If you are taking a road trip in the American southwest then chances are you will have come across a Buc-ee’s.
This mega establishment offers everything from gas to gummies, t-shirts to tacos and the cleanest bathrooms in the country.
Road trips are great fun but we all need to take a break, fill up on gas, stretch our legs and get some good food to keep us going.
Luckily, you’ll find everything you need to do that at Buc-ee’s. We’ve found the best items to try off Buc-ee’s menu on your next visit.
Once you’ve filled your gas tank it’s time to do the same for you and your family. No matter how many of you there are, there is something in Buc-ee’s for everyone.
What Is Buc-ee’s?
Buc-ee’s is a chain of convenience stores, gas stations and travel centers which was founded in Texas in 1982.
These are not just any convenience stores or gas stations however, they are huge, with the standard size being 57,600 square feet.
While there are bigger stores out there, this is still enormous for a convenience store and gas station. The stores are open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
The fuel pumps at most Buc-ee’s number between 80 and 120, so there’s always somewhere to fill up.
Weekends tend to be the busiest times, but the stores pride themselves on their efficiency and customer service.
One of the things that Buc-ee’s is most famous for are their restrooms. They have won awards for the cleanliness of their bathrooms so if you are fussy about that sort of thing you know where to head on your next road trip.
Buc-ee’s started out in Texas but have expanded to other states and now has 44 active locations in Tennessee, Alabama, Kentucky, Georgia, South Carolina, Florida, and Texas.
Ordering At Buc-ee’s
If you’ve never been to a Buc-ee’s before the experience can be a little overwhelming due to the sheer size of the stores.
With so many different foods to choose from it can also be confusing how you go about ordering what you want to eat.
For those wanting to sample Buc-ee’s famous brisket, sausage or barbecue all you have to do is go to the barbecue station. Employees will typically be cutting meats or making sandwiches for customers.
There is usually a heated stand from where you can select a sandwich of your choice. Simply make your selection and take it to a cash register to pay.
If what you want isn’t already available to pick up and take away you can order at one of the available kiosks. You can order what you want via the touchscreen as you would in a fast food restaurant.
Take the slip of paper the machine gives out which has your order number on it. As soon as your order is ready your number will be called, and you can collect your food.
What Kind Of Food Do Buc-ee’s Sell?
Buc-ee’s offer a range of different convenience foods for those who are stopping off at their locations.
Some of the most popular products are from the barbecue station which offer ready made sandwiches to pick up and go or a freshly made sandwich.
Stores have a range of smoked meats, chopped brisket, pulled pork, turkey, and sausage so there’s bound to be something that will get your taste buds tingling.
The brisket at Buc-ee’s is a big favorite. It’s not completely cooked on site, but semi cooked before being brought to the store and finished off.
Buc-ee’s barbecue is made with a ketchup base which gives a great tangy flavor to the meat.
Apart from their popular barbecue offerings, Buc-ee’s also offer tacos and burritos, jerky, candy and snacks, as well as their famous Beaver Nuggets.
These are a crunchy snack made of corn, brown sugar, baking soda and corn syrup.
Pastries and desserts are also a great choice at Buc-ee’s and many of their Texas stores sell kolaches and klobasniky. These are round pastries that are filled with either sweet or savory fillings.
You can also buy healthier snacks such as fruit cups, nuts and trail mix.
1. Fresh Fruit Cups
Not all road trip snacks have to be unhealthy and Buc-ee’s offer some great fruit cups which are packed with 12 ounces of fresh fruit.
Depending on the time of year you can choose from pineapple, grapes and melon as single fruit cups or mixed as a fruit salad.
If you prefer vegetables to fruit then some locations offer cups filled with raw vegetable crudites including carrot and celery.
So how healthy are the fruit cups from Buc-ee’s? In terms of nutrition, they offer 100 calories per serving. The serving in this case is 162 grams. There is no fat in their fruit cups, no sodium and no cholesterol.
There are 24 grams of carbohydrates, or 9% of your daily value. They offer 3 grams of dietary fiber which is equivalent to 11% of your daily value.
You will get 30 milligrams of calcium or 2% daily value, 0.5 milligrams of iron or 3% daily value and 360 milligrams of potassium which amounts to 8% of your daily value.
