When you’re peckish, it’s easy to reach for chips or chocolate. But getting your hands on some good snack mix recipes can help you satisfy your hunger and keep you well-fueled for the rest of the day. And don’t worry, we’re total foodies here – so there’s no boring and bland snack mixes on our list of recommendations.

Before we jump into our favorite snack mix recipes (or you can skip to them here), we wanted to look at the idea of snacking in general. There are quite a few myths surrounding snacks, and we’re here to dispel them!

Is Snacking Good for You?

Back in the day, plenty of people would automatically answer this question with a clear No. That really isn’t a surprise, though. A lot of us instantly associate the word snacks with a bag of salted chips. So it’s no wonder snacking was perceived as unhealthy and indulgent. Thankfully, a lot has changed in the way we look at it now.

Dietitians have evolved their views on food consumption, leading to concepts like mindful and intuitive eating. Certain foods have been de-stigmatized and the focus has shifted to the experience of eating, not just on counting calories or avoiding entire food groups.

So instead, let’s answer this: why is snacking good for you?

snack mix

Firstly, snacks are super convenient. A snack bar can easily fit in almost any bag or pocket so you can carry it with you. Secondly, snack recipes can pack a nice protein punch. Some trail mixes are so satiating, they can keep your hunger at bay for several hours. And thirdly, it’s good for the soul. Why do you think toddlers are so much happier after they’ve had a snack?!

Even though we encourage mindful eating, sometimes having an indulgent snack can do wonders for your mood. Just remember, moderation is key. And if you’re still not fully convinced that snacking can be a good thing, wait until you’ve seen these 6 snack mix recipes we’ve collected for you. There are some you can prepare on the regular, and a couple you can make on special occasions.

Six of the Best Snack Mix Recipes

All the recipes are simple and don’t require special skills or cooking techniques, which is always a nice bonus. So let’s get to it!

1. Furikake Chex Snack Mix

Food52 Food52
12
Furikake Chex Mix Snack
For the ultimate party mix, this recipe for Furikake Chex Mix is one of the greats. Here's how you can coat your mix in a sweet glaze and toss it with furikake.
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Prep: 10min Cook: 90min
Ingredients
  • unsalted butter
    0.5 cup unsalted butter
  • light corn syrup
    0.5 cup light corn syrup
  • sugar
    0.25 cup sugar
  • vegetable oil
    0.25 cup vegetable oil
  • soy sauce
    1 tablespoon soy sauce
  • kosher salt
    1 pinch kosher salt
  • Dry Roasted Peanuts
    1 X 16 ounce Planters Dry Roasted Peanuts jar, Lightly Salted
  • Bugles
    14.5 ounce Bugles Bugles
  • rice chex cereal
    0.5 X 12 ounce Chex rice chex cereal box
  • cereal
    0.5 X 12 ounce Corn Chex cereal box
  • Goldfish
    1 X 6.6 ounce Pepperidge Farm Goldfish I like cheddar
  • mini pretzels
    3 cups mini pretzels I like Snyder 's Butter Snaps, the ones that look like a window pane, 1 bag of pretzel Goldfish is also nice here
  • nori komi furikake
    1 X 1.7 ounce nori komi furikake bottle, you can find this online or in asian markets

We’ve always had a thing for fusion dishes, and when it comes to snacking, this Furikake Chex Mix takes the cake. The Japanese Furikake seasoning is a mixture of seaweed, sesame seeds and fish flakes. It has gained popularity over the years as people around the world have taken an interest in Japanese cuisine. It has a unique flavor, so it’s perfect for those who aren’t afraid to try something different. Before you know it, you’ll be adding this seasoning to every dish you prepare in your home. It’s that good, seriously. And it works wonderfully with the rest of the ingredients in this snack mix. We can’t wait for you to try out this one!

2. Ranch Snack Mix

recipesmadewithlove.com recipesmadewithlove.com
7
Ranch Snack Mix
Indulge in the ultimate snacking experience with this irresistible Ranch Snack Mix. Made w ith savory seasoning and crunchy snacks, this mix is perfect for anytime cravings.
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Prep: 15min Cook: 75min
Ingredients
  • butter flavored oil
    0.75 cup Orville Redenbacher butter flavored oil popping
  • dried dill weed
    2 tsp dried dill weed
  • garlic powder
    0.5 tsp garlic powder
  • lemon pepper
    1 tsp lemon pepper
  • Ranch Dressing mix
    1 packet Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing mix
  • pretzels
    3 cups pretzels
  • Goldfish crackers
    3 cups Goldfish Goldfish crackers
  • oyster crackers
    3 cups oyster crackers
  • Bugles
    4 cups Bugles Bugles
  • Cheezit crackers
    2 cups Cheez It Cheezit crackers

You have friends coming over in 10 minutes, and the pizza you ordered isn’t arriving for at least an hour? We’ve got the perfect recipe to get you through while you wait. This tangy Ranch Snack Mix is so delicious that your friends might not even care for the pizza. It’s well seasoned, salty, and crunchy. On first glance, seeing dill used this way might seem a little strange, right? But trust us on this one – the dill makes all the difference. If you like to switch things up, onion powder works amazingly too. And if you don’t mind a little heat, we recommend sprinkling chili pepper flakes on top.

