Good Poker Night Food

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Nothing says guy’s night like a six pack and a few rounds of Texas Hold’em. Whether you’re a verified tournament hosting pro or a poker playing newbie looking to practice your game with some friends, here are some essentials you’ll need to host the perfect poker night.

  1. Good Poker Night Food Menu
  2. Poker Night Food Recipes
  3. Poker Night Food Ideas
  4. Good Poker Night Foods
  5. Good Poker Night Food Recipes

You don’t want to drag your lazy bum to the kitchen, but you do want to gorge on to good and highly delicious food. So for all those who love to stay up, late at night, here’s your resort for. Adding this to your poker snacks will keep you brain boosted and keep you in the game right the way through the night. Greek Yogurt: This is rich in calcium which helps to improve nerve function. It also contains the amino acid tyrosine which helps with the production of dopamine and noradrenalin which lead to improved memory and alertness.

The Basics

If you’re new to poker hosting, here are the bare essentials you’ll need to get a game started.

1. An Awesome Poker Table


Surprisingly, there is more to a poker table than just a table, and not any will do. There are three important things to keep in mind when picking your ideal table: shape, surface, and size.

In general, the best shape for a poker table is the classic round shape. This allows players to sit comfortably and evenly spaced around the table. No one needs to have a corner sticking into his stomach and everyone can reach the middle. A round table also allows dealers to easily deal out cards.

The ideal surface for a table would be one that is slick enough to allow cards to slide across but not so slippery that they slide off. The classic green felt used on most standard poker tables are ideal, but wood can also work if it isn’t too polished.

Lastly, when converting your kitchen table into a poker table using a table top, keep in mind that it should be large enough to accommodate all the players, as well as any other items such as drinks or ashtrays, but not so large that it’s difficult to reach the middle. If you’re looking to save space and keep all the amenities of a professional poker table, look into some foldable ones. Some even have cup holders built right in!

2. Poker Chips that Say You’re a Professional

2 x 500 piece 13.5 gram Triple Striped Clay Poker Chip Set


While anything can be used as chips, it says something about a poker night when you’re using the real thing. Poker chips are usually made from three standard materials: plastic, ceramic, and clay. Cheaper ones are usually plastic and on the flimsier side, but they’ll still get the job done. However, if you’re looking to make poker night a regular thing, invest in some nice clay chips. They are casino quality, less slippery, and make a really satisfying sound when you throw them into the pot.

3. Cards


Any standard deck of playing cards will do, but have at least two decks on hand. You should switch decks between deals to save time. No one wants to sit and watch as someone else shuffles. It would also be good to invest in some plastic cards. They’re easier to shuffle, less likely to rip, and spill proof, just in case it turns into that kind of night.

Classic Comforts

Now that you have the basics, you can add a bit of flare to your games. Here are some little things to impress your guests and make the night run smoother

4. Blinds Timer

Dealer Button Timer


There are plenty to keep track of during a poker game – pot odds, potential hand opportunities, the tells of the player across from you – but blinds shouldn’t be one of them. Before the game starts, set up a blind structure. There are many online sites and apps to help you find the best blind structure based on your player and chip count. Make sure everyone agrees to this structure and set a timer so you’ll never forget to raise the blinds again. If you’re big on functionality, you can buy dealer chips that double as blind timers – just another thing to show your guests you know what you’re doing.

5. Chip Calculator

If you’re not too mathematically inclined, use a chip distribution calculator to help you determine a perfect way to split the stacks. The amount of chips each player gets and how much they’re worth depends on how many chips you have, how many players you have, what your starting blinds are, what the buy-in is, and if you’re allowed re-buys. Make sure you have the right chip distribution or you could end up playing till the early morning.

6. Poster of All the Hands

Poker is a game for everyone, though not everyone may be familiar with it. Accommodate players of all levels by having a poster of the hand rankings in visible view. It’ll make the game run smoother and you won’t have to keep explaining what beats what.

7. Comfortable Seating

Poker may be a fast paced game, but it is not for those with weak stamina. A casual six-player game can easily go on for at least two hours. Here, standard hosting practices apply. Have out some beers (soda for the designated drivers) and some chips. Cushioned seats and snacks will keep even the losing players happy.

For the Pros

Once you’re ready for the big leagues, add these items to your night. Though non-essential, they really bring you one step closer to that Vegas feel.

8. Automatic Card Shuffler


If you aren’t a good shuffler, or simply don’t want to, there are many cheap, automatic card shufflers available for purchase. They can shorten the wait time between hands and let you rest yours.

9. Card Guards

Good Luck Card Guard


Used by most professional players, card guards prevent your cards from accidentally being discarded. Poker nights can get rather hectic, especially with six or more players, and it can be hard for the dealer to keep track of who is still in and who is out. Have some card guards on hand to give to your players. Not only will it class up the night, it can also prevent some good hands from being accidentally mucked. Plus, they’ll have a nice souvenir to take home.

Guy’s night doesn’t have to get complicated. With just a few items you can make poker night a regular thing. Poker is easy to learn, relatively inexpensive to play, and the perfect way to finish up that seemingly endless work week. Put on some conversation-friendly background music, leave out some snacks, and you’ll have a night of fun for everyone!

