Classic crunchy, savory party mix updated: Slow Cooker Gluten-Free Chex Party Mix! Easily available ingredients and a party appetizer everyone can eat! With gluten option.
Long weekends and holiday breaks always seem to demand more snack options. If we get involved with lengthy game playing (Catan is a family favorite and can go on for hours) or movie marathons, grazing rather than meal-eating seems to take over. Today’s recipe is a tried-and-true party favorite but I’ve made it totally gluten-free: Slow Cooker Gluten-free Chex Party Mix.
I love almost anything I can do in my slow cooker for a few reasons. It usually allows fixing and forgetting it, such as with soups. The ingredients can be loaded into the slow cooker and left on their own to cook for hours yielding a tasty prepared dish.
Using the slow cooker also leaves the oven open for other recipes to be cooked. In the summer, it accomplishes the same end result as using the stove top or oven without heating up the kitchen (for the recipes appropriate for the slow cooker).
Slow Cooker Gluten-Free Chex Party Mix is no different. It cooks well in a slow cooker and to me is easier than trying to stir the recipe on a baking sheet in the oven. My husband remarked that having to stir (really rotating the party mix from the bottom of the slow cooker insert to the top) the party mix would seem to negate the value of making it in the slow cooker versus the oven. I still love the containment of having it in the slow cooker and keeping the oven free for other pursuits.
I feel so fortunate many mainstream companies have jumped on board the gluten-free bandwagon so classics like Chex party mix is something everyone can now make and eat. There are multiple versions of the party mix but I stuck to what I love in the ingredients and fortunately it was easy to find the ingredients I wanted to use in gluten-free form.
This Slow Cooker Gluten-Free Chex Party Mix uses two types of Chex (rice and corn), pretzels, cheese crackers, cocktail peanuts, smoked almonds with the savory seasonings we know and love. I know some versions use small bagel chips too which are also available in gluten-free form. And guess what gluten-eaters? You can substitute equivalent gluten alternatives if you wish to. I believe all Chex cereals are gluten-free now (not gluten version) so the pretzels and cheese crackers are the only ingredients that you’d swap out.
My preferred way to cook the mix is on low temperature with three layers of paper towels between the lid and the slow cooker insert. This absorbs some of the condensation while it cooks. Even so, if you sample the ingredients while the mix is cooking you may find the consistency to have become soft (I did with one of the Chex types and the cheese crackers). Never fear however because as soon as the lid is removed and when the mix cools everything will become crunchy again!
Recipe
Slow Cooker Gluten-Free Chex Party Mix
Ingredients
- 3 cups gluten-free Rice Chex
- 3 cups gluten-free Corn Chex
- 2 cups gluten-free Cheese Crackers (I used Van’s brand ‘Say Cheese’ thin cheese crackers)
- 1 cups gluten-free Pretzels (I used Glutino brand)
- 1 cup Smoked Almonds
- 1 cup Cocktail Peanuts
- 8 tablespoons (1 stick) Unsalted Butter, melted
- 3 tablespoons Worcestershire Sauce
- 1 teaspoon Smoked Hot Paprika
- 1 ½ teaspoons Garlic Powder
Instructions
- Spray the insert of a 6 quart slow cooker with non-stick spray. Add the Chex, crackers, pretzels, almonds, peanuts and stir to mix together.
- Combine the melted butter, Worcestershire sauce, paprika and garlic powder; whisk to combine. Pour over the dry ingredients in the slow cooker and mix to fully coat.
- Place three layers of paper towels between the top of the slow cooker and the lid (the paper towels will extend outside the slow cooker opening). Cook on LOW for 1 1/2 hours, stirring the ingredients from the bottom of the slow cooker up every 30 minutes to prevent burning.
- After 1 1/2 hours remove the lid and paper towel and cook for an additional 20 minutes, stirring as needed to prevent burning and to combine the ingredients.
- Remove from the slow cooker and spoon onto a couple of baking sheets or parchment paper on a countertop to cool fully before serving.
Sarah Bailey says
Hands up I am awful with bits like this at parties I love tucking into them and grabbing a bite 😉 x
Diana Rambles says
Me too! I usually just stand over the bowl and eating handfuls after handfuls. YUM!
coolchillmom says
I am beyond amazed at all the yumminess that can be done with a slow cookers. I have to make this recipe!
Marcie W. says
Chex Party Mix is such a Christmas classic! It would make a great snack during our upcoming holiday movie binge.
Catherine Sargent says
This looks so good and I love that it is gluten free. I will have to make this for our next game night.
Tania says
What?? Chex Mix in the slow cooker? Genius! This is perfect, too, for my daughter and her friends with allergies.
Pam Wattenbarger says
My daughter used to love chowing down on Chex Mix at parties. This gluten free version will definitely make her happy.
Jeanette says
This is a perfect idea for my holiday party this weekend. I have a couple of friends that are gluten-free and I know they would enjoy this snack.
Jen Rattie says
Boom! I eat Chex Mix like it’s going out of style. Time to bust out the crock pot and get my mix on for days! WOOT!
Toni Dash says
Woo hoo!
Lisa Favre says
I haven’t had a Chex party mix in so long. I got to whip up this recipe for sure.
Stacie @ Divine Lifestyle says
That is fully awesome! I love Chex mix, but I’ve never tried making it myself. I’ve only every made muddy buddies. I can’t wait to try this.
Toni Dash says
Definitely need to do it then Stacie! It’s super easy and delicious! Maybe too delicious.