16 Crowd-Pleasing Snack Mixes You'll Love

April 12, 2019
Photography: Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Anna Hampton; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine
Planning a party or going on a hike? A simple snack mix recipe is just what you're looking for—and you've come to the right place. We've got sweet, we've got savory, and we've got everything in between. 
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Smoky Snack Mix

Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Torie Cox
Smoky Snack Mix Recipe

Perfect for game days, birthday parties, or any get-together, this recipe easily doubles or triples, which we recommend. And don’t skip the white cheddar cheese crackers—their buttery richness makes them the MVP of this hard-to-resist mix.

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Roasted Kale and Chickpea Snack Mix

Jennifer Causey
Roasted Kale and Chickpea Snack Mix Recipe

This fiber-filled, gluten-free snack mix is great sprinkled over salads to give them a little spicy crunch.

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Caramel-Walnut Snack Mix

Time Inc. Video Studio 
Caramel-Walnut Snack Mix Recipe

 Pack it up for a tailgate,  package it for holiday gifting, or put it out for a party—this easy snack mix is the perfect all-purpose formula for salty-sweet crunch

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Nuts and Bolts Trail Mix

Photo: Grant Cornett; Styling: Alistair Turnbull    
Nuts and Bolts Trail Mix Recipe

Nuts and Bolts Trail Mix satisfies a sweet and salty craving while giving you an energy boost throughout the day.

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Bacon Fat Chex Mix Will Make Everyone at the Party Love You

Photos by Kirsten Nunez
Bacon Fat Chex Mix Will Make Everyone at the Party Love You Recipe
When you’re in a happy relationship with breakfast, anything is possible. You can make toast with sweet potato and pancakes with champagne. It’s true love at its finest. But what happens when you feel the same way about snacks? Someone’s bound to get hurt. Well, it doesn’t need to be as complicated as dating IRL. All you need to do is just add bacon fat—seriously. Bacon fat is the solution to all of life’s problems. It works exceptionally well in this bacon and cheese Chex Mix recipe.

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Miso-Caramel-Tamari Popcorn Mix

Jennifer Causey
Miso-Caramel-Tamari Popcorn Mix Recipe

A slightly thicker caramel and the addition of whole roasted almonds turn traditional caramel popcorn into gift-worthy popcorn mix. We use less sugar in the glaze and cut the sweetness with mild white miso (fermented soybean paste) and tamari (a richer, wheat-free soy sauce) for a salty-savory note that makes the snack incredibly addictive.

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Togarashi-Spiced Snack Mix

Greg Dupree
Togarashi-Spiced Snack Mix Recipe
This flavor-packed snack mix serves eight people and comes together in less than 2 hours.

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Brown Sugar-Spiced Nut Mix

Photo: Brian Woodcock; Styling: Paige Hicks
Brown Sugar-Spiced Nut Mix Recipe

From the Kitchen of…Cheryl Slocum, Senior Food Editor

A bowl of nuts in their shells was a coffee table staple for Thanksgiving snacks when Cheryl was young. "Operating the nutcracker was a real draw for us little kids," she says, "but our tastes have evolved to this sweet-hot crispy mix."

Achieve a bronzelike patina on these candied nuts by keeping a close watch near the end of their roasting time. Too long and they'll overdarken and take on a bitter flavor.

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Microwave Snack Mix

Microwave Snack Mix Recipe

Everybody needs a quick, easy snack fix that they can rely on for on-the-go munching. For this plethora of crunchy goodness, make sure to use a glass bowl when you zap this in the microwave. (Don't use a plastic bowl; we tried it, and the mixture got too hot and could possibly burn.)

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S'mores Trail Mix

Thomas J. Story
S'mores Trail Mix Recipe

The name says it all--now you can enjoy the flavors of the classic campfire treat when you're on the go. The recipe comes from our book Camp Sunset: A Modern Camper's Guide to the Great Outdoors (Oxmoor House, 2016; $25).

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Olive Oil Popcorn with Garlic and Rosemary

Photo: Linda Pugliese; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen; Food Styling: Torie Cox
Olive Oil Popcorn with Garlic and Rosemary Recipe

Make a batch of this delicious popcorn for your next movie night and you’ll start a new tradition. Flavored with olive oil, fresh rosemary, Parmesan cheese, and minced garlic, it’s a sophisticated take on a favorite snack. This popcorn recipe can be tailored to what you like or have on hand. Replace the Parmesan with Romano or Asiago, and use fresh thyme or oregano in place of the rosemary.

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Sesame-Soy Nut and Pretzel Mix

Photo: Jennifer Causey; Food Styling: Catherine Crowell Steele; Prop Styling: Thom Driver
Sesame-Soy Nut and Pretzel Mix Recipe

Full of salty nuts, pretzels, and cereal and doused with a butter- and Worcestershire-based glaze, the classic snack mix racks up sodium quickly (and who honestly stops at the barely 1/2 cup serving suggestion?). Our Asian-inspired mix saves 160mg sodium per serving with plenty of crunch and bold, salty flavor in a more generous 3/4 cup portion.

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Brown Sugar-Spiced Nut Mix

Photo: Brian Woodcock; Styling: Paige Hicks
Brown Sugar-Spiced Nut Mix Recipe

From the Kitchen of…Cheryl Slocum, Senior Food Editor

A bowl of nuts in their shells was a coffee table staple for Thanksgiving snacks when Cheryl was young. "Operating the nutcracker was a real draw for us little kids," she says, "but our tastes have evolved to this sweet-hot crispy mix."

Achieve a bronzelike patina on these candied nuts by keeping a close watch near the end of their roasting time. Too long and they'll overdarken and take on a bitter flavor.

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Caramel Peanut Popcorn Snack Mix

Photo: Greg Dupree; Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas
Caramel Peanut Popcorn Snack Mix Recipe

There's no trick to this treat. All you need is 30 minutes to make this scary-good mix for a Halloween party or your next movie night.

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Coconut-Pecan Caramel Popcorn

Photographer: Gina DeSimone; Prop Stylist: Kashara Johnson; Food Stylist: Briana Riddock
Coconut-Pecan Caramel Popcorn Recipe

With the addition coconut flakes and pecans, this is the amped-up version of your traditional caramel popcorn is all kinds of addictive. Once you make a batch, chances are it will disappear before the day is out—so consider doubling the recipe. The combination of caramel and pecans delivers delicious praline vibes, while the coconut’s subtle chew adds a hint of tropical joy. The recipe calls to make the caramel sauce from scratch, but you can substitute with store-bought caramel sauce for ease. Make a large batch and bag this decadent snack up to give as gifts or as party favors at your next holiday gatherings.

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Umami Popcorn

Photography: Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Anna Hampton; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine
Umami Popcorn Recipe
If you’re worried that this crunchy snack will taste like fish, rest your fears. The anchovy paste simply lends rich umami depth and a good salty kick. We use a fair amount of fresh thyme here, too, for even more savory notes; it adds a woodsy, earthy flavor that other herbs just don’t quite have. If you would rather start with prepopped corn, opt for one with little or no seasoning, and use 8 cups.
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