Frito Snack Mix (Vintage Party Fritos)
Description
Crunchy, savory Frito Snack Mix made the vintage Party Fritos way — Fritos, Chex, pretzels, and nuts tossed in a buttery Worcestershire coating and toasted in the oven or air fryer. Ready in 25 minutes.
Ingredients
- 2 cups Fritos corn chips
- 1 cup Chex cereal, any variety
- 1 cup pretzel sticks
- ½ cup peanuts or mixed nuts
- 1 cup cheese crackers
- ¼ cup butter, melted
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon salt, or to taste
- ½ teaspoon black pepper, or to taste
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine the Fritos, Chex cereal, pretzel sticks, peanuts, and cheese crackers.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the melted butter, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt, and pepper until smooth.
- Pour the butter mixture over the dry ingredients and toss gently until evenly coated.
- Air fryer: Preheat to 300°F (150°C) for 2–3 minutes. Add the mix to the basket in a single layer and air fry 15–20 minutes, shaking halfway through, until golden and crisp. Work in batches if needed.
- Oven: Preheat to 300°F (150°C). Spread the mix on a parchment-lined rimmed baking sheet in a single layer and bake 15–20 minutes, stirring halfway, until golden.
- Let cool completely before serving; the mix crisps as it cools. Store in an airtight container up to 1 week.
Equipment
- Air fryer (or oven)
- Large Mixing Bowl
- Small bowl and whisk
- Rimmed baking sheet (oven method)
- Parchment Paper
- Silicone spatula
- Airtight storage container
Notes
- Vintage Party Fritos version: Omit the Chex, pretzels, nuts, and crackers. Use 5 cups of Fritos with the same butter mixture and bake or air fry as directed.
- Oven vs. air fryer: Both cook at 300°F for 15–20 minutes. The oven is better for a double batch; the air fryer is faster for a single batch but may need two rounds depending on basket size. Always keep the mix in a single layer.
- Don’t overcook: Pull it when it’s golden and smells toasty. Fritos go from crisp to bitter quickly, and the mix continues to crisp as it cools.
- Salt: Fritos, pretzels, and cheese crackers are already salted. Start with ½ teaspoon salt if you’re using salted butter and adjust after tasting.
- Spicy: Add ¼ teaspoon cayenne or chili powder to the butter, or whisk in 1 teaspoon hot sauce.
- Gluten-free: Fritos and Corn/Rice Chex are gluten-free. Use gluten-free pretzels and cheese crackers.
- Substitutions: Any Chex variety or Cheerios for the cereal; cashews, almonds, pecans, or mixed nuts for the peanuts; Goldfish, Cheez-Its, or oyster crackers for the cheese crackers.
- Storage: Cool completely, then store in an airtight container at room temperature up to 1 week. Re-crisp at 300°F for 5 minutes if it softens.
- Make-ahead and gifting: Keeps a full week, so it can be made days before a party. Packs well in mason jars or cellophane bags.
Nutrition
Serving: 1ServingCalories: 152kcalCarbohydrates: 14gProtein: 3gFat: 10gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0.2gCholesterol: 8mgSodium: 344mgPotassium: 88mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 132IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 37mgIron: 1mg