Well-Seasoned Cookbook

flavorful recipes perfected over time

Meat and Cheese Delicatessen Platter

This is less of a recipe and more of just a great appetizer idea for any special party or social event. You can put any number of things on the platter as topping options. I even like to have multiple types of crackers to choose from, or multiple types of cheese and meats.

There are any number of things you can add to a platter like this, which means you can make it as simple or elaborate as you like!

Ingredients:

Assortment of crackers

Cheddar cheese

Colby jack cheese

Pepper jack cheese

Smoked summer sausage

Pepperoni

Basil or parsley leaves

Directions:

Cut the cheeses into fairly this, bite-sized pieces that are sized according to the size of the crackers they will be going with. Slice the meats into fairly thin slices, not only so the meat will stretch but also because the meat tends to be rather chewy if the slices are too thick.

Arrange equal amounts of the crackers, cheese, and meats on a platter and use the basil or parsley leaves as a garnish.

Other things you can add to a cracker platter include: thinly sliced pickles, whole or half olives, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, jalapenos, salami (or other softer “lunch meats”), shrimp, or smoked salmon.

It can also be really nice to serve a bowl of dip along with the platter, either in the center of the platter of just off to one side. A bacon cheddar dip goes nicely with a cracker platter or your basic cheese ball can go really well as an addition to a cracker platter. But whatever you do, don’t stress about creating the “perfect platter”, some of the most inviting platters are ones that are casually arranged with just a few toppings that your guests are familiar with.