Food Network's Andrew Zimmern Reveals His Most Underrated Road Trip Snacks

There are few people who know road food better than Andrew Zimmern.

With four James Beard Awards, an Emmy, and countless miles logged tasting the world’s most unique dishes, the "Bizarre Foods" host is a certified expert in what makes a great bite on the go.

So when The Blast caught up with Zimmern to chat about the return of Casey’s BBQ Brisket Pizza, we couldn’t help but ask: What’s fueling his own adventures on the road?

First, let’s talk pizza.

Just in time for summer, Casey’s BBQ Brisket Pizza is back by popular demand, and it’s loaded with 100% real mozzarella and cheddar cheese, slow-smoked beef brisket, jalapeños, fresh red onions, and a creamy ranch drizzle, on either traditional made-from-scratch crust or a crispy thin one.

“I had one today and it absolutely blew me away,” Zimmern told The Blast exclusively. “I happen to love barbecue meat pizzas in general, and a lot of people do them, we make them at home, and it’s super fun. But Casey’s? They nailed it.”

For Zimmern, the gas station setting only adds to the charm.

“I’ve been the victim of many a bad slice of pizza in a gas station,” he joked in a conversation with The Blast. "But I still think there’s no such thing, quote-unquote, as bad pizza. And if you’re going to try [gas station pizza], grab a pie at Casey’s.”

But when it comes to road trips, pizza isn’t the only thing he’s grabbing.

“What a great question,” Zimmern said when asked to name the three most underrated road trip snacks. And true to his globe-trotting culinary style, his answers reflect deep regional appreciation.

First, we are headed to the Southeastern U.S. for fried chicken livers. “I’ll go to the southeastern United States and say the fried chicken livers that are in so many small-town gas stations,” he said. “You don’t want to have them 24/7 in the car like sunflower seeds or red licorice, but I happen to love them.”

Next, it's off to Central and Northern Louisiana for Boudin. “I love central Louisiana and northern Louisiana’s gas station culture, especially for their boudin,” Zimmern said. “I’ll make a detour for boudin. It’s that good.”

And last but certainly not least, the Southwestern U.S. for homemade breakfast tacos. “In the southwestern United States, if it’s a road trip and you’re driving in the morning, a lot of the gas stations rent out their spaces to families that are cooking,” he explained. “Some of the best Mexican food in America can be found in the mornings at those gas stations.”

And of course, no road trip would be complete without a guilty pleasure snack, so as an honorable mention, Zimmern said to grab “Those little orange circus peanuts" that "are really marshmallows."

From boudin to brisket, Zimmern proves that gas station snacks can be both nostalgic and genuinely crave-worthy. And with Casey’s BBQ Brisket Pizza back for a limited time, he says now is the perfect moment to get a taste of what road food done right really looks like.

For Chef Andrew Zimmern, travel isn't just about seeing new places. It's about tasting them.

When talking about Casey's, the Food Network star revealed that for him, food is more than just sustenance. It's a powerful way to connect with cultures around the globe.

"I really believe food is a cultural template. It’s the magnifying glass through which I look at everything," he shared.

While Zimmern has dined at some of the world’s most acclaimed restaurants, it's often the off-the-beaten-path finds that leave the biggest impression. "I also have found the best chicharrón on the side of the highway in the Dominican Republic because I'm nosy," he laughed.

Whether it’s fine dining or street snacks, Zimmern’s culinary curiosity proves that sometimes the most unforgettable bites are found where you least expect them.