If you've been anywhere near social media this summer, chances are you've already seen this one. My savory s'mores video went absolutely viral and we weren't surprised one bit. The moment I made these around the fire pit with my family, I knew other parents and busy people would see how awesome they are!
No kitchen, no cleanup, no stress — just good food, good people, and that irresistible smell of wood smoke in the air. There's just something magical about gathering around a crackling campfire, roasting sticks in hand, building your own little masterpiece bite by bite.
That's exactly why this recipe took off the way it did. It's not just a recipe — it's an experience. It's the perfect way to turn any backyard gathering, camping trip, or summer evening into something really memorable.
Whether you're doing this with your kids, your best friends, or a big group of neighbors, a savory s'mores board brings everyone together in the best possible way. Trust me, once you try it, the classic campfire s'more will have some serious competition!
What Are Savory S'mores?
Think of everything you love about a traditional s'more — the gooey, melty center, the satisfying crunch, the fun of building it yourself — and then swap out the sweet stuff for savory, charcuterie flavors. In place of marshmallows and chocolate, we're talking gooey cheese roasted over an open fire, layered onto a crispy cracker with salty prosciutto, a swipe of fig jam, and whatever other savory ingredients your heart desires.
Savory smores are essentially a warm, handheld charcuterie board! This is a campfire classic reimagined for the grown-ups at the table (though kids go absolutely wild for them too!).
Why You'll Love This Savory S'mores Recipe
Zero kitchen cleanup. Everything happens outside around the fire. Your oven gets the night off.
Totally customizable. I'll give you a full list of options so every member of your family or group can build their perfect bite.
Budget-friendly OR fancy. This recipe works beautifully at every price point — from Ritz crackers and pepperoni to mini brie and prosciutto.
Interactive and social. Roasting around a fire pit is half the fun. This is less of a recipe and more of an activity.
It went viral for a reason. Enough said.
Ingredients for Your Savory S'mores Board
The beauty of this great recipe is that there are no strict rules. Think of this as your savory s'mores board guide — mix and match based on what you love, what's in season, and what fits your budget. Here's everything you'll need:
The Cheese (Your "Marshmallow")
This is the star of the whole thing. You want a cheese that gets soft, melty, and gloriously gooey when held over the heat. Great options include:
- Mini brie — my personal favorite for that ultra-creamy, melty cheese pull
- Babybel cheese — budget-friendly, easy to skewer, and melts beautifully
- Fresh mozzarella — mild, soft, and absolutely dreamy over an open fire
- Goat cheese — tangy and rich, pairs wonderfully with sweet jams
- Sliced cheddar or Monterey Jack — affordable, widely available, and delicious
Whatever your favorite cheese happens to be, it will work here. That's the magic of this recipe.
The Crackers (Your "Graham Crackers")
Just like the traditional s'more relies on graham crackers, your savory version needs a sturdy base. You don't want a dry cracker that crumbles the second you load it up. Good choices include:
- Ritz crackers — buttery, sturdy, and universally loved
- Graham crackers — yes, even here! The slight sweetness plays beautifully with savory toppings
- Pita chips — thick, crunchy, and great for holding heavier toppings
- Bagel chips — hearty and bold, perfect for bigger builds
The Meat
A little salty, savory protein takes these over the top. Try:
- Salty prosciutto — thin, silky, and it practically melts in your mouth
- Salami — bold flavor that stands up well to strong cheeses
- Pepperoni — a crowd-pleasing, budget-friendly option the kids will love
- Smoked Turkey - Any inexpensive lunchmeat you like works
The Spreads (Your Touch of Sweetness)
This is where savory s'mores really sing. A swipe of something sweet or tangy on your cracker creates that perfect sweet-savory balance. Options include:
- Fig jam or fig preserves — the classic pairing, especially with brie cheese
- Hot honey — for a little heat and sweetness that is completely addictive
- Pepper jelly or red pepper jelly — bold, spicy, and so good with melty cheese
- Apricot jam — bright, fruity, and beautiful with goat cheese
- Balsamic Glaze — a classic for charcuterie meats and mozzarella
The Fresh Toppings
Don't skip these — they add freshness, color, and texture to the whole thing:
- Fresh basil leaf — especially gorgeous with fresh mozzarella (hello, caprese vibes!)
- Fresh Arugula - A favorite with italian meats drizzled with olive oil
- Apple slices — a crisp, sweet contrast to salty meats and rich cheese
- Red pepper — roasted or fresh, adds a pop of color and flavor
- Caramelized onions — deeply savory and sweet, a little bit goes a long way
- A drizzle of tomato sauce — unexpected, but trust me on this one
How to Make Savory S'mores Over an Open Fire
What You'll Need
- A fire pit or campfire with good, steady heat
- Roasting sticks or long metal skewers (one per person)
- A large board or platter to set up your savory s'mores board
- Small bowls for spreads and toppings
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Set Up Your BoardArrange all of your crackers, meats, spreads, and fresh toppings on a large board or platter before you head outside. Think of it like building a charcuterie board — the more beautiful and abundant it looks, the more excited everyone will be to dig in. Set it up near the fire so everything is within easy reach.
Step 2: Skewer Your CheeseThread your cheese onto your roasting stick. For mini brie or babybel cheese, push the stick through the center. For fresh mozzarella, use a larger piece and skewer it firmly so it won't slip. For sliced cheeses like cheddar or Monterey Jack, fold the slice and skewer it through several layers.
Step 3: Roast Over the Open FireHold your cheese over the open fire — not directly in the flame, but close enough to get that beautiful gooey melt happening. You're looking for the outside to get soft and slightly golden. This usually takes just 1 to 3 minutes depending on the heat of your fire. Watch it closely — melty cheese waits for no one!
