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Easy Football Charcuterie Board with Salami & Cheddar

football charcuterie board - featured image
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This easy football-shaped charcuterie board with salami and cheddar is the ultimate game day snack. It looks impressive but is simple to assemble with salami roses, sharp cheddar, crackers, and fresh fruit.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 8–10 ounces salami (hard salami or Genoa, sliced 1/8 inch thick)
  • 8 ounces sharp cheddar cheese (block, cubed and sliced)
  • 4 ounces pepper jack cheese (cubed or sliced)
  • 8–10 ounces crackers (mix of Ritz, Wheat Thins, and water crackers)
  • 1 cup red grapes
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes (halved or whole)
  • 1/2 cup olives (mix of green and black, such as Castelvetrano)
  • 1/2 cup almonds (smoked or roasted)
  • Honey (for drizzling)
  • Fresh rosemary sprigs (optional, for garnish)

Instructions

  1. Prepare your board: Start with a clean, dry cutting board or platter. If using parchment paper, lay it down. Visualize the football shape (an oval with slightly pointed ends).
  2. Make the salami roses: Take 5-6 slices of salami and overlap them slightly in a straight line. Starting at one end, roll them tightly into a spiral. Gently pull the outer layers to create ‘petals.’ Place on the board. Repeat to make 4-5 roses spaced along the football shape.
  3. Add the cheese: Cube the cheddar and pepper jack into bite-sized pieces (about 1/2 inch each). Slice a few thin rectangles of cheddar. Arrange cheese clusters around the salami roses, following the football outline.
  4. Fill in with crackers: Fan out crackers in groups around the cheese and meat. Overlap them for texture. Place Ritz near the edges and Wheat Thins in the middle.
  5. Add the fruit and olives: Tuck grapes and cherry tomatoes into empty spaces. Place olives in a small bowl or directly on the board.
  6. Scatter the almonds: Sprinkle almonds around the board to fill gaps and add crunch.
  7. Drizzle honey and garnish: Put honey in a small bowl or drizzle over cheddar cubes. Add fresh rosemary sprigs around the edges.
  8. Final check: Step back and adjust ingredients to ensure the board looks like a football. Move crackers, add more grapes, or shift salami roses as needed.

Notes

Prep all ingredients before arranging. Take cheese out of fridge 20 minutes before starting for best flavor. Don’t overthink the salami roses; imperfections are hidden by other ingredients. Assemble board no more than an hour before serving to keep crackers crisp and fruit fresh. For a vegetarian version, skip the salami and double up on cheese and nuts.

Nutrition

Keywords: football charcuterie board, game day snack, salami roses, easy appetizer, party platter, Super Bowl snack

Find it online: https://spoonluma.com/easy-football-charcuterie-board-with-salami-and-cheddar/