Game Day Charcuterie Board
Elevate your next game day gathering with a charcuterie board that’s guaranteed to please! This Game Day Charcuterie Board features a pimiento cheese football surrounded by an impressive array of sweet, savory, and crunchy elements that will keep your guests snacking from kickoff to the final whistle!
Perfect for Super Bowl Sunday, playoff matchups, or any game day gathering, this super bowl charcuterie board is my new go-to for entertaining during football season! Unlike traditional appetizer spreads that often require last-minute preparation or reheating, this board can be assembled a few hours ahead and refrigerated until the big game!
This super bowl party board has the perfect mix of flavors and a show-stopping presentation. I used pimiento cheese spread and arranged it into the shape of a football in the middle of the board!
The pimiento cheese football at the center isn’t just fun to look at – it’s the kind of dip that you actually want to eat. Plus, I’ve packed this cheese board with different cheeses from bold to mild, added plenty of crunch from nuts and crackers, and thrown in fresh fruit and veggies for balance!
Add classic chicken wings or pizza to the mix to round out your game day offerings. I have even more suggestions below!
Equipment Needed
For this football charcuterie board, you will need:
- Charcuterie Board: You can use large wooden board, marble slab, or serving tray! If you don’t have a board to use, I recommend cutting a piece of butcher paper or parchment paper to fit and arranging the board directly on it on the countertop!
- 2 Dip Bowls: For the olives and jam! Add more if you end up buying more loose items.
- Alphabet Cookie Cutters: This is optional, if you’d like to customize the football charcuterie board with your team name!
Ingredients Needed
Here’s what you’ll need to make this easy game day charcuterie board:
- Pimiento Spread: The star of our show provides a creamy, tangy base that’s perfectly spreadable. Its orange color makes it perfect for the football size!
- Sliced Cheese: Use sliced cheese to make the designs on the football.
- Cubed Cheese: A combination of cheddar, pepper jack, and Colby jack offers varying levels of sharpness and spice!
- Specialty Cheese: I used a Smoked Black Pepper Cheddar as a specialty cheese, but you can get creative here! Manchego, aged gouda or even a blue cheese wedge would work well.
- Dry Salami: Choose a high-quality, thinly sliced variety that folds easily.
- Fresh Raspberries: To add a pop of color and fresh sweetness, add your favorite berries.
- Mini Club Crackers: Perfect for pairing with the cheeses and meat!
- Yogurt Covered Almonds: For a crunchy, sweet element.
- Bleu Cheese Stuffed Olives: These pack a flavorful punch! If you don’t like bleu cheese, you can opt for garlic stuffed olives or classic pimento stuffed.
- Popcorn: The popcorn in team colors makes this the perfect superbowl charcuterie board.
- Jam or Honey: Pairs well with the sharpness of the cheeses.
- Nuts: Seasoned nuts go well here, too. They are easy to grab and munch on which I love!
- Mini Sweet Peppers: For a bright color and crisp texture.
- Cucumber: Lightens up the board with something refreshing!
Substitutions & Additions
My game day charcuterie board is super versatile! Here are some easy swaps or additions you can make to make this the best board for you:
- You can use any thick dip or cheese spread in place of the pimiento cheese spread! I recommend a thick ranch dip made with sour cream.
- Cherry tomatoes can replace or complement the sweet peppers for additional fresh elements and vibrant color.
- Add some chocolate covered pretzels for a sweet-and-salty combo that works especially well for afternoon games.
- If you can’t find the right color candied popcorn, try using pretzels and sprinkling in some M&M’s in your team’s colors.
- A mix of dried cranberries, apricots, and figs can substitute for fresh berries while adding concentrated flavor.
- Pick your favorite cheese! I always use cheddar cheese because it’s universally loved. Havarti, pepperjack and smoked gouda are also wonderful choices.
- Substitute prosciutto for the salami.
- Substitute celery sticks, snap peas or baby carrots for the cucumbers.
- Add in some candied bacon for a game day-appropriate upgrade that’ll disappear quickly!
- Charcuterie boards can be made your own by adding or omitting anything you’d like. Sometimes I like to add mini soft pretzels, tortilla chips, or extra cheese dips to mine!
