Easy Smoked Sausage and Cheddar Charcuterie Skewers: Best Party Appetizer
Quick and easy smoked sausage and cheddar charcuterie skewers perfect for any party. Ready in under 20 minutes with simple ingredients, these colorful skewers are a crowd-pleasing appetizer that looks impressive with minimal effort.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 12-15 skewers (about 4-6 servings) 1x
- Category: Appetizer
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- 12 ounces smoked sausage, cut into 1/2-inch rounds
- 8 ounces sharp cheddar cheese, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes
- 1/2 cup green olives, pitted
- 12–15 fresh basil leaves (optional)
- 12–15 wooden skewers (6-inch size)
- Balsamic glaze for drizzling (optional)
Instructions
- Prep your ingredients (5 minutes): Cut the smoked sausage into rounds about 1/2-inch thick. Cut the cheddar cheese into cubes roughly the same size as the sausage rounds. Rinse and dry the cherry tomatoes and basil leaves if using.
- Soak your skewers (optional, 10 minutes): If using wooden skewers, drop them in a bowl of water while you prep everything to prevent splintering.
- Assemble the skewers (10 minutes): Take a skewer and thread on a piece of sausage, followed by a cube of cheddar, then a cherry tomato, and finish with an olive. If adding basil, fold a leaf in half and thread it between the cheese and tomato. Repeat until all ingredients are used, making about 12 to 15 skewers.
- Arrange on a platter (2 minutes): Line the skewers up on your serving platter in neat rows or fan them out in a circular pattern. Tuck extra basil leaves around the edges for color contrast if desired.
- Add finishing touches (1 minute): Drizzle a little balsamic glaze over the top if using. Sprinkle flaky sea salt over everything for an extra pop of flavor.
Notes
Cut all ingredients the same size for even bites. Take cheese out of fridge 15 minutes before assembling for easier cutting. Best served within a few hours of assembling; can be made up to 24 hours ahead and kept covered in fridge. Add fresh herbs and balsamic glaze just before serving. For a spicy twist, use spicy smoked sausage and pepper jack cheese. For a vegan version, use plant-based sausage and vegan cheddar.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2-3 skewers
- Calories: 120
- Sugar: 1
- Sodium: 375
- Fat: 9.5
- Saturated Fat: 4.5
- Carbohydrates: 2.5
- Fiber: 0.5
- Protein: 7.5
Keywords: smoked sausage skewers, cheddar skewers, charcuterie skewers, party appetizer, easy appetizer, no-cook appetizer, game day snack