The 7 Best Snacks at Buc-ee’s, According to a Texan

"A cult-favorite Southern gas station and travel center with over 100 gas pumps, it feels more like a culinary destination than a simple pit stop: inside you'll find kitschy decor, whole rows of packaged snacks, a hot counter with fresh barbecue sandwiches, refrigerated ready-to-eat goods, a bakery display, pounds of fudge behind a glass wall, and a large selection of house-made beef jerky. Standout items to try include Beaver Nuggets (light, airy corn puffs—the original has a caramelized, maple-like exterior), a warm smoked brisket sandwich served on a soft bun (opt for the chopped brisket and add sliced pickles for ease and extra flavor), and kolaches—soft, yeasted Texas-Czech pastries available in savory sausage varieties and sweeter options like pecan pie. The snack selection also features dozens of jerky flavors sold by the pound, a wide assortment of pecans from hot sugar-roasted cones to chewy pralines or shelf-stable seasoned bags, and a banana pudding praised for its balanced pudding–banana–Nilla wafer–whipped cream ratio. For souvenirs and entertaining, a jar of red pepper jelly is a popular choice—try it spooned over cream cheese or goat cheese with crackers. With about 54 locations across Texas and the South, the chain offers an overwhelming variety of drinks and snacks, though not every item is a standout, so these essentials are the ones locals recommend." - Merlyn Miller