ways to make this easy Chex mix recipe
No oven? Too hot to bake? Try one of these other preparation methods!
- Slow Cooker. This is a very popular prep method for parties since you can take the whole thing with you! Place all of the mix ingredients in the crock of a slow cooker, drizzle the butter sauce over, toss it well, and cook on LOW for 3 hours, stirring every 30-45 minutes to keep it from burning.
- Microwave. An alright method in a pinch. Place the bowl of Chex mix in the microwave and cook for 5-6 minutes, stirring well every ~2 minutes. Spread the mixture out in a single layer on a baking sheet and allow it to cool and crisp before enjoying.
- Air Fryer. The is ideal for smaller batches! Just toss your pre-mixed and seasoned ingredients into the basket of an air fryer, shaking it into a single layer (as much as possible – you may need to cook it in batches). Air fry it at 350 degrees F for 3-5 minutes, shaking it once or twice during the cook time.
How long will Chex mix last?
How do you make Chex mix not soggy?
Also, make sure you drizzle the seasoned bacon-bourbon-butter mixture as evenly as possible over the Chex mix, tossing as you go to ensure everything is coated and not oversaturated. If some of your crunch does end up a bit soggy, bake those bits a little bit longer to attempt to dry them out further, then toss them back in the bowl.
Try even more of these great snacks!
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Smoky Bourbon Bacon Chex Mix
Ingredients
- 2 cups corn Chex cereal
- 2 cups rice Chex cereal
- 2 cups wheat Chex cereal
- 1 cup pretzels
- 1 cup cheese crackers
- 1 cup bagel chips
- 1 cup peanuts
- 8 strips crispy cooked bacon chopped
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- ¼ cup unsalted butter melted
- 2 tablespoons bacon grease
- 4 drops liquid smoke
- 2 tablespoons bourbon whiskey
- 1 teaspoon seasoning salt
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
Instructions
- Heat oven to 275 degrees F. Line two baking sheets with foil, then spray foil with cooking spray. In large bowl, mix Chex, pretzels, cheese crackers, bagel chips, peanuts, and bacon. Set aside.
- In a small saucepan, heat butter, bacon grease, and liquid smoke over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until it begins to simmer, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and cool 2-3 minutes, then stir in the bourbon, seasoning salt, and garlic powder. Pour over snack mixture; toss until evenly coated.
- Spread mixture in even layers on prepared pans. Bake 15 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes, to evaporate liquid. Cool completely, about 1 hour, before serving.
Notes
- Slow Cooker. This is a very popular prep method for parties since you can take the whole thing with you! Place all of the mix ingredients in the crock of a slow cooker, drizzle the butter sauce over, toss it well, and cook on LOW for 3 hours, stirring every 30-45 minutes to keep it from burning.
- Microwave. An alright method in a pinch. Place the bowl of Chex mix in the microwave and cook for 5-6 minutes, stirring well every ~2 minutes. Spread the mixture out in a single layer on a baking sheet and allow it to cool and crisp before enjoying.
- Air Fryer. The is ideal for smaller batches! Just toss your pre-mixed and seasoned ingredients into the basket of an air fryer, shaking it into a single layer (as much as possible – you may need to cook it in batches). Air fry it at 350 degrees F for 3-5 minutes, shaking it once or twice during the cook time.
- Not a fan of Cheez-Its? Add Goldfish or crunchy Cheetos
- Swap the pretzels for popcorn or corn chips (add the popcorn after the mix cools, though!)
- Leave out the bagel chips and add granola clusters for a different texture
- Don’t like peanuts? Try pistachios, pecans, and cashews, or leave them out completely for those allergic
- Trade the greasiness of bacon for leaner beef jerky
- Like sweets? After the mix is cooled, stir in some chocolate chips, M&Ms or Reese’s Pieces, dried fruit, or mini marshmallows
- For a spicy mix, add hot sauce or cayenne pepper to taste to your melted butter
- Crispix is a close cousin to Chex texture-wise
- Cheerios have wonderful crunch, and come in many flavors
- Maybe some Cinnamon Toast Crunch for a bit of sweetness
- Cocoa Puffs for chocolate lovers
- Reese’s Puffs for peanut butter fiends
- This Chex mix is best when eaten within 2 days of preparation for max crunchability, but it’s safe to eat for 10-14 days if stored in an air-tight container at room temperature. Can be frozen for up to 3 months.
Tamara says
Bacon and bourbon chex mix? Yes please! This recipe features 2 of my favorite consumables! Let’s get snacking…
Erica says
I hear ya, Tamara! It adds a nice flavor to the mix – come on, you know sometimes jazzing up a classic is desperately needed. 🙂 Hope you love it!
Hope Sierota says
How long will this stay good for in sealed container at room temp? Want to take on vacation
Erica says
Hello Hope, thanks for stopping by! It will last for about 2 weeks in an air-tight container at room temp, but it definitely tastes the best the first 2-3 days. 🙂