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Ultimate Loaded Football Charcuterie Board with Pretzel Bites

Ultimate Loaded Football Charcuterie Board with Pretzel Bites - featured image
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A quick and impressive game day spread featuring warm, chewy pretzel bites dipped in homemade sharp cheddar cheese sauce, topped with pulled pork, crispy bacon, and jalapeños.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 lb (450g) pretzel dough (store-bought or homemade)
  • 1/2 cup baking soda
  • 10 cups water (for boiling)
  • 1 large egg beaten with 1 tablespoon water (egg wash)
  • Coarse sea salt (for sprinkling)
  • 2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, freshly grated
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup whole milk
  • 1/2 teaspoon mustard powder
  • 2 cups warm pulled pork
  • 1 cup cooked crispy bacon, crumbled
  • 1/2 cup sliced jalapeños
  • 1/2 cup ranch dressing
  • 2 stalks green onions, thinly sliced
  • 1 cup cured meats (prosciutto, salami, or pepperoni), sliced

Instructions

  1. Let pretzel dough come to room temperature for 15 minutes if store-bought. Divide into 1-inch balls and place on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
  2. Bring 10 cups of water to a rolling boil in a large pot. Stir in baking soda carefully.
  3. Boil dough balls in batches for 30 seconds per side using a slotted spoon. Remove and place on the baking sheet.
  4. Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C). Brush boiled pretzels with egg wash and sprinkle with coarse sea salt. Bake for 12-15 minutes until deep golden brown. Cool on a wire rack.
  5. Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in flour and cook for 1 minute to make a roux.
  6. Slowly whisk in milk, cooking until thickened (3-4 minutes). Remove from heat and stir in grated cheddar cheese and mustard powder until smooth. Keep warm.
  7. Crisp bacon in a skillet and crumble. Slice jalapeños, green onions, and cured meats. Warm pulled pork.
  8. Assemble the board by placing warm pretzel bites in the center. Arrange bowls of cheese sauce and ranch around them. Add pulled pork, cured meats, bacon, jalapeños, and green onions. Drizzle with extra cheese sauce.

Notes

Boiling the pretzel dough in a baking soda bath is essential for authentic flavor and texture. Do not skip this step. For the cheese sauce, remove the pan from heat before adding cheese to prevent separation. If the sauce breaks, whisk in a splash of cold milk to fix it. Serve immediately while pretzels are warm and sauce is gooey.

Nutrition

Keywords: game day food, charcuterie board, pretzel bites, cheese sauce, pulled pork, football snacks, party appetizers, easy entertaining

Find it online: https://coracooks.com/ultimate-loaded-football-charcuterie-board-with-pretzel-bites/