Fruits and vegetables are a healthy alternative to sugary snacks when on a road trip.
2. Beaver Nuggets
The top selling snack at Buc-ee’s are their Beaver Nuggets. These are a crunchy corn snack which are covered with brown sugar and corn syrup and have a taste between caramel and corn puffs. However, they are not too sweet but still easy to get hooked on.
You don’t even have to visit Buc-ee’s to get your hands on their Beaver Nuggets as you can also buy them online.
There are other flavors of Beaver Nuggets including cinnamon, sea salt caramel, milk chocolate, white cheddar, dark chocolate, spicy, and white fudge.
These other flavors are available in smaller bags such as 3 ounces and 10 ounces but the original Beaver Nuggets come in a 13 ounce bag.
While they may be tasty, you may wonder about how healthy Beaver Nuggets are. The serving size for this example is 1 ounce, and the snacks come in 13 ounce bags.
Each serving is 130 calories, has 300% daily value of trans fats and 58% of daily added sugars.
So while they may be moreish it’s best to limit yourself to a few servings and try not to eat the whole bag.
3. Tacos & Burritos
As the home of Buc-ee’s is Texas which shares a border with Mexico it’s not surprising that they have tacos on their menu.
Breakfast tacos have been part of Buc-ee’s menu since they first opened and are one of their best selling foods.
In fact you can buy tacos as early as 4am up until 11am but often they will have sold out well before then, often by 9am so you’ll have to get in there early.
The tacos in Buc-ee’s come in flour tortillas or corn tortillas and they grill them for added flavor.
You will be able to choose from a variety of homemade barbecued meats, sausages, potatoes, bacon, egg, beans and cheese.
You can also get shredded beef and a wonderfully named Hippo Taco which is filled with cheese, beans, potato, bacon and egg.
The equally fantastically named Rhino taco has most of the same ingredients but substitutes sausage for bacon.
The burritos are a very good size and make a filling lunchtime meal. They do vary according to the state you’re in.
For example, on the West Coast you’ll be familiar with Buc-ee’s beef burrito with finely ground beef. The Texas Philly cheesesteak burrito is another winner as is the chicken burrito.
4. Trail Mix
If you’re just looking for a light snack for your road trip and don’t want anything that’s too carbohydrate dense then Buc-ee’s trail mix is an excellent choice.
You can go for a healthy, salty or sweet mix depending on what you are craving at the time.
Choices include classic trail mix although they do include M&Ms but also cashews, almonds, raisins and peanuts. Other varieties have cranberries, peanut butter coated pretzel balls, and peanut butter chips.
There is a sweet and savory trail mix which has spicy peanuts, butter toffee peanuts, honey roasted sesame sticks, corn nuggets and almonds.
Southwest trail mix contains seeds, nuts, crackers and sesame sticks all coated in a spicy seasoning.
If you’ve missed breakfast a bag of Buc-ee’s granola fruit and nut trail mix will fill a gap until lunchtime.
You’ll enjoy banana chips, granola clusters, blueberry flavored cranberries, yogurt raisins, honey roasted almonds, walnuts and maple glazed pecans.
For a healthy, organic snack try Buc-ee’s coconut or almond clusters which contain no artificial colors, flavors or preservatives. They also have no high fructose corn syrup.
5. Buc-ee’s Nug-ees
Buc-ee’s Nug-ees are the savory version of their Beaver Nuggets. They are fried puffs of corn which have been salted and seasoned with spicy and cheesy flavorings making them a perfect road trip snack.
If you’re more of a savory person these make a great alternative to Beaver Nuggets. Or you could have a bag of both and balance out the sweet and savory as you drive.
Buc-ee’s Nug-ees come in three flavors, White Cheddar, White Cheddar Habanero and Bold N Spicy. If you have never had them before and aren’t sure if you’d like them, they taste very much like cheese puffs.
As tasty as they are, Nug-ees do have a lot of sodium with a 30 gram serving providing 19% of your daily value. A single serving also gives you 14% of your total fat intake for the day.
The typical size of a bag of Buc-ee’s Nug-ees is 141 grams so perhaps don’t eat them all at once. Better still share them out so everyone can enjoy their great flavor.
