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    Home » Recipes » Snacks

    Nuts & Bolts • REAL Original Chex Mix Recipe

    December 21, 2016 • Updated: October 24, 2021 • by Renée • This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe   Print Recipe
    Nuts & Bolts - The Original Chex Party Mix Recipe

    Long before you could buy Chex Mix mix at the grocery store, there was the Original (and still the best) party mix ever - spicy, smokey, can't-stop-eating-it Nuts & Bolts. This vintage homemade Chex mix recipe has your holiday snacking covered.


    Every year at Christmastime back when I was a child (just after the dinosaurs died) my mother's best friend Mrs Houston would make a giant batch of Nuts & Bolts and give our family a big bag of it.

    The only problem with Mrs. Houston's homemade Chex mix was, no matter how big the bag was she gave us, there was never enough. Spicy, smokey, and perfectly seasoned, I could have crunched through handful after handful for breakfast, lunch, and late night snack and still not have had enough.

    This post may contain affiliate links, but don't worry - they won't bite.

    Nuts & Bolts • REAL Original Chex Mix Recipe

    Many years ago when I preparing for first Christmas in my own apartment, I decided I needed to make some old-fashioned Chex Mix to welcome the holiday season. So, being young and hopeful, I went to the grocery store and bought one of those little Chex Mix seasoning packets. 

    All I can say is, the premixed seasoning didn't even compare. It was like craving a Dark Chocolate Raspberry Torte and instead getting a Hostess cupcake and a jar of raspberry jam.

    Luckily, Mrs Houston was still living at the time, so I asked her for the recipe. I wrote it down on a little recipe card, and have since then guarded the card like Charlie's golden ticket, taking it out each November to make the annual batch of our favorite old-fashioned party mix. 

    How to Make Old-fashioned Homemade Chex Mix

    Ingredient Notes & Substitutions

    Nuts: Most people use peanuts in this mixture, but Mr B doesn’t like them, so I use cashews instead.

    Liquid Smoke: Do not leave the Liquid Smoke out!

    Did you know that Liquid smoke really is made from smoke? Yep. Chips or sawdust from hardwoods such as hickory or mesquite are burned at high temperatures, and particles of the smoke are collected in condensers. The resulting liquid is concentrated down for a stronger flavor.

    Liquid Smoke lasts forever, so even if you never use it for anything else, you can keep it in the back of your seasoning shelf and pull it out every year just for this.

    Cereals: The cereal choices in this recipe are the traditional ones used in this 1950s heirloom recipe; however, you can mix it up as much as you want! 

    Pretzels: Thin stick-style pretzels work best. 


    Prepare the Snack Mix

    In a large paper grocery bag, mix cereals, pretzels and nuts together and set aside.

    In a saucepan over medium heat, melt butter and oil together, and then blend in Worcestershire Sauce, Liquid Smoke, and hot sauce.

    Slowly pour over the butter mixture over the dry mix in the bag, shaking as you do to cover everything. Sprinkle seasoned salt over everything, shut the top of the bag, and shake the heck out of it.

    Oven-bake the Party Mix

    Take out the extra rack in your oven if you have one, and put the remaining rack on the bottom or next to the bottom level. Preheat oven to 225°F | 110°C.

    Roaster Pan Method:

    Pour the mixture into a large (turkey) roaster pan. (It will barely fit.) Place mixture in roaster pan into oven. Bake for 45 minutes.

    Using oven mitts, carefully pour mixture into the large paper bag and shake a couple of times. Return mixture to roaster pan and return to oven.

    Repeat 4 times, for a total baking time of 3 hours.

    Paper Bag Method: (If you don't have a pan big enough.)

    Roll the top of the bag down and place the whole thing on a large cookie sheet.

    Place the bag on the cookie sheet into the preheated oven. Make sure that the top of the bag is at least a few inches away from the top oven element. Bake for three hours, shaking the bag every 30 minutes.

