Tex-Mex Nuts and Chex
Celebrate National Nut Day (the food, not the people), with this Southwest flavored, and nut-filled snack.
Hey ~ Happy National Nut Day! No, this day is not necessarily all about celebrating all of the crazy people in your life (why can't everyone just be normal like us?), it's about the kind of nuts that you eat.
Nuts are hands-down one of my favorite foods, because they're a great source of healthy unsaturated fats, along with some protein and even a bit of carbs. Kind of like a meal all rolled into each little bite. Plus, they're plants, so if you're working toward a more plant-based diet, they're a very nice addition.
I tend to add nuts to oatmeal for breakfast, or salads at lunch or dinner. Because they're so balanced, I also really like to include nuts as part of a snack. They're filling, so you really don't need more than a handful to do the trick and hold you off until your next meal.
I always make mixed spiced nuts to keep on hand for the holidays, and this is one of my favorites. It's of course adapted from the original Chex cereal snack mix, and I love the mix of southwest spices with just a little bit of heat. I make a double batch because it's pretty popular, and it's actually kind of hard to stick to just a handful. At least it's healthy!
I swap out the butter for olive oil, which works just fine and it's a much healthier option. I also like to use more of the wheat Chex because they're higher in fiber.
Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 cups wheat Chex cereal
- ½ cup rice Chex cereal
- ½ cup corn Chex cereal
- 1 cup almonds whole
- 1 cup walnuts halves
- 1 cup pecans halves
- ½ cup sunflower seeds
- 1 ½ tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons Sriracha
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup
- ¼ teaspoon cumin
- ¼ teaspoon dried oregano
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon chipotle chili powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 225 degrees, and set the oven rack to the middle position.
- Mix cereals, nuts and sunflower seeds in a large mixing bowl.
- In a measuring cup, mix together remaining ingredients until combined.
- Pour the wet ingredients over the cereal, nut mixture and mix well with a spatula, to combine.
- Spread the nut-Chex mixture onto a sheet pan and bake for 45-50 minutes, stirring at least twice to prevent the bottom from burning.
- Let cool to room temperature and serve
- Store any leftovers in an airtight container for up to two weeks.
Tell me - Do you eat nuts? Are you a nut person, or a nut-butter person - or both?
Eat well!
Thank you for a great recipe. I made this and just loved it! I did add some dots pretzels to the mix. this is great on a road trip.
Oh I'm so glad you liked it Lisa! Thanks for visiting!
I love nuts l eat them often. I also love nut butter.
Love your take on chex mix with the addition of extra wheat chex and lots of nuts. This would be such a great party mix to have out when guests come over. Thanks for sharing!
You're welcome Caroline! It's so easy to make, and one of those snacks everyone seems to like to much on 🙂 Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment.
Chex was always one of my favorite cereals as a kid, and now that gluten-free Chex is available I will definitely have to make a batch of this yummy Chex mix! Love all the spices you added to this 🙂
Thanks EA! Yes, it's a great gluten free choice to use in a snack mix 🙂 Thanks for stopping by!
You got me craving Chex mix! And these cute snack bowls too! I'm saving this recipe for a healthier version of the mix - will be a perfect game night snack.
Ha Ha Marisa - I know, what is it about Chex mix? I haven't had it in years and now I can't stop eating it 🙂 Thanks for visiting!
Oh I love a good crunchy snack- this fits the bill! Sounds great!
Oh yes, crunchy and salty - so good!
What a fabulous little snack!! I have't had a chex mix in years!
Thanks for stopping by Rebecca! I haven't had it in forever either! I'm already starting to think about the holidays and what to make for the kids to munch on - this will do the trick 🙂