This Middle Eastern Spicy Chex Mix Recipe is crisp, crunchy, and full of sweet and zesty flavor! Better than anything you’ll find in the store, it’s quick to make, can easily serve a crowd, and stores well to keep on hand or give as gifts.
Table of Contents
- What Is Middle Eastern Chex Mix?
- What’s In Original Chex Mix?
- Ingredients for This Spicy Chex Mix Recipe
- Ditch Store-Bought Varieties for Good with This Homemade Chex Mix Recipe
- More Add-In Options
- How to Store
- Common Questions about Middle Eastern Spicy Chex Mix
- More Homemade Snacks to Make
- Middle Eastern Spicy Chex Mix Recipe
What Is Middle Eastern Chex Mix?
Middle Eastern Chex mix is our take on classic Chex mix recipes! It uses the same base of cereal, crackers, and nuts.
However, we spice things up, literally, with Middle Eastern flavors. The end result is a sweet and spicy Chex mix recipe that will knock your socks off.
What’s In Original Chex Mix?
There are endless store-bought and homemade Chex mix recipes. However, according to Chex Mix, the original mix contains corn Chex, wheat Chex, pretzels, rye chips, bagel chips, and mini breadsticks with a seasoning blend.
Ingredients for This Spicy Chex Mix Recipe
- Chex Cereal – We use a combination of wheat Chex cereal and rice Chex cereal, but you could use any Chex cereal or a similar brand you like best.
- Oyster Crackers – Feel free to omit, or substitute any other crackers you prefer.
- Nuts – Raw cashews and raw almonds add a satisfying crunch and a nutty taste you’ll love.
- Pretzels – We recommend using mini pretzels to ensure you get tiny bits in every bite, but full-sized varieties will also work.
- Butter – We like salted butter for this recipe!
- Seasonings – You’ll need za’atar seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, dried oregano, sea salt, and cayenne pepper. Adjust the amounts to suit your preferences.
- Honey – Maple syrup will also work.
Ditch Store-Bought Varieties for Good with This Homemade Chex Mix Recipe
- Prepare. Preheat your oven, and line a large baking sheet with
parchment paper or a non-stick baking sheet. - Toss. Add the cereal, crackers, nuts, and pretzels to a large mixing bowl. Gently toss to combine.
- Combine the seasonings. Melt the butter and stir in the seasonings and honey. Mix until fully incorporated.
- Season. Pour the butter mixture over the cereal mixture, and gently toss to combine and coat. Don’t rush this step!
- Bake. Spread the Chex mix evenly over the baking sheet. Bake until the mixture is lightly toasted, stirring frequently.
- Cool. Allow the spicy Chex mix to cool completely on the baking sheet, and enjoy!
More Add-In Options
Homemade Chex mix recipes are a great way to use up ingredients you have on hand! Feel free to experiment with different ingredients to make this blend your own.
Some of our favorite add-ins include:
- Cheez-Its
- Goldfish
- Pecans
- Bugels
- Potato Sticks
- Sesame Sticks
- Pita Chips
- Cheerios
How to Store
Store leftover spicy Chex mix in an airtight container or sealable bag at room temperature for up to two to three days. We don’t recommend freezing this recipe as it’s likely to become soggy once thawed!
Common Questions about Middle Eastern Spicy Chex Mix
We love a combo of rice and wheat Chex for maximum crunch and variety. The different textures soak up the butter, honey, and spices perfectly without getting soggy.
It’s got a kick, but nothing overwhelming! The spice is balanced by the savory mix of herbs and butter. If you love heat, feel free to dial it up with some harissa or a pinch more cayenne.
Yes! Just skip the nuts and sub in more pretzels. Or, add bagel chips or roasted chickpeas for that crunch factor. It’s super easy to customize!
The key is to bake it low and slow until dry and golden, then let it cool completely. Don’t skip that step—cooling helps lock in the crispness!
More Homemade Snacks to Make
Want satisfying snacks that come together quickly? We have plenty! Check out our favorite snacks that are perfect for any craving:
- Tomato and Burrata Salad with Za’atar
- Marinated Chickpeas with Whipped Feta
- Easy Shrimp Kofta Meatballs
- Spanakopita Triangles
- Homemade Caramel Popcorn
Middle Eastern Spicy Chex Mix
Ingredients
- 4 cups wheat Chex cereal
- 4 cups rice Chex cereal
- 2 cups oyster crackers
- 2 cups raw cashews
- 2 cups raw almonds
- 3 cups mini pretzels
For the Seasoning Mix:
- 8 Tablespoons salted butter
- 3 Tablespoons za’atar
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 2 teaspoons dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
- 3/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper adjust to taste for spice preference
- 2 Tablespoons honey
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 300 degrees Fahrenheit (120 degrees Celsius), and line 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper or use a non-stick baking sheet.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the wheat Chex cereal, rice Chex cereal, oyster crackers, cashews, almonds, and mini pretzels. Toss gently to mix, and set aside.4 cups wheat Chex cereal, 4 cups rice Chex cereal, 2 cups oyster crackers, 2 cups raw cashews, 2 cups raw almonds, 3 cups mini pretzels
- In a microwave save bowl melt the salted butter (or in a saucepan). Once melted, stir in the za’atar, garlic powder, onion powder, dried oregano, sea salt, cayenne pepper, and honey. Mix well until all the spices are fully incorporated into the butter.8 Tablespoons salted butter, 3 Tablespoons za’atar, 2 teaspoons garlic powder, 1 teaspoon onion powder, 2 teaspoons dried oregano, 1/2 teaspoon sea salt, 3/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper, 2 Tablespoons honey
- Pour the seasoned butter mixture over the cereal, crackers, and nuts. Use a spatula or large spoon to gently toss and coat all the ingredients evenly with the seasoning. Mix for a few minutes to really make sure the butter mixture coats everything.
- Spread the mixture in a single layer onto the prepared baking sheets.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 30-35 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes to ensure even toasting and coating of the mixture.
- Remove from the oven, and let the Spicy Za'atar Chex Mix cool completely on the baking sheets.
- Once cooled, transfer the mix to an airtight container for storage. Enjoy this flavorful snack at any time!
Equipment
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Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
