BBQ bacon Chex mix is a blend of all your favorite salty, crunchy snacks mixed with crispy bacon and a spicy, sweet BBQ sauce. Bake the bacon first, mix in the bacon, and the bacon fat. It’s the perfect sweet, spicy, and salty snack mix.
DUN-A-DUN, DUN-A-DUN. It’s Game Day Sports Night in America season again. AKA football season for all you lucky people that don’t have to hear the booming intro music to college football and NFL football games blaring on your TV every Saturday and Sunday. Oh wait, don’t forget about Monday and Thursday nights now too.
In our house, football season is basically year-round. Mike is a high school football coach. They practice throughout the whole summer and into the fall season as well. Yes, that makes him exactly like Coach Taylor from Friday Night Lights.
As much as I love his team, I have yet to see anybody that resembles Tim Riggens though. Not that I’m looking! Or into high school… I’m just gunna stop right there.
This post is about the return of football season and hence the return of football season snacks and apps. Everybody knows that’s really the best part about this sport season.
I love a good trail mix or snack mix just like any person. I saw a lot of recipes that started with some kind of oil or butter. In my brain I thought, “Why not use the best fat, bacon, as the base instead?”
The bacon cooks first, then the bacon fat is added to the spicy BBQ sauce and spice blend. Mix your favorite crunchy pieces like pretzels, cheese crackers, all the kinds of Chex cereal, peanuts, and the little bits of cooked bacon. They all get coated with the BBQ sauce and baked on the same pan as the one used for the bacon. Once BBQ bacon Chex mix is all smoky and toasty, let it cool, and then enjoy!
I have to warn you though, this BBQ bacon Chex mix is highly addictive. If you like this snack mix, try my recipe for dill pickle popcorn or Ashleigh’s Sriracha Chex Mix.
This recipe makes a lot so be ready to eat it within a week or make it for a big crowd, tailgating situation.
BBQ Bacon Chex Mix
BBQ bacon Chex snack mix combines your favorite salty, crunchy snacks with a sweet and spicy BBQ sauce and little pieces of crispy bacon.
Ingredients
- 4 strips center-cut bacon
- bacon fat drippings, about 1/4-1/3 cup
- 1/3 cup BBQ sauce
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp light brown sugar
- 1 tsp chili powder
- 2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 2 cups pretzels
- 3 cups Rice Chex
- 3 Cups Corn Chex
- 1 Cup Roasted Peanuts
- 1 Cup Cheese Crackers, like Cheez-its
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. Place bacon on the parchment paper.
- Bake the bacon until crispy, about 15-20 minutes.
- While the bacon cooks, combine the BBQ sauce, salt, brown sugar, chili powder, Worcestershire, pepper in a medium mixing bowl.
- In a separate large mixing bowl, mix the pretzels, Chex, peanuts, and Cheez-Its together.
- Once the bacon is cooked, remove the pan from the oven. Transfer the bacon to a plate lined with a paper towel. Using oven mitts, carefully hold the pan up and allow all the bacon drippings to flow into the bowl with the BBQ sauce. Whisk to combine.
- Move the bacon to a cutting board and chop finely. Add 3/4 the bacon to the bowl with the pretzels and cereal. Mix to combine.
- Pour 1/2 the sauce over the mixed cereal and mix very well to evenly coat. Add the remaining sauce and mix very well.
- Pour the coated snack mix on to the baking sheet with the parchment. Arrange in one even layer. Bake for 10 minutes.
- Remove the pan from the oven, give the mix a stir, add the rest of the bacon. Bake for 5 more minutes.
- Let the snack mix cool for 5-10 minutes and then serve.
Notes
Re-toast the leftover mix on a baking sheet before serving at 250 degrees F for 15-20 minutes. Store the mix in a container with a lid or a large, gallon storage bag at room temperature for 3-4 days.
Recommended Products
As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.
