Memorial Day Appetizers: An Easy Wisconsin Cheese & Sausage Spread for the Backyard

Memorial Day is the unofficial kickoff of summer. The grill comes out, the cooler gets stocked, and somebody has to figure out what to put on the table before the burgers are ready.

Spoiler: it should be cheese.

A great Memorial Day appetizer spread does three things. It feeds people without dirtying a pan. It holds up in 80-degree weather. And it looks like you tried, even though you didn't. Here's how Wisconsin does it.

Cheesy Takeaways

• The best Memorial Day appetizers are no-cook, room-temperature-friendly, & easy to graze.

• A cheese & sausage board is the gold standard. It is also the laziest possible host move (in the best way).

• Skip the patriotic cookies. Build a red, white, & yellow board with cheese instead.

• Cheese curds, summer sausage, & a drizzle take 5 minutes to plate.

• Order by noon CT on the Wednesday before to get everything shipped in time.

Why a Cheese Board Is the Best Memorial Day Appetizer

Hot weather is the enemy of most appetizers. Mayo-based dips sweat. Hummus separates. Chips go stale by the second cousin's arrival. Cheese, on the other hand, gets better at room temperature. The flavors open up, the texture softens, & you don't have to babysit the fridge.

A board also scales. Two people or twenty, the math is the same: one ounce of cheese per guest, one ounce of meat per guest, something crunchy, something sweet, something tangy. Done.

The Easiest Memorial Day Cheese Board (5-Minute Build)

Here's the no-stress, no-recipe version. Everything is shelf-stable until you open it.

The cheeses:

• Cheese Curds. Squeaky, snackable, kid-approved. The fun-shape on the board.

• 8-Year Super-Sharp Cheddar. The bold flavor anchor.

• Smokey Bacon Cheddar. Feels like cookout food without needing the grill.

The meats:

• Garlic Summer Sausage. Slice it thin. Pairs with literally every cheese on the board.

• Spicy Beef Snack Sticks. Pre-portioned, no knife required, easy for kids to grab.

The drizzles:

• Hot Honey Drizzle. Over the cheddar. Trust us.

• Hot Pepper Bacon Jam. For the people who say "I don't like sweet on cheese." This converts them.

The extras (grab from your pantry):

• Crackers or sliced baguette

• Whatever fruit is in season (strawberries, grapes, watermelon work great)

• A handful of pickles or olives

• A few pretzels or nuts

Total prep time: the amount of time it takes you to open packages & arrange them. About five minutes.

Make It Red, White & Yellow (the Wisconsin Patriotic Board)

If you want the patriotic moment without buying flag-shaped cookies, here's the move. Build the board around naturally red, white, & yellow elements.

Arrange in three loose stripes or sections. Patriotic without being kitschy. People will think you Pinterest-ed for hours.

The Crowd-Size Cheat Sheet

How much do you need? Real numbers based on actual Memorial Day cookouts:

• 4-6 people (just family): 1 lb total cheese, 1 lb total meat

• 8-12 people (extended family): 2 lbs cheese, 1.5 lbs meat, doubled drizzles

• 15-20 people (the full neighborhood): 3 lbs cheese, 2.5 lbs meat, two boards

A simple math hack: Gardner's cheese blocks are 6 ounces each. Four blocks = 1.5 lbs. Three meats + four cheeses = a 12-person board with leftovers.

Honestly, if you want to skip the math entirely, our Customer Favorites Package and Wisconsin Party Pack are pre-built for groups this size.

Memorial Day Appetizer Pairings Beyond the Board

If you want to give people a second snack option besides the board, here are three additions that take five extra minutes each.

Air-Fryer Cheese Curds

Toss our Cheese Curds in a light coat of flour, air-fry at 400°F for 5 minutes, serve hot with ranch. Our full air-fryer cheese curd method has the timing dialed in. People lose their minds for these.

Oven-Baked Cheese with Hot Honey

Pop a tray of Bacon Oven-Baked Cheese in the oven at 425°F for 8-10 minutes. Drizzle with hot honey when it comes out. Serve with toothpicks. Disappears in three minutes.

Cheese Curd Skewers

Thread a curd, a slice of summer sausage, a cherry tomato, & a pickle on a toothpick. Repeat 40 times. Stick them in a glass like a bouquet. Looks fancy. Takes zero skill.

Shipping Timing for Memorial Day Weekend

Memorial Day weekend ships out fast. Here's the deadline:

• Order by noon CT on the Wednesday before for typical delivery that same week.

• We ship Monday through Friday with custom cold-packing & gel ice packs.

• Free cold-pack shipping on orders $69+, all 50 states.

If you're shipping for guests at the lake or the cabin, schedule it to arrive Thursday or Friday so it's there when they walk in the door.

Frequently Asked Questions

What appetizers should I serve on Memorial Day?

A cheese and sausage board is the easiest crowd-pleaser. It is no-cook, scales for any size group, & holds up at outdoor temperatures. Add a few hot apps like air-fryer cheese curds or baked cheese if you want a warm element.

How much cheese do I need for a Memorial Day party?

Plan for about one ounce of cheese per guest if it's an appetizer alongside a meal. Two to three ounces per guest if the board IS the meal. Our 6-ounce blocks make math easy: 4 blocks for ~12 people.

What is the best cheese for an outdoor cheese board?

Aged hard cheeses hold up best in warm weather. Aged cheddar, aged gouda, & aged parmesan can sit out for hours without issue. Avoid soft cheeses like brie or fresh mozzarella for outdoor boards unless you're keeping them cool.

Can cheese sit out at a cookout?

Most aged cheeses can sit out at room temperature for 2-4 hours safely. Soft cheeses (brie, cream cheese, mozzarella) should stay refrigerated until serving & go back within an hour. Hard cheeses are forgiving. Soft cheeses are not.

What goes on a patriotic cheese board?

Red ingredients (strawberries, raspberries, salami, red grapes), white ingredients (cheese curds, fresh mozzarella, almonds, sliced apples), & yellow ingredients (sharp cheddar, honey, mustard, pineapple). Arrange in stripes or color sections for the visual moment.

How do I order for Memorial Day in time?

Order by noon Central Time on the Wednesday before Memorial Day for delivery that same week. We ship Monday through Friday. Schedule your delivery at checkout if you want it timed to arrive on a specific day.

Stop Stressing About Memorial Day Snacks

Memorial Day is supposed to be a relaxing day off. It is not supposed to involve three trips to the grocery store & a frantic Pinterest scroll on Saturday night.

Build a board. Grab a Customer Favorites Package or the Wisconsin Cheese & Sausage Sampler, add the drizzles, & call it a day. The grill master gets to focus on the meat. You get to sit in a lawn chair. Everybody wins.