Game Day Charcuterie Board

A deliciously eye-catching charcuterie board is easy to create, and the following suggestions are sure to make it a game day win. A few “bonus” additions will turn it into a meal! 

What’s your favorite thing about game days? Perhaps it’s cheering on your favorite team (Go Eagles!), watching the half time-shows, or simply sitting back and relaxing.

It may be obvious, but our favorite part of game days is the food…and sharing it with family and friends, of course!

If there’s anything we’ve learned over the years, it’s that sports fans often take the game day food as seriously as the game itself. But that means every week someone has to make the effort to create a bountiful spread with wide appeal – that can be labor intensive.

So, if you’re looking for inspiration beyond chips and onion dip (though that works, too!), and don’t want to spend the whole day in the kitchen, the following Game Day Charcuterie Board will earn you a standing ovation.

What is charcuterie?
This French term (pronounced “shahr-ku-tuh-ree”) is a fancy-sounding way to describe artfully arranged meats, cheeses, and other yummy finger foods on a platter. Who wants to say no to that?

There are no penalties for going out of bounds–or even for including more store-bought options than homemade–but we did provide some tips and guidelines to make the board both aesthetically pleasing and easy for guests to graze.

Our add-on recipes make the board heartier and meal-worthy, whether you are feeding a small party of two or sizable gathering of 20. For those who prefer more traditional fare, we also included bonus links to game day classics and longtime reader and family favorites.

That way, no matter who wins or loses, we’ll all feel satisfied when the clock runs out! 

ADD-ONS TO MAKE THE BOARD A MEAL (new recipes, pictured above and below):

• Baked Ham & Cheese Bunwiches – the perfect baked sandwich (sort of like a Cuban)
• Easy Cheesy Sweet Pepper and Jalapeño Poppers – colorful, bite-size delights

Cheesy Pepper Poppers offer a fan favorite twist on traditional jalapeño poppers and are an easy upgrade to any charcuterie board.

Give the charcuterie board a casual feel with the likes of pretzels, dipping mustard, and soft, dip-able cheeses. Nuts like peanuts, Smokehouse almonds, and pistachios are great additions, too…or look to more options, below.

SNACK-WORTHY ADDITIONS: (1-2 would complement the board nicely)

• Spiced Glazed Nuts & Pretzel Mix
• Classic Chex Party Mix (may also use store bought)
• Classic Deviled Eggs
• Cheese Crisps
• Shortcut Soft Pretzel (serve with a mustard or cheese dip)

PARTY-WORTHY DIPS (1-2 would complement the board nicely):

• Buffalo Wing Hummus (add carrots and celery for a traditional accompaniment)
• Pimento Cheese Spread
• Smoky Roasted Red Pepper Hummus
• Refried Bean Dip
• Cilantro Lime Hummus
• Slow Cooker Dulce de Leche (caramel dip; great with apples, pears, and pretzels)

MORE GAME DAY FAVORITES:

• Super Bowl Nachos
• Crispy Buffalo Wings
• Super Crunchy Oven Fried Drumsticks
• 3-Ingredient Mexican Cheese Bites
• Easy Baked Potato Skins

Game Day Charcuterie Board

Yield: 6-8 servings

A deliciously eye-catching charcuterie board is easy to create, and the following suggestions make it a game-day winner. With a few "bonus" additions, you can even make it a meal! 

Print

Helpful assembly items:

• Extra large flat platter or cutting board
• Small bowl(s) for dips, nuts, snack mixes, etc.
• Small serving spoons
• Cheese knives
• 20-30 small wooden skewers or toothpicks

The meat:

• ½ pound prosciutto, salami, pepperoni, smoked sausage, and/or sopressata, thinly sliced
• 4-5 ounces beef or turkey jerky (could even use salmon or venison jerky)

The cheese:

• ½ pound hard cheese (such as aged cheddar or gouda with a pretty rind)
• ½ pound soft cheese (such as goat or brie; could opt for a port wine cheese spread or horseradish cheese spread)

The fruit:

• 1 large bunch green or red grapes, trimmed into small bunches
• 2 apples or pears (or one of each), thinly sliced
• Optional: dried fruit such as apricots or mango

The veggies:

• 8 mini bell peppers (orange, red, and/or yellow), halved lengthwise, seeds removed. (May leave on the stem to make it easier to hold and dip–and for a pop of color.)
• Alternatives include sliced carrots, celery, cucumbers, and radishes

Crackers and beyond:

• 20-30 sturdy crackers, brand of preference
• Pretzels (broken into bite pieces if large)
• Hummus (see links to homemade options)
• Peanuts, cashews, Smokehouse almonds, or mixed nuts (see links for homemade nut mixes)

Assembly:

1. Place the grapes in the center of the board.
2. Add the hard cheese to one corner of the board (cut a few slices to start)
3. Add the soft cheese to opposite corner of the board (cut a few slices to start)
4. Roll individual meat slices and place near the hard cheese.
5. Place the jerky upright, peeking out of a tall glass, near the soft cheese.
6. Group the peppers together near one corner of the board.
7. Layer the sliced apples and/or pears in another corner of the board.
8. Cascade the crackers or pretzels on the top and bottom edges of the board
9. Fill in with the bowls of dip, nuts, snack mixes, etc.

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The Fountain Avenue Kitchen https://fountainavenuekitchen.com/

What are your favorite game day foods? Share with us in the comment section below and on Instagram and Facebook!