A casino-themed birthday party may seem like an event just for high rollers. But it can actually be quite affordable and doable! You can create that snazzy Vegas look with a striking black, red, and white color scheme, decorations assembled from iconic casino accessories, and food and sweets labels that are a clever play on gambling terms. Beat the odds with winning party ideas like those we've gathered here. Then, planning a casino theme need not be a game of chance after all! (*this post contains affiliate links)
23 one-hand, no-mess snacks for game night that will have your friends full and your board games clean as a whistle. In this installment of 'Hosting an Awesome Poker Game at Home,' Ashley Adams gives hosts ideas about how best to provide food and beverages at their games. Live Events 1 2020 WSOP Main Event. Boxed or Bagged Food. Some guys might here poker night and say fire up the grill. You don't cook meat for the dudes when they come over for poker, that's what football Sunday's are for. For poker, you should order in a few pizzas or go shopping and get a bunch of chips and salsa. Anything more and you're grossly overthinking it. Cooking for the dude's poker night It's cliche - as the lady of the house, I get to cook a whole meal for the poker night crew of dudes and then not get to eat it. It has to be the standard fare - chili, pork bbq, pizza, etc. Nothing interesting.
Send Out Cool Casino Party Invitations
Get the word out about this exciting event with specially designed invitations featuring playing cards, dice, and gambling chips. Choose from ones you can personalize or handy fill-in-the-blanks invites that come in sets.
Affiliate links from Zazzle:
1 – Casino Night Las Vegas Birthday Invitation Party
2 – Birthday Las Vegas Casino Night Party Invitation
4 – Playing Card Birthday Ace Vegas Invite Any Age
Affiliate links from Amazon:
3 – Green Casino Theme Personalized Birthday Party Invitations
5 – Casino Night Party Invitations (pack of 8)
Casino-themed Decorations You Can DIY
You'll be amazed at how doable your party decorations can be. It just takes some creativity and whatever gambling elements and novelties you have or can buy!
Assemble a centerpiece (1) for each guest table using playing cards and play money arranged in tin pails, with stacks of poker chips, dice, and other accessories alongside.
The birthday cake (2) can be a simple, home-baked chocolate one. But then present it with flair on a 3-tiered cake stand, with Oreo cookies piled on the lower tiers to resemble gambling chips or cash winnings!
For the entryway welcome display (3), wow guests with oversize dice that you can rent from a party supply vendor or find a way to craft your own.
Then, of course, the different display tables – a sweets or dessert station (4), a drinks bar (5), and a favor table (6) – can incorporate even more of the casino elements. Think party bunting made of playing cards, martini glasses holding dice and chips, table linens with card-suit patterns, and signage and serve ware all in black, red, and white.
Sources: 1 – A Party Style / 2 – Paging Supermom / 3 – Casino Knights Inc. / 4 – Nothing Bakes Like a Parrot / 5 – A Joyful Riot / 6 – Every Little Detail Event Planning and Design
Casino Party Menu a la Vegas
Even your food spread can be a play on the Las Vegas gambling world. You can opt to go fancy with one or two dishes, then offer popular finger foods, snacks, and dips – just very wittily named!
If you choose the simpler approach, treat your guests to appetizers like your own concoction of casino snack mix (1) and a fun dice-shaped cheese 'ball' (9). For main dishes, have them serve themselves from a sandwich buffet (3) with playing card food labels, plus trays of Black Jack Chicken (OR Jackpot Skewers) (4) and fruit skewers (6) dressed up with playing cards.
If you're looking to simulate more fancy casino fare, serve up classic shrimp cocktails (2) in martini glasses or a variation of shrimp, avocado, and tomatoes tossed with a tangy 'Sin City Dip' (8). Prepare your favorite steak recipe to be presented as 'High Steaks' (5) on the food buffet, along with vol-au-vents (puff pastry) with cream cheese and caviar (7) in the color motif of red and black.
Sources: 1 – Make the Best of Everything / 2 – Celebrate and Decorate / 3 – via Pinterest / 4 – Grey Grey Designs / 5 – via Pinterest / 6 – Casos e Coisas da Bonfa / 7 – McCormick / 8 – A Joyful Riot
All-in-Fun Casino Party Favors
With a theme as popular as this, everything from novelty items to casino-inspired packaging are just a few clicks away online. Here are our picks for party favors to choose from!
