Healthy Homemade Gluten-Free Chex Mix Recipe (Vegan!) (2024)

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By Remy Park

Sep 16, 2022 • Updated Dec 12, 2023

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How to make crunchy, healthy vegan, and gluten-free Chex Mix with your favorite snack foods! A twist on a nostalgic party food with health benefits– a great snack for any occasion!

Healthy Homemade Gluten-Free Chex Mix Recipe (Vegan!) (2)

What Makes This Recipe Great

Who doesn’t love traditional Chex Mix? It’s salty, crunchy, and everyone has a favorite item– the perfect party snack! But sadly, what makes it taste so good also makes Chex Mix not the healthiest option. It’s full of refined grains, sugar, and tons of sodium.

That’s why I love to make my own healthy, Gluten Free Chex mix that’s just as addicting without the ultra-processed stuff. Plus, my version is fully vegan and gluten-free! This is such an easy and delicious snack mix made for road trips, game day, movie nights, and more!

Make a large batch of this easy gluten-free version– I doubt anyone will know the difference!

Ingredient Notes

Here’s what you need to make your own homemade Chex Mix recipe:

  • Rice Chex Cereal. You can use unflavored Rice Chex or any crunchy gluten-free cereal you like.
  • GF Pretzels. Use your favorite miniature gluten-free pretzels.
  • Popcorn. I use vegan cheese-flavored popcorn, but any kind you like will work.
  • Cheese snacks. These add major savory flavor. I like the nacho cheese-flavored Sun Poppers.
  • Peanuts. you can use regular, unsalted, unroasted nuts because you’ll be roasting them yourself!
  • Spices. Season your peanuts with smoked paprika and garlic powder to amp up the flavor.
  • Cooking Oil. You can also you dairy-free butter/ vegan butter.
Healthy Homemade Gluten-Free Chex Mix Recipe (Vegan!) (3)

Step-by-Step Instructions

  1. In a large bowl, add all of your ingredients except for the peanut ingredients.
  2. Heat a pan over medium-high heat and add the oil to the pan.
  3. Next, add the peanuts and all of the spices and shake the pan to toss to coat. Cook for 5-6 minutes, shaking continuously, until the peanuts are golden brown or toasted to your liking. Let cool.
  4. Add the peanuts to the bowl with the cereal mixture and mix all ingredients with a spoon or with your hands.
  5. Serve in a big bowl or individual portions.

Ingredient Swaps

If you don’t have all of these ingredients on hand, here are more delicious add-ins to make your own Gluten Free Chex Mix. Source ingredients that sound good to you at grocery stores or online– tweak this recipe to make your own delicious Chex party mix.

  • You can use almonds, cashews, sunflower seeds, or pumpkin seeds instead of peanuts. The pumpkin seeds make a great nut-free swap.
  • Use any kind of cereal you like. I don’t recommend anything that’s too sweet, though.
  • Swap out pretzels for gluten-free croutons or gluten-free bagel chips.
  • Use any sturdy chip, such as tortilla or pita chips.
  • You can also make your own flavored popcorn using this recipe for Miso Butter Furikake Popcorn (vegan, gluten free)
  • Or, try making Popped Sorghum.
  • Also, if you’re short on time, you can always buy pre-seasoned roasted nuts instead of making your own peanuts.
Healthy Homemade Gluten-Free Chex Mix Recipe (Vegan!) (4)

Storage Suggestions

Store leftover party mix in an airtight container or ziptop plastic bag at room temperature for up to a week.

More Gluten-Free Snacks

Homemade Japanese Rice Crackers (Senbei)

Kinako Rice Krispies with Peanuts and Mochi

Zero Waste/Low Waste Popcorn

If you make this recipe, be sure to let me know what you think with a comment below! Follow me on Instagram for more delicious recipes!

Healthy Homemade Gluten-Free Chex Mix Recipe (Vegan!) (5)

Healthy Homemade Gluten-Free Chex Mix Recipe (Vegan!)

Servings: 6 -8 servings

Prep: 10 minutes mins

Cook: 5 minutes mins

Total: 15 minutes mins

Healthy Homemade Gluten-Free Chex Mix Recipe (Vegan!) (6)

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How to make crunchy, healthy vegan, and gluten-free Chex Mix with your favorite snack foods! A twist on a nostalgic party food with health benefits– a great snack for any occasion!

Ingredients

  • 2 cups rice chex or unflavoured gluten free cereal of choice
  • 2 cups gluten free pretzels
  • 2 cups popcorn I used these vegan “cheese” flavoured popcorn
  • 2 cups vegan cheese snack of choice I used these vegan “nacho cheese” sun poppers
  • Pan Toasted Peanuts
  • 1 1/2 cups peanuts
  • 2 tsp neutral oil
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp garlic powder

Instructions

  • In a large bowl, add all of your ingredients except for the peanut ingredients.

  • Heat a pan over medium high heat and add the oil to the pan.

  • Next add the peanuts and all of the spices and shake the pan to toss to coat. Cook for 5-6 minutes, shaking continuously, until the peanuts are golden brown or toasted to your liking. Let cool.

  • Add the peanuts to the bowl and mix all ingredients with a spoon or with your hands.

Notes

Ingredient Swaps

If you don’t have all of these ingredients on hand, here are more delicious add-ins to make your own Gluten Free Chex Mix. Source ingredients that sound good to you at grocery stores or online– tweak this recipe to make your own delicious Chex party mix.