6. Kolaches
Not everyone will be familiar with kolaches but those from Texas will know what we’re talking about.
During the mid 1800s there was a significant immigration of Czech people into Texas. They brought with them many of their wonderful foods and this includes kolaches.
Kolaches are round, doughy pastries which are filled with fruit and make a wonderful breakfast treat.
While Buc-ee’s sell kolaches as both sweet and savory, the savory versions which Texan’s have cultivated, are properly called klobasniky.
The variety of these wonderful pastries that you’ll find at Buc-ee’s include cream cheese, sausage and if you look hard enough you’ll find a brisket filled variation.
Even though the fillings may be savory, the rolls that they come in are made from a sweet, spun dough which is known as kolac.
The fillings are an evolution that came from the Czechs who assimilated into Texan culture and wanted to include Texan tastes in their food.
Next time you are at Buc-ee’s try their kolaches, either sweet or savory or better still, try both and you’ll be hooked.
7. Banana Pudding
The banana pudding at Buc-ee’s is no ordinary pudding. This delicious treat is made from scratch every day from chunks of real banana, vanilla wafers and whipped cream.
Each cup of banana pudding has layers of fresh custard which is nicely offset by the crunchiness of the vanilla wafers.
You can choose from a small to a large cup of this delicious dessert that is just sweet enough without being overtly so.
Look for the banana pudding cups in the refrigerated section along with the fresh fruit cups and pre-packaged sandwiches.
Finding a freshly homemade dessert at a gas station is not something you expect to see every day but then again, Buc-ee’s is no ordinary gas station.
8. Jerky
If you’re a fan of jerky then when you roll into a Buc-ee’s you’re going to think you’ve died and gone to jerky heaven. They have a vast range of flavors to choose from including fresh and prepackaged.
The fresh jerky is available at the same counter as the breakfast foods and kolaches. Meanwhile the prepackaged jerky is typically hanging up next to the trail mix and gummies.
You’ll even be able to try some of their flavors at the jerky bar if you’re not sure which you prefer, so try before you buy.
When you find the jerky you like you can buy it by the pound from the fresh counter. There’s also turkey jerky available as well as beef.
So how many flavors of jerky do Buc-ee’s have? Depending on your location there are between 12 and 20 flavors available.
Choose from sweet cherry maple, mesquite smoked, teriyaki, steakhouse style, Bohemian garlic and even a fiery ghost pepper flavor.
If you thought all jerky tasted the same then you’ve clearly never tried Buc-ee’s jerky.
They also provide various textures of jerky from the traditional thin and flat to more chunky and thick cuts. Buc-ee’s jerky counter also offers variants such as dried sausage sticks.
Arguably one of the best travel foods, jerky is also full of protein and will keep you satisfied while you drive.
9. Barbecue
As the state’s unofficial national dish, barbecue is expected when you stop at a gas station or roadhouse.
With Texas as its home it’s not surprising that barbecue is one of Buc-ee’s most popular foods and they have no shortage of smoked meats.
People are welcomed into their stores with the lure of the enticing aroma of slow-cooked barbecue just waiting to be enjoyed in one of their famous sandwiches.
If you are in a hurry you can pick up one of the premade offerings or order your favorite if you have time.
Everything is served in a fluffy hamburger bun. Your only task is to decide whether you’re going to have the tender brisket, pulled pork, sausage or turkey.
Buc-ee’s don’t smoke their own meat but instead bring in meats which are semi cooked and which are finished off instore. This ensures that the final product is freshly cooked on the day and provides the best taste experience.
Your barbecue filled bun will be topped with onions, pickles, and the tastiest of barbecue sauces. One of the best tastes is the small, charred pieces of brisket in the sandwich that add a sensational flavor and texture.
10. Cinnamon Roll
Buc-ee’s cinnamon rolls are comparable to some found in the best bakeries and are one of their most popular desserts.
The rings of dense dough are perfectly proportioned and even, while the buttery, cinnamon sugar paste holds the whole thing together.
The warm rolls are then smothered in an icing made from cream cheese which is much more enticing than a normal sugar frosting.
