A charcuterie board is a simple way to make the BEST spread for a large crowd! Add your favorite meats, cheeses, crackers and more. This cheese board makes the perfect appetizer and will definitely be a hit at your next party!
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The Perfect Charcuterie Board
Charcuteries are my all-time favorite appetizer to make. Whether I’m hosting guests or bringing a dish, it’s almost always a one of these charcuterie board ideas. They’re delicious, super easy, fun and there’s a little something for everyone!
This delicious meat and cheese board, commonly known as “charcuterie,” is one of the easiest antipasto platters ever and looks so gorgeous! I like to add a variety of meats, cheeses and crackers, but there are so many other snacks that can be included.
You can add basically anything to a fruit and cheese platter and it turns into a perfect charcuterie board. For brunch I love to make this pancake charcuterie board and at the holidays I love to make a Christmas charcuterie board.
What is Charcuterie?
- Charcuterie is a French word that stands for the art of preparing meats that are cured or smoked, such as salami, bacon, ham and more. You’ll pronounce it shahr-koo-tuh.
- Charcuterie boards are popular as the board pairs different types of cheeses, meats, crackers, nuts, dips and snacks of choice.
- They are a great appetizer to prepare for a large crowd and include lots of options for everyone!
- And just remember, have fun and make it colorful! It doesn’t have to be perfect. Another fun way to build a charcuterie is to have your guests each bring their favorite item and build your DIY edible work of art together.
Typical Ingredients For a Charcuterie Board
- Cheeses like brie, goat cheese, cheddar, gouda or manchego. You could even add pre-cut cheese slices, soft cheeses, blue cheese or make a cheese ball.
- Cured meats like prosciutto, salami, pepperoni and more.
- Crackers or bread like pita, naan, multigrain crackers, baguette slices, pretzels, tortilla chips, etc.
- Fresh veggies like mini bell peppers, broccoli, cucumber, celery, carrots, grape tomatoes, cauliflower.
- Dips like hummus, dill dip, honey mustard or salsa. I love to add this bread dipping oil with crostini.
- Nuts like marcona almonds, cashews, walnuts, pistachios or candied nuts.
- Olives or pickled vegetables.
- Fruit such as pears, raspberries, strawberries, dried apricots, apples and grapes.
- Fresh herbs always finish the board. I love to use rosemary or thyme.
How to Make a Charcuterie Board
Here are 5 tips to keep in mind when building your board:
- Choose about 8-10 food items per board. Pick things based on taste, flavors, texture and color. I always like to choose a few unique items. My go to shop for charcuterie boards is Trader Joes. I usually do a mix with a few things homemade and store bought.
- Start with 3 small bowls or 3 focal points. I usually add a few bowls for dips or hummus and a block or two of cheese. I sometimes even include a decorative focal point around the holidays, like a mini pumpkin or gourd.
- Start with bigger items first. Build around those focal points, splitting up color and texture. I’ll usually add in veggies, cheeses, meats, fresh fruits, etc. first.
- Layer in smaller items to fill the gaps. Next comes the smaller items, like nuts, dried fruit, crackers, etc. Layer them in between the bigger items to fill in any blank space.
- Add something with color to break up any spots with muted color. Add a rosemary sprig, pomegranate or dried orange slices. It’s fun to have a few decorative items that guests won’t necessarily eat, but it makes the charcuterie look extra pretty!
Expert Tips
- You don’t need to make everything homemade! Make it easy on yourself and pick up some pre-made dips and unique store bought finds. My go-to store for all things charcuterie is Trader Joes.
- Add the dips right before serving. You want them to stay fresh for your guests. I always add the bowls to the board, but wait to fill them until right before guests arrive.
- Repurpose your leftovers! I usually end up with a decent amount of leftovers that didn’t originally fit on my board, so I’ll make another snack platter for my family to enjoy. We love to do this on the weekends!
- When traveling with a charcuterie board, I like to put plastic food wrap around the edges and tuck it underneath the board. This way your snacks won’t spill off the sides.
Favorite Boards to Use
I have two favorite boards when making a charcuterie. The first is this round reclaimed wood board. It’s an investment, but I use it ALL the time. It’s pretty big (picture below) and holds a lot of snacks! Whenever we’re entertaining for a large crowd, this board is my go-to.
