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Game Day Football Charcuterie Board with Pretzel Rods

game day football charcuterie board with pretzel rods - featured image
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A no-cook, crowd-pleasing snack board built around salty pretzel rods, sharp cheddar, smoked gouda, summer sausage, and a creamy beer cheese dip. Perfect for game day grazing that holds up for hours.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 large bag (12–16 ounces) pretzel rods
  • 8 ounces sharp cheddar cheese, block form
  • 6 ounces smoked gouda
  • 8 ounces summer sausage or salami, sliced thin
  • 4 ounces pepperoni slices
  • 1 cup pickle spears or cornichons
  • 1/4 cup whole grain mustard
  • 2 tablespoons honey
  • 8 ounces sharp cheddar cheese, freshly grated (for beer cheese dip)
  • 3/4 cup beer (lager or pilsner)
  • 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  • Salt and cayenne pepper to taste
  • 1/2 cup roasted nuts (optional)
  • 1 apple, sliced thin (optional)
  • 1 cup grapes, red or green (optional)
  • 1/4 cup dark chocolate chunks (optional)

Instructions

  1. Grate the sharp cheddar cheese while cold and set aside to come to room temperature.
  2. In a small saucepan over medium-low heat, combine beer and cream cheese. Whisk constantly until cream cheese melts, about 2 minutes. Do not boil.
  3. Reduce heat to low. Add grated cheddar cheese one handful at a time, whisking after each addition until fully melted.
  4. Whisk in Dijon mustard, garlic powder, and Worcestershire sauce. Season with salt and cayenne pepper to taste. Transfer dip to a ramekin.
  5. Slice sharp cheddar into thin rectangles (about 1/4 inch thick). Cut smoked gouda into small wedges or triangles. Arrange in separate clusters on a large wooden board or platter.
  6. Fold summer sausage slices in half, then in half again to create quarter-moon shapes. Fan them out in a row. Layer pepperoni slices in a separate pile, slightly overlapping.
  7. Place pretzel rods in a tall cluster on one end of the board, or stand them up in a small cup or jar.
  8. Place ramekins of beer cheese dip, whole grain mustard, and honey in different spots around the board.
  9. Scatter pickle spears, cornichons, nuts, apple slices, and grapes in the empty spaces. Tuck dark chocolate chunks near the pretzel rods if using.
  10. Drizzle honey over smoked gouda wedges. Sprinkle flaky sea salt over the beer cheese dip. Serve at room temperature.

Notes

Let cheese sit at room temperature for 20 minutes before serving for best flavor. Budget 4-5 pretzel rods per person. Beer cheese dip can be made up to 3 days ahead and reheated gently on the stove. For gluten-free, use gluten-free pretzel rods and gluten-free beer. For vegetarian, skip the meat and double up on cheese.

Nutrition

Keywords: game day, charcuterie board, pretzel rods, beer cheese dip, football snack, party appetizer

Find it online: https://shimmersnack.com/game-day-football-charcuterie-board-with-pretzel-rods/