    To make things easier when using the paper bag method, we prepare two bags - one full and one empty. Every half hour, we take the hot mixture out of the oven on the cookie sheet, pour it from the full bag to the empty one on the counter, and then put the (new) full one back in the oven. Doing it this way, the mix at the very bottom gets stirred, and we never have a clump of mix that doesn't get stirred.

    If you do a half-batch, you can easily make it in a large roasting pan.

    Note that this Chex mix recipe makes a boatload and then some, so feel free to pare it down. (However, if you make the whole batch, you'll have plenty to give away as gifts. Maybe.)

    Nuts & Bolts • REAL Original Chex Mix Recipe
    5 from 9 votes

    Nuts & Bolts • The REAL Original Chex Party Mix

    Nuts & Bolts is spicy, smokey, and perfectly seasoned - The ORIGINAL Chex Party Mix.
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Course: Snacks
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time:15 minutes
    Cook Time:3 hours
    Total Time:3 hours 15 minutes
    Servings: 40
    Calories: 236kcal
    Author: Renee

    Equipment

    • Large Roasting Pan

    Ingredients

    US Customary - Metric
    • 1 - 14 ounce box Wheat Chex
    • 1 - 12 ounce box Corn Chex
    • 1 - 12 ounce box Rice Chex
    • 1 -12 ounce box Cheerios about 12 cups
    • 1 bag thin pretzels – the stick kind about a pound
    • 2 cups nuts (your choice: peanuts, cashews, etc.)
    • 1 ½ cups butter
    • ½ cup light olive oil
    • ½ cup Worcestershire Sauce
    • 2 Tablespoons Liquid Smoke
    • 2 teaspoons Tabasco sauce
    • 1 ½ teaspoons Lawry’s Seasoned Salt

    Instructions

    • Take out the extra rack in your oven if you have one, and put the remaining rack on the bottom or next to the bottom level.
      Preheat oven to 225°F | 110°C.
    • In a large paper grocery bag, mix cereals, pretzels and nuts together and set aside.
    • In a saucepan over medium heat, melt butter and oil together, and then blend in Worcestershire Sauce, Liquid Smoke, and hot sauce.
      Slowly pour over mixture in the bag, shaking as you do to cover everything.
      Sprinkle seasoned salt over everything, shut the top of the bag, and shake the heck out of it.

    Roaster Pan Method:

    • Pour the mixture into a large (turkey) roaster pan. (It will barely fit.)
    • Place mixture in roaster pan into oven. Bake for 45 minutes.
    • Using oven mitts, carefully pour mixture into the large paper bag and shake a couple of times. Return mixture to roaster pan and return to oven.
    • Repeat 4 times, for a total baking time of 3 hours.

    Paper Bag Method: (If you don't have a pan big enough.)

    • Roll the top of the bag down and place the whole thing on a large cookie sheet.
    • Place the bag on the cookie sheet into the preheated oven.
      Make sure that the top of the bag is at least a few inches away from the top oven element.
    • Bake for three hours, shaking the bag every 30 minutes.

    Notes

    Baking times are very flexible. You can shake and mix it every 30-60 minutes and it will be fine. Just make sure to bake it for at least 3 hours.
    To make things easier when using the paper bag method, I prepare two bags - one full and one empty.
    Every half hour, I take the hot mixture out of the oven on the cookie sheet, pour it from the full bag to the empty one on the counter, and then put the (new) full one back in the oven.
    Doing it this way, the mix at the very bottom gets stirred, and I never have a clump of mix that doesn't get stirred. If you do a half-batch, you can easily make it in a large roasting pan.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1serving | Calories: 236kcal | Carbohydrates: 27g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 18mg | Sodium: 316mg | Potassium: 145mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 796IU | Vitamin C: 7mg | Calcium: 97mg | Iron: 9mg
    This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. You are solely responsible for ensuring that any nutritional information provided is accurate, complete, and useful.
    Have you tried this recipe?Mention @TheGoodHeartedWoman or tag #thegoodheartedwoman!

    Need a something sweet to go along with this savory holiday snack? Try our amazing, addictive Soft Caramel Popcorn. This treasured family recipe, affectionately known as Mary's Sticky Popcorn, is the best Soft Caramel Corn recipe ever! (And despite its nickname, it's not sticky at all!)

