• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Home
  • Meet Kelly
  • Browse All Recipes
  • Contact

The Anthony Kitchen logo

  • Recipe Index
  • Dinner Ideas
  • Dessert
  • Entertaining
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • Home
  • Recipe Index
  • About
  • Contact
  • Stay in touch...

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • ×
    Home · Recipes · Charcuterie Boards · How to Make a Cheese Platter with Summer Sausage

    January 15, 2018

    How to Make a Cheese Platter with Summer Sausage

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    An easy cheese platter idea, perfect for entertaining, featuring summer sausage, cheeses everyone loves, crackers, and pickled relishes. It's perfect party food!

    A close up shot of a cheese platter featuring colby jack, cheddar and gouda cheeses. In the back of the platter are slices of summer sausage. There are also two small white bowls sitting on the platter full of pickled okra and pickles.

    BEST CHEESES FOR A SAUSAGE AND CHEESE PLATTER

    Over the years I've done plenty of experimenting when it comes to cheeses for the board, however, what I've found is the cheeses that actually get eaten up are fairly common and mild in flavor.

    • Cheddar Cheddar Cheese
    • Colby Jack Cheese
    • Monterrey Jack
    • Gouda (regular or smoked)
    • Muenster
    • Pepper Jack

    Pick your three favorites to use on your cheese and sausage platter. The cheeses I most commonly use on my own personal platters for casual entertaining are Cheddar, Colby Jack, and Monterrey Jack.

    Any of the listed cheeses pair perfectly with sausage right off the grill, summer sausage, deli ham and turkey, and even cured Italian meats as well.

    An overhead shot of summer sausage slices, smoked gouda, sliced yellow cheddar and a small white bowl of pickled okra.

    Sometimes I just can't help myself, but to throw in a "fancier" cheese, and on a game day, this will usually come in the form of a Smoked Gouda, as it pairs well with smoked meats and beer.

    HOW TO PREPARE CHEESE FOR CHEESE PLATTER

    All of the fancy entertaining books are going to tell you to leave the cheese whole. But, I can tell you from many years of personal experience, you're better off slicing the cheese before it goes on the platter.

    Guests don't want to work for their food. Humans are just lazy that way. Your cheese is much more likely to get eaten if you cut it up beforehand.

    When I am slicing cheese for a cheese platter, I try my best to keep it in the same shape as the block itself as I'm making my cuts. This not only helps guests to know what the cheese is that their eating but also makes for a pretty cool presentation (if you don't mind me saying so).

    MEATS FOR A CHEESE and SAUSAGE PLATTER

    Beyond the cheeses, you'll want to have a little protein on your cheese platter. If you aren't a fan of summer sausage you could always substitute an assortment of Italian cured meats such as salami and soppressata or throw on a link of grilled sausage.

    However, in the defense of the summer sausage, I'll say this: Summer sausage is inexpensive (which is great for entertaining), and also, easier to chew than cured meats.

    When you are serving salami and the like, it's very important that it is sliced thin or it is difficult to chew. Summer sausage is much more forgiving when it comes to the sizes of the slices, and a little goes a long way.

    DON'T FORGET THE CRACKERS

    What's a meat and cheese platter without the crackers? For the crackers, go with a mildly flavored cracker that actually allows the flavor of both the sausage and the cheese to come through.

    • Saltines
    • Water Crackers
    • Stone Ground Wheat Crackers
    • Triscuits Crackers
    • Ritz Crackers
    • Town House Crackers
    • Toasteds Crackers (comes in a variety of 3)
    • Carrs Assorted Biscuits

    Saltines, water crackers, and stone ground wheat crackers are all great choices for a cheese and sausage platter, and they are the ones I typically use for entertaining.

    LITTLE EXTRAS GO A LONG WAY

    Cheese and sausage can be pretty heavy on the pallet, so to help cut the fats, I like to serve an assortment of pickled relishes on the platter.

    Small dill pickles, pickled okra, olives and such make a great addition to the platter, and also add a little variation of color, making it extra pretty.