How to Make a Football Charcuterie Board
- Place the Bowls: To a 13”x18” board, place 2 small bowls for the olives and jam.
- Make the Football-Shaped Center: Next, add the pimiento spread. Use a spoon to shape it into a football shape.
- Design the Football: Use a pairing knife to cut one long strip from the cheese slice, then three short strips. Arrange these into the “laces” for the football shape.
- Arrange the Cubed Cheese: Arrange cubed and sliced cheeses around the small bowls.
- Add the Salami: Fold the salami and arrange it into ribbons on opposite corners of the board.
- Place Crackers & Cucumbers: Place the club crackers under the football shape, then arrange cucumber slices on the other side of the football.
- Make Letters: (Optional) Use your alphabet cutters to cut the second cheese slice into letters to top the ribbons of salami. You could use “game day” as show, or a phrase with your team name, like “Go Chiefs.”
- Place Remaining Ingredients: Fill the remaining space with the popcorn, nuts, berries and pepper slices.
- Serve: Refrigerate until ready to serve. Enjoy!
Tips for Success
- Prepare the board no more than 4 hours before serving, keeping it refrigerated until about 30 minutes before kickoff.
- Remove the cheese spread from the refrigerator about 30-45 minutes before serving to improve spreadability.
- Feel free to use any variety of berry or grapes instead of the strawberries.
- I recommend a lighter color cheese for the cheese slices for better contrast. I used provolone.
Serving Suggestions for Delicious Football Charcuterie Boards
I recommend serving this adorable board with plenty of delicious finger foods and snacks like pigs in a blanket or buffalo wings!
If you’d like to add more fresh veggies to your game day spread, try making this adorable Football Veggie Tray.
Round out your appetizers with Cajun Crab Dip, Bacon Baked Brie, Smoked Jalapeño Poppers, White Queso Dip or Smoked Buffalo Chicken Dip.
I hope that you enjoy this adorable Game Day board! If you make it, please let me know how it went in the comments below.
Game Day Charcuterie Board
Ingredients
- 8 ounces pimiento cheese spread
- 2 cheese slices any flavor, for garnishes
- 13 ounces cheese cubed, Pepper jack or Cheddar
- 8 ounces cheese specialty (any variety)
- 4 ounces dry salami
- 4 ounces raspberries
- 4 ounces crackers I used mini Club crackers
- 3 ounces coated almonds white chocolate or yogurt coated
- 3 ounces stuffed olives bleu cheese or garlic
- 2 ounces popcorn in team colors
- 2 ounces jam or honey
- 1 ounch nuts seasoned
- 3 mini sweet peppers sliced
- 1 cucumber small, sliced
Instructions
- To a 13''x18'' board, place 2 small bowls for the olives and jam.
- Next, add the pimiento spread. Use a spoon to shape it into a football shape.
- Use a pairing nice to cut one long strip from the cheese slice, then three short strips. Arrange these into the "laces" for the football shape.
- Arrange cubed and sliced cheeses around the small bowls.
- Fold the salami and arrange it into ribbons on opposite corners of the board.
- Place the club crackers under the football shape, then arrange cucumber slices on the other side of the football.
- (Optional) Use your alphabet cutters to cut the second cheese slice into letters to top the ribbons of salami. You could use "game day" as show, or a phrase with your team name, like "Go Chiefs."
- Fill the remaining space with the popcorn, nuts, berries and pepper slices.
- Refrigerate until ready to serve. Enjoy!
Notes
- Any thick dip or cheese spread can be substituted for the Pimiento.
- I recommend a lighter color cheese for the cheese slices for better contrast. I used provolone.
- For the cubed cheese, I recommend a mix of cheddar, pepper jack and Colby jack, but choose the varieties you like best.
- For the speicalty cheese, I recommend choosing something that feels a bit special. I chose a well aged Smoked Black Pepper Cheddar. Manchego, aged gouda or even a blue cheese wedge would work well.
- Feel free to use any variety of berry or grapes instead of the raspberries.
- If you can’t find the right color candied popcorn, try using pretzels and sprinkling in some M&M’s in your team’s colors.
