The Super Bowl is always one of my favorite Sundays of the year. Having a big spread is always a great idea and today I’m sharing a few of my favorite things to include in your game day menu when it comes to your cheese board or charcuterie board. And for me, I like to go beyond meat and cheese, and create a cheese board with dips. Why? Because we’ve got a few hours to kill and we’re hungry. So why not expand your charcuterie board and make it the ultimate Super Bowl appetizers all in one.
Cheese Board Dips: What to Serve on a Cheese or Charcuterie Board
Do You Put Dips On A Cheese Board?
My answer? Yes! It’s nice to have a variety of options on your cheese board that aren’t just meat and cheese. It turns your charcuterie board into the ultimate appetizer and snacking board for guests. This is great for entertaining a crowd, especially on game day or for big holidays like Thanksgiving or Christmas.
The Best Dips for a Cheese Board
There are so many great dips to but on a cheese board to accompany your existing spread. From savory dips, to sweet or even something spicy, these are the best dips for your cheese board spread.
Savory Dips
- Whipped feta
- Hummus in various flavors and styles
- Spinach and artichoke dip
- Boursin style cheese dip
- Dill pickle dip
- Pimento cheese dip
- French onion dip
Sweet Dips
- Honey ricotta
- Chocolate dessert dip
- Fruit yogurt dip
- Marshamllow cream cheese dip
- Cannoli dip
- Salted caramel dip
Having a mix of savory dips for those who are enjoying the meats and cheese are great. But not everyone wants to indulge in a stinky cheese or spicy meat, so it’s nice to have a few sweet dips as well paired with fresh fruit, or a sweet cracker. Plus, sweet dips like a honey ricotta or a fig jam cream cheese actually pair really nice with salty meats and cheeses. You can easily build flavor combinations and layer however you like. Something salty, crunchy, sweet and creamy, it all works.
How to Arrange Dips on a Cheese Board
First let’s chat the cheese board because it’s honestly one of my favorite things to snack on. For a charcuterie board, I like to always include a few cheese options, soft and hard. And a couple of different meats. I went with a chorizo, a salami and prosciutto. A few Marcona almonds, olives and of course some pickles round out the board perfectly.
But don’t forget about the crackers! I like to have a mix of crackers from Pretzel Crisps, classic water crackers are nice and neutral, multigrain and olive oil crackers, butter crackers like Ritz and classic toasted baguette slices to make your own crostinis.
Since we’re adding dips to the board, you’ll also want to consider what goes best with your dips. For sweet dips, try a sweeter cracker like a lemon or honey cinnamon cracker. And if you’re including things like guacamole and salsa, be sure to include your tortilla chips!
When creating a balanced board, aim for the following:
- A neutral cracker
- An herb or flavored cracker
- Hearty rain option
- A speciality or sweet option
- Any other required crackers or chips like tortilla or baguette
Pair like with like when building your board so people know what goes with what. If you have items that don’t seem super clear what they are, use little cheese board signs to make it clear to your guests. This is key for a game night spread when you don’t want to worry about telling everyone what’s on the board.
When building your holiday cheese and dip board, you can then lean into holiday flavors like cranberry, rosemary and so on. And for the Super Bowl cheese and dip board, you can have fun with things like guacamole, hot dips and more.
Serve it all up with a signature cocktail, and you’ve got the perfect game-day spread that will keep your guests full and happy!
How Many Dips Per Person?
Anytime I’m building a cheese board as an appetizer, I like to build a larger spread. Which is why I think adding dips are key! Keep in mind what else you’re serving to know if you need more or less. If there’s a big pot of chili to be served, you may want to scale back. But if you’re only doing wings and dips, you can really add more dips.
If the board is part of a larger spread, include 3 dips at least, and 2-3 tablespoons of dip per person. Use small 4-6 oz ramekins to keep things balanced. If the board is the main snack for game night or wine night with friends, include 4-5 dips today, 2-3 savory and 1-2 sweet. Plan for 1/4 cup of dip per person and use larger bowls. And for game day and more dip focused boards, really lean into the dips and do 5-6 and have 1/4-1/3 cup per person.
Always Start With A Great Meat And Cheese Board
When building your Super Bowl cheese board and dip spread, it’s good to start with a great board. Meats and cheeses mixed in with great bites like olives, almonds and honey. Before you add your crackers, be sure to consider the dips you plan to include. This will determine which crackers and chips to add to your board.
Cheese And Dip Board Essentials
You can get creative when displaying and organizing your cheese and dip board. Use your favorite wood cutting board, and ramekins to contain everything. But sometimes it is nice to have a few extra items, and also cheese knives on hand to really make your spread look great.
Photos by Hannah Michelle
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