Poker Night Food

[MargieB]

All the guys vote for my Sloppy Joes.
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]

The guys love this too.
1 package of cashews
1 can honey roasted peanuts
I 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

[RadioDave]

I think the key for any poker night food is something easy to make, and something that won't affect the cards in any way.

eg: potato chips are easy, but the chip residue/grease gets all over the cards.

That cashew/M&M/peanut combo looks pretty sweet.

Our host is usually the same person every time and he'll have some soda and beer in the fridge that's free pickin'... and if anyone wants something fancy, they're on their own.

Of course one of our regulars belongs to a lodge and sometimes would come right from his meeting to our game and occasionally bring a tray or 2 of baked ziti or other assorted goodies. That usually required a pausing of the game for munchies.

[Wedge Rock]

Yeah, we usually pause for pizza.  I schedule the pizza to arrive during the first break.  Then, while I am coloring up, everyone is digging in.  We'll put away the pizza before we start back up...  that limits the transfer of grease to the cards...

[bigpokerfanatic]

Got a great, easy, cheap, snack.

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 tempature, add cream cheese and salsa to a bowl and use a mixer to blend intil well mixed.

Spread mix into a dish, top with cheese, shreaded lettuce, chopped tomatos and serve with tortilla chips.

Everyone attacks the bowl.

[MsprinM]

IMO you can never go wrong with wings,the hotter the better, along as everyone has washed their hands before touching the chips or cards. OK so wings are not very practical but how could anyone pass them up?

[Wedge Rock]

I got a great recipe for hot wing dip...  Basically, you cook chunk or shredded chicken in Frank's Red Hot sauce...  spread cream cheese around a backing pan, add chicken and cover with ranch.

Bake, mix cover with cheese and bake until melted...

Serve with crackers/tortilla chips/Fritos.  Tastes like hot wings.

Yum.

[Hendu3270]

Hmm.....that's sounds mighty tastey.

[MsprinM]

Add some Habenero to that and you got something to work with.

[Wedge Rock]

Hot Wing Dip
Ingredients

• 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...

[austin5string]

Hot Wing Dip
Ingredients

• 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...

Wow, that sounds good..

[indypoker]

I'll have to try that out.  Thanks WR. 

Cheese Dip always goes big at our nights (Velveeta, Salsa (or Diced Tomatoes and Chilis), Hot Sausage, Jalepenos).

[Wedge Rock]

I got a great recipe for reuben dip (corned beef, sauer kraut, mayo and swiss) that goes awesome with rye crackers...

I gotta get the recipe from my brother, though...  can't post now.

[MsprinM]

Man now I am hungry. I might have to go to the grocery store during lunch.

[BigChip]

The best success I've had with food, other than just a good 'ol fashioned BBQ, has to be homemade Chicken Quisidillas. Very easy to make, you can do the stuffing in a crockpot and just toast them as you need them. I also made the salsa and served them with sour cream & jalapino slices.

Thinking about doing Philly Cheesesteaks or Greek Pita sandwiches at the upcoming home game.

[celot]

When the game is at my house I buy a 3 ft Italian sub and it comes with potato salad and macaroni salad..They supply oil/vinegar,mayo.hot sauce,mustard,and onions on the side. all for $45.00
I supply soda..diet and regular...If you want alcohol ..you have to bring your own as I don't drink..Once in awhile I'll get a couple pizzas and a couple of dozen wings instead.

[Detroitdad]

I know this topic has been dead for awhile, I just read the entire thread......wow......I'm hungry now. We have anywhere from 8-14 players, everyone simply brings a dish to pass. We eat before cards, and take a break 90 minutes in. I have never had a problem with food on the table.

For the bigger tourneys I take 5 dollars out of everyone's buy in and supply all the food. I keep reciepts (never had a problem) and usually spend more anyways.

however, i think I'm sold on the lunchmeat and bread plan!!!

B

[Dr. Neau]

1 bag of Gardetto's Special Request Garlic Chips.

When you get the mix, everyone picks out the garlic chips...just get a bag of garlic chips.

[ChrisChip10]

I used to pop for pizza with a dollar jar, but I was the only one to eat it.   Chips or Habanero popcom (homemade) now.

Reciepe for Habanero Popcorn

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.

[Lethall12]

Meatballs (swedish) have been the big hit at my poker night lately.

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 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.

[RadioDave]

For those who were interesting trying Wedge's Hot Wing Dip that he posted earlier in the thread... it works like a charm!! I've made it a couple times and people have almost run me over trying to get the recipe.

When he says go easy on the ranch and cream cheese... he's not kidding... too much and it becomes way too creamy. The last time I made it... I actually cut the ranch and cream cheese in half and substitued a can of refried beans... and it was quite yummy.

Only problem is... it's not the best food to eat during poker because it's messy. But from what I gather.. not many of us eat during the game anyway. Now that I own a nice set of Nexgens that I plan on making custom labels for... I'm firmly in the "no food at the table" camp.

[Detroitdad]

I used to pop for pizza with a dollar jar, but I was the only one to eat it.   Chips or Habanero popcom (homemade) now.

