Parmesan Ranch Snack Mix is a crunchy, satisfying, and addictive snack that is perfect for any party.
I almost didn’t want to tell him that it takes less than five minutes to make a batch. Having it appear that I was on my feet for long hours and slaving away in the kitchen may help my chances of securing an extra long back rub or foot massage.
I combined one packet of dry ranch dip seasoning mix with canola oil, stirred, and then poured the green-flecked oil over a bowl of popcorn, pretzels, and nuts. If you don’t have ranch mix, most any type of prepared powdered salad dressing or dip mix will work. Or make your own seasoning mix with herbs, spices, and salt. For convenience and flavor, buying prepared mix was well worth the 99 cents.
I love popcorn and eat it almost every day, and made sure to include it in the mix. I quickly and easily make popcorn in the microwave by adding two to three tablespoons of kernels to a brown paper lunch bag, fold the top down twice, and heat for about ninety seconds on high power. Don’t add oil, butter, or anything else; just the unpopped kernels. When the popping sounds are less than every two seconds or so, it’s ready. Doing it this way is a cinch, it saves so much money not being dependent on pre-packed microwave popcorn packets, and I can control what goes into or onto my popcorn because in general, prepared microwave popcorn is far too fake-buttery and sodium-laden for my taste.
For the snack mix, I recommend using waffle-board stye pretzels because they do a good job trapping the coatings in their window pane-like crevices, but most any type of pretzels will do. Feel free to mix-and-match the dry ingredients based on what you have and enjoy. Add crushed saltines, oyster crackers, crumbled Ritz or Club crackers, potato chips, Doritos, tortilla chips, or whatever is taking up space in the pantry.
I also had leftover peanuts from the Peanut Chewy Payday Bars, and if I would have had cashews or Rosemary Chipotle Almonds, I would have included them. This is a great recipe for cleaning out the bottom of the bags of this-and-that, which seem to plague my cupboards.
Combine the dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl, and toss to coat them with the oil-seasoning mix. Microwave on high power for two minutes, stopping after one minute to toss. The oil has a tendency to pool at the bottom of the bowl and it should be coating the goodies, not sunk at the bottom. Don’t be alarmed if it looks a bit on the oily side because it all gets absorbed. The cheese added next helps with that.
Sprinkle grated Parmesan cheese, toss, and dig in. This didn’t last long here because my husband loves pretzels in any way, but especially ones that are coated with savory herbs, spices, and Parmesan cheese. The different textures from the popcorn and peanuts make this an addictive snack.
Ready in five minutes, crunchy, salty, and perfect for those spur of the moment munchies.
Almost too easy.
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Parmesan Ranch Snack Mix (no-bake)
Ingredients
- ⅔ cup canola, vegetable, or olive oil
- 1 one-ounce packet ranch dip seasoning mix powder (I use McCormick Ranch Dip
- 4 cups popcorn, popped (2 to 3 tablespoons unpopped kernels)
- 3 ½ cups pretzels (waffle-style pretzels recommended, I useSnyder's
- ¾ cup peanuts, almonds, cashews, or favorite nuts or mixed nuts, optional
- 3 ounces Parmesan cheese, grated
Instructions
- In a large microwave-safe bowl, add the oil, ranch mix, and stir to combine. Add the popcorn, pretzels, nuts, and optional ingredients (see below). Tip to make popcorn easily - add 2 to 3 tablespoons unpopped kernels to a brown paper lunch bag, fold the top down twice, and heat for about 90 seconds on high power - don't add oil, butter, or anything else, just the kernels.
- Toss to evenly coat the mixture; it may seem a bit on the oily side, this is okay and it absorbs. Heat on high power for 2 minutes, stopping after 1 minute to toss the mixture because the oil has a tendency to pool at the bottom of the bowl. Add the Parmesan and toss to coat evenly. Serve mix immediately. Mix will keep for up to three days in an airtight container or large ziptop plastic bag; but is best enjoyed same day, noting that cheese has been added and some may wish to refrigerate the mix if storing it longer term.
- Optional Variations - Can be added instead of or in combination with the other dry ingredients: Coarsely crushed saltines, oyster crackers, Club or Ritz crackers, rye crisps, Asian-style rice crackers, tortilla or potato chips, favorite gourmet or specialty crackers, cashews, almonds, pecans, sunflower seeds, pistachios. For a spicy version, add a pinch of chili powder or cayenne pepper, to taste.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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Do you have a favorite party or snack mix?
I’d love to hear about your favorites because they’ll never go to waste around here. We love to crunch and munch.
