Best Smoked Gouda & Bacon Football Charcuterie Board
A smoky, creamy, and salty charcuterie board featuring smoked gouda and crispy bacon crumbles, perfect for game day. This easy 20-minute assembly feeds a crowd and looks impressive without the stress.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 8-10 servings 1x
- Category: Appetizer
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 oz smoked gouda block
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- 4 oz sharp cheddar block
- 8 slices thick-cut bacon, cooked and crumbled
- 2 cups assorted crackers
- 1 large Honeycrisp or Granny Smith apple, sliced
- 1 cup red grapes
- 1/2 cup dried apricots
- 2 tbsp honey
- 1/2 cup roasted almonds
- 1/2 cup cornichons or pickled onions
- 1 tbsp lemon juice (for apple slices)
- Flaky sea salt (for finishing)
Instructions
- Cook 8 slices of thick-cut bacon in a skillet over medium heat until crispy, about 6-8 minutes. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate to drain. Once cool, crumble into small pieces. (Optional: save 2 tablespoons bacon fat to brush over smoked gouda before serving.)
- In a small bowl, combine 8 oz softened cream cheese with 1/4 cup crumbled bacon and 1 tablespoon honey. Mix until smooth. Season with a pinch of black pepper. Set aside.
- Cut the smoked gouda into thin wedges or cubes. Slice the sharp cheddar into thin triangles or rectangles. Leave some pieces whole for visual interest.
- Slice the apple into thin wedges and toss with a squeeze of lemon juice to prevent browning. Rinse the grapes and pat dry. Halve the dried apricots if large.
- Place ramekins of cream cheese dip, honey, and pickled vegetables on a large wooden board or platter. Arrange the cheeses in clusters around the bowls. Fill in gaps with crackers, apple slices, grapes, apricots, and almonds. Sprinkle remaining crumbled bacon over the board.
- Drizzle a little honey over the smoked gouda wedges. Sprinkle a pinch of flaky sea salt over the entire board. Serve immediately or refrigerate for up to 2 hours before serving.
Notes
Take cheeses out of fridge 30 minutes before serving for best flavor. Cook bacon the morning of and crumble just before assembling to keep crispy. For a spicier version, add cayenne to cream cheese dip and use hot honey. Leftover cheese keeps in airtight container in fridge for up to 5 days.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (based on
- Calories: 380
- Sugar: 10
- Sodium: 620
- Fat: 28
- Saturated Fat: 12
- Carbohydrates: 18
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 14
Keywords: smoked gouda, bacon, charcuterie board, game day, football party, appetizer, cheese board