This Memphis sausage and cheese platter is an appetizer you’ll find at any Memphis BBQ restaurant. Made with BBQ sausage, it is the perfect addition to summer BBQs!

Wooden platter displaying smoked sausage slices, cheddar cheese cubes, white cheese cubes, pickles, and pepperoncini peppers for Memphis Sausage and Cheese Platter


 

When I visit Memphis, TN I always have to have at least one meal at my favorite BBQ restaurant (Corky’s if you’re wondering) and it wouldn’t be a meal without starting off with friend green tomatoes and a smoked sausage and cheese plate!

It’s a really simple dish, but OMG, it is so good! Basically, it’s a charcuterie-style sausage platter made with BBQ smoked sausage, cubed cheddar and pepper jack cheese, dill pickle spears, pepperoncini, and a side of BBQ sauce, mustard, or ranch dressing. I’m not gonna lie, sometimes I just get this as my meal.

Ingredients You’ll Need

  • Sausage – You can use any smoked sausage or polka kielbasa that you like. These types of sausages are already fully cooked and that’s the reason this recipe is so quick. You’re really just taking the time to heat the sausage through and cook the BBQ sauce on, letting it caramelize a little and getting a nice char on the skin.
  • BBQ Sauce – Of course, we use our Memphis BBQ sauce; it’s the perfect mix of sweet and tangy! You can substitute it with whatever your favorite BBQ sauce is.
  • Cheese – Cheddar cheese and colby jack cheese are what you will traditionally find on a smoke sausage and cheese platter.
  • Dill Pickles – I like to use pickle spears but you can certainly use pickle slices if you prefer!
  • Pepperoncini Peppers – Whole pepperoncini peppers are a delicious addition to this sausage platter.

How to Make a Sausage Platter

One of the really great things about this recipe is that it is super simple to make at home. Unlike a lot of BBQ recipes you don’t have to cook it for hours to get it tender and juicy (totally worth the wait!). All you have to do is cook the sausage and cut up the cheese and you’re ready to go!

A cooked sausage in a black air fryer basket for Memphis Sausage and Cheese Platter
  1. Preheat. You can cook the sausage any way you want but we suggest one of three ways
    • Grill – Preheat the grill to 400 degrees
    • Air Fryer – Preheat to 375 – 400 degrees F
    • Oven – Preheat to 400 degrees F.
  2. Baste the sausage. Use a brush to coat the sausage in your Memphis BBQ sauce. If you want to add a little extra flavor you can also sprinkle it with Memphis Dry Rub.
  3. Cook. Place the sausage on your grill or in your air fryer or oven and cook for 15-20 minutes basting it with BBQ sauce 2-3 times during the cooking process. You will know it is done when the skin is just about ready to split (or as soon as it does split).
  4. Cut. Remove the sausage and let it cool enough to handle before cutting it into slices.
  5. Serve. Place the sausage on a platter surrounded by pepperoncini, cheese, pickles, BBQ sauce, and mustard for dipping.

We serve our BBQ sausage and cheese platter with toothpicks so people can spear what they want, dip it in the sauce, and then pop it right in their mouth! You can also add some saltine or Club crackers on the side. Stack the ingredients on the cracker and take a big bite. Delicious!

Close-up of sliced sausage and yellow peppers on a wooden cutting board. The sausage is skewered with toothpicks, and the peppers are arranged around the Memphis Sausage and Cheese Platter

What to Serve with a Sausage and Cheese Plate

This is a great appetizer for a BBQ and perfect for bringing to a summer potluck. For the main course we suggest classic southern BBQ recipes such as St. Louis-style Ribs, slow cooker BBQ pulled pork (and BBQ pulled pork sliders), BBQ pulled chicken (and BBQ chicken sliders), or New Orleans BBQ shrimp. 

Pair it with sides like baked beans, coleslaw, hush puppies, and collard greens.

I hope you enjoy this Memphis classic as much as I do!

Memphis Sausage and Cheese Platter with cubed cheddar cheese, pickles, pepperoncini, sliced sausage, cubed white cheese, and a bowl of sauce.
Servings: 8
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes

Memphis BBQ Sausage and Cheese Platter

Created By: Kat Jeter & Melinda Machado
A Memphis sausage and cheese platter is an appetizer you'll find at any Memphis BBQ restaurant. Made with BBQ sausage, this sausage platter is the perfect addition to summer BBQs
Print Recipe
4.25 from 8 votes

Ingredients

  • 1 pound Smoked Sausage or Polka Kielbasa
  • 4 tablespoons BBQ Sauce + more for dipping
  • 8 ounces Cheddar Cheese, cubed
  • 8 ounces Pepper Jack Cheese, cubed
  • 10 Dill Pickles, spears
  • 1 Jar Pepperoncinis

Instructions

  • You can cook the sausage any way you want but we suggest one of three ways: Grill – Preheat the grill to 400℉, Air Fryer – Preheat to 375 – 400℉, Oven – Preheat to 400℉.
  • Use a brush to coat the sausage in your Memphis BBQ sauce. If you want to add a little extra flavor you can also sprinkle it with Memphis Dry Rub.
  • Place the sausage on your grill or in your air fryer or oven and cook for 15-20 minutes basting it with BBQ sauce 2-3 times during the cooking process. You will know it is done when the skin is just about ready to split (or as soon as it does split).
  • Remove the sausage and let it cool enough to handle before cutting it into slices.
  • Place the sausage on a platter surrounded by pepperoncini, cheese, pickles, BBQ sauce, and mustard for dipping.
Nutrition Disclaimer: We are not certified nutritionists. Nutrition facts are an estimate and are provided as a courtesy. They are generated by an online API which recognizes ingredient names and amounts and makes calculations based on the serving size. Results may vary.
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: American
Handwritten signature for Kat & Melinda