Bacon Blooming Onion Chex Mix Recipes

JULIE'S EXTRA SPECIAL HOLIDAY CHEX MIX

Steps:

• Fry up the bacon until it's nice and crisp. Note: for those who've asked, 1 pound of bacon (in my experience) will yield between 1/3 to 1/2 cup of drippings. It depends on the bacon you use.
• Then place the cooked bacon in a container and reserve it for another use- it's the leftover drippings you're after!
• Pre-heat the oven to 250 degrees F.
• Melt the butter and bacon drippings together in a saucepan, then stir in the seasonings to make a nice, buttery mix.
• In a very large bowl, combine the mix ingredients.
• Gradually stir in the buttery seasoning mix until the dry mix is evenly coated.
• Spread on cookie sheets and bake for 1 hour, turning every 15 minutes.
• Spread on paper towels to cool.
• Store in airtight container.
• Makes about 14 cups Chex mix snack.

GLUTEN-FREE CHEX® BLOOMING ONIONS WITH BACON CHIPOTLE DIP

Steps:

• Mix Dip ingredients in small bowl. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.
• Crush cereals. In large bowl, mix crushed cereals, baking mix, salt and spices. In another large bowl, beat milk and eggs with whisk.
• Cut 1/2 inch off pointed end of onion; peel onion, leaving bottom stem. Cut 1-inch diameter core out of middle of onion. Using very sharp, large knife, cut through center of onion to about three-fourths of the way down. Turn the onion 90 degrees and cut it again in an X across the first cut. Keep cutting the sections in half, very carefully until the onion has been cut 16 times. Do not cut down to the bottom of the onion. Spread the "petals" of the onion apart. Coat onion with cereal mixture, separating petals and sprinkling dry coating between them. Dip onion into egg mixture, then into cereal mixture again. This double-dipping ensures a well-coated onion; some of the coating will wash off when frying the onion.
• Repeat step 3 with remaining onion, cereal mixture and egg mixture.
• In deep fat fryer or heavy saucepan, place enough oil to just cover onion. Heat oil to 350°F. Using slotted spoon, slowly place 1 coated onion at a time into hot oil. Adjust heat to keep oil at 350°F. Fry 3 minutes; turn onion with slotted spoon. Fry 3 to 4 minutes longer or until onion is golden brown. Remove with slotted spoon; drain on paper towels. Serve hot with dip.

CHEX® BLOOMING ONIONS WITH BACON CHIPOTLE DIP

Steps:

• Mix Dip ingredients in small bowl. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.
• Crush cereals. In large bowl, mix crushed cereals, flour, salt and spices. In another large bowl, beat milk and eggs with whisk.
• Cut 1/2 inch off pointed end of onion; peel onion, leaving bottom stem. Cut 1-inch diameter core out of middle of onion. Using very sharp, large knife, cut through center of onion to about three-fourths of the way down. Turn the onion 90 degrees and cut it again in an X across the first cut. Keep cutting the sections in half, very carefully until the onion has been cut 16 times. Do not cut down to the bottom of the onion. Spread the "petals" of the onion apart. Coat onion with cereal mixture, separating petals and sprinkling dry coating between them. Dip onion into egg mixture, then into cereal mixture again. This double-dipping ensures a well-coated onion; some of the coating will wash off when frying the onion.
• Repeat step 3 with remaining onion, cereal mixture and egg mixture.
• In deep fat fryer or heavy saucepan, place enough oil to just cover onion. Heat oil to 350°F. Using slotted spoon, slowly place 1 coated onion at a time into hot oil. Adjust heat to keep oil at 350°F. Fry 3 minutes; turn onion with slotted spoon. Fry 3 to 4 minutes longer or until onion is golden brown. Remove with slotted spoon; drain on paper towels. Serve hot with dip.

KENTUCKY BOURBON BACON CHEX MIX®

Steps:

• Heat oven to 300°F. Line two 15x10x1-inch pans with foil. Spray foil with cooking spray. In large bowl, mix snack mix, pecans and bacon. Set aside.
• In 2-quart saucepan, heat brown sugar, butter and corn syrup over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until bubbly around edges. Cook 5 minutes, stirring occasionally; remove from heat. Cool 2 minutes. Carefully stir in bourbon and chipotle chili powder. Pour over snack mixture; toss until evenly coated.
• Spread snack mixture on pans. Bake 15 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes, to caramelize mixture. Cool completely, about 1 hour. Break into pieces. Store covered in refrigerator.

SLOW-COOKER CHEESY BACON CHEX® MIX

Steps:

• In an oval 5- to 6-quart slow cooker, stir together 3 cereals, pretzels, cheese crackers, bacon bits and Parmesan cheese.
• In small bowl, beat melted butter, oil and ranch dressing mix with whisk until well combined. Pour over cereal mixture; stir until evenly coated.
• Cook uncovered on High heat setting 2 hours, stirring every 15 to 20 minutes.
• Spread cereal mixture on ungreased cookie sheet or sheet of waxed paper. Cool 3 to 5 minutes before serving.