🧀 Easy Marinated Cheese Appetizer with Salami & Pickles
Ingredients (Serves 6–8)
Cheese
1 block (8 oz) cheddar cheese
1 block (8 oz) pepper jack, Colby jack, or Monterey jack cheese
(Cut both into cubes or small rectangles.)
Mix-Ins
4 oz hard salami, cut into small cubes or thin strips
½ cup dill pickles, finely chopped
¼ cup red onion, finely diced (optional)
¼ cup green olives or pimento-stuffed olives, sliced (optional)
Marinade
½ cup olive oil
¼ cup white wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar
1 tbsp Dijon mustard
1–2 tsp honey or sugar (optional)
2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped (or 1 tsp dried)
½ tsp garlic powder or 1 clove garlic, minced
1 tsp Italian seasoning
½ tsp crushed red peppers (optional)
½ tsp salt
¼ tsp black pepper
🔪 Instructions
1. Prep the Cheese
Cut the cheese blocks into bite-size cubes or small rectangles. Place them into a wide, shallow dish or container.
2. Add the Salami & Pickles
Sprinkle chopped salami and pickles evenly over the cheese.
Add onion and olives if you’re using them.
3. Make the Marinade
In a bowl or jar, whisk together:
Olive oil
Vinegar
Dijon mustard
Honey/sugar
Parsley
Garlic
Italian seasoning
Red pepper flakes
Salt & pepper
Whisk until fully combined and emulsified.
4. Combine Everything
Pour the marinade evenly over the cheese mixture. Gently stir or tilt the container so everything gets lightly coated.
5. Chill & Marinate
Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, or up to 24 hours for deeper flavor.
Stir or shake lightly once midway if possible.
6. Serve
Serve chilled or slightly warmed to room temperature with:
Crackers
Baguette slices
Toothpicks
Crunchy breadsticks
⭐ Tips & Variations
Extra zesty: Add a splash of pickle juice to the marinade.
Spicy version: Add jalapeño slices or use spicy salami.
Herby style: Add fresh basil or oregano.
Low-carb: Serve with cucumber slices instead of crackers.
Make-ahead: Best flavor develops after several hours.