Homemade Savory Party Mix

Why you’ll love it

• Addictively crunchy and buttery, with savory flavor in every bite.
• Feeds a crowd: about 12 cups from pantry staples.
• Keeps for 2 weeks, so you can make it well ahead of the party.

Quick facts

Ingredients

For the mix

• 3 cups (85 g) corn cereal squares
• 3 cups (95 g) rice cereal squares
• 3 cups (150 g) wheat cereal squares
• 1 cup (140 g) lightly salted mixed nuts
• 1 cup (45 g) mini pretzel twists
• 1 cup (50 g) garlic bagel chips, broken into bite-size pieces

For the seasoning

• 6 tbsp (85 g) unsalted butter
• 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• 1 1/2 tsp seasoned salt
• 3/4 tsp garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp onion powder
• 1/2 tsp smoked paprika

Step-by-step method

1. Heat the oven. Heat the oven to 250°F (120°C). Use a large roasting pan or two rimmed baking sheets lined with parchment.

2. Combine the mix. In a very large bowl, combine the three cereals, mixed nuts, pretzels and bagel chips.

3. Make the seasoning. Melt the butter in a small saucepan over low heat or in the microwave. Whisk in the Worcestershire sauce, seasoned salt, garlic powder, onion powder and smoked paprika.

4. Coat evenly. Drizzle the butter mixture over the cereal mix a little at a time, gently tossing with a large spatula after each addition until everything is evenly coated.

5. Bake low and slow. Spread the mix in an even layer in the pan. Bake 1 hour, stirring gently every 15 minutes so it toasts evenly.

6. Cool. Spread the warm mix on paper towels or a clean sheet of parchment and let cool completely, about 15 minutes. It gets crunchier as it cools. Serve or store.

How to know it is done

The party mix is done when it looks dry and lightly toasted, there are no damp or shiny buttery spots in the pan, and a cooled piece of cereal snaps and crunches instead of bending. If some pieces still feel soft after cooling, return the mix to the oven for 10–15 minutes more.

Tips for the best result

• Add the butter mixture gradually and toss gently; pouring it all at once leaves soggy clumps and dry spots.
• Do not raise the oven temperature to save time: the low heat dries the cereal without burning the nuts.
• Let the mix cool completely before storing, or steam will make it lose its crunch.

Variations and substitutions

• Halloween sweet and salty: once cooled, stir in 1 cup candy corn and 1 cup candy-coated chocolate pieces.
• Spicy: add 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper and 1 tsp hot sauce to the butter mixture.
• Ranch: replace the seasoned salt and paprika with 2 tbsp dry ranch seasoning mix.
• Cheesy: swap the bagel chips for 1 1/2 cups small cheese crackers.
• Gluten-free: use only corn and rice cereal squares, gluten-free pretzels and Worcestershire, and skip the bagel chips.

Storage and reheating

Store the cooled party mix in an airtight container or zip-top bag at room temperature up to 2 weeks, or freeze up to 3 months. If it loses some crunch, spread it on a baking sheet and re-crisp in a 250°F (120°C) oven for 10 minutes, then let it cool again.