Halloween is all about fun, frights, and of course, fantastic food. If you’re looking to create something truly memorable for your next party, you have come to the right place. Forget the usual bowl of chips and dip. We are talking about a full on edible centerpiece.
Get ready to build the most amazing Halloween Charcuterie Board you have ever seen. This isn’t just a board with some cheese and meat. This is a full on Skeleton Charcuterie Board, complete with a cheesy skull, a rib cage, and all the gory details. It looks impressive, but you will be surprised how simple it is to put together.
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Why You’ll Love This Recipe
First off, the wow factor is off the charts. When you bring this Spooky Charcuterie Board out, jaws will drop. It’s a conversation starter and an instant photo opportunity for all your guests. It sets the spooky mood immediately.
Beyond its incredible looks, this Halloween Food Board is genuinely delicious. It is packed with savory flavors that everyone loves. You have a creamy, bacon infused cheese spread for the head, beefy ribs, and spicy chicken sausage. It is a hearty and satisfying collection of tastes and textures.
You might think a masterpiece like this takes all day to make, but it’s mostly assembly. There is very little actual cooking involved. You are just putting delicious, precooked elements together in a creative way. It is the best kind of kitchen project.
This is also a really fun recipe to make. You can get the kids involved in shaping the skull or arranging the pulled chicken. It feels a bit like playing with your food in the best way possible. It turns recipe prep from a chore into a fun Halloween activity.
Plus, it is incredibly versatile. You can serve it as the main appetizer at a big Halloween bash or even as a fun, themed dinner for the family before heading out to trick or treat. A great charcuterie board is always a crowd pleaser.
Ingredients
Here is what you will need to bring your spooky creation to life. It looks like a long list, but many items are easy to find. Some are likely already in your kitchen.
For the Skeleton Head
- 4 strips thick cut beef bacon, chopped
- Three 8 ounce packages cream cheese, at room temperature
- One 8 ounce bag shredded Cheddar
- 4 scallions, thinly sliced
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 8 ounces thinly sliced beef prosciutto
- 1 pimento stuffed green olive, cut in half widthwise
For the Skeleton Body
- 1 medium red bell pepper, stem removed
- 2 pounds coiled hot Italian chicken sausage
- 1 full rack cooked beef ribs, cut in half (about 13 ribs)
- 2 pounds cooked pulled chicken (from two one pound packages)
- Sliced baguette and assorted crackers, for serving
Step By Step Instructions
Ready to build your skeleton? Let’s break it down into simple, manageable steps. Just follow along, and you’ll have a spooky masterpiece in no time.
Step 1: Prepare The Head Mixture
First, let’s get that delicious cheese skull started. Grab a medium nonstick skillet and place it over medium high heat. Add your chopped beef bacon and cook until it’s nice and crispy. This should take about 7 to 8 minutes. Listen for that sizzle!
Once the bacon is perfectly golden, use a slotted spoon to move it to a plate lined with paper towels. This will drain off any extra fat. Set it aside for a moment, but try not to snack on all of it.
Now, find a large bowl. In go the three packages of room temperature cream cheese. It is important that the cream cheese is soft so it mixes easily. Add the shredded Cheddar, sliced scallions, and that crispy beef bacon. Season with some kosher salt and a few grinds of black pepper.
Mix everything together until it is fully combined. You want to see all those ingredients distributed evenly throughout the cream cheese base. This mixture is the delicious brain of your operation.
Step 2: Shape The Skull
Lay a piece of parchment paper on your work surface. Scoop the cheese mixture onto the parchment. Now comes the fun part. Using your hands, mold the cheese mixture into the shape of a skull. Think about the general shape, a little wider at the top and tapering down.
Once you are happy with the shape, it is time to give it some skin. Carefully wrap the entire cheese skull with the thinly sliced beef prosciutto. Overlap the slices slightly to cover it completely. The prosciutto adds a great savory flavor and a creepy, fleshy look.
To make the face, gently press your fingers into the prosciutto to create two divots for the eyes. Place an olive half in each one, pimento side up. Pinch the middle of the face to form a nose, and create a small indent below it for a mouth. It does not have to be perfect. Remember, spooky is the goal!
Carefully transfer your skull to the refrigerator to firm up. About 20 minutes should do the trick. This will make it easier to handle when you assemble your Skeleton Charcuterie Board.
Step 3: Cook The Body Parts
While the head is chilling, let’s prepare the body. Fire up your grill or a grill pan to medium high heat. You want it hot enough to get some nice char marks.
Place the red bell pepper on the grill whole. Let it cook, rotating it every few minutes, until it is charred on all sides and feels a little soft. This usually takes about 10 minutes. This pepper will become the heart.
Next, grill the coiled chicken sausage. Keep it in its coil shape. Grill it for about 10 to 12 minutes, flipping it halfway through. You want to make sure it is completely cooked through and opaque. This sausage coil makes for wonderfully creepy intestines.
Step 4: Assemble Your Halloween Charcuterie Board
This is the moment of truth. Find your largest platter or wooden board. This will be the final resting place for your creation. Let the assembly of your Halloween Food Board begin!
Start by placing the chilled prosciutto wrapped cheese skull at the top of the board. Now for the heart. Take your grilled pepper and make a single cut from the stem end to the bottom. Open it up into one long piece. Place it directly under the skull and fold it a bit to resemble a heart shape.
Next up is the rib cage. Take your cooked beef ribs, which you have cut into two halves, and arrange them around the pepper heart. Place one rack on each side with the bones curving upwards, just like a real rib cage. It will look amazing.
