I Tried the Original Chex Party Mix and Ree Drummond's Popular Recipe—Here's the Winner

I consider snack mix, or Chex Mix as it's more widely known, a staple of every get-together, whether it’s birthday parties, movie nights, or big celebrations. The combination of corn, rice, and wheat Chex cereal with pretzels and other crunchy goodness coated in a buttery, Worcestershire-heavy seasoning can be either an appetizer, snack, or a main dish (if you ask me!), depending on the event.

Since the original Chex Party Mix recipe was first published on cereal boxes in 1953, dozens of variations have appeared in magazines, cookbooks, and beyond. Simply Recipes has published a spicy-sweet adaptation and a retro variation, and almost every family has its own take on it. 

I’ve tried a lot of recipes over the years, but I’ve never landed on a true favorite. In an effort to find the best Chex Party Mix recipe, I decided to put the Original Homemade Chex Party Mix recipe up against a popular version from The Pioneer Woman. I hoped to find a go-to recipe (spoiler alert: I did!), but I also learned a lot along the way.

How To Make the Original Homemade Chex Party Mix

The Original Chex Party Mix starts with a combination of Corn, Rice, and Wheat Chex cereal in equal measure in the largest microwaveable bowl you own. Combine them with mixed nuts, pretzel twists, and bagel chips.

In another microwave-safe bowl, mix butter, Worcestershire sauce, seasoned salt, and garlic and onion powder. Microwave this smaller bowl for about 30 seconds, just long enough to melt the butter. Then pour the mixture over the cereal and stir to coat—this part can be a bit tricky unless you have a giant, commercial-size bowl.

Microwave the snack mix for five to six minutes, stirring every two minutes. Finally, spread the mixture onto paper towels laid out on a baking sheet to cool completely.

How To Make Ree Drummond's Chex Party Mix

Just like the original recipe, Ree Drummond’s Chex Party Mix starts with equal amounts of the three Chex cereals. Her recipe calls for double the amount of pretzel sticks and mixed nuts.

The butter for the seasoning mixture is also doubled—as much as 12 tablespoons can be used in The Pioneer Woman’s recipe, while the Original Chex recipe calls for just six. Drummond’s version also includes more Worcestershire sauce, but pulls back on other seasonings, using only seasoned salt and onion powder. Strangely (I thought), whole cloves of garlic are added to the butter mixture.

Everything is tossed together and baked in the oven at 250°F for 75 minutes, stirring occasionally. Cool completely before serving.

The Winner: The Pioneer Woman’s Chex Party Mix Recipe

The Original Chex Party Mix recipe has a lot going for it—the bite-size pretzels and bagel chips are perfect vehicles for the seasoning. Plus, the recipe is made in the microwave, so it’s ideal for making anywhere, from a dorm room to an understocked vacation rental.

However, I found it slightly annoying to skip dirtying a baking sheet during cooking but ultimately need one for cooling the snack mix on paper towels. I was also left craving a stronger butter flavor.

The Pioneer Woman’s Chex Party Mix bakes up incredibly crispy and buttery. While the whole garlic cloves threw me for a loop—should I pull them out for storage or eat them?—they perfume the entire batch with a fresh garlic aroma you couldn’t get otherwise. It was delicious, and I ate it by the handful.

While I admit I’ll likely tinker with this winning recipe—perhaps adding bagel chips and swapping out the pretzels—I’ll definitely be making it again soon.