This delicious, easy-to-make Game Day Sweet and Salty Snack Mix will satisfy your game-day cravings.
Perfect for Super Bowl parties, tailgating, and other casual gatherings, this crunchy and flavorful snack mix combines Cheez-its, Bugles, mini pretzels, peanuts, and M&Ms with dry Ranch dressing for the ultimate sweet and salty snacking experience.
This homemade game-day snack mix recipe is a true crowd-pleaser that will disappear quickly. It can be made well before the big day and is also a great option for feeding a large crowd. You throw everything in a bowl, mix it up, and you are done! How great is that?
The best part? Like these Ranch Oyster Crackers from Midwest Healthy Living, this quick and simple recipe doesn’t involve any cooking and can be made in less than ten minutes, so you can focus on cheering on your favorite team.
Why not try it today and take your Super Bowl party snacks to the next level? You can even customize it with your favorite team’s colors.
This easy Sweet and Salty Game Day Snack Mix recipe was adapted from my Mardi Gras Snack Mix recipe, which was originally inspired by a Mardi Gras Munch recipe from my sister, Chula, at the Pudge Factor Blog.
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Ingredient notes:
- Cheez-its – has to be the perfect cheezy snack cracker. Combine it with the rest of the ingredients in this Cheez-it’s sweet and savory snack mix, and you will be in snack heaven.
- Bugles – a blast from the past that you don’t see much anymore, but add these crispy corn snacks to the mix, and you will be wondering you don’t always have a bag in your pantry.
- Pretzels – add crunch, saltiness, and great pretzel taste. Use mini pretzels for the best results.
- Peanuts – add a rich nuttiness and even more crunch. Feel free to substitute roasted pecans, candied pecans, cashews, almonds, or even pistachios.
- Candy – puts the sweet in sweet and salty. M&Ms, Skittles, and jelly beans hold up well in the mix and are crowd favorites.
- Vegetable oil – lightly coats the mix so the dry Ranch dressing will stick.
- Ranch dressing – dry Ranch Salad Dressing and Seasoning Mix with a unique combination of garlic powder, onion powder, and dried herbs seals the deal and is what gives this appetizer its distinctive flavor.
How to make this Game Day Sweet and Salty Snack Mix:
- To make this fun game-day appetizer, combine the Cheez-its, Bugles, pretzels, and peanuts in a large bowl and drizzle the vegetable oil over the top. Combine.
- Add the contents of the Ranch dressing packet and combine, making sure all of the pieces are evenly coated.
- Before serving, add the candy and combine.
- Serve with game day napkins and plates.
How to personalize your snack mix with your favorite team’s colors:
If you are making this dish for the 2023 Super Bowl, the official colors for the Philadelphia Eagles are green and black, and the Kansas City Chiefs are red and gold. So, if you are an Eagles fan, just use green M&Ms. If you are a Chiefs fan, red and yellow M&Ms, Skittles, jelly beans, or another bite-size candy would work well.
If you are like me and just watching the Super Bowl for the appetizers and snacks, feel free to use multicolor M&Ms, in any flavor.
Most candy stores and some grocery stores, such as Fresh Market, have single-color M&Ms or other candies you can use or order single-color M&Ms from Amazon.
Recipe variations:
Want to change up this recipe and use it for another holiday, special occasion, or a different theme? Just keep the base the same and change up the candy colors. For example, my Halloween Snack Mix- Monster Munch is made with the base mix, plus candy corn, candy pumpkins, and googly eyes.
For Christmas, you can use red and green jelly beans, and for the Fourth of July, how about some type of red, white, and blue candy?
Snack mix recipes are a great way to get creative and experiment with different flavors and ingredients. Here are a few variations you could try:
- BBQ: For a smoky, spicy twist, make it with crispy cereal, crackers, and peanuts, and coat it with BBQ seasoning.
- Spicy: Add some heat to your appetizer with a sprinkle of chili powder, cayenne pepper, or hot sauce. You could also include spicy peanuts or crackers.
- Trail Mix: Combine a variety of nuts (such as almonds, cashews, and walnuts), dried fruit (such as raisins and cranberries), and chocolate chips for a portable snack.
- Cheesy: Mix together Cheez-its, Goldfish crackers, and Cheese Whisps or Cheetos for a cheesy dish that’s perfect for movie nights.
- Chocolate: drizzle melted chocolate all over the mix for a decadent snack.
These are just a few ideas to get you started. Feel free to mix and match ingredients to create your own unique recipe!
What to serve with this recipe:
For a game day party, I like to serve this recipe with my Air Fryer Lemon Pepper Wings, Hanky Pankies, Smoked Queso Dip, Fried Crab Claws, Creole Shrimp Toast, Cast Iron Skillet Macho Nachos, Chicken Ranch Dip, and Buffalo Shrimp.
Recipe FAQs:
The ingredients used in snack mixes can vary greatly, but some common ingredients include cereal, crackers, nuts, dried fruit, pretzels, and chocolate chips. You can also add spices and seasonings to add more flavor to the mix.
You can make a healthy recipe using ingredients such as whole-grain cereals, nuts, and dried fruit. Avoid using ingredients high in sugar and salt, and opt for unsweetened and unsalted versions of ingredients when possible.
You can make this recipe gluten-free by using gluten-free ingredients such as gluten-free cereals, crackers, and pretzels. Be sure to check the labels of all ingredients to ensure they are gluten-free.
This snack mix can last up to a week if stored in an airtight container on your kitchen counter or in a pantry. However, the freshness of the mix may decrease over time, so it’s best to consume it as soon as possible.
Top tips and tricks:
- For a quick shortcut and fewer bowls to wash, instead of using a bowl to mix everything in, pour all of your ingredients into a gallon-size plastic storage bag and toss a few times to combine everything. You can even store it in the same bag.
- You can make this recipe several days before you plan to serve it. However, if you are making it ahead, for the best results, wait to add the candy until just before you serve it. If you add the candy too early, especially if you use heavier peanut M&Ms, they tend to sink to the bottom, and your presentation won’t be as colorful.
- If you make this snack mix ahead, and the folks in your house are anything like mine, you might want to purchase an extra bag of M&Ms to replenish any candy which disappears before you can serve it.
- I used our favorite snacks like Bugles and Cheez-Its to make this recipe. Feel free to substitute your favorite snacks, cereals like Corn, Rice, and Wheat Chex, or your favorite nuts in this recipe.
- Store this snack mix in an airtight container to maintain its freshness.
- This recipe makes approximately 10 cups. The serving size listed is half of a cup.
More game-day recipes:
Looking for more game-day or tailgating snacks? Check out these quick and easy recipes:
Need even more menu ideas and recipes; check out my collection of 46 Super Bowl Snacks and Appetizers. And, if you still need more game-day menu ideas and recipes, check out all of my appetizer recipes and snack recipes here.
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Easy Game Day Sweet and Salty Snack Mix Recipe
Ingredients
- 2½ cups Cheez-its
- 2½ cups Bugles
- 2½ cups mini pretzels
- 1 cup peanuts, or any nuts you like or have on hand
- 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1 ounce packet dry Ranch Salad Dressing and Seasoning Mix
- 2 cups assorted candies M&Ms, jelly beans, etc.
Instructions
- To make this fun game-day snack mix, combine the Cheez-its, Bugles, pretzels, and peanuts in a large bowl and drizzle the vegetable oil over the top. Combine.
- Add the contents of the Ranch dressing packet and combine, making sure all of the pieces are evenly coated.
- Before serving, add the candy and combine. Place in a serving dish and serve with game day plates and napkins.
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