    An overhead shot of smoked gouda, round sliced summer sausage, yellow cheddar and colby jack cheese. On each side of the platter are white bowls of pickled okra and pickles.

    HOW TO ARRANGE A CHEESE PLATTER

    Anytime you are arranging a cheese platter, the bulkiest items should go down first.

    1. ADD CONDIMENT/RELISH BOWLS TO THE PLATTER FIRST

    Add your relishes to small bowls or ramekins, and have ready a large platter, cheese board, wooden cutting board, or tray. Place the ramekins on each end of the platter.

    2. PLACE THE CHEESE AND FAN OUT THE SLICES

    Next, the cheese goes on. Bonus for those of you who managed to slice up the cheese and still keep it in the same shape as the block you bought it in! Gather the slices, and if you can, transfer the cheese to the platter all at once.

    Place it toward the outer edges of the platter, and fan out the slices. Alternatively, drop it directly in the middle and fan out the slices.

    3. ADD THE SLICED SUMMER SAUSAGE OR MEATS

    Find an opening for the summer sausage and arrange it in a fish scale pattern on the platter. It's ok if the sausage touches the cheese. A crowded platter looks better than an empty platter.

    4. USE CRACKERS TO FILL IN THE EMPTY SPACES

    Take your assortment of crackers and fill in the empty spaces, and if there are extra, either place them in a little bowl or a cracker tray near the platter.

    Cheese platters are great for entertaining for so many reasons, but the simplicity and ease of them is quite possibly the best part. They enable your guests to serve themselves and nibble as they please, while you (the host!) actually get to enjoy your own party.

    MORE APPETIZERS TO GO WITH YOUR CHEESE PLATTER

    And if your looking for more appetizers to win over your game day crowd, consider throwing together a batch of these Fried Sausage Stuffed Olives from Inside the Rustic Kitchen. They're crispy, salty, and the perfect little nibble to serve alongside your cheese and meat platter!

    And, then there's this Pimento Cheese Spread. Easy to whip up and features a mix of Cheddar and Havarti. Serve it with a basket full of toasted pretzel rolls or use it a bonus cheese on your summer sausage platter!

    And if you're really looking to amp up your game day spread, Maroon Out Meatballs will undoubtedly wow your crowd. Baked meatballs tossed in a semi-spicy raspberry-chipotle BBQ will look stunning alongside your platter.

    4.77 from 17 votes
    HOW TO ARRANGE A CHEESE PLATTER
    Print
    Cheese Platter with Summer Sausage
    Prep Time
    12 mins
    Total Time
    12 mins
     

    An easy cheese platter idea, perfect for game day entertaining, featuring summer sausage, cheeses everyone loves, crackers, and pickled relishes.

    Course: Appetizer
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: Cheese Platter, Summer Sausage
    Servings: 15
    Calories: 310 kcal
    Author: Kelly Anthony
    Ingredients
    • 1 (8 ounce) block Cheddar cheese, sliced at a ¼" thick
    • 1 (8 ounce) block Colby Jack cheese, sliced at a ¼" thick
    • 1 (8 ounce) block Smoked Gouda cheese, sliced at a ¼" thick
    • 1 (16 ounce) link summer sausage
    • 2 sleeves of Saltine, stone ground, and/or water crackers
    • 2 cups small dill pickles, pickled okra, and/or olives (drained)
    Instructions
    1. Add ingredients to a large platter, serve and enjoy.

    Recipe Notes

    See blog post for how to arrange your cheese platter and ingredient substitutions.

    Nutrition Facts
    Cheese Platter with Summer Sausage
    Amount Per Serving
    Calories 310 Calories from Fat 198
    % Daily Value*
    Fat 22g34%
    Saturated Fat 11g69%
    Cholesterol 69mg23%
    Sodium 770mg33%
    Potassium 160mg5%
    Carbohydrates 8g3%
    Protein 16g32%
    Vitamin A 445IU9%
    Vitamin C 0.3mg0%
    Calcium 331mg33%
    Iron 1.2mg7%
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

    Pinterest image of HOW TO MAKE A CHEESE PLATTER

    « Chicken Breasts in the Oven
    Sweet Potato Turkey Hash Recipe »
    6172 shares
    • Share
    • Tweet
    • Yummly

    Looking for more recipes?

