Homemade Gardetto’s snack mix is a savory, crunchy blend of mini pretzels, rye chips and cereal tossed in a flavorful seasoning. It’s my favorite salty spicy snack mix and even my kids love it. Whether hosting a movie night or holiday parties, my copycat Gardetto’s Recipe is always a crowd-pleaser!

homemade gardettos in a plastic white basket

5-Star Review

“Mom made this every year, in fact, it wasn’t Christmas without this stuff.” -John

Copycat Gardetto’s Recipe

I adapted this recipe from one of my favorite cookbooks, Cravings by Chrissy Tiegen. These Homemade Gardetto’s instantly caught my eye, and I wanted to try them right away! The bold, spicy and salty combination makes this snack mix everything I crave! I hope this recipe brings you as much joy as it does for me —perfect for Super Bowl parties, holiday gatherings, summer BBQs, and road trips!

Recipe Card

Homemade Gardetto’s

4.40 from 86 votes
Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 45 minutes
Total: 50 minutes
Servings: 12
Author: Becky Hardin
This recipe for HOMEMADE GARDETTO'S is a fun and easy way to make a delicious snack mix for your family! Love the flavor and that you can control all of the ingredients. Perfect for tailgating or holiday get togethers.
Gardetto’s snack mix is a savory, crunchy blend of mini pretzels, rye chips and cereal tossed in a flavorful seasoning. The bold, spicy and salty combination makes this snack mix everything I crave! Whether I'm hosting a movie night or a holiday party, my copycat Gardetto's recipe is always a crowd-pleaser!
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Equipment

  • 2 Baking Sheet

Ingredients 

  • 6 cups Chex cereal rice and corn work well
  • 3 ounces Grissini Torinesi thin breadsticks broken into 2-inch pieces (1 package)
  • 2 cups itty bitty minis pretzels
  • ½ cup butter (1 stick)
  • 1 ounce ranch seasoning store-bought or homemade
  • ¼ cup Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tablespoon hot sauce
  • ½ teaspoon seasoning salt
  • tablespoons garlic powder
  • ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 2 cups Gardetto's Special Request Rye Chips

Instructions 

  • Preheat oven to 300°F. Since this recipe requires two baking sheets, set one oven rack to upper middle and one to lower middle.
  • In a large mixing bowl, combine cereal, breadsticks, and pretzels.
    6 cups Chex cereal, 3 ounces Grissini Torinesi thin breadsticks, 2 cups itty bitty minis pretzels
  • In a small saucepan, over medium heat, combine butter, dry ranch dip, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, seasoning salt, garlic powder, and black pepper. Whisk well and cook until butter melts. Remove from the heat.
    ½ cup butter, 1 ounce ranch seasoning, ¼ cup Worcestershire sauce, 1 tablespoon hot sauce, ½ teaspoon seasoning salt, 1½ tablespoons garlic powder, ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
  • Stir well and pour butter mixture over the cereal mixture. Stir until all dry ingredients are thoroughly coated.
  • Spread half of the cereal mixture, in an even layer, onto a baking sheet. Pour the remaining half over the second baking sheet.
  • Place baking sheets in the oven and bake for a total of 30 minutes. After 15 minutes, add half the Gardetto's Rye Chips to each tray and stir.
    2 cups Gardetto's Special Request Rye Chips
  • Rotate the baking sheets, top-to-bottom and front-to-back. Bake another 15 minutes. If the cereal isn't crispy, bake another 5-15 minutes.
  • Pour the baked mix onto a clean dishcloth to cool. Store in an airtight container.
Calories: 448kcalCarbohydrates: 72gProtein: 10gFat: 15gSaturated Fat: 6gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0.3gCholesterol: 20mgSodium: 1216mgPotassium: 206mgFiber: 6gSugar: 7gVitamin A: 573IUVitamin C: 6mgCalcium: 79mgIron: 12mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Did you make this? Leave a comment!

How to Store

Once the snack mix is completely at room temperature, transfer to an airtight container and store at room temperature.

spread out gardettos on a table
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Serving Suggestions

This amazing snack mix recipe needs a good cocktail to wash it down with. I recommend my Skinny Margarita and Champagne Sangria. If you’re throwing a party then go for my Party Punch. Game Day here we come!

more homemade snack mix RECIPES to try

Meet Becky Hardin

Becky Hardin is a wife and mother living in Saint Louis Missouri. She founded The Cookie Rookie in 2012 as a creative way to share recipes. Now, she is a trusted resource for easy cooking around the world, being featured in Taste of Home, The Kitchn, ABC’s Home and Family, and more. Here at The Cookie Rookie she is the editor in chief of all recipes and continues to enjoy sharing her passion for cooking for busy families. She has since founded two additional food blogs, Easy Chicken Recipes and Easy Dessert Recipes.