    Nuts & Bolts • REAL Original Chex Mix Recipe

    Have you tried our Almond-Raspberry Brie in Puff Pastry? It's a delicious addition to any holiday grazing table! 


    THANK YOU so much for being a faithful reader and supporter
    of The Good Hearted Woman. • Be sure to PIN this post!

    Nuts & Bolts • REAL Original Chex Mix Recipe

    Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, including Amazon affiliate links, which means we may receive a commission if you click a link and purchase something that we have recommended. While clicking these links won't cost you any extra money, they do help keep this site up and running. As always, all opinions and images are my own. Please check out our disclosure policy for more details. Thank you for your support!
    « 5 Fantastic Last Minute Gifts for Grown-ups
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    About Renée

    Renée is writer, music maker, artist, and storyteller. In her spare time, you can find her writing love songs about cowboys, exploring the moss-covered nooks and crannies of the Pacific Northwest, and making music with her talented singer-husband.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Lydia C. Pierson says

      December 31, 2020 at 11:37 am

      Renee, you are the first person that I have come across using both Liquid Smoke and Tabasco sauce in your recipe. I made it last week and loved it, again. I hadn't made it in several years; but I remember the LS and TS because that's the only time I use it. I'm trying to fix my recipe to a timeline when I first got mine. How old was Mrs. Houston and when did she give the recipe to you. I have used this since before 1991. I am 76 right now. Thank you for your help!

      Reply
      • Renée says

        December 31, 2020 at 12:14 pm

        I remember Mrs Houston making Nuts & Bolts for us back in the late 1960’s to early ‘70’s She was probably in her mid-forties at the time.

        Reply
    2. Jeffrey Beck says

      December 08, 2020 at 3:20 pm

      5 stars
      I can remember my mom making this recipe 50 years ago when I was 10. She never wrote it down, so finding it here was a blessing. It was always her "gift" to friends in the neighborhood and co-workers of my dad. Thank you.

      Reply
      • Renée says

        December 08, 2020 at 3:25 pm

        I imagine you will have the same experience I do as it bakes in the oven: just smelling this stuff brings back long-gone memories of holidays past. I'm so happy you found your way here!

        Reply
    3. Anita says

      November 14, 2019 at 12:11 pm

      5 stars
      This looks like the best thing ever. And it's great that it makes a boat load, because this is so good. 🙂 And now that I know about liquid smoke, it seems like I need to use this stuff more often.

      Reply
      • Renée ♥ says

        November 14, 2019 at 12:15 pm

        I don't use liquid smoke often, but when I do... ?

        Reply
    4. Andrea Metlika says

      November 14, 2019 at 11:47 am

      5 stars
      I've never heard it called Nuts & Bolts but it is delicious! Can snack on this all the time. Your mouse is adorable!

      Reply
      • Renée ♥ says

        November 14, 2019 at 12:20 pm

        Thank you - it's pretty addicting! As for our mouse, he's a cutie alright!

        Reply
      • Renée ♥ says

        November 14, 2019 at 12:23 pm

        Texas Trash maybe? Recipes I've seen for that mix are pretty close, but I love the rich, smoky spiciness Nuts & Bolts has - the flavors are so much deeper.

        Reply
    5. Valerie Rath says

      November 14, 2019 at 11:33 am

      5 stars
      My mom used to make something similar but she called it "Trash" (I think). That was so long ago.

      Reply
    6. Noelle says

      November 14, 2019 at 11:07 am

      5 stars
      Love making chex mix for the holiday season! Thanks for the great idea

      Reply
      • Renée ♥ says

        November 14, 2019 at 12:24 pm

        It's a necessity at our house!

        Reply
    7. Mandy @ South Your Mouth says

      December 03, 2018 at 6:24 am

      5 stars
      Your little mousie in the pics is THE BEST thing about my week so far!

      Reply
      • Renée ♥ says

        December 03, 2018 at 6:25 am

        So glad he made you happy today!

        Reply
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