Description
Savor southwestern zest with cool ranch jerky trail mix, a snack that blends hearty protein and crunchy textures. Spicy, tangy flavors dance across your palate, offering adventurous munching perfect for hiking or casual snacking.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 tbsps ranch seasoning mix (store-bought or homemade)
- 2 tbsps olive oil or melted butter (for tossing)
- 1 cup beef jerky (chopped into bite-sized pieces)
- 1 cup corn chips (like Fritos)
- 1 cup ranch-flavored corn nuts or seasoned tortilla strips
- 1 cup cheese crackers (like Cheez-Its)
- 1 cup mini pretzels
- 1 cup roasted almonds or peanuts (57 g)
Instructions
- Seasoning Preparation: Blend ranch seasoning with olive oil or melted butter until thoroughly combined.
- Mix Assembly: In a spacious mixing vessel, amalgamate jerky, pretzels, corn chips, nuts, crackers, and corn nuts, ensuring comprehensive ingredient integration.
- Coating Technique: Pour seasoning mixture over trail mix components, gently tossing to achieve uniform flavor distribution and complete ingredient coverage.
- Optional Toasting: If desired, heat oven to 250F (120C) and spread mixture evenly across baking sheet, roasting for 15-20 minutes to enhance flavor complexity and texture.
- Cooling and Storage: Allow trail mix to reach ambient temperature completely, then transfer to hermetic container for optimal freshness and crunch preservation.
Notes
- Adjust ranch seasoning amount based on personal taste preference, starting with less and adding gradually to avoid overwhelming flavors.
- Toast ingredients separately before mixing to maintain crisp texture and prevent moisture absorption from jerky or seasonings.
- Swap jerky types or use alternative protein sources like roasted chickpeas or plant-based jerky for dietary variations.
- Keep trail mix in a cool, dry place in an airtight container to preserve crunchiness and prevent staleness, consuming within 1-2 weeks for optimal freshness.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 250 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 1.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 15 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 8 g
- Cholesterol: 20 mg