Poker Food & Recipes

Yeah, like I'm Martha Stewart! Did you really think that I was going to slave over a hot stove all day for you? The food for my poker nights consists of peanuts, pretzels, and make-your-own-sandwiches. My biggest claim to fame is that I offer not one, but three different types of prepared mustard!

Traditional poker food would include a first course of peanuts and pretzels. This is almost a must and no poker host would be caught dead without them! These appetizers should be made available throughout the entire evening and you should also supply water, pop, and coffee to wash them down. Poker main courses usually consist of something like sandwiches, pizza, chili, stew, baked beans, ribs, hamburgers or hot dogs. It's almost impossible for the host to get away from the game so it is best to have something that is pre-cooked or easily and quickly prepared. Buffet style or anything make-your-own is good since it frees up the host from many responsibilities. Make-your-own sandwiches, subs, or tacos usually work out very well. Pot luck is for schmucks - we're men, we're playing poker, please don't expect me to bring a tuna casserole!

Any food that the host does not have to handle is an added bonus. Avoid touching raw meats or serving food that is easily contaminated. Beware of condiments like mayonnaise that may be past it's prime. Don't let food sit out for long periods, and keep it refrigerated until it is served. Any food that your guests do not have to handle is also a bonus - you don't want greasy fingers all over your $15 deck of plastic playing cards. Sure, you can wash your cards after the game, but do you really want Sam licking hot sauce off his fingers just before he picks up his hole cards? You also don't want your poker table to be stained by soiled hands so stay away from things like fried chicken.

There is probably no more traditional poker meal than ... the sandwich. The sandwich was invented by The Earl of Sandwich who was sitting at a gaming table wishing that he could eat while gambling. He asked for some meat between a couple slices of bread and the sandwich was born!

Here is what I offer my poker guests ...

Peanuts
Pretzels
3 lbs pastrami
2 lbs smoked turkey
5 loaves light rye bread
3 different mustards, mayo, butter, cheese, leaf lettuce
Soda pop & coffee

Everything, especially the bread, must be very fresh. Other than washing the lettuce, there is no cooking or preparation required.  I throw everything on a table and let everyone make their own sandwiches. It's amazing how many married men appreciate a fresh deli-style sandwich!

Little Mexico Hot Sauce Dip

Courtesy of vidjoe in the Poker Night Food thread of the HPT Forums

2 - 14.5 can Stewed Tomatoes skinless
1 - Tsp White Vinegar
1/2 Tsp Nutmeg
1 Tsp Oregano
1 Med Onion
1/2 Jar Jalapenos (about 7 oz.) no juice
1/2 Tbsp garlic

Blend in blender till like apple sauce.

Pigs in a Blanket

Courtesy of Royal Sampler in the Poker Night Food thread of the HPT Forums

Crescent Dinner Rolls or Biscuit Dough
Fully cooked cocktail wieners (Lil' Smokies, regular or cheese filled)
Cheese cut in to small strips
Corn meal
Assorted sauces - Ketchup, BBQ, Mustards, etc

Heat oven to 375°F. Grease cookie sheet.
Unroll dough; separate into 8 triangles. Cut each triangle into 3 smaller triangles. When using biscuits, cut each biscuit in to thirds and flatten into strips.
Place 1 wiener and piece of cheese on shortest side of each triangle; roll up to opposite point. Place, point side down, on greased cookie sheet.
Sprinkle with corn meal.
Bake at 375°F. for 11 to 15 minutes or until deep golden brown. Immediately remove from cookie sheet.
Serve with Assorted sauces.

Salsa

Courtesy of catmanducmu in the Poker Night Food thread of the HPT Forums

1 14.5 can peeled tomatoes (with liquid)
1 14.5 can diced tomatoes with green chiles
1 jalapeno (remove seeds for less spicy)
1/4 cup diced red onions
1 red pepper
1/2 tsp cumin
1/2 clove garlic (or to taste) 1 clove makes it very garlicy
salt & pepper to taste

Coarsely mix onion, jalapeno and garlic in blender
Add the rest of the ingredients and blend to proper texture (5 seconds?)
Let sit for at least 20 minutes, better if it sits for a day or two

Nacho Dip

Courtesy of bigbadwoof in the Poker Night Food thread of the HPT Forums

1 package of cream cheese
1 small container of sour cream
1 jar of salsa
1 cup of pitted and chopped olives
1 diced onion
1 diced tomato
Shredded cheese (cheddar is what i use but mix it up if you want different flavours)

Soften cream cheese and combine with sour cream until smooth in a casserole dish, even out covering bottom of dish. Place in fridge to cool and set, at least a couple of hours. Evenly spread the salsa, onion, olives, tomatoes the onion, olives and tomato aren't necessary but i like them) on top of the sour cream/cream cheese mixture. Top with shredded cheese. Grab some nacho chips and dig in!

Poker Chip Killbassie

Courtesy of fuglyguy in the Poker Night Food thread of the HPT Forums

Slice up 3-5 lbs killbassie or slice thick chunks if pressed for time.
1 onion
3 green peppers
4 12oz bottles bbq sauce

Mix it up in a croc-pot on high for 2-hours before the game starts then put on low. Slice up 6 mini-sub rolls (fresh) and put out in a bowl next to the pot. Styrofoam bowls seem to work better than paper plates as far as spills. Cost is less than $15 depending on # of players 8-16 i usually have. 30-40 minutes to prepare.

Baked Potato Skins

Courtesy of (Mrs.) Made in Detroit in the Poker Night Food thread of the HPT Forums

Here's my recipe for Bite sized loaded bake potato skins. They're easy to make and taste great!!! You'll need the following.....

