Air Fryer Chex Mix

My Air Fryer Chex Mix combines rice Chex, Goldfish pretzels, oyster crackers and cashews with an Old Bay seasoning mix and buttery sauce. It’s perfect for summer snacking! An air fryer is superior to your oven in making this popular snack mix. 

I love to make big batches of my Ultimate Chex Mix during the holidays. I’ve been doing so for years. But it’s a time-consuming project. One that requires a large roasting pan and at least an hour of babysitting the mix as it bakes in the oven. When thinking about gifting some Chex mix to friends, that method is great. However, beyond the holidays, I’m here to tell you that Air Fryer Chex Mix is far superior.

Why this recipe works

My air fryer made this Chex mix so much toastier than my oven ever has! And in much less time. This recipe uses 5 1/2 cups of snack mix. It can be cooked all at once, in about 18 minutes at 300 degrees F. The air fryer doesn’t use as much energy and it doesn’t heat up your kitchen like an oven does. Not to mention the time it takes to pre-heat your oven. No pre-heating required for this recipe. You will be making this Chex mix to have on-hand for snacking all year ’round. But it’s especially suited for the summer months.

Ingredients for Air Fryer Chex Mix

Because I didn’t have to turn on my oven to make this Chex mix, I had in mind snacking on it this summer by the pool. Breezy, sunny summer afternoons make me think of salty water and seafood. Therefore it seemed obvious to flavor my Chex mix with Old Bay seasoning rather than the usual seasoned salt.

Funny enough, the next day after photographing this recipe, Goldfish and Old Bay started promoting their brand new product – Old Bay Goldfish! That made this recipe seem all the more like it was meant to be. I know you’re going to love it. Maybe too much – I can’t stop eating it!

• Rice Chex – I personally like this flavor of Chex cereal the best, plus it comes in a smaller box – less chance of it getting stale in my pantry
• Pretzel Goldfish Crackers – I just love the shape of these little fish pretzels – they’re cute and perfectly bite-sized
• Oyster Crackers – Puts me in mind of clam chowder – seemed like the perfect addition to this snack mix flavored with Old Bay
• Unsalted Cashews – Cashews are my favorite nut to snack on – this Chex mix feels a little fancy to me and cashews seemed like the right choice
• Butter – The buttery coating on this Chex mix is perfection!
• Old Bay Seasoning – You are going to love this switch from seasoned salt – plus no MSG and it’s kosher
• Worcestershire Sauce – Adds salty, umami flavor to the mix
• Lemon Juice – Goes along with my summery theme – adds a nice brightness to the overall flavor
• Parsley – Herbs made perfect sense for this elevated, summery snack mix – here’s my favorite brand to keep in my refrigerator
• Garlic Powder – Because garlic always makes things better
• Salt – Rounds out the flavor of the sauce

How to make Air Fryer Chex Mix

1. Measure the rice Chex, Pretzel Goldfish crackers, oyster crackers and cashews into a large bowl.
2. Microwave the butter until it is melted.
3. Into the butter, whisk in the Worcestershire sauce, lemon juice, Old Bay seasoning, parsley, garlic powder and salt.
4. Pour the buttery sauce mixture evenly over the snack mix.
5. Stir well to combine.
6. Pour the Chex mix into the basket of your air fryer.
7. Fry the Chex mix in your air fryer at 300 degrees F, stirring and shaking the basket a couple of times to make sure the snack mix cooks evenly.
8. Air fryers vary, so be sure to watch your Chex mix closely so as not to burn it.
9. My air fryer cooked my Chex mix perfectly in about 18 minutes at 300 degrees F.

Substitutions

There’s a lot of possibilities of things to add or subtract to this Air Fryer Chex Mix. Let your tastebuds tell you what they like the best. Here’s some ideas –

Corn Chex or Wheat Chex Cereal, Cheddar Goldfish Crackers, Cheeze-Its, Bagel Chips, Gardettos Rye Chips, Sesame Sticks, Corn Nuts, Cheerios, Peanuts, Pecans or Almonds.

Can I make this Chex mix in my oven if I want to?

If you’d like to make a double batch of this mix, then use your oven to bake it. Double all of the ingredients and put the mix in a large roasting pan. If you don’t own a large roasting pan, spread the mix evenly on one or two rimmed baking sheets. Preheat your oven to 250 degrees F. Bake the mix for one hour, stirring every 15 minutes.

How to store Air Fryer Chex Mix

Store any leftover Chex Mix you have in an air-tight container on your counter for up to 3 days. If you’d like to keep it longer, put it in the refrigerator. This is because the butter and nuts will spoil otherwise. You can also freeze Chex Mix. Keep it in an air-tight container or freezer-safe zippered bag in the freezer for up to three months.

Pro Tips and Tools

• I use a Philips XXL Air Fryer to test of my recipes on Foodtastic Mom
• I prefer whole, unsalted cashews in this recipe – there is plenty of salt and flavor in the butter mixture that the snack mix is coated in
• Allow the snack mix to cool completely before eating and storing it
• My favorite air-tight containers

More Air Fryer Snack Recipes

• Buffalo Chicken Egg Rolls
• Frozen Biscuits in the Air Fryer
• Feta Cheese Rolls
• Fried Apples in the Air Fryer
• Air Fryer S’Mores

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