The Best Portable Snack Mixes for Families On-The-Go

Whether you’re traveling, trekking, or tackling your busy schedules, these portable snack mixes will help fuel your fun!

In this article, you’ll find our favorite snack mix recipes that we rotate between making when we’re on-the-go.

Consider making these easy snack mixes the next time you need a quick and affordable option to nibble on throughout your day or to bring along on your next family road trip or other grand adventure.

Let’s get snacking!

Ranch Snack Mix

There are literally so many uses for a packet of ranch salad dressing mix, including its use as a key ingredient in one of our favorite snack mixes.

Ranch Snack Mix is perfect to snack on when you’re on-the-go; especially when on a family road trip.

It can even be made in large batches and frozen in individual containers (so as to not serve all at once) in order to prevent it from getting stale.

Ingredients

• 1 package (12 ounces) miniature pretzels
• 1 package (14.5 ounces) Bugels
• 1 can (10 ounces) salted cashews
• 1 package (6 ounces) cheddar Goldfish crackers
• 1 envelope ranch salad dressing mix
• 3/4 cup canola oil

Directions

1. In a large bowl, combine the pretzels, Bugles, cashews, and Goldfish. Sprinkle with ranch dressing mix; toss gently to combine.
2. Drizzle with oil; toss until well coated. Store in airtight containers.

Puppy Chow

A homemade batch of Puppy Chow snack mix comes with us on every cabin, camping, or weekend hotel getaway. It is our kids’ most requested sweetened snack mix and is luckily very easy to make.

This classic sweet treat is not included on our popular road trip food list, however, as the powdered sugar tends to get everywhere and can make a mess in the car. In other words, (try) to refrain from eating it until you’re at your destination.

Ingredients

• 8 cups Krispix cereal
• 1/4 cup butter
• 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 3/4 cup peanut butter
• 2 cups powdered sugar (+ more)

Directions

1. Put cereal into a large mixing bowl.
2. Melt butter, chocolate chips, and peanut butter in a saucepan over low heat. Stir until just melted Pour mixture over cereal and stir gently.
3. Put cereal mixture into a large Ziplock bag and add powdered sugar. Shake until coated. Add more powdered sugar to the desired thickness.

Classic Chex Snack Mix

With a savory flavor that can’t be beat, Classic Chex Mix is a recipe that every family needs.

Instead of purchasing the store-bought variety, make a batch of Chex snack mix and portion it into individual baggies to pop into lunchboxes, backpacks, or to snack on while traveling.

Ingredients

• 3 cups Corn Chex cereal
• 3 cups Rice Chex cereal
• 3 cups Wheat Chex cereal
• 1 cup Cheerios cereal
• 1 cup salted peanuts (or nuts of your choice)
• 1 cup pretzel sticks
• 6 Tablespoons butter
• 2 Tablespoons Worchestershire sauce
• 3/4 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 1/2 cups seasoned salt
• 1/2 teaspoon onion powder

Directions

1. In a large roasting pan, mix cereals, nuts, and pretzels; set aside.
2. In a small microwavable bowl, microwave butter and seasonings on high for 40 seconds or until melted. Stir well. Pour over cereal mixture; stir until evenly coated.
3. Back at 250 degrees for 1 hour; stirring every 15 minutes. Let cool. Store in an airtight container.

Monster Trail Mix

An essential component of our Disney day bags, or for any other family outing to a park, theme park, or all-day activity, Monster Trail Mix is the perfect portable snack.

The sweet and salty goodness of Monster snack mix is both satisfying and filling. Also, the added color and excitement from the M&Ms make it very appealing to kids.

Ingredients

• 1 cup peanuts (salted or unsalted)
• 1/2 cup cashews or almonds
• 1/2 cup chocolate M&Ms
• 1/2 cup raisins
• 1/2 cup butterscotch chips
• 1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

Directions

In a large bowl, mix all of the ingredients. Store in an airtight container.

Energizing Snack Mix

Include this energizing snack mix on your beach packing list or for when you set off on an afternoon hike. Likewise, it’s the perfect unique snack mix for your work bag or purse.

The combination of fruits, nuts, and coconut provides a protein-packed punch (with a little added sweetness), that will help you power through your day.

Ingredients

• 1 cup combination of diced, dried fruit of your choice (bananas, apricots, prunes, pears, apples, etc.)
• 1 cup walnuts or almonds
• 1/2 cup raisins or dried cranberries
• 1/2 cup dark chocolate chips
• 1 1/2 cups sunflower seeds (no shells)
• 1/4 cup shredded coconut

Directions

Mix all. Store in an airtight container.

Carmel Puff Corn

You won’t stop eating the last of the snack mixes to top our list of favorites – Old Dutch Carmel Puff Corn! In fact, it disappears the most quickly on our family camping trips and when we spend time at our cabin.

1 batch of this sweet caramel-y goodness fits into a gallon-sized Ziplock bag making it the perfect portable treat for when you’re on-the-go.

Ingredients

• 1 bag of Old Dutch Puffcorn
• 1 cup butter
• 1 1/4 cups brown sugar
• 2/3 cup light corn syrup
• 1 tsp baking soda

Directions

• Preheat oven to 250 degrees
• Combine butter, brown sugar, and light corn syrup in a 2-quart saucepan
• Cook on medium heat until the mixture has melted
• Once the mixture has melted add the baking soda (Note: This will cause the mixture to foam)
• In a large roaster pan pour Old Dutch Puffcorn and pour caramel mixture over. Stir until mixed.
• Place in the oven for 45 minutes, stirring at least every 10-15 minutes
• Remove from oven, pour on wax paper and break apart

*For an alternative recipe for Old Dutch puff corn, drizzle 1/2 package (1/2 pound) of white almond bark over 1 bag of puff corn. Mix. Spread onto wax paper to cool. I then sprinkle with color coordinate sprinkles if making for a holiday, birthday, or game day. Mmmmmm!

So, whether you’re gearing up for a hike, heading out for the day, or relaxing at a fun new destination, these snack mixes will keep everyone munching happily. 

In addition, add any of these fun snack mixes to our popular road trip goodies bags and they’ll become the hit of any road trip!

Enjoy!

*Before leaving, be sure to check our Travel Resources Page to find our exclusive travel discounts and to book hotels, rental cars, and guided tours.*

If you like our article on our favorite portable snack mixes to eat while we’re on-the-go, click here to check out our Related Posts:

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