This post may contain affiliate links, please see our privacy policy for details.
Christmas Eve at our house has always had a very specific smell: buttery, garlicky Chex Mix toasting away in the oven while everyone hangs around the kitchen.
My mom’s version is all about adding more of the pieces everyone reaches for first—pretzels, bagel chips, and nuts—then coating everything really well in butter and savory seasoning. It’s crunchy, salty, extra toasty, and one of those simple traditions that instantly feels like Christmas.
Half Baked Harvest At Home
20+ new recipes for wholesome comfort food made with everyday ingredients. Pre-order today! HBH At Home will be released on Tuesday, February 23rd!
Personally, I am just a tad sad.
My very favorite time of year if almost over and it seems like Thanksgiving was just yesterday. I think the month of December needs to be like a whole sixty days and not just thirty-one. Really, the Christmas holiday deserves a whole two months of celebration in my opinion.
So this is the last of my mom’s recipes.
She only has a handful of recipes, and I’ve already shared three. Maybe next year I will share possibly one of my very favorite things she makes. We only have it once a year and it is amazing. And yes, it is totally all about chocolate and a little booze too. What? Yep, booze in Christmas desserts are a must.
Right now though we are talkin’ Mom’s Secret Christmas Eve Chex Mix. In our family, this too, is only made on Christmas Eve. You walk in the house, take a deep breath and you know right away it’s Christmas Eve at the Gerard’s. It’s one of the best smells ever.
I have to say, it was really weird making this before Christmas. It felt totally wrong and I will probably never do it again. Chex mix is a Christmas Eve only thing around here, and you better bet I will be making another double batch today.
Just gotta have that smell and something to munch on all night.
So, Mom’s recipe is really not a secret, it is just smart.
Basically, she added more of the good stuff. You know, the stuff everybody always picks for. The pretzels, bagel chips and nuts. And then the most important thing she upped? The butter and seasonings. Yup, she is pretty smart.
Gotta have lots of butter on Christmas. Well, really just lots of everything good on Christmas!
Also, Mom has always baked her chex mix in the oven.
Seriously, do not try to make this in the microwave. Eww, that is just not good. Go for the oven.
Nothing is better than chex mix baking in the oven, the Christmas music + movies going and people just about everywhere! Mom and I in the kitchen, the brothers hanging around eating, the brother’s friend joining them and the cousins telling stories and just plain making thing so much better!
Mom’s Secret Christmas Eve Chex Mix.
Ingredients
- 3 cups corn chex
- 3 cups rice chex
- 2 cups whole wheat chex
- 2 cups mixed nuts
- 2 cups bite-size pretzels
- 2 cups garlic-flavor bite-size bagel chips or regular bagel chips
- 1 1/2 sticks (3/4 cup) salted butter, melted
- 4 tablespoons worcestershire sauce
- 2 teaspoons seasoned salt
- 3/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
Instructions
- 1. Preheat oven to 250 degrees F.2. In large bowl, mix the chex cereals, mixed nuts, pretzels and bagel chips. Set aside.3. Melt the butter in a bowl and mix in the worcestershire sauce, seasoned salt, garlic powder, onion powder and a good pinch of pepper. Pour the butter over the cereal mixture, tossing well for 3-5 minutes or until the cereal mixture is evenly coated.4. Bake 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes. Spread on paper towels to cool, about 15 minutes (or just start eating!!). Store in airtight container.
Nutrition
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Did you make this recipe? Please rate & comment below.
Merry Christmas Eve!! It is my favorite night of the year!! 🙂
Oh, and I almost forgot to announce the winner of the KitchenAid Mixer Giveaway. First, can I just say I was BLOWN AWAY by the incredible comments you guys left. WOW! Pretty much every comment was not about a gift for you, it was about making your family happy, healthy and together for the holidays. I read every single comment and really, you guys that is what Christmas is about. Family, happiness and being together. I am simply in awe of all of you! Ok and the winner is Kortnie Madison-King! Congrats!! Shoot me an email as soon as possible (like by Thursday night)!
Do you cover to bake or leave uncoveted??
Hi Wanda,
You will leave this uncovered. Please let me know if you have any other questions!
Tiegan it is really good on the smoker. Try it!!
Ohhh yum! Thanks for sharing, Susan!
This is delicious and I make it for camping trips!
