Smoky Bourbon Bacon Chex Mix Recipe (2024)

This post may contain affiliate links. Please see ourfull Disclosure Policyfor details.

Jump to Recipe - Print Recipe

Bacon makes everything better, so don’t settle for the plain old traditional recipe – thisBourbon Bacon Chex Mix recipe is the smoky, salty version of the famous snack that you didn’t know you were craving!

Is it just me, or has Chex mix kind of fallen off people’s radars?

Maybe it’s just my experience, but I can’t even remember the last time I saw a snack mix at a party or get-together.

Then again, when you have friends like I have, you’re more likely to find 3 slow cookers full of different co*cktail meatballs, pretty cheese boards, and a giant roaster pan of wings staying warm in the oven.

What happened to the simple days of throwing relatively bland cereal in a bowl with some other carb-laden nibbles and calling it a day? Pretty much zero effort, but way more ROI from the end result than should be legal.

I support the return of Chex mix – in the form of thisSmoky Bourbon Bacon variety.

Few things make me as happy as a strip of crispy bacon or a tumbler of good bourbon (on the rocks, please.) It made perfect sense to incorporate them into a snack that’s perfect for any football Sunday, summer shindig, or holiday party.

No worries about getting sloshed from eating a few handfuls of this, though; the alcohol cooks out of the bourbon before it even touches the cereal. You’re left with a faint but pleasant aftertaste of the spirit.

And it goes so well with that damn crispy bacon.

Add a few drops of liquid smoke and you’ll feel like you’re sitting around a campfire, breathing in the summer air with every bite. I’m not even kidding.

How do you make your own Chex Mix?

Easily! Just toss the nibbles of your choice in a bowl with some melted butter and seasonings (bacon grease and bourbon also, in the case of this recipe), bake it up to dry it out and infuse the flavors, and start snacking!

The original Chex snack mix recipe is nothing but a trio of Chex cereals, pretzels, and bagel chips, but putting your own mark on the mix is a welcome change.

If the flavors of bourbon and/or bacon aren’t your thing, you can create your own recipe for homemade Chex mix !

Chex mix recipe variations

As far as add-ins, you can substitute anything in this rather bold Chex mix recipe 1-to-1 for anything you’d like, including:

Not a fan of Cheez-Its? Add Goldfish or crunchy Cheetos
Swap the pretzels for popcorn or corn chips (add the popcorn after the mix cools, though!)
Leave out the bagel chips and add granola clusters for a different texture
Don’t like peanuts? Try pistachios, pecans, and cashews, or leave them out completely for those allergic
Trade the greasiness of bacon for leaner beef jerky
Like sweets? After the mix is cooled, stir in some chocolate chips, M&Ms or Reese’s Pieces, dried fruit, or mini marshmallows
For a spicy mix, add hot sauce or cayenne pepper to taste to your melted butter

If you want a sweet and savory mix, try swapping in of the sweet Chex cereals (honey, vanilla, chocolate, cinnamon). Even adding other cereals in place of some of the Chex would be tasty:

Crispix is a close cousin to Chex texture-wise
Cheerios have wonderful crunch, and come in many flavors
Maybe some Cinnamon Toast Crunch for a bit of sweetness
Cocoa Puffs for chocolate lovers
Reese’sPuffs for peanut butter fiends

Really, the possibilities are endless, so let your childhood imagination run wild. Honestly, the best Chex mix recipe is the one you find yourself making over and over again!

Other ways to make this easy Chex mix recipe

No oven? Too hot to bake? Try one of these other preparation methods!

Slow Cooker. This is a very popular prep method for parties since you can take the whole thing with you! Place all of the mix ingredients in the crock of a slow cooker, drizzle the butter sauce over, toss it well, and cook on LOW for 3 hours, stirring every 30-45 minutes to keep it from burning.
Microwave. An alright method in a pinch. Place the bowl of Chex mix in the microwave and cook for 5-6 minutes, stirring well every ~2 minutes. Spread the mixture out in a single layer on a baking sheet and allow it to cool and crisp before enjoying.
Air Fryer. The is ideal for smaller batches! Just toss your pre-mixed and seasoned ingredients into the basket of an air fryer, shaking it into a single layer (as much as possible – you may need to cook it in batches). Air fry it at 350 degrees F for 3-5 minutes, shaking it once or twice during the cook time.

How long will Chex mix last?

This Chex mix is best when eaten within 2 days of preparation for max crunchability, but it’s safe to eat for 10-14 days if stored in an air-tight container at room temperature. This means it’s perfect for road trips, camping trips, hiking trips…all the trips! You can even freeze it for up to 3 months in a freezer-safe container or plastic zipper bag.

How do you make Chex mix not soggy?

Use a large baking sheet, or maybe two if you’re making a big batch of mix, and give each one of those pieces room to toast up nicely.

Also, make sure you drizzle the seasoned bacon-bourbon-butter mixture as evenly as possible over the Chex mix, tossing as you go to ensure everything is coated and not oversaturated. If some of your crunch does end up a bit soggy, bake those bits a little bit longer to attempt to dry them out further, then toss them back in the bowl.

Try even more of these greatsnacks!

Brownie Batter Dip
The Best Guacamole (for two!)
Homemade Kettle Corn
Buffalo Chicken Dip
Slow Cooker Tequila Lime Carnitas Taco Bites
Bloody Mary Cheeseball

If you love this recipe, please consider leaving a 5 STAR RATING! If you really love it, leave us a comment and let us know – we appreciate all forms of feedback!

LET’S CONNECT!

Join in on the fun inour Facebook group!Feel free to share YOUR favorite recipes, ask questions, help out your fellow home cooks, and see what’s new with The Crumby Kitchen (so that you never miss a new recipe)! If you’d like to check it out, you can request to joinHERE.

ORDER OUR #1 BEST SELLER COOKBOOK!