Charcuterie boards are the perfect centerpiece for every gathering, big or small. With a variety of cheese, meats, fruits, nuts, and crackers, they have something for everyone and are super easy to put together.
If you’re having a small dinner with friends and family or planning a party, a beautiful charcuterie board is the perfect showstopper and the perfect appetizer that everyone will love.
With just a bit of planning, you can create a stunning spread for every occasion. It’s going to be both delicious but also a feast for the eyes.
What Is Charcuterie?
Charcuterie is a French word that refers to processed meats like sausages, pâtés, and cured meats. In recent years, however, a charcuterie board has grown to include a bigger range of products like cheeses, crackers, fruits, and spreads. The idea is to offer a variety of snacks and small bites that can be mixed and matched for endless combinations.
A good charcuterie board is all about balance. You should combine salty, sweet, creamy, and crunchy elements to create a balanced selection. The best part of the charcuterie board is that it’s fully customizable! You can make it as simple or as fancy as you want, changing the ingredients and design, depending on the occasion and your taste.
Building a Charcuterie Board
The Best Cheeses for a Charcuterie Board
When it comes to cheese, the more varieties the better. You should include different textures and flavors by choosing cheeses from different families.
- Soft Cheeses: Brie and Camembert are classic choices. These cheeses are creamy and mild and loved by most. I’m a huge fan of Boursin cheese and usually include at least one per board, especially has they come in different flavors.
- Semi-Hard Cheeses: Gouda and Cheddar are some examples. They’re firm enough to slice but still have a bit of a soft texture. Their flavors are slightly stronger but they go well with meats, spreads and fruits.
- Hard Cheeses: Parmesan and Asiago are great examples. These cheeses are crumbly and have a sharp, nutty flavor that pairs well with jams and honey.
- Blue Cheese: Not everyone is a fan, but blue cheese like Gorgonzola or Roquefort adds a bold flavor and creamy texture. They’re delicious with crackers and fruits.
When arranging cheeses, start by placing the largest pieces first and fill in around them with smaller slices and crumbles. Consider cutting some of the cheese into bite-sized pieces to make it easier for guests to grab and enjoy.
What Meats You’ll Want to Go With Your Charcuterie Board
Cold meats are a classic addition to a traditional charcuterie board. Choose a few different types to appeal to most palates. If instead you want to make a vegetarian board, you can use plant-based products or skip them altogether.
- Cured Meats: Prosciutto, salami, and chorizo are some of the most popular choices. They’re flavorful and have a good balance of fat and salt, which pairs well with the cheeses.
- Pâtés and Terrines: If you want to go a bit more gourmet, include a pâté or terrine. These are made from ground meat and are rich and spreadable. They’re lovely eaten with crackers.
- Sliced Meats: Thinly sliced meats like ham or turkey can also be a good addition. They’re usually milder in flavor and are perfect for if there are younger guests who might be picky.
When arranging the meats, don’t lay them flat on the board. Try to create movement by loosely folding or rolling the slices. You can also fan them or make cute roses. This will not only make the board look more beautiful, but it will also make it easier for guests to grab a bite.
The Best Crackers for Charcuterie
Crackers and breads are essential on every charcuterie board. They are a base for all the other delicious elements and add a crunchy texture to the bite.
- Thin Crisps: These are great for pairing with soft cheeses or pâté. Their delicate texture won’t overpower the other flavors.
- Sturdy Crackers: For harder cheeses and meats, you’ll want something that can hold up under pressure. A thick wheat or multigrain cracker will work well here.
- Flavored Crackers: Crackers with added herbs, seeds, or even cheese can add an extra layer of flavor. Just be mindful that these don’t overpower the other ingredients on the board.
- Breadsticks and Baguette Slices: For a different texture, include some breadsticks or slices of baguette or crusty sourdough bread. They’re great for scooping up soft cheeses and spreads, or eaten with the meat.
Arrange your crackers in stacks or fanned out around the edges of your board. This helps keep them from getting soggy and makes them easy for guests to grab. You can also opt to keep the bread in baskets outside of the board if you’re using a small board or prefer to fill the space with the other ingredients.
Other Charcuterie Board Must Haves
A great charcuterie board is more than just meats, cheeses, and crackers. Adding more elements will create a better variety and also give the guests more chances to mix and match with the other ingredients.
- Fruits: Fresh fruits like grapes, apple slices, and berries add a sweet contrast to the savory ingredients on your board. Dried fruits like apricots, figs, and raisins also work well and bring a concentrated sweetness that pairs perfectly with cheeses and meats.
- Nuts: Nuts like almonds, walnuts, or pistachios add a crunchy texture and a bit of saltiness that pairs well with the other flavors. Candied nuts can also bring a sweet and savory element to your board.