Reciepe for Habanero Popcorn

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.

I'm a big fan of habanero pepper. I used to grow my own. I have been making a roasted pepper salsa recipe for years. The friends of mine that can stand the heat, absolutely love it.

B

I will be trying the popcorn this summer.

[ChrisChip10]

I learned to make the popcorn with fresh peppers, but I used jarred recently, just needed a little more is all.

[shakermaker]

we've recently upgraded from the bog-standard crates of carling since my mate discovered morrisons selling bottles of real ale at 4 for a fiver :-D

now searching for the perfect poker-food that doesn't leave the cards covered in grease!!!

pizza-breaking 'til we find it!

[Foxual]

Here's a quick dip I just sort of invented from stuff in the fridge one day, and everyone loved it:

Philly Cheese Steak Dip:
-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.

[JManHH]

For the last couple of tournament I have been picking up either 1 or 2 party platters at Subway (depending on how many people I have coming over; max. 10).  It is expensive but yummy, and then I just take 4-5 Euros (I live in Germany) from each player.  They have to bring their own alchoholic drinks and other snacks.  I just hate cooking myself so Subway makes sense *hehe*.

[Buzzerbeater]

How much do you spend on the party subs?  You could get three or four loaves of Italian bread and some deli meat and cut your costs pretty significantly. 

I like to make Jambalaya.  It's real easy.

1 lp. smoked Polska Kielbasa
1 box Zataran's Jambalaya mix.   

[JManHH]

How much do you spend on the party subs?  You could get three or four loaves of Italian bread and some deli meat and cut your costs pretty significantly. 

Yeah, they are pretty expensive.  I think for next time I will take your suggestion and have some do-it-yourself sandwiches.  Let's see if my wife minds the kitchen getting messed up. 

[Blaster]

I've bought stuff for a deli-style buffet table -
 Genoa Salami, Turkey Breast & 1 other meat,
 1 Cheese (provalone or American), a Batch of rolls, Pickles, a can or 2 of olives, sliced tomatoes, small  carrots, peppers or lettuce, condiments.
  Along with Beer, soft drinks & some chips or pretzels, it makes a great spread, & my wife
is kind enough to fold & spread the cold cuts & goodies on a platter "catered style" before the fish.. er.. Guests Arrive ...
 Paper Plates/cups & plastic utensils, & no mess, everything ends up in a trash bag.  Table is there all nite.  $8 per player is more than enough.....
 

[Buzzerbeater]

How much do you spend on the party subs?  You could get three or four loaves of Italian bread and some deli meat and cut your costs pretty significantly. 

Yeah, they are pretty expensive.  I think for next time I will take your suggestion and have some do-it-yourself sandwiches.  Let's see if my wife minds the kitchen getting messed up. 

Not to mention the fact that some of the best deli meats and cheeses come from your part of the world.   

[PhilHutchings]

what would you guys recommend foodwise for a garage game?  I was thinking of just ordering boxed pizza with plenty of napkins and wetnaps(those liittle packaged hand clearer things)  and have it on a side table during a break.  don't really feel comfortable with open foods like crackers and cheese type things in the garage. 
This is a low budget game,
1 -  2-fold table 10 seater
1 - older pine table 6x3 for side cash till tourney is done on first table
1 - rd 3 ft table likely to be used for food etc
chairs for everyone
1000 Lucky-Bee's
600 Cardinal Chips ($30 for 600 chips at walmart, can't beat that, no security mind you i haven't seen them available in Canada for a while not at local shops in my verion at least)
Expecting 9-12 players

My Plan,
Cooler -  Bottled Beer, pop, water
bowls - chips of some kind
@ break order some pizza's
Any other?/better idea's?  I could do Hamburgers and hotdogs i guess on the BBQ but that would take some time to do, pizza could just arrive during our break.

Game will be moving to my new condo spare room in the fall/early winter whenever its finished being build so can be more creative then

[halfnelsen]

I know it is an old thread but just wanted to say thanks for the recipe that Wedge posted. I brought the dip to my office party after racking my brain on what to bring. It went over really well with the office. Thanks for posting. Also I wanted to add that I lazied up the recipe and just put everything in the crock pot together, seemed to work good.

Hot Wing Dip
Ingredients

• 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...

[PhilHutchings]

interesting recipe,  so if i get this right it ends up as a spicey cheese dip with bits of chicken in it right??  lol that would dissapear so fast at my games. 

[brianb10]

I serve pulled pork sandwiches at my poker nights.  It's easy, low prep, and makes a ton.  Add some buns, chips and a few dips  and it makes for a super cheap meal. 

1 5-7lb pork shoulder roast bone in or out.  Bone in is cheaper, quite often I get it for .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.

Last party I did these at, I had a guy who got knocked out early tell me the sandwich alone made losing his $40 worthwhile. 

[LuckyDog Poker Art]

The BBQ sandwich idea is a good one.  Thanks for sharing!