3. Pumpkin Spice Snack Mix

Pumpkin Spice Snack Mix Pumpkin Spice Snack Mix
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princesspinkygirl.com princesspinkygirl.com
52
Pumpkin Spice Snack Mix
The combination of salty and sweet with just a touch of spicy cinnamon makes this Pumpkin Spice Snack Mix perfect for fall!
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Prep: 10min Cook: 45min
Ingredients
  • honey nut cereal
    4 cups Chex honey nut cereal
  • pretzels
    2 cups pretzels
  • bugles corn snacks
    1 X 6 oz Bugles bugles corn snacks
  • butter
    0.25 cup butter melted
  • brown sugar
    0.25 cup brown sugar
  • pumpkin pie spice
    1 tbsp pumpkin pie spice
  • vanilla extract
    0.5 tsp vanilla extract
  • M&M's
    1 X 8 oz Boo-terscotch M&M's
  • autumn mix candy
    1 cup Harvest autumn mix candy candy corn, candy pumpkins
  • Reese's pieces
    0.5 cup Reeses Reese's pieces

If you’re the type of person that cannot wait until it’s Halloween season to drink their beloved Pumpkin Spice Latte, then you’re going to adore this recipe. Even though this blend of spices is associated with with fall, this Pumpkin Spice Snack Mix can be enjoyed whenever you need to evoke that sense of comfort and childhood nostalgia. Just cozy up with your favorite book, grab this aromatic and flavorful snack mix, and dedicate some time to yourself. This recipe provides a perfect balance between salty and sweet, with a hint of vanilla and spicy cinnamon. If you don’t want to follow the recipe to a T, you can add a little nutmeg, ginger, and even cloves.

4. Christmas Snack Mix

Christmas Snack Mix Christmas Snack Mix
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chelseasmessyapron.com chelseasmessyapron.com
49
Christmas Snack Mix
A delicious addictive Christmas Snack Mix is perfect for the holidays! This snack mix is f illed with cereal, pretzels, M&M's, and coated in melted white chocolate. No baking required.
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Prep: 15min
Ingredients
  • corn cereal
    2 cups corn cereal or rice Chex, or other crispy cereal
  • miniature pretzel twists
    1 cup miniature pretzel twists or pretzel rods
  • cereal
    2 cups Captain Crunch cereal with no berries
  • cheerios
    2 cups Cheerios cheerios or other toasted oat cereal
  • christmas m&m's
    1 cup M&m christmas m&m's green and red
  • white chocolate chips
    1 bags white chocolate chips
  • vegetable oil
    teaspoons vegetable oil or shortening
  • christmas sprinkles
    christmas sprinkles optional

Holiday season can be stressful at times. Especially if you’re hosting a Christmas Eve dinner party at your house. Setting the mood, choosing the perfect decorations and cooking the most amazing meal can be overwhelming. That’s why it’s important to have recipes that work. And believe us, this Christmas snack mix is just the thing you need. It’s so good that it’s probably best to serve it after dinner. The simple mix of salty pretzels, crunchy corn flakes and white chocolate chips is simply irresistible.

5. Valentine Snack Mix

Melissa Lucero Melissa Lucero
5
Valentine Snack Mix
Valentine snack mix
Ingredients
  • Chex mix
    2 cups Chex Chex mix
  • pink candy melts
    0.33 cup pink candy melts
  • m & ms
    0.5 cup M&m m & ms valentine
  • Strawberry Pocky sticks
    0.5 box Pocky Strawberry Pocky sticks
  • mini marshmallows
    1 cup mini marshmallows
  • sprinkles
    0.25 cup sprinkles Valentine

We may be completely biased here, but we swear we’ve never laid eyes on a more beautiful recipe in our lives. Sure, you could say we’ve been obsessed with everything pink since the Barbie movie stole our hearts, but we’ve kind of loved it right from day one <3

So naturally, this pretty pink recipe caught our eye. Even though it’s called Valentine Snack Mix, it can definitely be used for Galentine’s Day as well. Or any other day when your besties get together to spend some quality time with one another. Don’t ask us how we know, but it goes extremely well with a cold glass of prosecco.

6. St. Patrick’s Day S’more Snack Mix

creationsbykara.com creationsbykara.com
20
St. Patrick's Day S'more Snack Mix
Mouthwatering snack mix made with popcorn, white chocolate, green M&M's and more. Perfect for St. Patrick's Day!
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Prep: 15min
Ingredients
  • popcorn
    6 cups popcorn popped
  • Golden Grahams cereal
    1 cup Golden Grahams Golden Grahams cereal
  • butter
    2 tbsp butter
  • mini marshmallows
    1.33 cups mini marshmallows
  • vanilla
    0.5 tsp vanilla
  • green M&M's
    0.5 cup green M&M's
  • chocolate chips milk
    3 Tbsp chocolate chips milk or semi-sweet

St. Patrick’s Day is reportedly the third most popular Western holiday for beer drinking, right after New Year’s Eve and Mardi Gras. With that in mind, you would expect to see a salty snack mix coming your way, to counteract all that beer. Or to try, anyway.

But we have to take care of all of our friends that aren’t avid beer drinkers. Or those who crave a sweet snack when they drink. And this crunchy popcorn and chocolate snack mix is for them….ok, fine, it’s for all of us.

Of course, it wouldn’t be called a St. Patrick’s Day snack mix without something green colored in it. That’s where the M&M’s come in handy. The soft texture of marshmallows contrasts beautifully with the rest of the ingredients, and the butter connects them all in a yummy mix. This is such a crowd pleaser!