Some of the best recipes, including holiday party recipes, are inspired by memories. One of the many memorable trips I took with my family when I was young was to Avery Island, Louisiana, the home of Tabasco. We were in Louisiana to visit the New Orleans World Fair and my Mom said that since we were in the state of Louisiana we MUST visit the McIlhenny Company. I’m so glad she did because it was super fascinating to see what an in-depth process it is to make the sauce we all know and love. I vow to get back there again as an adult.
My mom, the Tabasco lover, is also the Queen of the Snack Mix. Everyone loves her creative snack mixes so much that each year at Christmas she has a list of people that she has to make it for – otherwise the holidays just aren’t the same! So, when I decided to make this Kicked Up Snack Mix, I of course turned to Mom to help me iron out the details of the recipe.
One thing I did know, was that I wanted to use Tabasco Green Jalapeño sauce to give it some flavor. I have quickly become a fan of this sauce because while many hot sauces just make the food taste HOT and don’t give it much flavor (actually they can cover up the flavor), the Tabasco Green Jalapeño sauce has a more subtle, versatile flavor that actually amps up the flavor of the food. And it doesn’t leave your mouth burning either! I found my Tabasco Green Jalapeño sauce in a surprising place at Walmart – with the BBQ sauce.
Sooooo… to make my mix, I chose some crispy ingredients with a South-of-the-Border flair – like corn chips and chicharrones (crispy pork skins). Keep reading to see what we came up with:
Rice Chex Gluten Free Cereal
Utz Pork RindsMission Tortilla ChipsTabasco Original SauceOld El Paso Taco Original Seasoning MixTabasco Green Pepper Sauce
Kicked Up Snack Mix Recipe
Ingredients:
3 Cups Toasted Rice Cereal
3 Cups Chicharrones, broken in bite size pieces
3 Cups Tortilla Chips, broken in bite size pieces
1/2 cup butter
2 Tbsp Tabasco Green Jalapeño Sauce
1 Packet Taco Seasoning
Directions:
Heat oven to 275 degrees.
Break tortilla chips and chicharrones into bite-size pieces. Place in a 9×14 pan along with Toasted Rice Cereal.
Melt butter in a microwave safe bowl.
Add Tabasco Green Jalapeño sauce to butter and stir.
Pour butter/Tabasco mixture over dry mixture and stir.
Sprinkle taco seasoning over all and stir well.
Bake for 15 minutes. Remove for oven and stir. Repeat twice. (For three 15 minute intervals total.)
Let cool and then serve.
Ingredients
- 3 Cups Toasted Rice Cereal
- 3 Cups Chicharrones, broken in bite size pieces
- 3 Cups Tortilla Chips, broken in bite size pieces
- 1/2 cup butter
- 2 Tbsp Tabasco Green Jalapeño Sauce
- 1 Packet Taco Seasoning
Instructions
- Heat oven to 275 degrees.
- Break tortilla chips and chicharrones into bite-size pieces. Place in a 9x14 pan along with Toasted Rice Cereal.
- Melt butter in a microwave safe bowl.
- Add Tabasco Green Jalapeño sauce to butter and stir.
- Pour butter/Tabasco mixture over dry mixture and stir.
- Sprinkle taco seasoning over all and stir well.
- Bake for 15 minutes. Remove for oven and stir. Repeat twice. (For three 15 minute intervals total.)
- Let cool and then serve.
susan says
I love snacks with a spice.. This would be a great appetizer snack to serve during the football games, and for the holidays.
Jeanine says
I love spicy foods. I’m gonna use some of these at my Christmas party!
Robin Rue (@massholemommy) says
Love it. I think Tabasco adds an awesome kick to so many recipes.
Liz Mays says
Now that’s the way to zap it with some flavor. Great idea, Chrysa! I’ll have to make some over here!
Christie says
I love snacks with a spicy kick! Tobasco is a really awesome product!
Jaime says
I love snacks with an added kick. This looks fantastic and I can’t wait to try out the recipe.
Kiwi says
So basically its make your own Chex Mix! I would love to make my own with a little kick to it…thanks for the suggestion!
bekki says
Looks fabulous!! I have never tried this kind but can’t wait! Looks like a great movie snack!
Rosey says
This is something that would be good for a holiday party we have to attend this weekend (we’re to bring a snack) for hubby’s work! I like Chex Mix, it’s super versatile, and this version sounds great.
Kathleen says
This would be fantastic to bring to holiday parties. It sounds so good!
Catherine S says
This sound good. I will have to make this for our next game night. All my sons friends will love it.
Theresa says
This would be so great for New Years! We always have this kind of snack mix, and my husband would prefer a hotter kick to it over the chocolate one we tend to serve.
Veronica says
I am such a wimp! I am afraid of spicy snacks. Lol. I am ashamed to admit that I am Jamaican….land of one of the hottest sauces ever
Chrysa says
I can’t do hot foods either!! But this sauce is really more just “flavorful” rather than hot. I can totally eat it!
Kecia says
This reminds me of Chex Mix, which I can eat by the bag! Not really, but I think it would make a great Super Bowl snack.
Ann Bacciaglia says
This looks like the perfect spicy snack for me. I love spicy food.
Dawn says
This is perfect game day food! I’ll have to make some this weekend.
Rachel Ferrucci says
Lovin this recipe and making it for Sunday football. It will be a great addition to the wings. I know people who use Tabasco on their popcorn too
Krystal says
The thing that’s so great about the green tabasco sauce is that it’s got a flavor as well as being hot. I don’t like hot for hot’s sake. I need flavor to go with it.
Debbie Denny says
That is a good and spicy twist. My granddaughter and hubby would like it.
Chrsytal @ YUM eating says
We love hot sauce around here and have every possible flavor of Tabasco. It’s a little out of control.
Melinda says
this looks really good. i can keep this gluten free for gifts for my sister
Debra says
Talk about a kick! My Hubs is obsessed with hot sauce, he loves the stuff. This would be perfect to make for him!
Tiffany (A Mom's Take) says
Tabasco just makes everything that much better, even the holidays and the snack foods that go along with it.
Amy Desrosiers says
I enjoy salty and crunchy foods myself! This looks like a great recipe!
Dawn says
This snack mix sounds delicious! I love Tabasco sauce!
Camesha | Mama Motivator says
Based on the Tabasco alone… I know my husband would like this. He’s the spicy food lover in our house.
Kristin says
Yum! This snack mix is totally adult flavored! I will have to make it at our Holiday Party! I think all the adults would really like it.
Debbie L. says
My hubby would love this snack! He really liked super spicy food!
Chasing Joy says
I never knew how to make snack mix. I like the addition of the pork skins.
Emily says
This recipe looks delicious! I love making snack mixes, think I’ll try yours next! #client
Emily says
Oh what a fun way to use Tabasco! This will be perfect for a party I’m having soon!