    Be sure to check out the recipe index where you can browse recipes by meal type and category!

    Check Out the Recipe Index

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Danielle Wolter says

      April 23, 2019 at 2:31 am

      love this how to! a cheese platter is just the greatest for entertaining, or really just any binge TV watching too 🙂

      Reply
    2. Stine Mari says

      April 24, 2019 at 8:28 am

      I would love to have this cheese platter right now, everything looks fantastic! I always think it's a little difficult to choose whatever cheese I want, and you made it easier. Thank you.

      Reply
    3. Jere Cassidy says

      April 24, 2019 at 11:17 pm

      I could live off cheese plates. Yours looks delicious and I love summer sausage.

      Reply
    4. Jenni LeBaron says

      April 25, 2019 at 8:14 pm

      I love a good cheese board. I know most people like to serve this as an appetizer, but I could honestly make a meal out of summer sausage, cheese, and pickles!

      Reply
    5. Fred says

      April 25, 2019 at 11:31 pm

      I love how you put all these together I'm a big fan, great for a barbecue amd picnics! Thanks for sharing!

      Reply
    6. Kacie Morgan says

      April 26, 2019 at 1:56 pm

      This looks so good and I'm glad you included some arrangement tips as it can be tricky to make a cheese and meat platter look organised and appealing.

      Reply
    7. Jacqueline DeBono says

      April 27, 2019 at 9:12 am

      I love cheese platters when entertaining, especially in summer out in the garden! Good idea to include pickles. I don't do that enough!

      Reply
    8. Celeste says

      April 28, 2019 at 1:56 am

      Everything looks so delicious. Unfortunately for me, cheese is one of my favorite foods. It's perfect for the upcoming summer gatherings.

      Reply
    9. Amanda says

      April 29, 2019 at 12:55 am

      One of my favorite things to do in the summer is to have a charcuterie and cheese board for dinner, so thanks for all the tips! This will come in handy.

      Reply
    10. Sophia says

      April 29, 2019 at 3:01 am

      What a beautiful cheese board! I love all the ideas of things to add so you can customize it to all different occasions!

      Reply
    11. April says

      April 29, 2019 at 7:59 pm

      Fantastic idea to host a a small part of close friends and to entertain. Just what I need for the next few weeks - thank you!

      Reply
    12. Mimi says

      April 29, 2019 at 8:01 pm

      Such an easy idea to create something special that everyone will love. I can easily make this without all the extra efforts and still enjoy the night. Awesome!

      Reply
    13. Maman de sara says

      April 30, 2019 at 2:58 am

      Your cheese platter looks great. Simple and delicious for big gatherings.

      Reply
    14. Geetanjali Tung says

      May 02, 2019 at 4:59 am

      The cheese platter sounds so good to me! Love the way you put pickle, cheese and sausage together. Great recipe for party or picnic!!!

      Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    I’m Kelly Anthony — a baker, home chef, and mom with a passion for food and an adoration for entertaining.

    Comfort food is my specialty, and it is truly my pleasure to share these recipes with you. If you’d like to get to know me a little better, click here.

    Trending recipes

    • Peppercorn Sauce for Steak with green beans and leafy greens
      Peppercorn Sauce for Steak
    • Shrimp cocktail with shrimp, lemon, and cilantro in a cocktail glass
      Shrimp Cocktail Sauce Recipe
    • 45 AWESOME Gift Ideas for Home Cooks
    • Master image collage for all baked goods items. Products are featured in colored squares.
      45 Gifts Bakers Swoon For
    • 27 Unique Gifts for Hosts & Hostesses
    • 18 Gifts Coffee and Tea Drinkers Want

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclaimer
    • Accessibility Policy

    Newsletter

    • Sign up for weekly recipes
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube

    Contact

    • Work with me
    • Contact