Step 4: Build Your Savory S'moreWhile your cheese is still warm and melty, it's time to build. Start with your cracker of choice, add a spread of fig jam, hot honey, or pepper jelly, layer on your meat, place your roasted cheese on top, add any fresh toppings like a basil leaf or apple slice, and press a second cracker on top. Give the whole thing a gentle press and enjoy immediately.
Step 5: Repeat (You Will, I Promise)One is never enough. That's just the rule.
Links To Equipment We Used
This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend products I truly love!
- Roasting Sticks For Campfires
- Fire Starters for Making Campfires
Tips for the Best Savory S'mores
Keep your cheese low and slow. Hold your roasting stick a good distance from the flames and let the radiant heat do the work. Direct flame will burn the outside before the inside gets gooey.
Prep your board before you go outside. Once everyone is around the fire, you want everything ready to grab. Set up your full savory s'mores board in advance so the building is effortless.
Let kids pick their own toppings. This is what makes it such a fun family activity. Set out a little bit of everything and let everyone customize their own creation.
Don't be afraid to mix sweet and savory. A drizzle of hot honey over salty prosciutto and melty brie cheese is one of the greatest combinations on earth. Lean into that touch of sweetness — it's what makes savory s'mores so uniquely delicious.
Use sturdy crackers. A dry cracker that's too thin or brittle will fall apart under the weight of warm cheese and toppings. Ritz crackers, pita chips, and bagel chips are all excellent choices that can hold the whole thing together.
Savory S'mores Flavor Combination Ideas
Not sure where to start? Here are a few of my favorite builds to get your creative juices flowing:
The Classic ItalianFresh mozzarella + prosciutto + basil leaf + tomato sauce drizzle on a pita chip
The Brie & FigMini brie + fig preserves + salami on a Ritz cracker
The Spicy HoneyBabybel cheese + hot honey + pepperoni + red pepper on a bagel chip
The Sweet & SavoryGoat cheese + apricot jam + prosciutto + apple slice on a graham cracker
The Bold & TangyMonterey Jack + pepper jelly + caramelized onions + salami on a pita chip
Make It a Savory S'mores Board for a Crowd
This recipe is absolutely made for entertaining. To set up a savory s'mores board for a group, simply scale up your ingredients and arrange everything beautifully on a large wooden board or baking sheet. Label the spreads with small signs, give everyone their own roasting stick, and let the fun begin. It's interactive, it's social, and it's the kind of good food experience that people talk about long after the fire goes out.
This is the perfect way to host a summer gathering without spending hours in the kitchen. Set up your board, light your fire pit, and let the evening unfold naturally. That's what savory ingredients and a great campfire classic are all about!
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make savory s'mores without a campfire?Absolutely! If you don't have a fire pit, you can melt your cheese under the broiler on a baking sheet, or use a kitchen torch for that same gorgeous caramelized effect. The open fire experience is magical, but the flavors are just as delicious indoors.
What is the best cheese for savory s'mores?Mini brie is a fan favorite because of how beautifully it melts, but babybel cheese, fresh mozzarella, and goat cheese are all wonderful. The best cheese is honestly just your favorite cheese — this recipe is all about making it your own.
Can I use graham crackers for savory s'mores?Yes! Graham crackers add a subtle touch of sweetness that works surprisingly well with savory toppings, especially when paired with fig jam or hot honey. It's a nod to the traditional s'more that feels intentional and delicious.
How do I keep the cheese on the roasting stick?Make sure to push your roasting stick firmly through the center of the cheese. For softer cheeses, keep the heat low and steady rather than directly in the flame — this slows the melt and gives you more control.
Is this a good recipe for kids?It's one of the best! Kids love the interactive roasting experience, and you can easily set out kid-friendly toppings like mild cheddar, pepperoni, apple slices, and honey. Let them build their own — they'll be so proud of what they create.
Final Thoughts
If there's one recipe that perfectly captures the spirit of summer — the warmth, the togetherness, the joy of eating something truly delicious with the people you love — it's this savory s'mores recipe. It's the reason this video resonated with so many people online, and it's the reason I keep coming back to it every single season.
So grab your roasting sticks, load up your savory s'mores board, and gather around that fire. Good food always tastes better outside.
Tried this recipe? I'd love to see your creations! Tag me on Instagram @UrbanCowgirl so I can see your savory s'mores builds!
Savory S'mores Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 boxes crackers of choice Ritz, graham crackers, pita chips, or bagel chips
- 1-2 pounds Various meats such as prosciutto, salami, or pepperoni
- 1-2 pounds Various cheeses such as mini brie, babybel, fresh mozzarella, goat cheese, or sliced cheddar and Monterey Jack
- Various jams, jellies & spreads such as fig jam, fig preserves, hot honey, pepper jelly, apricot jam, or whole grain mustard
- Various fresh toppings such as fresh basil, arugula, apple slices, roasted red pepper, or caramelized onions
Instructions
- Set up your savory s'mores board with all your crackers, meats, cheeses, spreads, and toppings before heading outside so everything is within easy reach once the fire gets going.
- Once your fire pit is crackling, skewer your cheese of choice onto a roasting stick and hold it over the open fire — not directly in the flame — until soft, melty, and lightly golden, about 1 to 3 minutes.
- While your cheese is still warm, spread your cracker with your favorite jam, jelly, or hot honey and layer on your meat and any fresh toppings.
- Place your melty cheese on top, press a second cracker over the whole thing, and enjoy immediately. Then build another one — because one is never enough!
juliana g says
yumm!! always hated normal smores but i enjoy the action of roasting things by a fire place/ campfire. now i can finally enjoy it with these!