Thanks for the MixerMaid Attachment Giveaway entries – just a one-day giveaway
Pinning immediately! Making as soon as I have a snack attack!
And thanks for the pin, my friend!
As much as I love popcorn, dressed up almost all ways, my hubby only likes the savory option…I bet he’d like something like this!
If he’s a savory popcorn guy, this is his deal!
How addicting does that look, yum!
My sister has made something that sounds similar – she just used pretzels though. I was just telling Jason last night how much I loved the original homemade chex party mix – long long long before you could buy it pre-made.
After my success with ranch flavored sunflower seeds, I know we will love this snack mix! I have been making my chocolate drizzled caramel popcorn everyday. It’s time to savory things up!
Looks easy and tasty…
too.easy.actually.
Popcorn and pretzels top my list for crunchy snacks! I remember my mom making chex mix and it always seemed to take forever to bake and then cool down, so I like the time factor involved here. Very convenient when I’m scrambling for something to munch on at the last minute…and only have a toaster oven! It’s funny how well I’m surviving without my big oven, but I’ve enjoyed baking small batches of a variety of your delicious recipes!
There are caramel corn recipes that start out with quick bursts and then finish in a low oven for like 45 mins or so, tossing and turning as time goes by. Sometimes I feel like things are just as good out of the microwave and that the extra step just continues to melt the caramel/sugar creating a sauce, rather than helping it to set up. Same with this kind of mix..at a certain point, the oven more or less melts the oil rather than helping it set if that makes sense. Regardless, microwave versions are nice!
And glad you’ve been thriving just with the toaster oven!
This is too funny. I was just talking with my mom last night about this recipe. She used to make this all the time and hasn’t for about 5 years and has absolutely NO recollection of it at all! I think she’s getting senile, even though she’s only 54!
I love easy recipes like this for the holidays. Perfect, and better than the storebought crap by far.
I am ready for Superbowl eats, so this is good with me too! Now you have me craving salty savory snacks…
This would make such a fun gift to give for the holidays! I love mixing up all the sweet treats with a savory one! I want a big bowl sitting next to my computer so I can nosh and work all morning!
And thanks for the pin my friend!
Averie! This recipe is SO up Kevin’s alley. He is obsessed with snack mixes like this – and well, I am too. I adore good ole chex mix – my family and I have made it every single Christmas for years. Sometimes we make a Seasoned Pretzels recipe with uses those huge Snyders hard sourdough pretzels broken into pieces. This recipe reminds me of that except you have to bake those for about an hour. But these – no baking, 5 mins, and with the addition of popcorn (love!) and nuts. I do not think I would be able to stop munching on this. I have that problem with snack mixes. For all the entertaining people are doing in the upcoming weeks and months, easy recipes like this are golden.
i NEED to try your FF spinach artichoke dip. with a (small) side of pretzels.
just kidding – the seasoned pretzels don’t tai an hour. pretty sure this is the exact recipe we use. AMAZING. https://www.food.com/recipe/chars-seasoned-pretzels-406552
I love your last line because I need a few pretzels for my bowl of dip, too :)
And based on what you just said, try this recipe. You’ve got nothing to lose except…4 minutes!
I make something similar every Christmas with oyster crackers. It’s a great snack to have around during the holidays when you never know when you might need a quick app on hand! Yours looks great – I’ll take any variation on popcorn!
Quick appetizers and snacks are always nice, I agree!
This looks delicious Averie and dangerously addictive :-)
haha my husband would also love some of this right about now. As much as he loves all the baking I do, I think he’s a little sick of all the sweet treats coming out of my kitchen at the moment. This sounds delicious by the way!
My husband can’t even keep things straight! I’ll tell him, well today I made xyz. It’s really similar to those abc bars you told me you loved a couple months ago. And not only does he not remember abc bars, he can’t remember he even told me he liked them! lol
I know this would be good b/c I’ve made it before with oyster crackers and ranch powder, dill, onion and garlic powder. But you never cease to amaze me b/c this is a very clever and tasty way to use up odds and ends in the pantry indeed! Also throwing some chocolate bits or m&m’s in the mix wouldn’t hurt either! Maybe some dried plump cherries too! Lol. Of course plenty of nuts too! Ok I better stop b/c I’m making myself very hungry now and it’s way to early in the morning to be eating!
I was a little wary of chocolate or sweets in this one just b/c of the ranch flavors but this one – oh this one would be so good with dried fruit or more chocolate!
https://www.loveveggiesandyoga.com/2012/08/cinnamon-sugar-chocolate-pretzels.html
What a great, and more importantly EASY, snack mix! The ranch flavor would be a hit with my family!
EASY – yes, the name of the game!