Bold, salty, spicy, and totally addictive.
🔥 Intro
If you love a snack that’s crunchy, salty, a little spicy, and totally irresistible… this Texas Trash Spicy Chex Mix is gonna be your new favorite.
It’s perfect for movie nights, road trips, parties—or honestly, just keeping a jar on your counter to munch throughout the week.
This stuff does not last long in my house.
I first tried it at a holiday party years ago and immediately hunted down the recipe.
After a few tweaks (like a little extra heat and more butter, duh), it became the ultimate snack mix in our home.
Let’s get into it!
🍴 What You’ll Need
- 3 cups Corn Chex
- 3 cups Rice Chex
- 3 cups Wheat Chex
- 1½ cups mini pretzels
- 1 cup mixed nuts (unsalted)
- 1 cup bagel chips, broken into smaller pieces
- 1 stick (½ cup) unsalted butter, melted
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1½ teaspoons seasoned salt
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper (adjust to taste)
💡 Why I Love This Recipe
This snack is dangerously good. Once you try it, you’ll know why people call it “Texas Trash”—because it gets trashed real fast. Here’s why I keep making it:
- Bold flavor – savory, salty, and that little kick of heat hits just right.
- Super easy to make – no stovetop needed, just mix and bake.
- Crunchy texture – every bite is crispy and toasted to perfection.
- Perfect for sharing – or not… I won’t judge.
🧠 Why This Recipe Works (Quick Science)
This Chex Mix gets its addicting crunch and flavor from a low and slow bake. The butter and Worcestershire sauce carry fat-soluble flavors (like garlic and paprika) deep into each cereal piece. Toasting at 250°F slowly evaporates moisture while preserving the structure, so everything crisps up without burning.
⚠️ Common Mistakes
- Too hot too fast: Baking at a higher temp will burn the mix before it gets crispy.
- Not mixing well: Make sure everything gets evenly coated in that buttery seasoning.
- Skipping the stirring: Stir every 15 minutes so nothing burns on the edges.
- Using salted nuts or pretzels: They can make the whole batch too salty—use unsalted when possible.
🍽️ What to Serve With
- Cold sodas or beer
- Charcuterie boards
- Chili or game day spreads
- Your favorite dips (especially ranch or spicy cheese dip)
👩🍳 Tools You’ll Need
- Large mixing bowl
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Small microwave-safe bowl (for butter)
- Rubber spatula or spoon
- Two large rimmed baking sheets
- Parchment paper
🔁 Substitutions and Variations
- Less spicy? Skip the cayenne.
- More heat? Add crushed red pepper or hot sauce to the butter mix.
- Gluten-free? Use gluten-free pretzels and skip the bagel chips.
- Nut-free? Leave out the nuts or use seeds (like pumpkin or sunflower).
⏱️ Make Ahead Tips
- You can make this up to 1 week ahead. Store it in an airtight container at room temp.
- Want to make a double batch? Just spread it across 2–3 trays so it bakes evenly.
🍴 Servings & Cook Time
- Servings: Makes about 10 cups (8–10 servings)
- Cook Time: 1 hour (plus cooling)
🧑🍳 How to Make Texas Trash Spicy Chex Mix
Step 1: Preheat the Oven
Preheat your oven to 250°F. Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper.
Step 2: Mix the Dry Ingredients
In a big mixing bowl, combine:
- 3 cups Corn Chex
- 3 cups Rice Chex
- 3 cups Wheat Chex
- 1½ cups mini pretzels
- 1 cup unsalted mixed nuts
- 1 cup broken bagel chips
Step 3: Melt the Butter and Add Seasonings
Melt 1 stick of unsalted butter in the microwave. Stir in:
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1½ teaspoons seasoned salt
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
Step 4: Pour and Mix
Slowly pour the butter mixture over the dry ingredients. Use a spatula to gently toss everything together until well coated.
Step 5: Bake
Spread the mix evenly onto the parchment-lined trays. Bake at 250°F for 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes.
Step 6: Cool & Serve
Let it cool completely on the trays. Once cooled, store in an airtight container—or just grab a bowl and dig in!
🧊 Leftovers & Storage
- Store in an airtight container at room temp for up to 7 days.
- Don’t refrigerate—it’ll lose its crunch.
- Re-crisp in a 250°F oven for 10 minutes if needed.
❓ FAQ
Can I make this in the microwave?
Yep! Mix it in a microwave-safe bowl and cook on high in 1-minute intervals for about 5-6 minutes, stirring each time. But honestly, baking gives better crunch.
Can I freeze it?
Not really. Freezing will make it soggy when it thaws.
Is it super spicy?
It has a kick, but it’s not too hot. You can always adjust the cayenne to your liking.
💬 Wrap Up
This Spicy Texas Trash is the kind of snack people talk about after parties. Once you make it, you’ll never go back to the store-bought stuff. Give it a try and let me know how yours turns out! Drop a comment below if you have any questions or want to share your own twist on it. Happy snacking!