  • You can use almonds, cashews, sunflower seeds, or pumpkin seeds instead of peanuts. The pumpkin seeds make a great nut-free swap.
  • Use any kind of cereal you like. I don’t recommend anything that’s too sweet, though.
  • Swap out pretzels for gluten-free croutons or gluten-free bagel chips.
  • Use any sturdy chip, such as tortilla or pita chips.
  • You can also make your own flavored popcorn using this recipe for Miso Butter Furikake Popcorn (vegan, gluten free)
  • Or, try making Popped Sorghum.
  • Also, if you’re short on time, you can always buy pre-seasoned roasted nuts instead of making your own peanuts.

Storage Suggestions

Store leftover party mix in an airtight container or ziptop plastic bag at room temperature for up to a week.

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Did you make this recipe?Tag @veggiekins on Instagram and hashtag it with #veggiekins

Categorized as: Eat, Gluten Free, Snacks

About Remy Park

Hi there, I’m Remy! Welcome to Veggiekins Blog, home to nourishing vegan + gluten-free recipes and tips to live your best balanced and holistic life. I’m a human on a mission to empower you to be well and be kind to your mind, body and soul with the healing power of plants.

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Healthy Homemade Gluten-Free Chex Mix Recipe (Vegan!) (2024)

FAQs

Is Chex Mix healthy or unhealthy? ›

Who doesn't love traditional Chex Mix? It's salty, crunchy, and everyone has a favorite item– the perfect party snack! But sadly, what makes it taste so good also makes Chex Mix not the healthiest option. It's full of refined grains, sugar, and tons of sodium.

Are rice and corn chex gluten-free? ›

Rice Chex, Corn Chex, Honey Nut Chex, Cinnamon Chex, Chocolate Chex, and Vanilla Chex are all gluten-free. The one type of Chex that is not gluten-free is Wheat Chex. So if you have a gluten sensitivity or are celiac definitely avoid Wheat Chex but otherwise you should be good to go!

Can vegans eat Chex Mix? ›

Most flavors of chex mix are not vegan. They contain whey protein or additives. Cheddar chex mix is not vegan; however, my version of cheddar chex mix is 100% vegan friendly and delicious!

Is Chex Mix dairy and egg free? ›

While Traditional Chex Mix is dairy free, egg free, and nut free, there are other Chex Mix flavors that include milk or nuts, so I called General Mills to ask if they used shared lines.

Is it cheaper to buy Chex mix or make your own? ›

Homemade Chex Mix Is Cheaper AND More Delicious Than The Store-Bought Stuff. Chex Mix offers variety: the crisp cereal, toasty pretzels, the unique crunch of the bagel chips. This homemade recipe puts the store-bought to shame.

Which Chex is healthiest? ›

Unlike other Chex varieties, Wheat Chex are made from 100% whole-grain wheat. One serving contains only 130 calories but boasts 7 grams of protein and 8 grams of fiber. While it is on the higher end for sugars, the overall nutrient profile of this cereal is still noteworthy.

What can I use in place of Worcestershire sauce in chex mix? ›

Tamari – Traditionally, Chex mix uses Worcestershire sauce to get its classic savory flavor. Since Worcestershire sauce often contains gluten, artificial flavors and colors, and added sugar, we wanted to find an alternative. We found that tamari made for a great substitute.

Are cheerios vegan? ›

Yes, Cheerios are vegan. They are made from whole-grain oats, sugar, salt, vitamins, and minerals and do not contain animal products.

Are Oreos vegan? ›

Many vegans refer to Oreos as “accidentally vegan,” meaning they don't contain animal products — but they weren't created to be a specifically vegan treat. Oreos do not contain milk, eggs, or any other animal-derived products, so they are technically vegan in that sense.

Why isn't Chex Mix sold in Canada? ›

Chex has really not caught on as a brand in Canada. Although many other products of General Mills, like Cheerios, are very popular, Chex is seen as a “niche” product. General Mills has five factories in Canada, and that means that they really can't afford to produce their entire product line up here.

What is the best part of Chex Mix? ›

Corn Chex

Corn Chex are indisputably the best part of a bag of Chex Mix. If you've ever tasted Corn Chex on their own, you know they don't need to be doused in seasoning to be enjoyable—you could easily eat them plain.

What are the brown chips in Chex Mix? ›

It's corn Chex, wheat Chex, pretzels, rye chips, bagel chips and mini breadsticks combined with a unique seasoning blend for a one-of-a-kind snack.

Is Chex Mix healthier than Doritos? ›

13) Chex Mix: Fewer calories and the same amount of sodium as Doritos and Fritos, but more carbohydrates. Plus, nobody likes every single item in the mix (the rye chips, in particular, can be as divisive as broccoli).

Is original Chex Mix fattening? ›

The healthiest flavor of Chex Mix would be one that is lower in added sugars, saturated fats, and sodium. While Chex Mix comes in various flavors, the "Original" flavor is generally considered to be one of the healthier options among the available varieties.

What is the healthiest snack? ›

Other simple, healthy snacks
  • Whole-grain toast with low-sodium peanut butter or other nut butter.
  • Fat-free/low-fat cheese.
  • Fat-free/low-fat plain with fruit.
  • Fruit and veggie smoothie.
  • Whole-grain crackers with canned very low sodium tuna or low-sodium salmon.
Oct 24, 2023

Is Chex Mix genetically modified? ›

General Mills announced March 18 that it will add a label identifying genetically modified ingredients, a.k.a. GMOs, in its products, which include Chex Mix, Pillsbury cookie dough, and much more. The Campbell's Soup Company announced a similar move in January.

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