7 Snacks Sure to Be a Hit at Your Next Poker Night

Hosting a poker night is super fun, but it can also be intimidating. A lot of planning has to happen to make it an enjoyable night for everyone, and that includes the food you’re serving.

Your guests need to be well-fed so they can focus on the game. If they’re hungry, they could leave the game early to go hunt down some food! Luckily, that’s easily preventable with delicious snacks that’ll satisfy everyone. Check out these bet-worthy snack ideas to make your poker night a total success!

1. Wild River Black Pepper Old Fashioned Jerky

Your table is set, the chips are stacked and you’ve got the music going. What kind of snack can you serve that doesn’t have a dozen ingredients and 90 minutes of prep time? Jerky of course!

Authentic jerky is a perfect poker night snack when you need something in a pinch. No preparation, no cook time, and you don’t even have to arrange it on a fancy platter. Just open a bag and let the game (and snacking) begin!

Besides being low-maintenance, jerky is also a crowd-pleaser because it tastes so darn good. Especially our Black Pepper Old Fashioned Jerky. Thinly sliced and smoked, it has a robust beef flavor with a friendly kick to it. Plus, it goes great with beer!

2. Corn Dogs

Corn dogs? At poker night? You bet!

While you may think of corn dogs as classic ballgame or fair food, they’re a sublime poker night snack. Served on sticks, everyone can dig in without getting their hands or cards greasy.

You can serve them up plain or with a variety of fun dipping sauces like:

• Ketchup
• Honey mustard
• Relish
• Ranch dressing
• Melted cheese
• Hot and spicy mustard
• Barbecue sauce
• Any type of aioli

3. Fruit Skewers

Fruit skewers offer a refreshing, sweet treat that’s way less messy than ice cream, pie or other desserts. And serving your fruit on skewers eliminates the need for silverware. Plus, everything is more fun to eat on a skewer!

The key to making an outstanding fruit skewer is to choose fruits with a firm enough texture so they won’t fall apart or slide off the stick. You’ll also want to avoid fruits that brown too quickly when left in the open air

And if you want to take it up a notch, choose a variety of fruits to make your skewers extra colorful! Here are some suggestions:

• Pineapple
• Watermelon
• Grapes
• Strawberries
• Cantaloupe
• Kiwi
• Honeydew melon
• Blackberries

4. Cuban Sliders

Everyone loves a slider. These mini-sandwiches are easy to eat while packing a tremendous amount of flavor, making them a perfect poker night snack. And with Cuban sliders, you can turn a regular ham sandwich into a luscious feast.

You only need a handful of ingredients to create an impressive Cuban slider:

• Dinner rolls (we recommend using sweet Hawaiian rolls)
• Sliced ham
• Pulled pork
• Dijon mustard
• Pickles
• Swiss cheese

You can certainly serve them as cold sandwiches, but toasting these sliders in your oven will make them even better. Bake them in your oven for about 20 minutes and watch them disappear among your poker players!

5. Seasoned Popcorn

When you bring out the popcorn, your poker guests are sure to say, “I’m all in!” This addicting snack is fine with regular butter and salt, but you can skyrocket everyone’s tastebuds to popcorn nirvana with different flavors, like:

• Spicy Cajun
• Parmesan ranch
• Garlic herb
• Cheddar cheese
• French onion
• Cinnamon sugar
• Chili lime

5. Peanut Butter-Filled Pretzels

Pretzels are a classic poker snack, right alongside chips and mixed nuts. But peanut butter-filled pretzels? Well, let’s just say that whoever came up with this combo is a snack genius.

In one bite you get the perfect balance between sweet and salty, and creamy and crunchy. Besides being tasty, getting these little pretzels ready for your poker game requires no effort on your part. Open a bag, toss your pretzels in a bowl, and you’re all set!

Pro poker host tip: Have a few backup bags. These snacks are so deliciously poppable, they tend to disappear fast!

7. Blondie Bars

If any of your pals have a sweet tooth but aren’t chocolate fans, blondie bars are an irresistible snack for poker night. Buttery, soft and chewy, these bars are quick and easy to make in your own kitchen with everyday ingredients. You can even add white chocolate chips to make them extra rich.

If you don’t have the time (or energy) to make blondies at home, you can stop by your local grocery store or bakery and pick up a tray. They usually come precut, but you can make them into a bite-sized treat by cutting the squares in halves or quarters.

Don’t Forget the Beer!

Does it even count as poker if you don’t have your favorite beer there? Whether you’re calling or folding, nothing beats having an ice-cold beer with your poker buds.

If you’re not sure what kind of beer to serve, choose an assortment of light and dark beers to please your crowd. If there’s a fun seasonal beer happening (like Oktoberfest), your guests may love sipping on one of those as well! Just make sure to have your beer chilled in the cooler or fridge before everyone arrives.

Give Your Poker Night a Winning Edge With Wild River Jerky

You can’t go wrong with any of these snack choices for your next poker night. And Wild River jerky has everything you want in a poker snack. Made with 100% beef, it’s the kind of snack you can really sink your teeth into.

Find any of our four satisfying jerky flavors at a store near you.