Print

Best Tailgate Charcuterie Board with Football Skewers

best tailgate charcuterie board with football skewers - featured image
Print Recipe

A quick and easy tailgate charcuterie board featuring football-shaped skewers with smoked sausage, cheese, and pickles. Perfect for game day, this crowd-pleasing snack comes together in about 20 minutes and travels well.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound smoked sausage or kielbasa, sliced into 1/2-inch rounds
  • 8 ounces sharp cheddar cheese, cut into 1-inch cubes
  • 8 ounces provolone cheese, cut into 1-inch cubes
  • 1 cup dill pickle chips or pickle spears, cut into bite-sized pieces
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes
  • 1/2 cup pepperoncini peppers
  • 1/4 cup whole grain mustard (for dipping)
  • 1/4 cup honey (for dipping)
  • Wooden skewers or cocktail picks (about 30-40)
  • 8 ounces salami or soppressata, thinly sliced
  • 6 ounces prosciutto, thinly sliced
  • 8 ounces pepperoni slices
  • 1 cup marinated olives (mix of green and kalamata)
  • 1 cup roasted red peppers, drained and sliced
  • 1 cup cornichons or small gherkins
  • 1 cup mixed nuts (almonds, cashews, or honey-roasted peanuts)
  • 1 cup dried apricots or figs
  • 1 cup grapes (red or green, washed and separated into small clusters)
  • 1 small baguette or crusty bread, sliced into thin rounds
  • 1 box of crackers (I like water crackers or rosemary crackers)
  • Fresh rosemary sprigs for garnish (optional)

Instructions

  1. Prep the sausage (5 minutes): Slice the smoked sausage or kielbasa into 1/2-inch rounds. If desired, lightly pan-fry for 2 minutes per side until golden brown. Let cool completely.
  2. Cut the cheese (5 minutes): Cut sharp cheddar and provolone into 1-inch cubes. If cheese is too soft, freeze for 10 minutes before cutting.
  3. Prepare the pickles and veggies (3 minutes): Cut pickle spears into bite-sized pieces. Rinse cherry tomatoes and pepperoncini, pat dry.
  4. Assemble the football skewers (10 minutes): Thread one piece of sausage, one cube of cheddar, one pickle slice, one cube of provolone, and one cherry tomato onto each skewer. Repeat for 30-40 skewers.
  5. Arrange the charcuterie board (10 minutes): Place small bowls of olives, mustard, honey, and nuts on the board. Fan out salami, prosciutto, and pepperoni in sections.
  6. Add the cheese and fruit (5 minutes): Place remaining cheese cubes, grapes, dried fruit, cornichons, and roasted red peppers in empty spaces.
  7. Place the football skewers (3 minutes): Arrange skewers in a visually appealing pattern, such as grouped in the center or fanned out.
  8. Add the bread and crackers (2 minutes): Fill gaps with baguette slices and crackers. Garnish with rosemary if desired.
  9. Final check and serve (2 minutes): Ensure balance of colors and textures. Serve immediately or refrigerate until ready.

Notes

Keep ingredients cold until assembly for easier cutting. Don’t overcrowd skewers (4-5 pieces max). Layer flavors intentionally on skewers. Use a damp paper towel under the board to prevent slipping. Prep everything the night before for quick assembly. Bring extra skewers to refresh the board.

Nutrition

Keywords: tailgate charcuterie board, football skewers, game day snack, charcuterie board, party platter, smoked sausage, cheese skewers

Find it online: https://lumalunch.com/best-tailgate-charcuterie-board-with-football-skewers/