Hey Vanessa,
Awesome! Thank you so much for giving this recipe a try, I’m so glad to hear it was enjoyed! Have the best week:)
Thank you for sharing this recipe. I make it at Christmas time and give as gifts and everyone loves it. I too also add bagels instead of the mixed nuts due to food allergies.
This year my fiancé has asked for me to fix it for Super Bowl Sunday.
Love to hear this, Teresa! Thanks for making this recipe each year, it’s a family fave here as well! xT
I made the Chex mix on the back of the box, and it tastes like cereal from the box. Do you think I could add the extra ingredients here and rebake, and it would come out ok?
Hy Dawn! Hmm did you bake it or just add seasonings? If you didn’t bake it, I would say you should be fine to bake it with the ingredients in this recipe! 🙂 xT
Same – the recipe from the cereal box lacks flavor. Wish I followed the recipe on this blog but I was afraid of over salting. Did you re-season and bake again?
Whoops – did not mean to reply with one star and it won’t let me edit the post. I have not tried this recipe yet.
No worries at all! Hope you enjoy this recipe! xT
We are going on a road trip tomorrow and I made a batch with some everything seasoning added to the top while toasting. I make this every year at Xmas and now it’s our road trip tradition as well! It is so yummy!
Hey Jennifer,
Wonderful! Thank you so much for making this recipe so often and your comment, so glad it is always a winner! Have the best weekend:)
We make this every holiday season. While we eat a ton of it, we also gift it to our neighbors who wait eagerly for it each December.I might add even more of “the good stuff” and we also throw in Bugles. Try it — you won’t be disappointed!
Hey Christine,
Love this!! Thank you so much for making this recipe each year, love the addition of bugles, great idea! Happy Holidays! xT
Good recipe…I skip the 2 tsp od season salt and instead do 1 tsp kosher salt and then kick it up with…Cajun seasoning & a bit of Cayenne….or carribean jerk seasoning or Chilli powder…mix it depending on my feeling….
Hi Eric,
Wonderful!! Love to hear this recipe was a winner, thanks for making it and your feedback! Happy Holidays! XxT
Headed to Breck on this week from Ohio to visit our son. Made a big batch of Chex mix for the plane, journey to Breck and Air BNB . OMG I also added 2 c. Of Chocolate Chex and 2 c. Of Golden Raisins . Seriously it’s soo good. Can’t stop eating it. Thanks Mom Gerard!
Hey Laurie,
I appreciate you trying this recipe and your comment, love to hear it turned out well! Happy Holidays! Have the best time in Breck:) xxT
A co-worker made this recipe for our office holiday party. I couldn’t stop eating it and begged her for the recipe. I knew it was different than the recipe I had been making for years. This recipe makes the best mix. After having this any other recipe tastes bland and boring. Thanks for sharing the recipe.
Meant to give it 5 stars not 4
Hey there,
Happy Weekend! Thanks so much for giving this recipe a try, I’m so glad it turned out nicely for you! xxT
I make it exactly the same way, sans the bagel chips. I think it was on the box years ago. Thank you for keeping it alive.
Love to hear this, Sandra:) It’s the best! Happy Holidays! xT
Simply the best Chex mix! More of all the good stuff! My whole family looks forward to it every year. Thank you for sharing.
Hey Christine,
Wonderful! Thank you so much for making this recipe and your comment! So glad to hear it was enjoyed! Happy Sunday! xx
Hi there,
Is this available in any of your books? If so, can you advise which one?
Thank you!
Hi Robbi,
So sorry, this recipe is only on the blog:) Please let me know if you have any other questions! xT
We always make chex mix for New Year’s Eve in our family!
I don’t understand why some people think the Christmas holiday ends on Christmas. (You said it was almost over on Christmas Eve!)
In my opinion, Christmas day is the beginning of Christmas, not the end. We spend weeks shopping, baking, decorating, wrapping, etc for just one day? Not me! After all that prep, I am going to be celebrating Christmas as long as I can.
Love that so much Julie! Thanks for sharing that reminder to continue celebrating 🙂 xT
Family favorite! Left out the bagel chips and subbed more pretzels. Served with the baked brie recipe for Christmas appetizer.
Hi! Thank you so much for giving the recipe a try! Hope you have a wonderful New Year! 🙂 xT
Can this be made 2 days ahead and still taste fresh?
Hi Cassie! Yes, that should be just fine! xT