4.40 from 86 votes (82 ratings without comment)
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18 Comments
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Rye bread chips
Rye bread chips
February 13, 2025 1:55 am

Great recipe! I love the crunchy texture and rich, hearty flavor of rye chips. The seasoning blend sounds delicious—can’t wait to try making these at home! Thanks for sharing!5 stars

John Rhoe
John Rhoe
January 19, 2023 3:11 pm

Mom made this every year, in fact, it wasn’t Xmas without this stuff.5 stars

Samantha Marceau
January 19, 2023 4:12 pm
Reply to  John Rhoe

What a wonderful memory, John! Thanks so much for sharing!

Sue
Sue
January 11, 2023 7:17 pm

I’m a little confused – the recipe states .5 cup of butter then 1/2 stick that would be 1/4 cup right?

Samantha Marceau
January 12, 2023 9:04 am
Reply to  Sue

The correct measurement is 1/2 cup butter (1 stick)!

Heather
Heather
December 4, 2022 5:06 pm

Definitely needs to be tweaked 30 minutes is too long and it’s very bland – I tried again with half the cereal pretzels etc and added more season salt, much. We’re

Samantha Marceau
December 5, 2022 9:27 am
Reply to  Heather

We’re sorry this recipe wasn’t quite to your tastes, Heather! Thanks for sharing what worked for you.

Jess Gratner
Jess Gratner
March 3, 2025 12:54 am
Reply to  Heather

I make mine differently – but this way was still good too (no shade). I love trying new mixes!
Mine is to mix 1/2 C oil of choice with 1 TBSP Worcestershire, 1/2 – 1 tsp yellow mustard (I like it a bit more mustardy), a pinch of crushed carroway seeds, 3 tsp Dill Weed, 1 tsp lemon pepper, 1 tsp garlic salt (sometimes more lol), 1 tsp each chili powder and paprika, 1/2 tsp onion *salt (not powder), and 1 TBSP soy sauce (I prefer LaChoy), Sprinkle of thyme, and 1 tsp season salt. I do not heat this mix, but do let it rest 10 minutes or so. Side note- the flavors in the herbs comes out better if you gently roll them in your hand, works for cooking anything)
The crackers/pretzels, etc are the same but I add a few oyster crackers. I toss together, heat in oven at 300°F in an oven safe *bowl* for 3 minutes, stir and go another 3. Then stir again. Then I lay out flat in a cookie sheet and let air dry. It will seem a little soggy until it dries, the heat just helps it dry quicker.
If I’m doing this solely for my oyster cracker/pretzel mix, I double the ingredients, use 2 bags of oyster crackers and about 2 cups pretzel sticks or mini pretzels and air dry only (dont heat in oven).4 stars

ryan
ryan
May 17, 2022 4:39 pm

gardettos stans rise up

Justin
Justin
September 21, 2021 12:50 am

Hello, have you figured out a way to duplicate the sesame nubbins? Those were my favorite and sadly they removed them from the mix. I fear I will forever roam the earth in search of those delicious nubbins to no avail

Becky Hardin
Becky Hardin
September 22, 2021 9:58 am
Reply to  Justin

I have not yet!

Brie
Brie
November 16, 2021 3:56 am
Reply to  Justin

Justin, if you do a quick search for “Italian sesame breadsticks” you may be able to find some near you! They’re a salad accompaniment that some grocers still carry!

Juliann
Juliann
July 26, 2020 8:43 am

Your easy recipes caught my eye. Just enjoying thinking about all the ones I want to try. Good job!!!

Becky Hardin
Becky Hardin
July 26, 2020 4:34 pm
Reply to  Juliann

Thank you! I hope you get the chance to try them!

Vic
Vic
March 23, 2018 11:28 pm

Yum! Excited to make this! But Please take out that apostrophe!

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Health care billing services
February 1, 2018 3:46 am

Wow.Thank you very much for this crispy tip.I used to buy gardettos.You made me to prepare this at my home.Loved it

Sr. Barack Obama
Sr. Barack Obama
October 2, 2023 5:28 pm

why are you in health care5 stars