Let’s be honest, is there really anything better than a deliciously salty snack?
Whether it’s midday on a Wednesday and you just need a little something to get you through the afternoon, or it’s game day and your favorite team is playing, Ranch Snack Mix is gonna have your back.
Made with our herby and creamy DIY ranch seasoning mix, and all your favorite crunchy snacks as a base, this ranch party mix is one everyone will love.
It’s easy to throw together and it’s customizable. Truly, a recipe you’ll want in your back pocket for last-minute get-togethers or even an easy no-fuss appetizer!
Ingredient Spotlight
As I mentioned, the ingredients for this snack mix are really customizable, so feel free to mix and match those crunchy additions to your liking (or pantry stash)! Here’s my favorite combination through testing (and then some!):
- Dry Ranch Seasoning is the star of the show here, bringing a whole lot of flavor to the mix. Now, I highly recommend a homemade seasoning blend because you’ll know exactly what ingredients are in it, and I find it more herbaceous than the store-bought variety. However, either will work.
- Butter is kind of the glue that keeps it all together. It coats the crunchies and holds the seasoning mix to ’em.
- The Crunchies, well, I guess they’re the other stars of the show because, without them, there wouldn’t be a mix. I recommend a blend of:
- Whole Wheat Chex Cereal – small, crunchy, and add some heartiness to the mix.
- White Cheddar Cheese-Its – they pair so well with the ranch!
- Oyster Crackers – they’re not just for soup anymore!
- Bagel Chips – the thick, super crunchy pieces of bagel chips add a nice contrast of texture. Similar to the rye chips in Chex-Mix, but easier to find in the grocery store.
- Pretzels – any pretzel shape will do in this mixture; I like the classic tiny twists for variety.
Other substitutions or additions could include a variety of plain rice or corn cereals, other plain chip varieties like bugles or potato chips. I also tested this recipe adding grated parmesan cheese, and while I always like a little extra parm, I found it didn’t necessarily need it in the end. Give it a try if you wish!
Take it another route and add in almonds, cashews, peanuts, or even some general mixed nuts.
How to Make Ranch Snack Mix
I’ve already given away the big news: easy to make, ready in just 20 minutes, but here’s the low down of how easy it truly is. As always, be sure to see the full recipe card below.
- Melt the butter and toss it with the crunchies slightly.
- Sprinkle on the ranch dressing mix, tossing and stirring to coat evenly with the dry seasoning. You’ll want to work fast after adding in the butter so it’s able to stick to it before it dries into the pieces.
- Bake, tossing halfway through. This allows the spices to adhere to the snack bites, and makes everything nice and toasty!
- If adding grated parmesan cheese, do so at the very end and bake an additional 3-5 minutes.
- Let cool as desired (just don’t burn your mouth sneaking bites!).
Transfer the snack mix to a serving bowl and set out to enjoy! Store any leftover ranch dip in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4-5 days…if it lasts that long.
If making it ahead of time, I recommend just a day in advance so it remains as fresh, crisp, and flavorful as possible.
More Salty Snacks to Devour
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Get the Recipe 20-Minute Ranch Snack Mix
Ingredients
- 2 cups Wheat Chex Cereal
- 2 cups White Cheddar Cheese-Its
- 2 cups oyster crackers
- 2 cups pretzels, tiny twists
- 2 cups bagel chips
- ¼ cup unsalted butter, melted
- 3 Tablespoons dry ranch seasoning, or 1 packet
Equipment
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 300°F.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the cereal, crackers, pretzels, and bagel chips.2 cups Wheat Chex Cereal, 2 cups White Cheddar Cheese-Its, 2 cups oyster crackers, 2 cups pretzels, 2 cups bagel chips
- Pour the melted butter over, stirring while doing so if possible to coat evenly. Very quickly after, sprinkle on the dry ranch seasoning, and stir to coat.¼ cup unsalted butter, 3 Tablespoons dry ranch seasoning
- Spread the mixture evenly across a large rimmed baking sheet. Bake for 17-20 minutes, tossing 2-3 times throughout the cooking process. The goal is to get the mixture toasted and "cook" the butter and seasoning into the crunchy pieces.
Notes
- Salt: there’s typically no need to add additional salt to this mix. The ranch seasoning (homemade or store-bought) has added salt for flavor, and the crunch-items themselves are salted. If your situation differs and they are unsalted, in that case, I would suggest adding additional salt.
