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Check out these easy charcuterie board ideas, perfect for entertaining! Don’t miss our bonus recipe for a Vegan Charcuterie Board below!
Charcuterie Board Ideas
Charcuterie boards (pronounced “shar-KOO-tuh-ree”) are a trend that I have seen popping up everywhere! Whether you are looking for a classic board, or more unique charcuterie board ideas, we have something for you!
Classic Charcuterie Board Ideas
The word “Charcuterie” is a French term for displaying a variety of cured meats, mostly pork. Originally they included things like salami, prosciutto, and sausages. Modern charcuterie boards can have any variety of meats, cheeses, fruits, veggies, olives, nuts, and sauces. Typically the boards are arranged in an aesthetically pleasing and abundant fashion. Check out our full step-by-step guide to making a classic Charcuterie Board.
Meats
A true charcuterie board is served with a variety of cold cuts and meats. You can literally use anything that you think your guests will like. Here are some options:
- salami
- ham
- pepperoni
- prosciutto
- roast beef
- bacon
Cheeses
Next is the cheese. Remember to choose cheeses with a variety of firmness and textures. Here are some ideas:
- Hard Cheese: Parmesan, Pecorino, Manchego
- Semi-hard Cheese: Cheddar, Gouda, Gruyere, Havarti, Swiss, Provolone
- Blue Cheese: Roquefort, Danish Blue, Gorgonzola
- Soft Cheese: Cream cheese, Brie, Fontina, Mozzarella, Camembert
Other
Then, it is time to fill in your board with dried fruits, vegetables, and nuts. Here are some suggestions
- fresh berries – blackberries, raspberries, strawberries, and blueberries
- grapes
- figs
- kiwi
- peaches
- orange slices
- dried mango, apricot, golden raisins, or pineapple
- cucumber
- carrots
- cherry tomatoes
- green, black, or kalamata olives
- cashews
- almonds
- pecans
- pepitas
- walnuts
Preserves and Spreads
Sweet and savory dips and spreads make a great addition to your board. These are some of our favorites:
- honey
- fig butter
- fruit preserves
- olive tamponade
- chutney
- marmalade
- jalapeno pepper jelly
- bacon jam
Crackers and Bread
Crackers and bread make the perfect vehicle for getting all the delicious meats and cheeses into your mouth. Try some of these:
- ritz crackers
- triscuits
- wheat thins
- baguette slices
Dessert Charcuterie Board Ideas
Since the idea of charcuterie boards have become so popular, people have taken the idea and run with it! Dessert charcuterie boards are arranged in the same smorgasbord style but with all sweets and treats instead of meats and cheeses. They are so fun and you can tailor them to any theme or add a seasonal touch.
Valentine’s Day Charcuterie Board – This board has everything red, pink, white, and chocolate! Perfect for a Galentine’s Day party!
Halloween Charcuterie Board – I’ve been too old to Trick-or-Treat for [redacted] years now. However, that doesn’t mean I don’t want to eat my share of Halloween candy! I’m guessing I’m not the only adult who feels this way. That’s why I love this Halloween Charcuterie Board. It’s the perfect party food because there is a little something for everyone. We’ve got sour, sweet, chocolate, fruity, and salty!
Christmas Charcuterie Board – Tis the season to be….snacking! I don’t know about you guys, but during Christmas I don’t want to be in the kitchen all the time cooking big meals. Usually my family has a big dinner on Christmas Eve, and then for the rest of the holidays we just kind of graze on leftovers and appetizers. I love making a Christmas Charcuterie Board like this because I can just set it out while we are visiting or playing games and everyone gets to pick and choose what they want. It is also great for holiday parties and gatherings.
Sauces, Dips, and Spreads
Check out some of our favorite sauce, dip, and spread recipes to use on a charcuterie board:
- Bacon Jam – Bacon jam is a bacon lover’s dream come true. It is a sweet and savory spread made from onions, brown sugar, vinegar, and of course… bacon! This jam is best served at room temperature or warmer for easier spreading.
- Easy Chocolate Fondue – This Chocolate Fondue recipe is quite possibly the easiest recipe on our site! Just two simple ingredients melt together to create the most decadent and divine dip for just about anything you can imagine.
- Cheddar Cheese Fondue – There are fairly few ingredients to this recipe, and it takes about 20 minutes or less to put together.
- Dessert Dipping Sauces (Chocolate, Raspberry, and Caramel) – There are few things in life I like better than a good dipping sauce. The right sauce can elevate any meal, including dessert!
Snack Ideas for Your Charcuterie Board
Here are a few of our recipes that would make great additions to any charcuterie board!
- Rosemary Parmesan Focaccia Bread – The woodsy Rosemary and buttery Parmesan cheese pair well together in a simple dough that bakes up to perfection.
- Blue Cheese Bombs – The blue cheese biscuit bites are puffy and buttery and have just the right amount of blue cheese. They are delicious served right from the oven. They are quite addicting and because they are bite-size it is impossible to eat just one.
- Cinnamon Almonds – These almonds made my house smell amazing! It reminded me of the yummy smell of roasted nuts at football games.
- Easy Chocolate Truffles – You won’t believe how simple these Easy Chocolate Truffles are to make. They look and taste impressive, but are basically fool-proof!
Tips for Making a Charcuterie Board
- Try arranging your plate in a way that there is a variety of colors, textures, and sizes all over the board.
- Try to prepare your charcuterie board fresh, within an hour of serving
- Use little serving spoons and cheese knives to make serving easier.
- Use little serving cups if you need to keep things from going all over the place.
- Keep any extra ingredients you have close by so you can refill the board as needed
- Buy seeds, nuts, and dried fruits in the bulk section of your grocery store.
How to Make a Vegan Charcuterie Board
Vegan Charcuterie Board
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup vegan pesto
- 1/2 cup hummus
- 1/2 cup Boursin plant-based cheese spread
- 10 ounces marinated olives
- 6 ounces crackers I used pita crackers, pretzel slims, and sweet potato crackers
- 1 cup dried apricots
- 3 persian cucumbers sliced
- 6 petite carrots sliced
- 1 cup strawberries halved
- 3 figs halved
- 1 cup cashews
- 1/2 cup pecans
Garnishes
- grape clusters
- vegan chocolate bar pieces
Instructions
- Start by placing bowls of olives, pesto, hummus, and vegan cheese spread on the board.
- Next, place larger items like crackers, fruits, and veggies.
- Lastly, fill in the gaps on the board with dried fruit, nuts, and garnishes.
Notes
Nutrition Information
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I was looking for inspiration to make a few holiday boards and these are perfect. So many great ideas to try!
These are so creative and delicious looking boards bound to impress! Thanks for the inspiration!