7 Unique Texas Snacks To Try On Your Next Trip To The Lone Star State

The hallmarks of Southern food might include heavy casseroles and smoked meats, but we’re also quite partial to our favorite snacks and bites that are often found at old-fashioned roadside

general stores

and impressively stocked gas stations. While some snack foods cross state lines—such as pork rinds and boiled peanuts—certain Southern states have their own specialties that can bring back memories for those who grew up eating them. Texans are passionate about just about everything that hails from the Lone Star State, and snacks are certainly no exception.

Here are 7

Texas snacks

that out-of-state visitors should try that would instantly feel like home to native Texans.

Beaver Nuggets

We couldn’t kick off without the signature snack of Texas’ mega-convenience store, Buc-ee’s. Beaver Nuggets are basically crunchy bites of heaven made with caramel, sugar, and butter-coated corn puffs. Any stop at the famous Texas chain, which has since expanded throughout the South, calls for grabbing at least one bag. Those who prefer a salty snack can go for the Buc-ee’s Nug-ee’s, which are corn puffs coated in cheese and spicy powder.

Peanut Patties

This lesser-known candy—which runs in the same family as nut brittle and pecan logs—was made popular thanks to a candy company in Tyler, Texas, called Tyler Candy, which started in 1941. It’s similar to

peanut brittle

, but with a slightly chewier texture underneath the hard caramelized shell and a bright pinkish-red color. This candy is usually found on small-town drugstore counters and general store shelves.

Kolaches

There’s one sweet treat that is important to try along any Texas food tour: a

kolache

. This doughy, fruit-filled pastry is an iconic breakfast staple in the Lone Star State, and no trip is complete without sinking your teeth into a big, pillowy bite. The pastry was brought over to rural Texas by Czech settlers during the mid-to-late 1800s, and you’ll find many of the very best kolaches in family-owned bakeries or general stores-turned-gas stations in small towns.

Movie Pickles

You might be familiar with the usual movie snacks such as boxes of candy, cups of fountain Coke (or Dr Pepper in the Lone Star State), and a tub of popcorn, but there’s one somewhat unusual concession stand snack that only Texans have been ordering for decades: pickles. Texans lovingly refer to them as  »

movie theater pickles

 » and might be surprised to find out that they’re not common elsewhere. Don’t knock it until you try it!

Frito Pie

This Texas-sized snack is a staple at

state fairs

and football tailgates, and it’s not correct unless you’re serving it right out of the Frito bag and topped with chili that doesn’t contain any beans, since

Texans famously reject any bean-laden chili

. Some folks refer to this as a “walking taco,” however Frito pie is characteristically served with chili instead of taco meat. To be fair, the toppings are similar, including shredded cheese, sour cream, and diced onion.

Texas Caviar

Before you knew it as Cowboy Caviar, which is quite the trendy snack dip these days, there was Texas Caviar. Invented in the 1950s by Helen Corbitt, famed 1950s Neiman Marcus food director, it was first served as « pickled black-eyed peas » on New Year’s Eve at the Houston Country Club. Soon after, it was dubbed « Texas caviar. » It usually includes many diced ingredients like bell pepper, tomatoes, red onion, and jalapeño; as well as corn and beans.

Try our recipe.

Big Red

While this might technically be a drink, it’s something many Texans would consider the ultimate roadside score. Founded in Waco, Texas, in 1937,

Big Red soda

is a classic fizzy beverage that was once a staple of those stopping into the gas station for an ice-cold refreshment in a glass bottle, and you’ll still find it in many barbecue joints. As far as taste goes, it is a cream soda that’s saccharinely sweet and flavored with orange and lemon oils, instead of the cherry or berry that people assume due to its color. The vibrant red hue can be attributed to dye added during production. Much like Coca-Cola, you can enjoy this glass bottle with salty peanuts as a snack.