I also love this rectangular wood serving tray. I actually have two of them and will often make both a sweet and savory board. This board is a great price and I’ve even found it cheaper in stores at Walmart. Don’t forget mini forks or cheese knives.
Frequently Asked Questions
A typical charcuterie board contains a few different types of meats, cheese, crackers, nuts and dips. You can even make a sweet and savory Valentine’s day charcuterie board or try this Christmas dessert board, s’mores charcuterie board, hot chocolate charcuterie or this easy fall charcuterie board.
While you can get creative with different platters, it’s an appetizer usually served on a wooden board or stone slab eaten straight from the board. It will typically feature a variety of meats, hard cheeses and finger foods.
Charcuterie (pronounced SHAR-KOO-ta-REE) origins reaching back to the 15th century in Europe. It means the products of a fancy pork butcher. In our modern day the definitely has broadened to include much more than meats.
The most common meats include: prosciutto, salami, good quality pepperoni, sliced sausage, rillettes, saucisson, soppressata and Spanish chorizo.
There are many different variations now days but the most popular kinds would be meats and cheeses, fruit and cheese, toasted bread and meat.
Honey, fig jam, hummus, dill dip, spinach dip, basil pesto or olive tapenade.
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Charcuterie Board Recipe
Video
Equipment
- Large wooden board or platter
Ingredients
Meats (choose 3-5)
- 4 ounces salami variety
- 4 ounces prosciutto
- soppressata
Cheeses (choose 3-5)
- 4 ounces cheddar cheese
- 4 ounces gouda cheese
- 4 ounces manchego
- brie cheese rind
- goat cheese
- mozzarella balls
Crackers and Bread
- 1 cup multigrain crackers
- 1 french baguette , sliced
- thin breadsticks
Fruit and Vegetables
- mini bell peppers
- sliced cucumber
- snap peas
- dried fruit
- berries
- pears
Dips and Extras
- jam
- honey
- vegetable dip
- green olives
- candied nuts
- pistachios
- rosemary sprigs
Instructions
- Place the largest cheese and mini bowls onto a large board or platter. In individual small serving bowls, add the olives, red peppers, mozzarella balls or anything that has juices.
- To make the board, start by thinking how you want it to look before placing anything. Then arrange each bowl, allowing enough space for meat, cheese, and vegetables to surround them, on a large platter.
- Place the meat and salami on opposite ends of the platter, fanning the slices slightly outward (if space allows). Add the mortadella and prosciutto, either folded or in piles, away from the other meat. Position the cheese around the meat.
- Arrange the fruits and vegetables in individual piles between the meat and cheese. Finally, add the crackers and bread (or on another serving board if there isn't enough room). Add the smallest ingredients last to fill in any empty spaces. Finish it off by adding some fresh sprigs of rosemary. Serve immediately.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.
Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below!
Categorized as: American, Appetizers, Platters
Jamielyn Nye is the founder and recipe creator at I Heart Naptime. She is the author of the I Heart Naptime Cookbook and shares easy family-friendly recipes and desserts for every occasion.
This was sooooo helpful! 😍🫶🏼
Oh this was super fun to put together! Thank you so much for the great tutorial so I could make this for our party!
this was super helpful to help build a well balanced board! thank you so much for sharing this educational post!
Thanks Jess! So glad you enjoyed the charcuterie board.
This was so helpful for my charcuterie board for the baby shower I hosted! It turned out beautiful and tasted amazing.
Can you recommend a way to do board that will keep chilled for a tailgate for many hours? Thanks
My suggestion would be to place a small ice pack under the bowl of dip. Most of my boards have dips, however you can leave them off and just do a salsa which would last awhile. Feel free to check out all my platters here: https://www.iheartnaptime.net/category/appetizers/platters/
Love this! Can’t wait for my next party!!
I’ve seen so many people make food boards like this charcuterie board and I wanted to make one for a get together I was having with my friends. I followed this recipe instructions and it was so easy and looked AMAZING!! I’m was so pleased with how it turned out. Will be making again soon!
Love this idea! Perfect for gatherings!
This is perfect for our next game night!
I love how pretty these boards turn out! Almost too pretty to eat!
This is seriously making me hungry!
If I had this plate in front of me I would be in heaven! This looks like the perfect reason to invite my girlfriends over and dive into this plate!
That is one gorgeous charcuterie board! Perfect for our next party!
This is great for summer entertaining!