Easy Food and Cheese Pairings

Take the guess work out of entertaining with these easy food and cheese pairings. This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #NaturallyCheesy #CollectiveBias

We all can agree that hosting parties during the holidays can be stressful. With a bit of planning, you can create simple food and cheese pairings to give your guests something to snack on before the big meal without having to spend a lot of time in the kitchen making a variety of homemade appetizers.

Start with a great selection of cheeses, like the ones found in this new Cracker Barrel Cheese Tray available at Walmart. A delicious assortment of four popular cheese varieties: Pepper Jack, Cheddar Jack, Asiago, and Extra Sharp Cheddar. The cheese tray serves twelve guests, which makes them the perfect choice for dinner parties and holiday parties!

How to decide on food and cheese pairings:

When choosing food and cheese pairings, it’s important to know the flavor profile of the cheeses you are serving. Not every food pairs well with every cheese! I always serve a variety of crackers, making sure the flavor of the cracker itself with go well with cheese.

Grapes: Grapes are a delightful choice for enjoying with Pepper Jack cheese. The spiciness of the jalapeno peppers are toned down by the sweetness of the grapes.

Crusty Bread: Typically, I use Asiago in pasta dishes as it melts well and has a slightly nutty flavor. For this pairing, you can’t go wrong with crusty bread. A small slice is sufficient.

Pepperoni: You can’t serve a cheese tray without pepperoni! I love to combine a thin slice of pepperoni with Cheddar Jack. Makes my mouth happy every single time.

Honey: Choose a wildflower blend to pair with the Extra Sharp Cheddar. The sweetness of the honey is a wonderful complement to the sharpness of the cheddar. Remember, a little goes a long way.

Cracker Barrel makes it easy, simply remove the label from the cheese tray and place it on the table. Add your pairing foods to small bowls and plates. This simple, yet elegant display allows you to relax and enjoy your guests. If you have more than twelve guests, you can easily replace the emptied cheese tray with the fresh one in less than a minute.

Here’s a printable for you to reference the food and cheese pairings for your next party!

Spending more time with family and friends is easy with help from Kraft. Be sure to check out these great ideas from Kraft for even more holiday recipe inspiration!