A fanatic ranks his favorite things on the menu at the famous Texas chain, Buc-ee’s
After years of road trips and even witnessing one of the country’s largest Buc-ee’s being recently installed in our hometown, we’ve been able to soak in the Buc-ee’s travel center experience in multiple locations. Famous for its size, its snacks and its clean restrooms, I can finally confirm that it is indeed one of the best places to stop on a trip. It is with this extensive experience that I decided to create an ultimate list of the best foods at Buc-ee’s as a guide for your next stop at the Beaver Kingdom.
In my professional opinion, the best foods at Buc-ee’s are barbeque, beef jerky, breakfast tacos, banana pudding, trail mix, Beaver Nuggets (of course), chicken fajita tacos, caramel popcorn, fudge, and homemade chips.
| Rank | Food | Best for … |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | BBQ Sandwiches | Pulled pork sandwiches are great if you’re looking for a filling meal. |
| 2 | Beef jerky | Great for snacky meat lovers on the go. |
| 3 | Breakfast tacos | Perfect for breakfast. We recommend The Hippo or the Rhino. |
| 4 | Banana pudding | Served in a car-friendly cup – this one is great for sweet tooths. |
| 5 | Trail mix | A convenient sharable snack in a variety of combinations. |
| 6 | Beaver Nuggets | A fan favorite that tastes like Honey Smacks. |
| 7 | Chicken fajita tacos | For TexMex cravings on the go. |
| 8 | Caramel popcorn | We love all Buc-ee’s popcorn, but caramel is the fan fav. |
| 9 | Fudge | Buc-ee’s makes their fudge on-site in a variety of flavors. |
| 10 | Homemade chips | The best homemade chips you’ll ever find in a gas station. |
1. BBQ pulled pork and brisket sandwiches
First we have Buc-ee’s barbecue – one of the more filling options for the culinary curious. Previously, I’d tried the brisket and found it to be not bad. But at that point, I hadn’t tried the pulled pork. I corrected that mistake recently. While the brisket sandwich is better than most fast food road trip options, it’s not as good as local mom-and-pop barbecue establishments. The pulled pork, however, is a notch or two above the brisket. I suspect it’s because the pulled pork survives slightly better under the production limitations that Buc-ee’s must overcome. The calibrations don’t have to be quite as precise. And it’s one of the better quality dishes available as it’s all prepared on-site. Certainly, I’m not here to tell you to drive past a local smoker or dedicated BBQ restaurant to go to Buc-ee’s, but I am willing to tell you it’s probably the best mass-produced road trip sandwich available.
2. Beef jerky
Belinda Carlisle once sang “Heaven is a Place on Earth.” I’m pretty sure she was singing about the jerky counter at Buc-ee’s. It is like the meat case at a grocery store but instead of selections of steaks, chicken and ground beef, it’s just different flavors of dried meat piled high. How committed am I to the beef jerky life? I can remember the first time I had it. It was made by hand by a craftsperson who served it on a field trip at Historic Old Fort in Fort Wayne, Indiana. So, I like to think the reenactor – a champion of jerky tradition and pride – is looking down from somewhere ethereal at the Buc-ee’s jerky counter and pleased that their life’s work wasn’t in vain.
3. Breakfast tacos
Buc-ee’s has a variety of breakfast tacos. However, I think drifts closer to the realm of burritos – but we’re not going to quibble over technicalities. There are different varieties. The Hippo taco has bacon, egg, cheese, potatoes and beans. The Rhino substitutes sausage for bacon. And honestly, they are all flavorsome.
4. Banana pudding
As you can probably tell from the list, I prefer savory snacks to sweet snacks most of the time, but I’m a sucker for banana pudding. In case you’re wondering, the best banana pudding in the world is at Dreamland Barbecue in Tuscaloosa. Buc-ee’s isn’t that good but when you’re on the road, you have to take what you can get. And this banana pudding is worth taking. It’s scrumptious.
