Chipotle lime Texas trash snack mix

A couple of years ago, a reader asked me if I had a recipe for Texas trash that was different from the usual. Now, if you’re not familiar with Texas trash, well, it’s similar to Chex party mix, except—it being Texas and all—we tend to spice it up with chili powder and dashes of hot sauce, like Tabasco. Plus, we often use bacon grease as the fat, along with the usual butter.

At heart, though, Texas trash is your typical addictive snack mix comprised of crunchy things like cereal, crackers, and pretzels, along with a variety of nuts. As for seasonings, besides said chiles and hot sauce, there’s also lots of garlic and Worcestershire. If you’ve been in the United States during the holidays anytime since 1953, when Chex first posted its famous recipe, I’m pretty sure you know exactly what I’m talking about.



Ever since I received that email, I’ve become kind of obsessed with Texas trash. Was it possible to make a different kind of Texas trash? Not that there’s anything wrong with the standard recipe, as I grew up eating it and I have fond memories of poking through the large tin that my mom kept it in, looking for my favorite nuts. But I do like a challenge.
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