Tossed in Cajun seasoning with a splash of hot sauce, these easy Spicy Mixed Nuts make a bold, customizable snack. Ready in about 40 minutes including cooling time, they’re perfect for parties, game day, or a simple afternoon pick-me-up.
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What We Love About These Spicy Mixed Nuts
These Spicy Mixed Nuts are a family favorite for good reason. They’re quick to prepare, highly adaptable, and make a festive addition to snack spreads and cheese boards. Highlights of the recipe:
- Simple prep—just one bowl, a sheet pan, and roughly five minutes of hands-on time before baking. Ideal for busy weekdays or holiday entertaining.
- Fully customizable—choose your preferred nuts and adjust the spice and salt levels. Use more cashews, skip walnuts, or swap hot sauces to tailor the flavor and heat.
- Great for gifting—fill a mason jar, add a ribbon and a tag, and you have a homemade hostess gift that’s easy to make in larger batches.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- 3 cups shelled, unsalted raw mixed nuts. Make your own blend or buy pre-mixed. Good options include almonds, pecans, walnuts, and cashews. Note: smaller nuts like peanuts or pistachios may roast faster.
- 2 tablespoons olive oil or vegetable oil. Helps the seasoning stick to the nuts.
- 2 teaspoons hot sauce. Use your favorite brand and adjust to taste. The original recipe uses Tabasco’s Original Red Pepper Sauce.
- 2 teaspoons Cajun seasoning. A mix of paprika, cayenne, garlic powder and other aromatics. Salt levels vary by brand—add kosher salt if your blend is low in salt.
Want to make your own Cajun spice blend? See the Notes section in the recipe below for a simple homemade mix.
How to Make Cajun Spiced Mixed Nuts
This recipe is straightforward. Combine the oil and hot sauce in a large bowl, add the nuts and stir until they’re evenly coated. Sprinkle the Cajun seasoning over the nuts and toss again to distribute the spices.
Spread the nuts in a single layer on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake on the middle rack at 350°F for 15–20 minutes, stirring gently halfway through. Remove when the nuts are golden and fragrant, then let them cool completely on the sheet.
Store cooled nuts in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1–2 weeks. They’re often eaten long before that!
Recipe FAQ’s
Q. How can I make this mix spicier?
A. Increase the cayenne in the seasoning or choose a hotter hot sauce. You can also use a spicier Cajun blend or add an extra pinch of cayenne before baking for more heat.
Q. How can I make this mix milder?
A. Use a milder hot sauce, reduce the cayenne, or choose a mild Cajun or Creole seasoning. Substituting Creole seasoning gives a more herbal, less fiery profile. Adjust the hot sauce and cayenne to reach your preferred heat level.
More Easy Snack Recipes
- Spiced Pepitas
- Caramelized Pecans
- Cherry Almond Granola
- Pumpkin Granola
- BBQ Snack Mix
- Ranch Crackers with Dill
Spicy Mixed Nuts
Ingredients
- 3 cups raw mixed nuts (such as almonds, walnut halves, pecan halves, and cashews)*
- 2 tablespoons olive oil or vegetable oil
- 2 teaspoons Cajun seasoning **
- 2 teaspoons hot sauce
Instructions
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Preheat oven to 350°F with the rack in the middle position. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
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In a large bowl, whisk together the oil and hot sauce. Add the nuts and stir until evenly coated. Sprinkle the Cajun seasoning over the nuts and toss to combine.
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Spread the nuts in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet.
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Bake 15–20 minutes until golden and fragrant, stirring gently halfway through. Watch closely near the end so the nuts don’t over-brown.
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Cool completely before transferring to an airtight container. Store at room temperature for 1–2 weeks.
Notes
**If your Cajun seasoning is low in salt, add 1/2 to 1 teaspoon kosher salt to taste.
Homemade Cajun seasoning: combine 1/2 teaspoon paprika, 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder, 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt (or to taste), 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, and 1/8–1/4 teaspoon cayenne (adjust for desired heat).
For a milder, more herbal flavor, substitute Creole seasoning.
Nutrition Estimate
Nutrition information is automatically calculated and should be used as an approximation.
Recipes use US customary measurements and have not been tested for high altitude cooking or baking.
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