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    Home » Recipes » All Recipes

    Marinated Cheese Tray-Cheddar, Monterey Jack, & Cream Cheese Platter

    March 25, 2019 Updated: August 24, 2020 By Katie Crenshaw 5 Comments

    Jump to Recipe
    This delicious marinated cheese tray makes a beautiful appetizer, perfect for entertaining. This cheese platter combines cheddar, cream cheese, and Monterey Jack cheese and is marinated in fresh herbs.
    This delicious marinated cheese tray makes a beautiful appetizer, perfect for entertaining. This cheese platter combines cheddar, cream cheese, and Monterey Jack cheese and is marinated in fresh herbs.
    This delicious marinated cheese tray makes a beautiful appetizer, perfect for entertaining. This cheese platter combines cheddar, cream cheese, and Monterey Jack cheese and is marinated in fresh herbs. It is scrumptious and well presented. #cheese #appetizer

    This delicious marinated cheese tray makes a beautiful appetizer, perfect for entertaining.

    This cheese platter combines cheddar, cream cheese, and Monterey Jack cheese and is marinated in fresh herbs.

    It is scrumptious and well presented.

    Marinated Cheese Tray

    This recipe came from a dear friend, Lori Moshenski.

    I believe she originally found the recipe in Southern Living Magazine, but I can't be sure.

    Southern Living is a staple magazine in every Southerner's house.

    It is an amazing resource for beautiful Southern interior design inspirations, fantastic recipes, and restaurant reviews!

    I use it to scope out great vacation spots, places to dine, and party planning recipes.

    I love Southern Living Magazine so much I have a small collection of special issues that I have kept that date back over 20 years! Yikes, I am getting old....

    process images to make marinated cheese tray

    How to make it

    Assembling this cheese platter is rather easy. Follow these steps to make this beautiful cheese platter presentation:

    1. Cut cheese in half lengthwise.
    2. Then cut each half into ¼ in thick square slices. Cream Cheese is a slightly different shape. Compare the other cheeses to cream cheese to get a correct cutting size. You want all the cheese slices to be the same size and shape.
    3. Arrange cheese slices alternately on a shallow serving dish standing each slice on its edge.
    4. Mix together remaining marinade ingredients in in a jar. Shake well. Pour marinade over cheese.
    5. Cover and chill 6 to 8 hours to marinate.
    6. Allow 15 minutes at room temperature before serving for the best results in flavor.
    Marinated Cheese Tray

    How do you cut the cheese for the cheese platter?

    Cutting the cheese is the hardest part of this recipe, but don't let it intimidate you.

    After splitting the Cheddar and Monterey Jack cheese down the middle in half, I make my first slice about ¼ in thick.

    I use this piece to guide me in cutting the rest to keep a similar size. The cream cheese is a bit more trickier because it is a different shape.

    I have found that if I slice about a ¼ inch lengthwise off the cream cheese and then split it in half, it will be about the same shape as the other two cheeses.

    Helpful tips

    Tip:  When making the marinade, put all of it in a large mason jar, shake it up, and pour. This allows you to evenly pour the topping on the cheese.

    Tip: It is important to use fresh herbs, not dry herbs in this recipe.

    Tip: Don't panic if the cheese shapes are not perfectly the same. Just do your best to come close. When the marinade is poured on top, it hides the imperfections.

    Marinated Cheese platter

    What should you serve with a cheese platter?

    This marinated cheese tray has become a signature staple for most of my larger dinner parties.  

    It is a great filler, very inexpensive to make, looks stunning, and is always gone at the end of the night.

    It is a wonderful starter for my baked spaghetti,  and it is stunning on an antipasto board.

    I personally think Ritz and Triscuits are a tasty compliment to the marinade flavors, but you can go more fancy if you prefer.

    You can serve the cheese platter standing alone or place an assortment of crackers to the side to accompany the cheese.

    I usually have a set of toothpicks available to the side for easy grazing also.

    Please leave me a comment below if you make this marinated cheese tray and tell me what you think about it. I would love to hear back, and so would my readers.

