Description
A savory and tangy Dill Pickle Chex Mix combining crunchy Chex cereal, pretzel sticks, mixed nuts, and garlic bagel chips coated with a flavorful mixture of dill pickle juice, butter, and spices, baked to a perfect, crispy snack.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 4 cups Chex cereal (rice, corn, or wheat)
- 1 cup pretzel sticks
- 1 cup mixed nuts (cashews, almonds, and peanuts)
- 1 cup garlic-flavored bagel chips, broken into pieces
Wet Ingredients
- 1/2 cup dill pickle juice
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
Spices and Seasonings
- 2 tablespoons dill weed (dried)
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional, for heat)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 250°F (120°C) to prepare for slow baking the mix evenly.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, combine the Chex cereal, pretzel sticks, mixed nuts, and broken garlic-flavored bagel chips. Gently toss to mix everything evenly without breaking pieces.
- Prepare Seasoning Mixture: In a separate small bowl, whisk together the dill pickle juice, melted butter, dill weed, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, black pepper, salt, and cayenne pepper if using, to create a flavorful coating liquid.
- Coat the Mix: Pour the pickle juice and butter mixture over the dry ingredients, stirring gently but thoroughly to ensure every piece is well coated with the seasoning blend.
- Spread on Baking Sheet: Evenly spread the coated mixture onto a large baking sheet lined with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat for easy cleanup and even baking.
- Bake the Mix: Bake in the preheated oven for 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes to ensure all pieces toast evenly and maintain crispiness without burning.
- Cool Completely: Remove the baking sheet from the oven and allow the Dill Pickle Chex Mix to cool completely on the sheet, letting it crisp up further.
- Store Properly: Once cooled, transfer the mix to an airtight container and store at room temperature for up to 2 weeks to maintain freshness and crunch.
Notes
- Stirring the mix every 15 minutes during baking is crucial to ensure even toasting and prevent burning.
- The cayenne pepper is optional and can be adjusted or omitted based on your preferred spice level.
- Use garlic-flavored bagel chips for an extra burst of flavor; plain bagel chips can be substituted if unavailable.
- Store the mix in an airtight container to keep it crispy and fresh for up to two weeks.
- This snack is perfect for parties, game days, or casual munching.