Now for the guts. Position the cooked chicken sausage coil directly below the rib cage. This creates the illusion of intestines. Arrange it in a natural looking coil. Your skeleton is really taking shape now!
Finally, fill in the gaps. Take your cooked pulled chicken and arrange it around the intestines, heart, and rib cage. Tuck it underneath the bones and sausage to fill out the body. This adds substance and another tasty element to your Spooky Charcuterie Board.
Once everything is in place, you can cover and refrigerate your board until you are ready to serve. This helps keep everything fresh. A great charcuterie board is best served cool.
When it is party time, serve your incredible Halloween Charcuterie Board with plenty of sliced baguette and assorted crackers for dipping into the cheese head.
How To Store Leftovers
If by some chance you have leftovers from your amazing creation, storing them is easy. It is best to disassemble the board rather than trying to wrap the whole thing.
Scoop the remaining cheese skull into an airtight container. It will keep in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. It makes a fantastic spread for sandwiches or bagels the next day.
Place the leftover meats like the ribs, sausage, and pulled chicken into separate airtight containers. They will also stay fresh in the fridge for about 3 to 4 days. You can use them for quick lunches or another dinner. Nothing goes to waste!
Tips
Want to make your experience even smoother? Here are a few friendly tips to help you on your spooky culinary journey.
You can absolutely make the cheese skull a day or two in advance. Just keep it tightly wrapped in plastic wrap in the fridge. This is a great time saver on the day of your party. Less stress is always a good thing.
Feel free to get creative with the decorations. You can add black olive spiders, small mozzarella balls for eyeballs, or even some gummy worms slithering around the board for an extra creepy touch. Let your imagination run wild.
The board you choose makes a big difference. A large, dark wooden board or a slate platter can really enhance the spooky aesthetic. If you do not have one, a large baking sheet lined with parchment paper works just as well.
Don’t worry about making it look absolutely perfect. It is a spooky, rustic creation. A few imperfections will only add to its character. The goal is to have fun and make something that tastes great and looks delightfully creepy.
Conclusion
There you have it. A frighteningly fun and delicious Halloween Charcuterie Board that is bound to be the star of any party. It combines creative presentation with classic, savory flavors that everyone will enjoy. It is more than just an appetizer. It is an experience.
Building this Skeleton Charcuterie Board is a memorable activity in itself. So gather your ingredients, put on your favorite spooky movie, and get ready to create an edible work of art. Your guests will be talking about your amazing Halloween Food Board for years to come. Happy haunting!
FAQ
Can I Make This Ahead Of Time?
Yes, absolutely. To save time, you can prepare the cheese skull mixture and shape it a day or two in advance. Keep it well wrapped in the refrigerator. You can also cook the sausage and pepper ahead of time. I recommend assembling the full board just before serving to keep it looking its best.
What Kind Of Board Should I Use?
A large board is key. A wooden cutting board, a slate cheese platter, or even a clean baking sheet will work perfectly. The bigger the better, as it gives you plenty of space to arrange your skeleton and surround it with crackers and other goodies.
Can I Use Different Meats Or Cheeses?
Of course! This recipe is very flexible. You could use pork ribs instead of beef, or a different kind of sausage. For the cheese head, you could mix in different cheeses like Monterey Jack or a spicy pepper jack for a little kick. Feel free to customize your charcuterie board to your tastes.
Is This Recipe Kid Friendly?
Kids usually love the spooky look of this board! The flavors are generally kid friendly too. If you are serving very young children, you might want to use a mild chicken sausage instead of hot Italian. The cheese skull, pulled chicken, and ribs are always a big hit with all ages.
Halloween Skeleton Charcuterie Board
Create a memorable and spooky centerpiece for your next Halloween party with this Skeleton Charcuterie Board. It’s a fun and surprisingly simple-to-assemble board featuring a creamy cheese-spread skull, beefy ribs, and savory sausages.
Requirements
Ingredients
Instructions
- In a medium nonstick skillet over medium-high heat, cook the chopped beef bacon until crispy, about 7-8 minutes. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate. In a large bowl, combine the room temperature cream cheese, shredded Cheddar, scallions, and cooked bacon. Season with salt and pepper and mix until well combined.
- Scoop the cheese mixture onto a piece of parchment paper and mold it into a skull shape. Wrap the cheese skull completely with the sliced beef prosciutto, overlapping slices slightly. Press your fingers in to create eye sockets and place an olive half in each. Pinch a nose and create an indent for a mouth. Refrigerate for 20 minutes to firm up.
- Preheat a grill or grill pan to medium-high. Grill the whole red bell pepper until charred on all sides, about 10 minutes. Grill the coiled chicken sausage for 10-12 minutes, flipping halfway, until cooked through.
- Place the chilled cheese skull at the top of a large platter. Cut the grilled pepper from stem to bottom and open it up, placing it under the skull to resemble a heart. Arrange the two halves of the beef ribs on either side of the pepper heart to form a rib cage.
- Position the coiled sausage below the ribs for intestines. Fill in the gaps around the body with the pulled chicken. Serve with sliced baguette and crackers.
Notes
You can make the cheese skull a day or two in advance. Keep it tightly wrapped in plastic wrap in the refrigerator to save time on party day.
A large, dark wooden board or a slate platter will enhance the spooky look. A large baking sheet lined with parchment paper also works well.
Feel free to get creative by adding other items like black olive spiders or gummy worms for an extra creepy touch.
This recipe is flexible. You can use different meats like pork ribs or other types of cheese such as Monterey Jack in the skull mixture.
Nutrition
Calories
Sugar
Fat
Carbs
