Holder of two world records as well as a special place in the hearts of most Texans, there’s only one convenience store that merits near-religious fervor.
Buc-ee’s beaver mascot has beamed as a beacon of hope from cheeky highway billboards for many full bladders and empty tummies over the years. The next time you’re stopping by to enjoy the cleanest highwayside bathroom you’ve ever experienced, stretch your legs in the aisles and snag some of our favorite Buc-ee’s snacks.
Contributed by Kelly McComas
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Photo via Amazon
Jalapeno Cheddar Popcorn
What makes a great road trip snack? Craveable cheesy saltiness, near-endless quantities, a hint of spicy heat...some sort of sticky residue that gets all over your hands and steering wheel...Buc-ee’s Jalapeno Cheddar Popcorn sure as heck checks all of those boxes. We never leave the store without at least one big bag of the stuff, and it’s usually the first thing we crack open once back on the road.
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Photo via Yelp
Breakfast Tacos
A breakfast taco may be the only real food you eat on a road trip day. It’s perfect: easy to eat one-handed, tasty even if you forget about it for a couple of hours, and filling - but not so filling that you’re deterred from opening the next snack as soon as you fulfill your basic nutritional needs. Pro-tip: order your tacos from one of the touch screen kiosks to customize it by adding extra toppings or even (if you’re really trying to be a health nut) leaving out the tortilla in favor of a breakfast bowl like this genius Yelper.
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Photo via Yelp
Boudin Kolaches
We know, boudin is kind of a Louisiana thing, but Buc-ee’s does it the Texas way - by stuffing a kolache full of it. If you’re not a breakfast taco person (it’s okay, nobody’s perfect), load up a box of hot fresh kolaches instead, and don’t forget to throw in one filled with boudin: a savory and spicy mix of sausage, rice, and Cajun seasonings. Words really don’t do it justice. Just try it.
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Photo via Yelp
All the Gummy Candy
You know that phrase “a kid in a candy store”? Frankly, if you didn’t feel like a kid in a candy store upon seeing the gummy selection at Buc-ee’s, we’d worry you weren’t a real person. The floor-to-ceiling racks of chewy sugar bombs that line an entire wall of the store are awe-inspiring no matter one’s age. Nobody ever went wrong with a pound of gummy bears, but you can truly pick your gelatinous poison here.
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Photo via Yelp
Roasted Pecans
You’re probably familiar with the cinnamony, buttery, heavenly aroma that hits your nostrils when you pass through the automatic doors into the fluorescent glowing abundance of Buc-ee’s. They’re not actually piping that in through the HVAC - it’s coming from the paper cones of warm roasted nuts that beckon from heat lamp trays near the meat counter. We favor the cinnamon pecans, but you really can’t go wrong with any of the options on offer - just be sure to eat ‘em while they’re still warm!
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Photo via Yelp
Red Velvet Fudge
The Big Beaver offers giant, dense squares of moist chocolatey fudge just like Grandma used to make it. Buc-ee’s fudge also comes in some flavors ol’ Granny probably wouldn’t have dreamed of, like...watermelon? We’re not sure about that one, but we can endorse the original, red velvet, and birthday cake flavors. The best part about the fudge counter is that Buc-ee’s staff are generally pretty chill about letting you sample a bunch (although we can’t make any promises about this practice during a pandemic).
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Salsas & Hot Sauces
The next time you have a few hours (and taste buds) to kill, drive to your closest Buc-ee’s and pick an assortment of hot sauces for your very own episode of Hot Ones. Grab some chicken wings or tortilla chips (whatever floats your boat, it’s just a vehicle for flamin’ sauce) and sample some of our state’s finest spicies. We love the 7-Pot Primo Pepper Hot Sauce and the Carolina Reaper Salsa. BTW, it’s a good idea to grab a bottle of Pepto and a carton of milk before you embark on your tasting journey...don’t say we didn’t warn you.
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Photo via Rachel Laudan
Jellies & Pickles
Buc-ee’s is a great place to stock up on stocking stuffers for all of your friends and relatives, and their preserved foods are a perfect shelf-stable present that’ll last til the next time you see your in-laws. Texans and non-Texans alike may be unfamiliar with down-home tasties like mayhaw (a tart berry sort of like a southern cranberry) jelly or innovative excellence such as salted caramel honey butter. If you’re more into jars of salty stuff, Buc-ee’s has that covered, too - browse an array of pickled delights, from quail eggs to Brussels sprouts to everyone’s favorite, okra.
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Photo via Yelp
Beef Jerky
Don’t leave Buc-ee’s without stopping by the jerky counter, known to its true fans as Meat Wonderland. Here, you can order slices and slabs of housemade jerky by the pound in a wide variety of flavors. Bohemian Garlic and Sweet n’ Spicy are our favorites, but the Hill Country Turkey Jerky is surprisingly excellent as well. If protein is a measure of a healthy diet, then maybe Buc-ee’s ain’t so nutritionally shameful as you’d think.
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Photo via Buc-ee's
Beaver Nuggets
Y’all, we saved the best Buc-ee’s treat for last. What is a Beaver Nugget? It’s like if Cheeto Puffs and caramel corn had a sweet, salty, crunchy, mouthwatering little baby. The massive bags go sticky quick, so they’re really best enjoyed in a mindless binge while driving across our beautiful state. In recent years, Buc-ee’s has rolled out scrumptious varieties such as the Salted Caramel Beaver Nugget or the dark-chocolate-dipped Beaver Nugget - but in our opinion, the OG Nugget is the best Nugget.
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Alright, did we miss one?
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