    Also post your picture of your beautiful tray on Instagram or Facebook, and tag @aforkstale with #aforkstale hashtags! I will share with my followers! xoxo!

    If you like this recipe, try some of these:

    • Dill Pickle Dip
    • Candy Bar Cream Cheese Fruit Dip
    • Port Wine Cheese Ball
    • Smoked Salmon Cream Cheese Cucumber Bites 
    cheese platter topped with fresh herbs on a silver tray

    Marinated Cheese Tray-Cheddar, Monterey Jack, & Cream Cheese Platter

    This delicious marinated cheese tray makes a beautiful appetizer, perfect for entertaining. This cheese platter combines cheddar, cream cheese, and Monterey Jack cheese and is marinated in fresh herbs. 
    5 from 19 votes
    Print Pin Save Recipe Saved! Rate
    Course: Appetizer, Low Carb
    Cuisine: American, Southern
    Prep Time: 20 minutes
    Total Time: 20 minutes
    Servings: 16
    Calories: 189kcal
    Author: Katie Crenshaw

    Ingredients

    • 8 oz Block Cheddar
    • 8 oz Block Cream Cheese
    • 8 oz Block Monterey Jack Cheese or Pepper Jack Cheese
    • ½ cup Olive Oil
    • ½ cup White Wine Vinegar
    • 2 ounces Jar Pimento drained
    • 3 tablespoon Fresh Parsley chopped
    • 3 tablespoon Fresh Green Onion chopped
    • 3 Garlic Clove minced
    • 1 teaspoon Sugar
    • 1 teaspoon Basil chopped
    • Salt And Pepper

    Instructions

    • Cut 8 oz block cheddar, 8 oz block Monterey Jack cheese, and 8 oz cream cheese in half lengthwise. Then cut each half into ¼ in thick square slices. Cream Cheese is a slightly different shape. Compare the other cheeses to cream cheese to get a correct cutting size. You want all the cheese slices to be the same size and shape.
    • Arrange cheese slices alternately on a shallow serving dish standing each slice on its edge.
    • Mix together ½ cup olive oil, ½ cup white wine vinegar, 2 oz drained pimento, 3 tbs chopped fresh parsley, 3 tbs chopped fresh green onion, 3 minced garlic cloves, 1 teaspoon sugar, 1 teaspoon basil, and salt and pepper to taste in in a jar. Shake well. Pour marinade over cheese.
    • Cover and chill 6 to 8 hours to marinate then serve.

    Video

    Notes

    Note: It is important to use fresh herbs, not dry herbs in this recipe.
    Note: Don't panic if the cheese shapes are not perfectly the same. Just do your best to come close. When the marinade is poured on top, it hides the imperfections.

    Nutrition- Nutrition info is based on estimation only.

    Calories: 189kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 29mg | Sodium: 265mg | Potassium: 82mg | Fiber: 0g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 425IU | Vitamin C: 4.4mg | Calcium: 261mg | Iron: 0.4mg
    Tried this recipe? I want to see it!Mention @aForksTale or tag #aForksTale!

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

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      Recipe Rating




    1. khadija

      January 26, 2016 at 5:16 pm

      5 stars
      That has to be the best cheese tray i ever saw! Wow, this should be how we do it from now on, thanks for sharing

    2. Patricia @ Grab a Plate

      February 06, 2016 at 2:07 am

      This is absolutely gorgeous! And I really love how easy this sounds to make. It will be the hit at any party (no table decor needed)!

    3. Cherese

      April 17, 2017 at 12:24 pm

      5 stars
      I tried the Marinated Cheese for Easter 2017 and my family loved this recipe! Thank you! Cherese

    4. Laura

      February 04, 2020 at 3:42 am

      5 stars
      Easy and delicious!

    5. Caitlin

      December 10, 2022 at 2:55 am

      5 stars
      I’ve made this twice now! It’s a winner and goes so fast at a party.

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    Katie Crenshaw-A Fork's Tale

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