5. Trail mix
Buc-ee’s specializes in walls of various treats. There’s a beef jerky wall, a dried fruit wall and a wall of gummy treats. There is also a large section dedicated to a variety of trail mixes. It goes far beyond the typical trail mix with a variety for everyone. In particular, it’s a good energy snack for the road.
6. Buc-ee’s Beaver Nuggets
A controversial selection here ranking at just number six as the Beaver Nuggets are probably Buc-ee’s most recognizable and blogged-about snack. Most Buc-ee’s fans will say these nuggets are the primary reason for visiting the establishment. To me, they’re a cousin of the cereal Honey Smacks. But with more caramel flavor. It’s not my favorite thing but many people swear by the puffed corn nuggets.
7. Chicken fajita tacos
I like Buc-ee’s tacos very much. They are delectable. Quite frankly, I haven’t met a Buc-ees fajita taco I didn’t like. Plus, as only someone with three kids can appreciate, I give it bonus points for being easy to eat in a car. If only all road fajitas were served a mess-free, heat-insulated, recyclable aluminum foil.
8. Caramel corn
It’s a high-floor, low-ceiling kind of snack. Is it possible to mess up popcorn? I suppose, theoretically, it is, but more often than not you know what you’re getting. Good. Satisfying. Sweet. Crunchy. Not life-changing. But it’s a good road trip snack. Buc-ee’s popcorn comes in a variety of flavors, but for my money, caramel is the best.
9. Fudge
Even if you don’t have a sweet tooth, Buc-ee’s fudge counter is a sight to behold. You can get a sugar rush just from walking by. They have flavors ranging from traditional, like the chocolate, and peanut butter, to the curious, like a blueberry cobbler, to the downright reckless – I’m looking at you, key lime pie – and also birthday cake. It’s all tasty. You can’t go wrong.
10. Buc-ee’s homemade chips
They’re chips. They don’t reinvent the art form or anything. But they are homemade, so there is that. Try asking for homemade chips at the local 7-Eleven convenience store and see what happens. Plus, these chips are served in a cup, making them a road trip-friendly, sharable snack that really hits the spot.
Other honorable mentions include beaver tails, pre-packaged cold sandwiches, mixed-nuts, pre-packaged meats and cheese, cinnamon rolls (with cream cheese coating), peach rings (a classic road trip candy), fruit cups, Buc-ee’s famous pickled quail eggs, kolaches and the sausage on a stick.
Frequently asked questions
What is Buc-ee’s famous for?
Buc-ee’s is a chain of gas stations famous for their massive size, clean restrooms, quality snacks and beaver-themed merchandise.
What is the best-selling sandwich at Buc-ee’s?
The famous brisket sandwich, from what we can tell, is among the, if not THE best-selling sandwich in store.
What do beaver nuggets taste like?
I think beaver nuggets taste like the cereal honey smacks, but some compare the taste to waffles with syrup.
Why are truckers not allowed at Buc-ee’s?
Buc-ee’s has never gone on the record about why they do not allow large trucks on their premises. However, it likely has something to do with crowd control and atmosphere. Buc-ee’s is a famously family-friendly brand.
Do you enjoy dining at Buc-ee’s? What items do you think are the best? Let us know in the comments!
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Does Bucee offer chicken in any variety?
Yes, they have strips and I think they also have a chicken sandwich also in most locations 🙂
Great job, you are very entertaining with your writing.
Their frozen stuffed chicken is amazing! I have tried the dirty rice and the andouille sausage & shrimp ones. They are raw though, so must be close to home and cook on your own. We smoked ours
I’m sorry but the sausage on a stick is delicious, especially if you are a kielbasa fan. The tortilla is a little weird but the meat itself is delectable!
I have to get the homemade chips every trip, they are yummy. Also the candied pecans are another favorite. I’ve had the brisket and my local BBQ joint is hands down better. The bagged snacks are awesome with so much variety to choose from. The nuggets I’ll pass on, they are like Cap’n crunch without the milk.
I always got the brisket sandwich when we stopped there but I tried the turkey sandwich and I have a new favorite.