Tailgate Party Power Stack (Printable)

A robust platter of smoked sausage, cheeses, veggies, and dips stacked for easy sharing at lively gatherings.

# What You Need:

→ Proteins

01 - 12 oz smoked sausage, sliced
02 - 8 oz roasted turkey breast, sliced
03 - 8 oz sharp cheddar cheese, cubed
04 - 8 oz pepper jack cheese, cubed

→ Carbs & Crackers

05 - 1 large crusty baguette (12 oz), sliced
06 - 2 cups sturdy pretzel chips
07 - 2 cups pita chips

→ Vegetables & Pickles

08 - 1 cup baby carrots
09 - 1 cup celery sticks
10 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes
11 - 1 cup dill pickle spears
12 - 1 cup pickled banana peppers

→ Dips & Spreads

13 - 1 cup ranch dip
14 - 1 cup spicy mustard
15 - 1 cup roasted red pepper hummus

→ Garnishes

16 - ½ cup fresh parsley, roughly chopped
17 - ½ cup mixed nuts

# Directions:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Arrange baguette slices on a baking sheet and toast for 8 to 10 minutes until crisp. Let cool.
02 - On a large, sturdy board or platter, layer the pretzel chips, pita chips, and toasted baguette slices as the foundation.
03 - Alternately stack smoked sausage, turkey breast, sharp cheddar, and pepper jack cubes to form tall, accessible layers.
04 - Nestle baby carrots, celery sticks, cherry tomatoes, dill pickle spears, and pickled banana peppers evenly throughout the layers.
05 - Place ranch dip, spicy mustard, and roasted red pepper hummus in small bowls and position them securely among the layers.
06 - Sprinkle fresh parsley and mixed nuts over the top for color and texture contrast.
07 - Present immediately, replenishing layers as needed during the event.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It looks impressive but requires zero cooking skill—just slicing, stacking, and arranging like you're playing with delicious building blocks
  • Everything sits on one board, so you're not running back and forth to the kitchen while you should be enjoying the game
  • It feeds a crowd without anyone feeling like they're rationing, and there's something for every appetite and preference
  • The textures and flavors hit all the satisfaction buttons at once—savory, salty, tangy, creamy, and crunchy all in one bite
02 -
  • Toast your bread before building—fresh bread will absorb moisture from the dips and go soggy within minutes, completely changing the texture and feel of every bite
  • Use a sturdy board or platter that won't flex when picked up; flimsy surfaces cause everything to shift, and suddenly your carefully stacked presentation becomes an avalanche
  • The dips should always have clear space around them and secure placement; nothing kills the vibe faster than mustard pooling across the cheese because a bowl tipped over
  • Arrange everything at least 15 minutes before serving so you can identify weak points and reinforce them; a last-minute survey prevents embarrassing collapses mid-party
03 -
  • Invest in a really good, sturdy cutting board or food-safe platter—cheap ones flex and warp, and suddenly everything is sliding around when people try to grab from it
  • Keep your dips cold by setting the bowls on a bed of ice underneath the board surface or swapping them out halfway through if it's warm outside; warm dip separates and looks sad
  • Arrange everything slightly tighter than feels necessary—as people grab, gaps appear, so starting dense keeps the board looking full longer and prevents that picked-over feeling
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