Courtside Cheese and Dip Board
Looking for the perfect game night food? Enjoy the game with friends while everyone picks their favorite snack bites off this appetizer arrangement.
Prep time30 min
Total time30min
ServingsMakes 16 servings.
Ingredients
- Prepared salsa con queso
- Cracker-size cheddar, pepper Jack and Colby Jack cheese slices
- Prepared chili with beans, warmed
- Prepared guacamole and salsa
- Peanuts and mixed nuts
- Mixed stuffed green and pitted black olives
- Chipotle-flavored cheese and Colby Jack cheese wedges
- Assorted fresh fruit, such as seedless green and red grapes and assorted berries
- Assorted fresh vegetables, such as cut-up carrots and celery, cherry tomatoes and mini sweet peppers
- Curly green and Bibb lettuce leaves
- RITZ Crackers, TRISCUIT Crackers and WHEAT THINS Original Snacks
- Ketchup or barbecue sauce
Preparation
- Spoon salsa con queso into bowl; place in center of large board for the center of the basketball court. Surround with cheese slices.
- Place bowls of chili, dips, nuts and olives on both short ends of board for the 2 basketball hoops.
- Fill in empty spaces on board with the cheese wedges, fruits, vegetables, lettuce and crackers. If desired, cut some of the cheese slices into small rounds and place on a few crackers; decorate with ketchup or barbecue sauce to resemble basketballs.
- Serve additional crackers in bowls or baskets next to the board.
- Cheese and dip boards such as this can be prepared for any number of servings, depending on the size of the gathering. Use a guideline of 1 oz. cheese, 2 Tbsp. dip and 1 oz. (or labeled serving size) of crackers* per person. For a well-balanced board, fill in empty spaces with fruits and veggies. For the 16 servings shown here, figure on purchasing 1 lb. of cheese and 2 cups of dip. Have plenty of RITZ Crackers, TRISCUIT Crackers and WHEAT THINS Snacks available for guests to choose from along with the fruits and veggies. *Serving size of RITZ Crackers is 1/2 oz.
Recipe Tips
- Make it Simple
Pre-sliced cheeses, and prepared dips and spreads can be purchased from your supermarket. For a small gathering, check out the in-store salad bar where you can purchase small amounts of each item instead of buying an entire package of each. For added convenience, look for pre-cut vegetables in the produce section of your supermarket. - Vary the Cheeses, Fruit & Vegetables
For a more interesting board, serve 3 or 4 kinds of cheeses featuring a variety of textures, shapes and flavors. Soft, semi-soft and firm cheese; cubes, slices, logs and wedges all add more interest. Choose fruits that are in season and have complementary flavors and shapes, such as clusters of grapes, sliced crisp apples and soft berries. An assortment of vegetables adds both interest and crunch. - Cheese Tips
For best flavor, let the cheeses sit for about 15 min. at room temperature before serving. If serving a wedge or full piece of cheese, be sure to place a knife on the board for each variety of cheese you are serving.
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