1 bag of Small redskin potatoes
1 can of bacon bits
1 bag of cheese (your choice)
Chives
Sour Cream
Olive Oil
Oven (LOL)

Pre-heat oven to 350. Cut small redskin potatoes in half, Dip them in olive oil and place on a baking sheet. Cook in the oven at 350 degrees for 5 minutes. remove) Let them cool for 2 minutes, then take a spoon and scoop out the middle (like coring a melon). Fill with cheese, bacon, chives or what ever you like. Then place in oven again on same temp for 3-5 minutes or until cheese is melted. Remove again and let stand for 1 minute. Great with sour cream! In all it takes about 10 to 12 minutes for prep and cook time. Enjoy!!!!  Mrs. M.I.D.

Sloppy Joe's

Courtesy of MargieB in the Poker Night Food thread of the HPT Forums

Big package of ground chuck. 2 1/2 - 3 pds
Add onion and green pepper while cooking meat
You can do this the night before

2 packages sloppy joe mix (read the package)
1 lg tomato paste
Water

Throw it all in the crock pot and make them wait for it! LOL

MargieB's Nuts

Courtesy of MargieB in the Poker Night Food thread of the HPT Forums

1 package of cashews
1 can honey roasted peanuts
1 lg bag of m & m's
toss together in a bowl with a spoon

I have little bowls but dixie cups would be fine since they drink the stuff anyway...keeps their fingers clean. LOL

Salsa

Courtesy of bigpokerfanatic in the Poker Night Food thread of the HPT Forums

2 packages of Philadelphia Cream Cheese
1 package of taco cheese
1 bag of lettuce
1 tomato
1 jar of Paul Neuman's Salsa - mild, medium, or hot

Let the cream cheese come to room temperature, add cream cheese and salsa to a bowl and use a mixer to blend until well mixed. Spread mix into a dish, top with cheese, shredded lettuce, chopped tomatoes and serve with tortilla chips.

Hot Wing Dip

Courtesy of Wedge Rock in the Poker Night Food thread of the HPT Forums

2 8 oz. bars of cream cheese at room temperature
2 cans (10-12 oz. each) of chicken breast
3/4 cup Franks Original hot sauce
1 cup ranch dressing
1 cup shredded cheddar jack cheese

Spray a 13 x 9" pan with Pam. Cut up the cream cheese and drop it around the pan as evenly as possible. Drain the chicken and put in a saucepan with the hot sauce. Break up the chicken with a fork, stir until well mixed, and heat over medium heat until warm. Spread over the cream cheese. Pour ranch dressing over all. If you aren't going to serve it now, chill.

Heat oven to 350 degrees and bake uncovered for 20 minutes. Take out and stir until all is thoroughly mixed together. Sprinkle cheddar cheese on top and bake until melted.
Serve with Fritos or crackers.

I'm warning you now...go easy on the ranch and cream cheese... It's better if its not overly creamy.

Habanero Popcorn

Courtesy of ChrisChips10 in the Poker Night Food thread of the HPT Forums

Soup pot
Habanero piece as big as your pinky fingertip.  (a man's would be the best gauge)
Mince Habanero
Put small amount of oil in the pot.
Add Habanero
Heat until Habanero stops spitting
Add popcorn one layer deep in pot.
Pop.
Eat, no salt, no butter.

Swedish Meatballs

Courtesy of Lethall12 in the Poker Night Food thread of the HPT Forums

1- 2.5 lb bag of Italian style Meatballs  (frozen bag, I nuke them for a couple of minutes prior so it does not take as long in the crock pot).
2- Cans of Cream of Mushroom Soup
1- Cup of Sour Cream
1- Teaspoon of Worcestershire Sauce
1- dash of Tabasco, I like it little more hot so I put a little more in
1/4 cup of Milk

Mix all the other items minus the Meatballs, then put meatballs in the crock pot, then put the completed sauce over the top and stir it up.  Put the Crock pot on High for 2 hours, stir periodically and when they are hot all the way through, switch to low.

Philly Cheese Steak Dip

Courtesy of Foxual in the Poker Night Food thread of the HPT Forums

-one package of steak-ums or similar thin sliced steak product
-one large diced green pepper
-one large diced onion
-2 jars salsa con queso

Just heat up the steak-ums, peppers, and onions together in a skillet until warm and the onions start to brown, add the salsa con queso, and dump into a bowl. Easy, easy, easy.

Pulled Pork Sandwiches

Courtesy of brianb10 in the Poker Night Food thread of the HPT Forums

1 5-7lb pork shoulder roast bone in or out. Bone in is cheaper - .99/lb at my local grocery store
1/2 cup water
3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
salt & pepper
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 bottle favorite BBQ sauce

Trim some but not all the fat from the roast. Season w/ salt and pepper and place into your crock pot. You'll need one of the larger oval crock pots, the old circular ones probably won't be big enough. Stir together the water, vinegar, Worcestershire and cumin. Pour mixture over the roast. Cover and cook on low for 8-10 hours or high for 4-6 hours. To be honest low and slow all day long makes for a better roast and its easier to shred.

When roast is done, pour out the cooking liquid, leaving meat in the crock pot. Using two forks shred the meat and remove the bone if you bought a bone in roast. It should fall apart as soon as you touch it which is a good sign you cooked it long enough. Stir in the BBQ sauce (as much as you would like). Cover and heat for another 30-45 minutes. Serve on the buns with additional sauce if folks want.

Please contact me to add your poker recipe to this page. You can also post your poker food recipe in the Poker Night Food thread of the HPT Forums.