Checkerboard Picnic Bites (Print Version)

Alternating deli meats and cheeses in a perfect checkerboard pattern for easy, elegant bites.

# Ingredient List:

→ Meats

01 - 8 slices smoked turkey breast, cut into 1-inch squares
02 - 8 slices roast beef, cut into 1-inch squares

→ Cheeses

03 - 8 slices Swiss cheese, cut into 1-inch squares
04 - 8 slices sharp cheddar cheese, cut into 1-inch squares

→ Garnish (optional)

05 - Fresh chives, finely chopped
06 - Cracked black pepper

# Steps:

01 - Place parchment paper or a serving board on your countertop to assemble the bites.
02 - Create a 4x4 grid alternating meat and cheese squares, beginning with turkey in the top left, then cheddar, alternating with roast beef and Swiss cheese in each row and column.
03 - Press adjacent squares gently to adhere; optionally, place a small dab of honey or mustard beneath each square if transporting.
04 - Sprinkle finely chopped chives and cracked black pepper over the arranged bites, if desired.
05 - Present chilled or at room temperature, optionally with toothpicks for easy serving.

# Helpful Hints:

01 -
  • It looks like you spent hours planning and prepping, but honestly takes about twenty minutes and zero cooking
  • There's something deeply satisfying about arranging those perfect little squares into a pattern—it feels both playful and elegant
  • You can make it earlier in the day and just give it a light drape of plastic wrap, so it's genuinely stress-free entertaining
02 -
  • The thickness of your deli meat slice matters more than you'd think—ask the counter for their medium cut, not the paper-thin stuff that tears when you pick it up
  • Cutting from a chilled package rather than room temperature meat makes cleaner squares with less fraying at the edges
03 -
  • Sharp knives and clean, straight cuts make the difference between homemade and professional-looking squares—dull knives drag and tear delicate deli meat
  • The deli counter is your best friend here—ask them to cut everything to medium thickness and you've already won half the battle
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