Football season is officially here—and that means the snack table needs a strong starting lineup.
Chips and dip are classics. Wings certainly have their place. But when you want something satisfying, flavorful and ready to eat without plates, utensils or preparation, meat snacks are tough to beat.
Jerky, biltong and meat sticks are portable, easy to share and available in far more varieties than many shoppers realize. From traditional hickory beef jerky and tender South African-style steak slices to beer-infused brisket and alligator snack sticks, today’s meat snacks can be as familiar—or as adventurous—as you want them to be.
At Captain Crazy’s Snack Shack, we’ve assembled a growing collection from brands that bring something genuinely different to the field.
First, What’s the Difference?
Jerky, biltong and meat sticks may share the same snack aisle, but they aren’t interchangeable.
Jerky is generally made from strips of meat that are seasoned or marinated, then cooked, smoked or dried. It usually has a firmer chew and offers an enormous range of flavors—from traditional smoke and pepper to maple, tequila, beer and sweet heat.
Biltong originated in South Africa. It is traditionally seasoned with vinegar, salt and spices, then slowly air-dried. The result is often more tender and beef-forward than conventional jerky, with a texture that can feel surprisingly close to slices of cured steak.
Meat sticks are seasoned meats formed into individually portioned snacks. They’re the easiest grab-and-go option of the three and can be made with beef, turkey, pork, buffalo, elk, venison and other meats.
There’s no need to pick just one. For game day, we recommend drafting all three.
Jerky: The Flavor Playmaker
Jerky brings the widest variety of flavors to the party.
For traditionalists, there are familiar choices such as Original, Pepper and Signature Hickory. Anyone who prefers a sweet-and-savory combination can reach for Maple and Brown Sugar, Honey Jalapeño or Raw Honey and Coconut Aminos. Heat seekers can explore Cherry Chipotle, Spicy Citrus IPA, Serrano Pineapple Tequila and Taco Tuesday.
And that only begins to describe the assortment.
Rogue Jerky brings bold Michigan-inspired combinations including Signature Hickory, Maple and Brown Sugar, Cherry Chipotle and Bonfire Bourbon.
Boozy Jerky starts with tender beef brisket and adds flavors inspired by beer and cocktails. Teriyaki Twister IPA, Montreal Style Maple Spice, Spicy Citrus IPA and Serrano Pineapple Tequila are practically made for a football watch party.
M&S Meats expands the field beyond traditional beef with buffalo and elk jerky, along with samplers that make it easy to taste several varieties.
PREVAIL offers individually packaged beef and turkey jerky in flavors including Original, Spicy, Umami and Taco Tuesday. The single-serving packages are especially convenient for tailgates, office watch parties and game-day snack baskets.
Our newest Grazly selections take meat snacking in another direction. Thick Brisket Slabs come in Original, Raw Honey and Coconut Aminos, and Wild Ginger. For truly adventurous snackers, crisp Bison Liver Crisps deliver a very different alternative to an ordinary bag of jerky.
Whatever your flavor strategy, our Jerky Collection has plenty of ways to keep the snack table interesting through all four quarters.
Biltong: The Tender South African Favorite
If you love jerky but haven’t tried biltong, football season is an excellent time to change that.
Because biltong is slowly air-dried rather than prepared like traditional jerky, it generally has a softer texture and a rich, beef-forward flavor. It’s an easy addition to a game-day board, especially for guests who prefer savory snacks over sweeter marinades.
Biltong Depot offers both lean slices and traditional biltong with fat, allowing shoppers to choose the texture and richness they prefer.
Figure Ate keeps the focus on grass-fed and finished beef with Original and Spiced varieties.
Joburg Meats brings its South African heritage to a lineup of air-dried steak slices and bites. Traditional is a natural starting point, while Pepper Crusted, Spicy Peri and Chili Bites add more intensity. Black Truffle takes the category somewhere completely unexpected.
You can serve biltong directly from the package or arrange it alongside cheese, pickles, crackers and other savory favorites. Explore the full Biltong Collection and discover why this South African tradition has gained such a devoted following.
Meat Sticks: The Grab-and-Go MVP
Meat sticks might be the easiest football snack ever invented.
There’s nothing to slice, scoop, heat or assemble. Put a selection in a basket, set it near the drinks and let everyone choose a favorite.
SOGO offers grass-fed beef sticks along with turkey and pork options. The flavor selection ranges from Original and Iowa Smoked Recipe to Jalapeño, Garlic, Chimichurri, Smokey Sweet and Barbecue and Pineapple. Variety packs are an easy answer when the crowd can’t agree on one flavor.
For more adventurous fans, the Buffalo Bob’s lineup includes choices such as buffalo, elk, venison, wild boar, alligator, antelope and other specialty meats. These are great conversation starters—and there is always someone at the party willing to try the wildest option first.
Shop the complete Meat Sticks Collection to find everything from classic beef to flavors and meats you won’t encounter in the average convenience store.
Build Your Game-Day Starting Lineup
You don’t need an enormous spread to make game-day snacking memorable. Choose a few products with contrasting flavors and let guests mix, match and compare.
A well-rounded lineup might include:
- One traditional beef jerky
- One sweet or sweet-and-spicy jerky
- One bold brisket flavor
- One traditional or peppered biltong
- A basket of individually wrapped meat sticks
- One adventurous wildcard, such as elk, alligator or Bison Liver Crisps
Add cheese, pickles, crackers, potato chips, popcorn or one of Captain Crazy’s handcrafted snack mixes, and you have a game-day spread that can sit out from kickoff through the final whistle.
Snacks Worth Cheering For
Football season gives us plenty of reasons to gather, but the best game-day spreads offer something people wouldn’t necessarily buy for themselves.
That could be a first taste of authentic biltong. It might be beer-infused brisket jerky, a Black Truffle Steak Slice or an alligator meat stick passed around during halftime. Even the most devoted traditionalist may leave with a new favorite.
Explore Captain Crazy’s complete selection of jerky, biltong and meat sticks—and build a game-day lineup worthy of the season.
Some products ship directly from the brands we’ve partnered with, helping us offer a much broader assortment while ensuring your snacks arrive fresh and ready for kickoff.
— Christy & Chris
Captain Crazy’s Snack Shack
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Looking for handcrafted treats made by real people with real stories?
Browse our growing collection of artisan makers at Captain Crazy’s Snack Shack. Every product is one we’d happily serve in our own home.
And if you know a small food maker we should feature next, we’d love to hear about them.