Everyday Ideas
5 Easy Ways to Enjoy Smoked Pepperoni
Garfield’s Smoked Pepperoni is ready to eat straight from the package—and plenty of customers do exactly that. For a snack or a meal, add it to a cheese-and-cracker plate, flatbread, toasted sandwich, pasta bake or chopped salad. We smoke it slowly by hand in Meriden with our family’s secret cob and hardwood approach.
1. Make a smokehouse cracker plate
Start with a cracker, add a slice of Smoked Cheese, then top it with pepperoni. Serve apple slices or a few pickles alongside. The creamy cheese, smoky meat and crisp cracker make a satisfying bite with very little preparation.
For company, fan the pepperoni beside the cheese and let everyone build their own. Add a small bowl of mustard and keep crackers away from wet fruit or pickles. Our board guide includes an appetizer shopping plan for four or eight people.
2. Add it to flatbread or pizza
Spread tomato sauce on a flatbread or pizza base, scatter on cheese and arrange pepperoni across the top. Cut larger slices into quarters for smaller flatbreads, so the flavor is spread across each piece.
Cook the base according to its directions, until the bread is done and the cheese has melted. Finish with fresh basil or a few arugula leaves. A stick of pepperoni lets you cut thin rounds; the sliced option goes straight onto the toppings.
3. Layer it into a toasted cheese sandwich
Layer pepperoni and Garfield’s Smoked Cheese between two slices of bread. Lightly butter the outside and toast in a skillet over medium-low heat, turning until the bread is golden and the cheese has melted. Lower heat gives the creamy American cheese time to warm as the bread crisps.
Add a thin spread of grain mustard inside, or serve a pickle beside the sandwich. Choose Smoked Cheddar for a sharper cheese bite. Keep fillings in an even layer so each mouthful has bread, cheese and pepperoni.
4. Scatter it through a pasta bake
Cut pepperoni into small pieces and fold it into cooked pasta and tomato sauce. Spoon into a baking dish, add the cheese topping and bake using the method for your pasta bake. Smaller pieces carry a little smoked flavor throughout the dish.
Set aside a few slices for the top, where their edges can brown alongside the cheese. Pepperoni and cheese both add seasoning, so taste the sauce before adding extra salt. For another easy supper, visit our pork sausage spaghetti sauce recipe; our pork sausage is a seasonal, in-store offering.
5. Turn a chopped salad into lunch
Slice pepperoni into strips or quarters and toss it with chopped romaine, cucumber, cherry tomatoes and red onion. Add cubes of Smoked Cheese or a handful of cheese nibbles, then dress lightly with an oil-and-vinegar dressing.
Serve with bread and put extra dressing on the side. Keep the cheese and pepperoni chilled until you assemble the salad. This brings the familiar cheese-and-pepperoni combination to a fresh, crunchy lunch.
Sliced or stick: choose your pepperoni
Our Smoked Pepperoni comes sliced or as a stick. Sliced pepperoni makes cracker plates and quick toppings easy. A stick gives you control over thin rounds, thicker pieces or small cubes.
The pepperoni is ready to eat. Follow the package’s storage directions, and keep prepared cheese-and-pepperoni plates cold until serving. For a gathering, set out a little at a time and replenish from the refrigerator. Browse our cheese pairing ideas for fruit, crackers and condiments to serve alongside.