[synistyr]

The last poker night was lots of salty snacks (so everyone needed a drink.. hehe).  Things like good chips, wasabi peas, spicy nori snacks, and coconut peanuts.

Drinks were BYOB, but I provided martinis for anyone that wanted them, and filtered water (from the fridge door dispenser).  So some wine and beer and rum were floating around, and scotch later in the night.

The meal break we stopped to order a pile of chinese food, not all junky tho.. 2x order of noodles, beef, chicken bits, and 2x of garlicy gai-lan.

This week, it's going to lasagna with a big loaf of toasted garlic bread.

Now I'm hungry.  Hmm.

[steves-shack]

I started by supplying sandwiches, chicken nuggets, mini sausages etc, but this got too much work with the more people that came. Also keeping the sandwiches fresh was an issue. So, I now provide curry. I have 4 slow cookers, in which I put 4 different currys, and leave to cook for 6 hours. I then turn the cookers to "low" to keep them warm. 30 minutes before we break, I nip to the kitchen and switch the rice cooker on. Then..."HEY PRESTO!" When we break, the curry and rice is ready, we pop the naan breads in the oven to warm up, and everyone eats!
20 minutes later, we wash our hands, and return to the table!
At the table we eat Pringles and Jelly Beans.....always a crowd pleaser!!!

[jjschoon]

At our last game, it was held on my birthday, my wife called Arby's and ordered 10 lbs of roast beef.  It was pretty cheap and not very messy.  We also had pretzels, beer, pop, and water.

[Lucky K.]

Hey jjschoon,

Great idea with Arby's!  I love their roast beef sandwiches.  We mostly have less substantial snacks at my home game.  Peanuts, M&Ms (they melt in your mouth not in your hand) etc.  We used to do take and bake pizzas but pizza is just too greasy. 

[Dr. Neau]

My cash games are now Panini nights.  I get the Panini recipes off of Williams-Sonoma.com.  Last time, we made Ligaurian Paninis. Next time, it's Roast Beef with Carmalized Onion and Blue Cheese.  Mmmmmm.

[Detroitdad]

My cash games are now Panini nights.  I get the Panini recipes off of Williams-Sonoma.com.  Last time, we made Ligaurian Paninis. Next time, it's Roast Beef with Carmalized Onion and Blue Cheese.  Mmmmmm.

do you have a panini maker or something? or just use a brick?

I love those, have been buying them at work way to much

[blindman]

My last cash game I went with some polish sausage, cheese, crackers, and pickles. We also had a couple of bags of chips and a tin of cashews. For a joke I washed one of my poker chip racks to hold the Oreo cookies like in the movie rounders. The guys got a kick out of that part.

[Dr. Neau]

Yes, Panini maker.

And the menu just expanded thanks to the birthday present from my lovely wife:

(Click to show/hide)

[dugthefish]

hey, quick question:

tomorrow i'm hosting a 25-30 player tourney, and i decided that some food would be a good idea.  i really liked the sandwich idea, but my budget isn't big enough.  do you think this is enough food for 25-30 people for a 6 hour tourney?

56 hot dogs
2 bags pretzels
2 big cans of peanuts
6 2L pop

BYOB

i don't want to stuff them, but i want everybody to be comfortable.  this is kind of an outreach event for us, and i want to put up a good event and get some fresh faces at our regular games.

Any thoughts??

[R-Ho]

Yes, Panini maker.

Could I use a George Foreman grill instead?

[R-Ho]

hey, quick question:

tomorrow i'm hosting a 25-30 player tourney, and i decided that some food would be a good idea.  i really liked the sandwich idea, but my budget isn't big enough.  do you think this is enough food for 25-30 people for a 6 hour tourney?

56 hot dogs
2 bags pretzels
2 big cans of peanuts
6 2L pop

BYOB

i don't want to stuff them, but i want everybody to be comfortable.  this is kind of an outreach event for us, and i want to put up a good event and get some fresh faces at our regular games.

Any thoughts??

I would seriously consider the pulled pork as suggested by brianb10.  You can find shoulder cuts for super-cheap, and it makes a ton of food.  It's more work than hot dogs, but its worth it and you'll find it a great thing to know how to make for the future.  And if you have leftovers, its something you'll like better than twice warmed over dogs.

Friend of mine makes pulled pork for many parties, we make both sandwiches and tacos with it.  He almost always has leftovers and it re-freezes very well.

Also you might try some deviled eggs.  They're inexpensive and go a long way (protein and fat always satistfy).

R-Ho

[pathand]

Ritzzas

Ritz crackers
tomato paste
leaf oregano
pepperoni slices
sharp cheddar cheese
parmesean cheese
olive oil

Spread tomato paste on crackers. Sprinkle with oregano. Top with 2 slices pepperoni and 1 slice of cheese. Sprinkle with parmesean and olive oil. Bake in a 400 degree preheated oven for 10 minutes. Watch them disappear.

[jthix]

Someone mentioned that they serve peanuts as a snack.

Isn't it a superstition that you're not supposed to play while eating peanuts? Or is it you're not supposed to have peanuts at the table?