So let’s break down WHY this Smoked and Savory Chex Mix is so amazingly GOOD! Obviously it becomes significantly better when smoked with steak rub, Worcestershire sauce, and garlic butter, but let’s take a deeper dive on this snack!
- Smoking Process: Smoking imparts a deep, complex flavor that is difficult to achieve through other cooking methods. The long, slow cooking process allows the smoke to thoroughly permeate every piece of the mix. Different types of pellets / wood (like hickory, oak, or applewood) can contribute different flavor profiles—ranging from sweet and mild to rich and strong. This introduction of smokiness can provide a subtle backdrop or a bold contrast, depending on the wood used and the smoking time.
- Steak Rub: Most steak rubs contain a blend of spices, including salt, pepper, paprika, garlic powder, and other seasonings. When sprinkled on Chex Mix, this rub adds layers of savory, spicy, and umami flavors. The salt content helps to enhance the existing tastes of other ingredients, while the spices add warmth and complexity. And let’s be honest, what doesn’t a good steak seasoning make better!
- Worcestershire Sauce: This condiment is known for its umami richness due to its ingredients like anchovies, tamarind, vinegar, molasses, and several spices. It’s a potent way to add depth and a slight tanginess to the mix. When it’s catching some heat and smoke on your pit, Worcestershire sauce can actually caramelize slightly, adding to the overall rich and savory profile.
- Garlic Butter: Butter adds a creamy richness and a slight sweetness which balances out the saltiness and strong flavors from the steak rub and Worcestershire sauce. The garlic, when combined with butter, turns into a more mellow, sweet, and aromatic flavor. This combination helps to tie all the other flavors together, making the mix more cohesive in taste. Plus it’s butter, so it tacks up all the spices from each of the various ingredients here.
- Texture: The smoking process also affects texture. The slow cooking method involved in smoking helps to dry out the snack mix just the right amount, ensuring it remains crunchy while also allowing it to absorb the flavored butter mix.
We think these components together create a multi-layered snacking experience: the smokiness adds a new depth, the steak rub provides a robust savory backbone, the Worcestershire sauce offers a tangy umami punch, and the garlic butter rounds everything out with a rich, aromatic smoothness. This Smoked and Savory Chex Mix is going to be the only way you’ll ever make it again!