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This spicy ranch snack mix with oyster crackers, cheese crackers, pretzels, white cheddar popcorn, and homemade ranch seasoning is about to be your new fave! It’s cheesy, a bit spicy, and beyond easy to whip up in literally just 10 minutes. I love making this snack for game nights, house parties, holidays, and long road trips. Grab a handful and let’s get into it!

A pan of spicy ranch snack mix on a pink counter next to beer, a grey bowl of mix and a brown bowl of ranch seasoning.

To the complete and utter shock of my 22-year-old self, my friends and I have really been embracing cozy hangs at home over 2am nights at the bar lately. Game nights, movie nights, Mario Kart races (which turns out, I’m actually the worst at ever).

But the thing with casual hangs is that, while they don’t necessitate anything fancy or elegant, they do require snacks. Preferably of the bar food variety like cheesy loaded waffle fries, my famous garlic butter chicken wings, this addictive cheesy everything bagel popcorn, and of course snack mix.

And, for a girl like myself who under no circumstances should be handed a Switch controller, the snack table is my safe zone. You can always catch me at a party with a beer in hand, shoving handfuls of chips and dips into my mouth.

Snack mix has been one of my go-to apps for years. It’s beyond easy to make and everyone is stoked when you set down a bowl at a party. But this one is even better than regular Chex mix because we’re tossing it with a spicy homemade seasoning that I’ve been making since I was in culinary school.

Grab all your favorite snacks

White and brown bowls of cereal, pretzels, Cheez Its, peanuts, spices, oyster crackers, sandwich crackers, popcorn, and butter on a white counter.

To make this mix, you’ll need a variety of crunchy things. I like pretzel chips, cheese crackers (like Cheez-Its), oyster crackers, cheese-filled sandwich crackers (like Ritz Bits), peanuts, and popcorn. Also some corn cereal for classic Chex mix vibes!

To make the ranch seasoning, pick up some buttermilk powder, onion powder, garlic powder, dill, chives, parsley, Morton’s Kosher salt, white or black pepper, dried mustard, and cayenne. You’ll also need unsalted butter to help everything stick!

The buttermilk powder is the key to homemade ranch seasoning! It adds that classic tang. Bonus – you will always have buttermilk on hand without keeping it in the fridge. For Hidden Valley Ranch vibes, you can also add a dash of MSG!

Homemade ranch seasoning

Two steps to making ranch seasoning. In photo 1, spices are in piles in a white and brown bowl. In photo 2, the spices are mixed together with a spoon.
To make the ranch seasoning, whisk the buttermilk powder, onion powder, garlic powder, dill, chives, parsley, salt, white pepper, dried mustard, and cayenne in a small bowl.

Make the snack mix

Two photos making ranch Chex mix. In photo 1, cereal, peanuts, pretzels, Cheez-Its, oyster crackers, and sandwich crackers are on a sheet pan. In photo 2, the snacks are mixed together.
Spread the corn cereal, peanuts, pretzels, cheese crackers, oyster crackers, and sandwich crackers on a sheet pan & use a wood spoon (or clean hands) to mix everything together.
Two steps to melting butter. In photo 1, a stick of butter is in a pot on a white counter. In photo 2, the butter is melted.
Melt the butter in a small saucepan over medium-low heat. Or, add it to a microwave-safe bowl and melt it in 30-second increments.
Three steps to making spicy ranch snack mix. In photo 1, snacks are topped with ranch seasoning. In photo 2, a wood spoon mixes the snack mix together. In photo 3, the snack mix is baked on a sheet pan.
Evenly pour the butter and ranch seasoning over the cracker mixture & toss everything together. Then, bake the snack mix until it’s toasty and dry to the touch.

I definitely recommend mixing everything up on a sheet pan instead of in a bowl. It’s so much easier to evenly spread out the butter and seasonings.

Two steps to adding popcorn to snack mix. In photo 1, white cheddar popcorn is on a pan of snack mix. In photo 2, a wood spoon tosses the mix together.
Right when the snack mix comes out of the oven, add the white cheddar popcorn. Quickly toss everything together. The residual heat will help any extra seasoning stick to the popcorn!

Add the popcorn after you bake the mix, not before! When I tested this recipe the first time, I baked the popcorn with the crackers and it burned a little in the oven.

More mix-in ideas

One of the best parts of this snack mix is that it’s super easy to customize. You can use any of your favorite crackers, nuts, and snacks! (But, I do always recommend adding the Cheez-Its and sandwich crackers to this snack mix – they’re my favorite!) Try some of these add-ins as well.

  • Goldfish or cheddar bunnies
  • Kettle potato chips
  • Rye or bagel chips
  • Sesame sticks or mini breadsticks
  • Bugles

This ranch party mix is also a lovely edible gift! Add a few scoops of the mix to cellophane bags, jars, or holiday containers and tie everything up with a ribbon. Super cute and simple!

A pink bowl of spicy ranch snack mix on a pink counter next to beer, a pan of snack mix, and a bottle opener.
A wood spoon scooping spicy ranch Chex mix.

