This post may contain affiliate links. Read my full disclosure policy.
Take it old-school with homemade Chex mix! This irresistibly savory and buttery snack, also known as nuts n’ bolts, is the perfect nibble to have on hand when you’ve got a full house.
Chex mix (aka nuts n’ bolts), a classic American snack that’s a staple in American homes, especially during football games and holiday gatherings, combines Chex cereal with nuts and other bite-sized treats, seasoned and baked until crispy. My go-to version comes from Barb Gyles, a longtime family friend who was like a second mom to me in the neighborhood where I grew up. Known for her Chex mix, Barb, a mom of four, always kept huge quantities in a bin in her kitchen, ready for our neighborhood gatherings and impromptu visits. Curious about her recipe, I asked her if it was the same as the one on the cereal box. Barb’s response was a hilariously candid: “No way. That crap’s for amateurs.” Her recipe calls for extra butter, spices, and more salt “if your heart works.” It’s easy to make and customizable (swap out the nuts or any other ingredients to suit your taste), making it the perfect snack to feed a crowd.
“Every year I’ve been making the recipe on the Chex box and it was always so disappointing. I knew it wasn’t the same as the recipe I grew up on (in the 50s and 60s) but I couldn’t figure out what was wrong. The answer? Lots more butter! And lots more spices! Last Christmas I was making this two times a week…it’s sooo good!”
![](https://i0.wp.com/www.onceuponachef.com/images/2012/01/nuts-n-bolts-11.jpg?resize=575%2C386&ssl=1)
What You’ll Need To Make Homemade Chex Mix
![chex mix ingredients](https://i0.wp.com/www.onceuponachef.com/images/2012/01/chex-mix-7.jpg?resize=760%2C529&ssl=1)
Step-by-Step Ingredients
Combine all of the snack mix ingredients in a large disposable aluminum pan or roasting pan.
![chex ingredients in aluminum pan](https://i0.wp.com/www.onceuponachef.com/images/2012/01/chex-mix-4.jpg?resize=760%2C475&ssl=1)
Next, make the butter seasoning: in a medium bowl, combine the melted butter with the Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, onion powder, seasoned salt, and thyme.
![butter and seasoning for chex mix in bowl](https://i0.wp.com/www.onceuponachef.com/images/2012/01/chex-mix-6.jpg?resize=760%2C504&ssl=1)
Whisk to combine.
![whisked seasoning](https://i0.wp.com/www.onceuponachef.com/images/2012/01/chex-mix-5.jpg?resize=760%2C504&ssl=1)
Slowly pour the butter mixture over the snack mix, being careful to spread it evenly around.
![pouring the cereal over the chex mix](https://i0.wp.com/www.onceuponachef.com/images/2012/01/chex-mix-3.jpg?resize=760%2C475&ssl=1)
Stir until all of the ingredients are evenly coated.
![stirring the chex mix to coat evenly](https://i0.wp.com/www.onceuponachef.com/images/2012/01/chex-mix-2.jpg?resize=760%2C475&ssl=1)
Bake in a 250°F oven, stirring occasionally, for about 1½ hours. Let cool, then store in an airtight container.
![](https://i0.wp.com/www.onceuponachef.com/images/2012/01/chex-mix.jpg?resize=760%2C1092&ssl=1)
You may also like
Homemade Chex Mix
Take it old-school with homemade Chex mix! This irresistibly savory and buttery snack, also known as nuts n’ bolts, is the perfect nibble to have on hand when you’ve got a full house.
Ingredients
For the Snack Mix
- 4 cups Corn Chex
- 4 cups Wheat Chex
- 3 cups Rice Chex
- 2 cups Cheerios
- 3 cups skinny bite-sized pretzels
- 1½ cups salted nuts
For the Butter Seasoning
- 10 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted (or vegetable oil)
- 3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 2 heaping teaspoons seasoned salt
- 1¼ teaspoons garlic powder
- ¾ teaspoon onion powder
- ¾ teaspoon dried thyme
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 250°F and set an oven rack in the middle position.
- Combine the Corn Chex, Wheat Chex, Rice Chex, Cheerios, pretzels, and nuts in a large disposable aluminum pan or roasting pan.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the butter, Worcestershire sauce, seasoned salt, garlic powder, onion powder, and thyme. Pour slowly over the snack mix, stirring as you go, to coat evenly. Continue stirring until snack mix is well coated with the seasoning. Bake for 1½ hours, stirring every 30 minutes. Let cool, then serve or store in an airtight container.
- Note: You can omit any of the snack mix ingredients as long as you substitute something else. The idea is to keep the ratio of snack mix to butter seasoning the same. Also, be sure your oven is fully preheated before you put the snack mix in. The initial surge of heat to preheat the oven will burn the snack mix in a heartbeat.
- Freezer-Friendly Instructions: The snack mix can be frozen in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Cool completely before freezing.
Nutrition Information
Powered by
- Per serving (18 servings)
- Serving size: 1 cup
- Calories: 395
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated fat: 5 g
- Carbohydrates: 60 g
- Sugar: 4 g
- Fiber: 5 g
- Protein: 9 g
- Sodium: 721 mg
- Cholesterol: 18 mg
This website is written and produced for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and the nutritional data on this site has not been evaluated or approved by a nutritionist or the Food and Drug Administration. Nutritional information is offered as a courtesy and should not be construed as a guarantee. The data is calculated through an online nutritional calculator, Edamam.com. Although I do my best to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures should be considered estimates only. Varying factors such as product types or brands purchased, natural fluctuations in fresh produce, and the way ingredients are processed change the effective nutritional information in any given recipe. Furthermore, different online calculators provide different results depending on their own nutrition fact sources and algorithms. To obtain the most accurate nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator.