Charcuterie Board Ideas

These Charcuterie Board Ideas will ensure you have an epic cheese and meat board for your next party or event! Cured meats, cheeses, fresh and dried fruit, crackers, slices of bread, jams and nuts arranged on a platter to enjoy as finger food.

Take the concept of a charcuterie board and use it with a Fruit Platter, or an arrangement for a Sandwich Platter and the creative S’mores Board!

what is a charcuterie board?

A charcuterie board is truly an art of arranging cured meats accompanied by cheeses, fruits, nuts, sauces and finger foods on a platter or board. From a simple board to enjoy with your family in the evening or a fancy one that fits an entire table at parties – this is true culinary art.

The ULTIMATE charcuterie board has a balanced combination of flavors from sweet, to savory and spicy or sour. Keeping the ingredients diverse will ensure there is something for everyone to choose from.

How is Charcuterie Pronounced?

Though it sounds like a long complex word, it is not at all. You pronounce it just as it sounds shahr-KOO-tuh–ree.

Another name for a charcuterie board would be a meat and cheese board.

charcuterie board ideas-

The ideas of how to arrange a Charcuterie Board are truly endless. The ingredients used can be ones that are seasonal or something in the store all year round.

First, start with a board. You can also just lay everything out onto a table or countertop if you’ll be making a large board.

• Rectangle Board
• Round Board
• Marble Board

What goes on a charcuterie board?

• Meats – You can want to include a variety of meats for people to choose from. The meat may be sliced or cubed. Salami, Proscuitto and ham are very popular.
• Dried Fruit – Any dried fruit with work, preferably pitted.
• Dips & Sauces – Sauced and hot or cold dips are great. Add to mini jars with small spoons for scooping
• Cheeses – A combination or hard cheeses and soft cheeses works great.
• Jams – Different flavored jams may be placed onto the board in its jar or transferred into ramekins.
• Nuts – Just about any nut will work and you can add them in between other ingredients or ramakins so they may be scooped with a spoon.
• Fresh Fruit – Any fresh fruit works great, be sure to wash it so it’s ready to be enjoyed.
• Crackers – A variety of different-sized crackers and sliced bread.
• Vegetables – Just about any vegetable will work, it’s a great way to add some healthy options to the board.

best jam for a charcuterie board?

Just about any jam or jelly you like may be used. My favorite would have to be pepper jelly or some kind of spicy jam. It adds so much flavor to any cheese, especially brie (which is a favorite of mine for a cheeseboard).

• Apricot
• Strawberry
• Raspberry
• Triple Berry
• Spicy Raspberry Jam
• Spicy Peach Jam

best crackers for a cheeseboard?

You can use just about any size or shape of crackers for the cheeseboard, here are some ideas”

• Wheat Thins
• Snack Crackers
• Sesame Crackers
• Flatbread Crisps
• Ritz Crackers
• Whole Wheat

best cheese for a charcuterie board?

You can use any type of soft cheese, hard cheese or crumbly cheese. For a softer and crumbly cheese, I like to keep the block whole and slice any cheese that’s harder and is able to be cut into slices.

• Brie Cheese (my absolute favorite)
• Brie Cheese Spread
• Cheddar
• Block of Blue Cheese
• Smoked Gouda
• Parmigiano
• Provolone
• Burrata
• Goat Cheese
• Colby Jack Cheese

best meats for a charcuterie platter?

The meats may be sliced in advanced, stacked and kept refrigerated until platter is ready to be assembled.

• Dried Cured Salami
• Prosciutto
• Soppressata
• Pepperoni
• Ham
• Turkey

what else goes into a charcuterie board?

Though you can use just about any of your favorite finger food style ingredients, here are some options:

• Nuts (walnuts, almonds, pecans, pistachios)
• Mini Pickles
• Sliced Cucumbers
• Cherry Tomatoes
• Fresh Fruit (grapes, oranges, clementines, strawberries, raspberries or blueberries)
• Dried Fruit (apricots, prunes, raisins, cherries or cranberries)
• Olives and/or Capers
• Favorite Dips (hot or cold)
• Spreads of Any Flavor, sweet or savory

how to assemble a charcuterie board?

And now the fun part, arranging everything onto your board!

1. Start with any jars or ramekins you will be using first, place them randomly on the board.
2. Add any jars or jams randomly.
3. Then add everything else. Place the sliced or cubed meat, crackers, veggies, fruit.
4. Fill any emply areas with nuts.
5. Add spoons and knives into cheeses if they’ll need cut, I love THIS set.

Chef’s Tip: Arrange the ingredients so the colors and sizes are evenly balanced.

MORE PARTY APPETIZERS-

• Baked Jalapeno Poppers
• Bacon-Wrapped Chicken
• Oven Roasted Cauliflower
• Bacon Ranch Cheese Ball
• Sauteed Shrimp