Cinnamon rolls are best enjoyed straight out of the oven but you can request to have yours heated up for that warm, sweet taste.
Be warned however, the cinnamon rolls in Texas are Texas sized so don’t try to fit one in straight after a large lunch or you may struggle. Or you could share it. Only kidding, you’re not going to want to share this delicious treat with anybody.
On a more serious note if you are concerned about the calories in a cinnamon roll we can tell you that there are 960 calories in each one.
It will also give you over half of your daily value of fat and 47% of total carbohydrates for the day.
So maybe you should share it after all.
11. Fudge
If you like fudge then you’re going to love Buc-ee’s. Every store has a long counter filled with all the most delectable fudge flavors that you can think of.
There are more than 20 varieties so it may take a while to choose which one to take home.
Traditionalists may stick to the usual but delicious salted caramel, chocolate, mint chocolate, pecan or peanut butter.
If you want to try something more adventurous or creative choose from blueberry cobbler, watermelon, birthday cake, red velvet, maple pecan or M&M flavor.
While you may be paralyzed with indecision there is a simple solution to your fudge dilemma.
Simply choose a variety pack which will give you some fudge from each flavor, a bit like a box of chocolates but better. Although you may need to share.
Not every Buc-ee’s treats the fudge the same way. Some locations will have it already pre cut into squares but other stores tend to leave it in single large blocks so they can cut off just the right amount for you. You know it won’t last long either way.
12. Gummies
Gummies are not just for kids so don’t let anyone tell you that this is the case. Everyone loves gummies regardless of age and if you want to find a great selection, Buc-ee’s is the place to be.
They have their own brand of every conceivable type of gummy including gummy bears, gummy rings, sour gummy bears, gummy butterflies, and even gummy sharks. One not to miss are their cinnamon gummy bears.
Nutritionally, there are no fats, sodium or cholesterol in Buc-ee’s gummies. However, as a highly processed food they are high in added sugar.
A serving, which is 30 grams or 8 pieces of these sweet treats, will provide 54% of your daily value of added sugars.
Of course you don’t have to eat them all at once and they are the perfect travel food to keep you going on your road trip. They’re also ideal for sharing if you can bring yourself to part with some.
13. Sizzlin’ Saltines
Saltines may not be the most obvious road trip snack that springs to mind but you might not yet have tasted Buc-ee’s saltines.
These are puffier than regular saltines and are a little greasier too but that all adds to the flavor.
They’re actually good enough to eat on their own but are also the ideal accompaniment to a salad, cheese, soup or with an ice cold beer.
Buc-ee’s saltines come in a resealable container which will keep them fresh and crisp while you drive.
In terms of nutrition Buc-ee’s saltines have 19% of your total daily value of fat per serving, which is just over 1 ½ ounces.
They have zero cholesterol and just 1 gram of added sugar while providing you with 10% of your daily vitamin A.
Buc-ee’s saltines come in an original flavor as well as their tangier, ranch seasoning flavor. They’re also a great partner to some delicious dip or something to munch on as you take in the scenery on your road trip.
14. Meat-And-Cheese Cups
Perhaps as the perfect partner to Buc-ee’s saltines, their meat and cheese cups are packed with protein.
This makes them ideal as a quick snack or even as a light lunch if you don’t want to weigh yourself down with carbohydrates.
If these remind you of the lunchables of your childhood then don’t worry these are definitely an upgrade.
You have the choice of cubes of cheddar, Monterey Jack or Swiss cheese, slices of cured sausage as well as a handful of pretzels.
With your saltines and a cup of raw vegetable crudites you can make a fairly healthy and light lunch which will help you keep alert while you are driving without the distraction of hunger pangs.
Final Thoughts
Since 1982 Buc-ee’s has been offering a memorable experience to their stores, first in Texas and then across other states as the years went by.
Now you can find a Buc-ee’s in Florida, Alabama, Kentucky, Georgia, South Carolina and Tennessee.
So if you are traveling in one of these states and come across a Buc-ee’s you have to pay it a visit and see for yourself what an ultimate pitstop their stores are.
We’re sure that you will join the ranks of many Buc-ee’s fans across the country and hope that you will enjoy your visit.