How to store leftovers

Scoop everything into an airtight container or zipper bag & store for up to 1 week. Since this mix has a longer shelf life, it’s a great make-ahead snack too! But for the crispest snack mix, I would make it 1-2 days before you’re ready to enjoy it.

Re-crisp the snack mix

If you live in a particularly humid environment and the ranch Chex mix gets a little soft, you can crisp it back up! Just spread the mix evenly on a pan and and bake it at 200°F (93°C) for 5 minutes at a time, stirring every once in a while, until the mix is nice and crisp. Cool and enjoy immediately!

A white bowl of spicy ranch snack mix on a pink counter next to a grey bowl of snacks, glasses of beer, and a brown bowl of ranch seasoning.

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Easy Spicy Ranch Snack Mix

Yield: 12 servings
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes
This spicy ranch snack mix with oyster crackers, cheese crackers, pretzels, white cheddar popcorn, and homemade ranch seasoning is about to be your new fave! It's cheesy, a bit spicy, and beyond easy to whip up in a few minutes. I love making this snack for game nights, house parties, holidays, and long road trips.
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Ingredients

Spicy Ranch Seasoning

  • 1/4 cup buttermilk powder (25 grams)
  • 2 Tablespoons onion powder
  • 2 Tablespoons garlic powder
  • 1 Tablespoon dried dill
  • 4 teaspoons dried chives
  • 4 teaspoons dried parsley
  • 1 teaspoon Kosher salt, plus more to taste
  • 1 teaspoon white pepper or freshly-cracked black pepper
  • 2 teaspoons dried mustard powder
  • 2 teaspoons cayenne

Snack Mix

  • 2 cups corn cereal, like Chex (65 grams)
  • 1 cup salted roasted peanuts (135 grams)
  • 2 cups pretzel chips (80 grams)
  • 2 cups cheese crackers, like Cheez-Its (125 grams)
  • 1 1/2 cups oyster crackers (75 grams)
  • 2 cups mini cheese sandwich crackers, like Ritz Bits (125 grams)
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter (114 grams)
  • Spicy ranch seasoning (recipe above)
  • 4 cups white cheddar popcorn (50 grams)

Equipment

  • sheet pan
  • Parchment paper
  • Small saucepan
  • Wood spatula

Instructions 

Spicy Ranch Seasoning

  • In a small bowl or jar, combine the buttermilk powder, onion powder, garlic powder, dried dill, dried chives, dried parsley, Kosher salt, white pepper, dried mustard powder, and cayenne. Stir well and set aside.

Snack Mix

  • Preheat the oven to 250°F (121°C). Line a sheet pan with parchment paper.
  • Then, pour the corn cereal, peanuts, pretzel chips, cheese crackers, oyster crackers, and mini cheese cracker sandwiches on the prepared sheet pan. Mix together.
  • Next, add the butter to a small saucepan. Melt the butter over medium low heat. Or, add the butter to a microwave-safe bowl and microwave the butter for 30 seconds at a time, until melted.
  • Pour the melted butter evenly over the snack mix. Then, sprinkle half of the spicy ranch seasoning over the snack mix. Gently stir until the crackers are evenly coated in the seasoning. Try a cracker or two and add more spicy ranch seasoning and Kosher salt, to taste.
  • Bake the snack mix for 20-25 minutes, tossing halfway through, until the crackers are dry to the touch and crisp. Right out of the oven, add the white cheddar popcorn and gently stir the snack mix to combine. The residual heat will help any loose seasoning stick to the popcorn.
  • Let the snack mix cool completely. Then, store the cooled mix in an airtight container or zipper bag. Enjoy!

Notes

Use any of your favorite snacks, crackers, or chips! This mix is great for customizing. Just keep the measurements roughly the same so it’s nice and seasoned.
The buttermilk powder is the key to homemade ranch seasoning. It adds that classic tang. Bonus – you will always have buttermilk on hand without keeping it in the fridge. For Hidden Valley Ranch vibes, you can also add a dash of MSG!
Try not to add too much salt to the seasoning. We’ll add a bit to the ranch seasoning but since the snacks are also salty, you don’t want to go overboard! Taste and add more, if needed.
We’ll start by adding half the seasoning and then adding more to taste. If you have leftover seasoning, use it on roasted veggies, sprinkle it on tater tots, or mix it with yogurt for a yummy sandwich spread or veggie dip!
I definitely recommend mixing everything up on a sheet pan instead of in a bowl. It’s so much easier to evenly spread out the butter and seasonings.
Add the popcorn last. If you bake it with the rest of the snacks, it will burn a little in the oven.
If you’re sensitive to spice, start with 1/4 teaspoon of cayenne and add more to taste. You can also leave it out entirely if you’re not a fan of heat.
Cuisine: American
Course: Appetizer, Snack
Author: Sara Lynn Hunt Broka
Serving: 1serving, Calories: 322kcal, Carbohydrates: 29.3g, Protein: 7.2g, Fat: 20.2g, Saturated Fat: 7.7g, Cholesterol: 22mg, Sodium: 473mg, Potassium: 186mg, Fiber: 2.4g, Sugar: 3.8g, Calcium: 85mg, Iron: 3mg
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