Are you planning a night out in Austin, Texas? Before you hit the town, why not whip up some tasty Texas-centric snacks to enjoy with your friends? Whether you’re in the mood for something spicy, cheesy, or savory, we’ve got you covered. Check out our list of the best snacks to make in Austin before going out at night, along with easy-to-follow instructions for each one.
Queso
What you’ll need:
- 1 pound shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 can diced tomatoes and green chilies, drained
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
Instructions:
- In a large microwave-safe bowl, combine the shredded cheese, diced tomatoes and green chilies, and milk.
- Microwave on high for 2-3 minutes, stirring every 30 seconds, until the cheese is melted and the dip is smooth.
- Stir in the chopped cilantro.
- Serve with tortilla chips.
Guacamole
What you’ll need:
- 3 ripe avocados
- 1/2 cup diced tomatoes
- 1/4 cup diced red onion
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
- 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
- Salt to taste
Instructions:
- Cut the avocados in half and remove the pits.
- Scoop the avocado flesh into a bowl and mash with a fork or potato masher.
- Stir in the diced tomatoes, red onion, cilantro, lime juice, and salt.
- Taste and adjust seasonings as needed.
- Serve with tortilla chips or cut-up vegetables.
Chili
What you’ll need:
- 2 pounds ground beef
- 1 onion, chopped
- 1 green bell pepper, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 cans diced tomatoes
- 2 cans kidney beans, drained
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions:
- In a large pot or Dutch oven, brown the ground beef over medium-high heat.
- Add the onion, bell pepper, and garlic and cook until the vegetables are tender, about 5 minutes.
- Add the diced tomatoes (with their juice), kidney beans, chili powder, cumin, salt, and pepper.
- Bring to a simmer and cook for 30-45 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Taste and adjust seasonings as needed.
- Serve hot.
Brisket Sliders
What you’ll need:
- 1 pound cooked brisket, sliced
- 12 slider buns
- Barbecue sauce
- Pickles
Instructions:
- Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- Place the slider buns on a baking sheet and warm in the oven for 5-7 minutes.
- Assemble the sliders by placing a slice of brisket on each bun, followed by a drizzle of barbecue sauce and a pickle slice.
- Serve hot.
Salsa
What you’ll need:
- 4-5 medium tomatoes, diced
- 1/2 onion, diced
- 2 jalapenos, seeded and diced
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
- 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
- Salt to taste
Instructions:
- In a bowl, combine the diced tomatoes, onion, jalapenos, cilantro, lime juice, and salt.
- Stir to combine.
- Taste and adjust seasonings as needed.
- 4. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.
- Serve with tortilla chips.
Pimento Cheese
What you’ll need:
- 1 pound shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1/2 cup diced pimentos
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions:
- In a large bowl, combine the shredded cheddar cheese, mayonnaise, diced pimentos, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
- Stir until well combined.
- Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.
- Serve with crackers or sliced baguette.
Frito Pie
What you’ll need:
- 1 bag Fritos corn chips
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 onion, chopped
- 1 green bell pepper, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 can diced tomatoes
- 1 can kidney beans, drained
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Instructions:
- Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- Layer half of the Fritos in the bottom of a 9×13 inch baking dish.
- In a large skillet, brown the ground beef over medium-high heat.
- Add the onion, bell pepper, and garlic and cook until the vegetables are tender, about 5 minutes.
- Add the diced tomatoes (with their juice), kidney beans, chili powder, cumin, salt, and pepper.
- Bring to a simmer and cook for 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Pour the beef mixture over the Fritos in the baking dish.
- Top with the remaining Fritos and sprinkle with shredded cheddar cheese.
- Bake for 15-20 minutes, until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Serve hot.
Jalapeno Poppers
What you’ll need:
- 12 jalapeno peppers, halved and seeded
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 12 slices bacon, cut in half
Instructions:
- Preheat the oven to 375°F.
- Fill each jalapeno half with a spoonful of cream cheese.
- Wrap each jalapeno half with a half-slice of bacon and secure with a toothpick.
- Place the jalapeno poppers on a baking sheet and bake for 20-25 minutes, until the bacon is crispy.
- Serve hot.
Deviled Eggs
What you’ll need:
- 6 hard-boiled eggs
- 1/4 cup mayonnaise
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Paprika for garnish
Instructions:
- Peel the hard-boiled eggs and cut them in half lengthwise.
- Remove the yolks and place them in a bowl.
- Mash the yolks with a fork and stir in the mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
- Spoon the yolk mixture back into the egg whites.
- Sprinkle with paprika for garnish.
- Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.
- Serve cold.
Ranch Snack Mix
What you’ll need:
- 2 cups pretzels
- 2 cups Chex cereal
- 2 cups cheese crackers
- 1/4 cup ranch seasoning mix
Instructions:
- In a large bowl, combine the pretzels, Chex cereal, and cheese crackers.
- Sprinkle the ranch seasoning mix over the snack mix and stir until the seasoning is evenly distributed.
- Store in an airtight container until ready to serve.
- Serve as a tasty and crunchy snack on-the-go.
These ten easy and delicious snacks are perfect for making in Austin, Texas before heading out for a night on the town. From classic Tex-Mex flavors like queso and guacamole, to savory bites like jalapeno poppers and Frito pie, there’s something for everyone on this list. With simple ingredients and easy-to-follow instructions, you can whip up these snacks in no time and impress your friends with your culinary skills. So next time you’re getting ready for a night out in Austin, be sure to try one (or all!) of these tasty snacks to get the party started right.