Stars, Stripes & Sausage: Food for America’s 249th

Get ready to celebrate America’s 249th birthday with a show-stopping spread that’s as patriotic as it is delicious. This “Stars, Stripes & Sausage” platter is a bold tribute to the red, white, and blue—featuring a majestic Summer Sausage Eagle Cheese Ball centerpiece and a Hot Dog Charcuterie Board arranged to look like the American flag. It’s a fun, flavorful way to feed a crowd, spark conversation, and show off your star-spangled spirit. Perfect for backyard BBQs, Fourth of July parties, or any all-American gathering!

Ingredients for the Summer Sausage Cheese Ball

1 package Johnsonville Original Summer Sausage
16 oz cream cheese
1 packet ranch seasoning
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1 packet bacon bits
1/2 cup sliced green onion
Toppings: yellow bell pepper for nose, shredded mozzarella feathers, and olives for eyes.

Directions

Mix together cheese ball ingredients until well combined.
Shape the mixture into an eagle body—think round for the chest with a raised head and neck.
Add a sliced yellow bell pepper for the beak. Cover the head and neck with shredded mozzarella to mimic white feathers.
Starting from the bottom and working upward, layer summer sausage slices like feathers along the body.
Press in black olive slices for the eyes. Chill until firm and serve with crackers!

Hot Dog Flag Charcuterie Board

Ingredients:

Johnsonville Hot Dogs
hot dog buns
1 cup blue corn chips
2 slices white cheese
1 small star-shaped cookie cutter (⭐ optional, but fun!)
1 large serving platter or tray

Optional Toppings & Extras:

Ketchup, mustard, relish, chopped onions, or sauerkraut

Directions:

Cook your Johnsonville Hot Dogs using your favorite method—grill them for that classic summer flavor, boil for simplicity, or air fry for a quick, crispy bite. They’ll be ready in about 8–10 minutes.
On a large rectangular platter or baking sheet, start creating your flag by forming a square in the top-left corner with blue corn chips.
Cut white cheese slices into stars using a small cookie cutter (or create one large star if you prefer). Carefully place the cheese stars on top of the blue chips to represent the stars of the flag.
Lay out the hot dog buns in neat rows next to the chip section, mimicking the stripes of the American flag.
Place one Johnsonville Hot Dog into each bun.
Make final adjustments to keep the lines clean and the flag formation balanced.