  1. Very impressed with all the advice for poker nights.thanx

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Poker night is more than just a night of playing card games. We all know that it’s a night of fun with the boys and girls while sharing delicious food and drinks.

When it comes to food for poker night, it’s easy to fall into the trap of serving the usual salty, fatty, or sugary fare that ends up on the table.

In most cases, most people won’t mind. However, if you want to have that one poker night to remember or become the undisputed “best poker night host”, you’d better upgrade your poker game night snacks.

Lucky for you, we are here to help.

Food for Poker Night Recipes

We have scoured the internet for the best game night snack ideas so you don’t have to. Don’t worry these recipes won’t require the skills of a gourmet chef since they’re relatively easy to prepare. However, you can trust that they’re downright delicious.

Without further ado…

Philly Cheesesteak Nachos (Prep Time: 20 mins.)

When it comes to poker game snacks, it’s hard to go wrong with serving nachos. Upgrade the traditional nachos by combining it with a fan-favorite sandwich, the Philly Cheesesteak.

Check out this bound-to-be-favorite nacho recipe from All Recipes:

Ingredients:

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1/2 large onion, diced
  • 1/2 pound shaved rib-eye, chopped
  • 1 (18 ounce) package restaurant-style tortilla chips
  • 1 (8 fl. oz.) jar processed cheese spread (such as Kraft® Cheez Whiz®)
  • 2 fresh jalapeno peppers, sliced

Good Poker Night Food Menu

Directions:

  • Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add onion; cook and stir until softened, 5 to 10 minutes. Transfer to a bowl. Cook rib-eye in the same skillet, stirring occasionally, until browned and juices have evaporated, 5 to 10 minutes. Stir onion back into the skillet.
  • Place a handful of tortilla chips on each plate. Spoon rib-eye and onion mixture over chips; top with cheese spread and jalapeno slices.

If jalapenos are not available, you can use pickled jalapenos as a substitute.

Chicago Italian Beef Sandwich (Prep and Cook Time: 3 hrs. 40 mins.)

If you want to serve something with more bite, this recipe for the Chicago Italian Beef Sandwich from none other than Guy Fieri of The Food Network fame should get the job done.

Be sure to start preparing and cooking earlier because this recipe takes a lot of time.

Ingredients:

  • 4 pounds, top round with fat cap
  • 3 tablespoons Italian seasoning
  • 2 tablespoons salt
  • 2 tablespoons fresh cracked black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon cayenne
  • 1 tablespoon paprika
  • 1 teaspoon red chili flakes
  • 3 tablespoons bacon fat, or canola oil
  • 3 yellow onions, chopped
  • 1 cup garlic, whole cloves
  • 1/2 cup red wine
  • 3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 cup beef stock
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 6 sourdough baguette rolls halved, toasted
  • 1 cup chopped giardiniera vinaigrette vegetables
  • 1 cup jarred red sweet peppers

Directions:

  • Rub meat with dry ingredients, cover and refrigerate for 2 to 3 hours.
  • Preheat oven to 275 degrees F.
  • Add meat to a roasting pan with bacon fat, add onions and garlic, sauté for 15 minutes, deglaze with wine, and add Worcestershire sauce, beef stock, and bay leaves.
  • Place roasting pan in the oven and cook for 3 hours, uncovered, or until an instant-read thermometer registers 135 degrees F in the center. Remove, let cool, then slice very thin.
  • Cool broth in roasting pan and remove the fat that rises to the top. Strain.
  • Reheat the broth, and add the sliced meat. Place some meat on each toasted roll, ladle with some broth and top with giardiniera vegetables and red peppers.

Slow Cooker Ranch Chicken Tacos (Prep and Cook Time: 4 hrs. 15 mins.)

This is not the tacos that we all know and love. Instead of the ever-familiar salsa, we will be using ranch.

Good

Poker Night Food Recipes

This recipe from Who Needs a Cape is guaranteed to be a hit with your poker buddies.

Ingredients:

  • 3-4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
  • ½ cup water
  • 2 tablespoons taco seasoning (or 1 packet of taco seasoning)
  • 1 packet of ranch seasoning
  • 8-10 small taco-sized flour tortillas
  • ranch dressing, to taste
  • 2-3 cups of cole slaw, without sauce
  • ½ red onion, thinly sliced
  • ¼ cup cilantro leaves, roughly chopped
  • Optional: shredded cheese, diced avocado, diced tomato

Instructions:

Poker Night Food Ideas

  • Place chicken breasts in slow cooker. Pour in water, then sprinkle chicken with taco seasoning and ranch seasoning. Cover and cook on high for 3-4 hours or on low for 6-7 hours.
  • About 20 minutes before serving, use a slotted spoon to transfer chicken to a bowl, shred with 2 forks, then return to slow cooker and stir.
  • When ready to serve, fill tortillas with shredded chicken, then drizzle with ranch dressing.
  • Top with slaw, red onions, cilantro, and any additional desired toppings such as shredded cheese, avocado, or tomatoes. Serve immediately.

Good Poker Night Foods

Feeling Hungry Yet?

All of these poker snacks are guaranteed to be delicious and will make your guests ask for more. These foods for poker night recipes are very easy to prepare and cook, and the ingredients are all easy to get.

What do you think of these recipes? Do you have a favorite poker night snack recipe? Feel free to share in the comments!

Good Poker Night Food Recipes

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