- Jams and Spreads: Jams, honey, or fruit preserves are a must for adding sweetness. Fig jam, honey, and mustard are popular choices that pair well with cheeses and meats. You might also consider a savory spread like tapenade or hummus for some variety.
- Pickles and Olives: The briny, tangy flavors of pickles and olives cut through the richness of the meats and cheeses, balancing the flavors of your board. Cornichons, olives, and pickled vegetables are also great options.
- Garnishes: Fresh herbs like rosemary or thyme, edible flowers, or even a sprinkle of microgreens can add a pop of color and a fresh flavor to your board. These small touches make your board look as good as it tastes.
Add the smaller elements like garnishes, fruits, and nuts for last on your board and use them to fill any empty space between the other ingredients.
How to Build a Charcuterie Board
How to Cut Cheeses
There are a few ways I like to cut cheese for a charcuterie board.
- Soft Cheeses: I usually just leave these as is. For example, I’ll leave a log of goat cheese as a log or place Boursin into a small bowl.
- Semi-Hard Cheeses: I like to cut these into cubes or slice them into ¼ inch triangles. Then I arrange the triangles into a zig-zag where you take two slices at a time and place them inward so the inner triangle tip slightly overlaps. Continue with more slices to make a zipper-like shape. You can see how it looks in the image above!
- Hard Cheeses: cut into it at different angles to create these crumbles. You can also dice them but allow the cheese to crumble how they will as you cut them.
How to Fold Meats
There are so many different ways to arrange the cured meats on a charcuterie board! These are a few of my favorite go-to folds that I include in all my boards.
- Fold two round pieces of salami in half.
- Slightly overlap their ends and then fold each half into each other.
- Fold a round piece of salami in half.
- Fold one side a third in and fold the remaining side on top.
- Place three slices of salami in a row, slightly overlapping each other.
- Fold the bottom third up.
- Flip the folded meats around and start rolling length-wise to fold a rose.
- Lay out a piece of prosciutto and fold it almost in half, length-wise, leaving some room on top.
- Start folding the prosciutto like an accordion or paper fan.
- Lay out a piece of prosciutto and fold it almost in half, length-wise, leaving some room on top. Fold it again to the halfway mark of the first fold.
- Flip the prosciutto around and roll it into a rose.
Assembly
- Pick out your platter, such as a large cutting board or marble slab.
- Start by placing anything that you have plated (i.e., jams, jelly, pate, soft cheeses).
- Arrange the folded meats and cut cheese around the bowls. I like to place the folded meats first, evenly across the board, and fill in the cheese around them.
- Fill in any empty slots with fruits, berries, and crackers.
- Finish off with any garnishes, such as sprigs of fresh herbs.
FAQs
A good rule of thumb is to plan for about 2-3 ounces of cheese and 2-3 ounces of meat per person. If the charcuterie board is the main course, you might want to increase this to 4-5 ounces of each per person.
Yes, you can prepare most of your charcuterie board ahead of time. Arrange the cheeses, meats, and most accompaniments on the board, then cover it with plastic wrap and refrigerate. Just be sure to take it out of the fridge about 30 minutes before serving to allow the cheeses to come to room temperature. Wait until just before serving to add crackers and any delicate garnishes.
You can use a variety of surfaces for a charcuterie board, such as a wooden cutting board, a marble slab, or even a large serving platter. The key is to have a flat, stable surface that’s large enough to hold all your ingredients with some space for arrangement. If you’re hosting a large group, you might even use multiple smaller boards.
Absolutely! Themed charcuterie boards can be a lot of fun. For example, you could create a board with only Italian meats and cheeses, a dessert-themed board with chocolate and sweet fruits, or even a holiday-themed board with seasonal items like cranberries, spiced nuts, and festive garnishes.
How to Build a Charcuterie Board
Ingredients
- 3 to 4 cured meats, (eg. prosciutto, salami, and chorizo) 8 ounces each
- 3 to 4 cheeses, (eg. one soft, one semi-hard, one hard) 8 ounces each
- 1 to 2 pâté or terrine, ¼ cup each
- 3 to 4 crackers, 8 ounces each
- fresh herbs
- fresh berries, ¼ cup each
- jam or jelly, ¼ cup each
- nuts, ¼ cup each
Instructions
- Pick out your platter, such as a large cutting board or marble slab.
- Start by placing anything that you have plated (i.e., jams, jelly, pate, soft cheeses).
- Arrange the folded meats and cut cheese around the bowls. I like to place the folded meats first, evenly across the board, and fill in the cheese around them.
- Fill in any empty slots with nuts, fruits, berries, and crackers.
- Finish off with any garnishes, such as sprigs of fresh herbs.
More Appetizers to Try
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