1 – Dice favor boxes (3 per pack) (*affiliate link from Windy City Novelties)
2 – Playing Cards, Poker Size Standard Index (12 decks) (*affiliate link from Amazon)
3 – Credit Card Size Casino Bottle Opener (*affiliate link from Amazon)
4 – Las Vegas Casino Hershey's Kisses stickers (*affiliate link from Amazon)
5 – Casino coasters (8 pack) (*affiliate link from Windy City Novelties)
6 – LED Las Vegas Hat (*affiliate link from Windy City Novelties)
7 – Themed Wrapped Soft Mints – Poker (*affiliate link from Amazon)
8 – Las Vegas – Casino Party Favor Boxes (set of 12) (*affiliate link from Amazon)
9 – Money bag (*affiliate link from Windy City Novelties)
This post contains affiliate links and Bellenza, Inc. will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking the affiliate links. You can find our disclosure statement here.
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.
Poker Night Party Food Ideas Finger Foods
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
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
Poker Night Food
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.
Poker Party Food Ideas
4 – Playing Card Birthday Ace Vegas Invite Any Age
Affiliate links from Amazon:
3 – Green Casino Theme Personalized Birthday Party Invitations
5 – Casino Night Party Invitations (pack of 8)
Casino-themed Decorations You Can DIY
You'll be amazed at how doable your party decorations can be. It just takes some creativity and whatever gambling elements and novelties you have or can buy!
Assemble a centerpiece (1) for each guest table using playing cards and play money arranged in tin pails, with stacks of poker chips, dice, and other accessories alongside.
The birthday cake (2) can be a simple, home-baked chocolate one. But then present it with flair on a 3-tiered cake stand, with Oreo cookies piled on the lower tiers to resemble gambling chips or cash winnings!
For the entryway welcome display (3), wow guests with oversize dice that you can rent from a party supply vendor or find a way to craft your own.
Then, of course, the different display tables – a sweets or dessert station (4), a drinks bar (5), and a favor table (6) – can incorporate even more of the casino elements. Think party bunting made of playing cards, martini glasses holding dice and chips, table linens with card-suit patterns, and signage and serve ware all in black, red, and white.
Sources: 1 – A Party Style / 2 – Paging Supermom / 3 – Casino Knights Inc. / 4 – Nothing Bakes Like a Parrot / 5 – A Joyful Riot / 6 – Every Little Detail Event Planning and Design
Casino Party Menu a la Vegas
Even your food spread can be a play on the Las Vegas gambling world. You can opt to go fancy with one or two dishes, then offer popular finger foods, snacks, and dips – just very wittily named!
If you choose the simpler approach, treat your guests to appetizers like your own concoction of casino snack mix (1) and a fun dice-shaped cheese 'ball' (9). For main dishes, have them serve themselves from a sandwich buffet (3) with playing card food labels, plus trays of Black Jack Chicken (OR Jackpot Skewers) (4) and fruit skewers (6) dressed up with playing cards.
If you're looking to simulate more fancy casino fare, serve up classic shrimp cocktails (2) in martini glasses or a variation of shrimp, avocado, and tomatoes tossed with a tangy 'Sin City Dip' (8). Prepare your favorite steak recipe to be presented as 'High Steaks' (5) on the food buffet, along with vol-au-vents (puff pastry) with cream cheese and caviar (7) in the color motif of red and black.
Sources: 1 – Make the Best of Everything / 2 – Celebrate and Decorate / 3 – via Pinterest / 4 – Grey Grey Designs / 5 – via Pinterest / 6 – Casos e Coisas da Bonfa / 7 – McCormick / 8 – A Joyful Riot
All-in-Fun Casino Party Favors
With a theme as popular as this, everything from novelty items to casino-inspired packaging are just a few clicks away online. Here are our picks for party favors to choose from!
1 – Dice favor boxes (3 per pack) (*affiliate link from Windy City Novelties)
2 – Playing Cards, Poker Size Standard Index (12 decks) (*affiliate link from Amazon)
3 – Credit Card Size Casino Bottle Opener (*affiliate link from Amazon)
4 – Las Vegas Casino Hershey's Kisses stickers (*affiliate link from Amazon)
5 – Casino coasters (8 pack) (*affiliate link from Windy City Novelties)
6 – LED Las Vegas Hat (*affiliate link from Windy City Novelties)
7 – Themed Wrapped Soft Mints – Poker (*affiliate link from Amazon)
8 – Las Vegas – Casino Party Favor Boxes (set of 12) (*affiliate link from Amazon)
9 – Money bag (*affiliate link from Windy City Novelties)
This post contains affiliate links and Bellenza, Inc. will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking the affiliate links. You can find our disclosure statement here.
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.
Poker Night Party Food Ideas Finger Foods
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
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
Poker Night Food
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.
Poker Party Food Ideas
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.
This recipe from Who Needs a Cape is guaranteed to be a hit with your poker buddies.
Ingredients:
Poker Night Party Food Ideas On A Budget
- 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:
- 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.
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!
For more fun articles and tips about card games, visit CardGameInfo for a great collection of card game blogs.