Why just open up a bag of potato chips for your next party when you can whip up this super delicious Ranch Bugles Snack Mix instead? I love this ranch snack mix so much, and it’s a fun deviation from the standard classic Chex Mix recipe that everyone makes. Ranch Party Mix is made with Bugles – you know, the little triangle chips that you liked to wear on your fingers as a kid – plus salty crunchies like pretzels and Goldfish crackers. Mixed nuts are a hearty, savory addition, while Honey Nut Cheerios add an unexpected but delightful hint of sweetness. If you’re looking for more easy savory snacks, be sure to try my Ranch Oyster Crackers and Honey Mustard Pretzels too!
Ranch Snack Mix Recipe Highlights
Ingredients in Bugles Ranch Party Mix
Here’s what you need to make this crunchy party snack: Complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.
Bugles: These have such a fun shape and texture, and make our snack mix extra interesting. Pretzels and Goldfish Crackers: Salty snacks to fill in the mix. I love the savory flavor of cheese crackers with the ranch seasoning so much! Honey Nut Cheerios: These are important, as they add just a hint of sweetness to an otherwise salty bowl. Mixed Nuts: Add a little bit of protein to the mix to make this snack super satisfying. Butter: Melted butter coats every piece of this ranch snack mix recipe. Use unsalted butter since the other ingredients are already salted. Ranch Seasoning Mix: You can use 2 packets of Hidden Valley Ranch seasoning mix, or mix up a batch of my homemade ranch dressing mix instead.
How To Make Ranch Snack Mix
Recipe Tips
Make it Extra Tasty. Sprinkle on more of the dry ranch seasoning after the mix comes out of the oven. Don’t Overbake. Baking this mix gives it just a little bit of toasting, and is primarily done to dry out the mix so that it doesn’t get soggy. Keep a close eye on the mix toward the end of the baking time, and be sure to stir the pans every 15 minutes. Let it Cool. Once the mix has finished baking, transfer it to new pans lined with paper towels on the counter. This will help it to cool down quickly so that you can get to snacking! Adjust the Size of the Recipe. As written, this recipe makes more than 30 cups of snack mix, or enough to serve 40 or more hungry snackers! If you don’t want to make quite that much, reduce all of the ingredients by half. Make Homemade Ranch Seasoning! My recipe skips all of the funky preservatives, is MSG-free, and lower in sodium than the packaged ranch mixes you’ll find at the store.
Storing Tips
This recipe makes a huge batch, so you’ll likely need to know how to store it for later. Keep your Ranch Bugles Snack Mix in an airtight container or zip lock bags. It can be kept at room temperature for up to a month. You can also freeze snack mix in sealed bags for up to 3 months! Be sure that the bugles mix has fully cooled before you try to store it, as any steam that is coming out of it will turn to moisture once you seal it in.
Ranch Snack Mix Variations
To switch this ranch party mix recipe up a bit, simply swap out ingredients for different ones! In total you should have around 30 cups of mixed pretzels/crackers/chips/cereal for this recipe that can serve a large crowd! Instead of Bugles, make ranch snack mix with Rice Chex, Corn Chex, Crispex cereal, Fritos corn chips, or rolled tortilla chips. Instead of Goldfish, use a different cheese cracker such as Cheeze-It, or Cheese Nips. Oyster crackers also work well here. Leave out the Nuts if you like, or replace the mixed nuts with your favorite type of nut. This recipe would be yummy with all peanuts or all cashews. Honey Nut Cheerios are my favorite part of this snack, but you can also use another variety of cheerios, like the plain ones, Multi grain, or even Cinnamon Cheerios. Any other lightly sweetened cereal will also do the trick, so use what you have!
Why is my Snack Mix Soggy?
This can happen if you’ve added too much liquid to the recipe. While it might sound like a good idea to add more butter, there is already plenty! Snack mix can also get soggy if it’s not baked for long enough, or if it’s put away before it has fully cooled.
Can I make this recipe in the microwave?
You can, but you will want to cut the recipe down by at least half so that it will fit in a bowl that will fit in your microwave. Mix the ingredients with the melted ranch butter and then microwave, uncovered for 5-6 minutes, stirring every two minutes.
How long can I store ranch bugles party mix?
While I think it’s best if enjoyed within a week or so, it will stay fresh in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 month, or in the freezer for up to 3 months. This is such a fun and easy snack recipe, and it makes a HUGE batch so it’s perfect for holidays and big gatherings. Don’t forget to Pin the recipe to save it! © Little Sunny Kitchen
