How to Make a Charcuterie Board ~ We Love delicious Food, Recipes, and Cooking Techniques

Charcuterie boards are the ultimate party trick that never fail to impress! These beautiful displays of meats, cheeses, fruits, and nuts are not only eye-catching but also incredibly delicious. Don’t be intimidated by how Pinterest-worthy they look, because assembling one is a lot easier than you think. Here are all the ins and outs on how to make a charcuterie board at home!

Before we get started on putting your charcuterie board together, you have to think about the theme you’re going for. If you need inspiration, take a look at this Italian charcuterie board, veggie charcuterie board, or chocolate charcuterie board if you’re wanting something on the sweeter side!

How to Make a Charcuterie Board for a Party

Are you planning to throw a party but feeling overwhelmed by the thought of creating a charcuterie board? Don’t worry, you’re not alone! With seemingly perfect charcuterie boards left and right, it can be hard to know where to begin. I remember when I first started making charcuterie boards, I felt like I could never get them to look quite like the inspiration pictures I had seen. Practice really does make perfect, but breaking up the assembly into simple parts helps too! It’s definitely not as intimidating as it seems.

The great thing about making a charcuterie board at home as opposed to, let’s say, getting one from a specialty store or your local supermarket is that you can customize them however you’d like. It’s typically cheaper, too! (Even small premade charcuterie boards can be upwards of $100!) Whether you have dietary restrictions or just want to showcase your favorite snacks, making a homemade charcuterie board is always the way to go. Plus, you can impress all of your friends by saying you put it together yourself. Let’s get started!

The Main Components of a Charcuterie Board

There are a million different kinds of charcuterie boards out there, (even ones made entirely out of butter!) but a traditional charcuterie board usually includes a few main things. The serving tray or board itself, cured meats, an assortment of cheese, crackers or bread, nuts, and fruit. Of course, you can swap things out to preference, but if you need a good place to start, here’s what you need!

The Board: When it comes to charcuterie, the board is just as important as the food itself! You’ll want to choose a board that’s large enough to hold all of your delicious goodies without feeling overcrowded. But don’t be afraid to get creative with your board choices – anything from a rustic wooden cutting board to a sleek marble slab will work!
Meats: Let’s be real, who doesn’t love a good meaty snack? Cured meats bring a bold, savory flavor to any charcuterie board that’s pretty hard to resist. It’s a great way to add protein to your board!
Cheeses: When it comes to creating a charcuterie board, choosing the right cheeses is key to taking your spread to the next level. The possibilities are endless! I like to mix things up with a variety of textures and flavors by using soft cheese, hard cheese, and even cheese with some crunch like parmesan.
Crackers: Let’s not forget about the crackers and bread! From crostini to hearty wheat crackers, the right bread can add a whole new dimension to your charcuterie experience.
Nuts: Adding nuts to your board not only provides a tasty crunch, but also a dose of protein and healthy fats.
Fruit: You always need a little sweet to go with the savory! Try adding grapes, citrus, or fresh berries. You can also use vegetables if you’d like!

Use a Food Safe Board

When using wooden boards, just make sure they’re food safe. You don’t want anything too porous or it can cause bacteria to grow. Also make sure they’re properly finished so you don’t get splinters in your food!

Top-down view of an assortment of cheeses on a wooden board.

What is the 3333 Rule?

To make sure your board is complete, use this as a rule of thumb! This help you create a well-balanced and visually appealing board. 3 meats, 3 cheeses, 3 starches, and 3 sweets.

How to Assemble a Charcuterie Board (Step By Step!)

To make things simpler, I’ve broken up the assembly into a few different parts. (You can also use the photo below as a guide!) With each step, you can find all of the ingredients I used and how I put everything together to create the finished product.

1. Add Bowls to Your Board for Dips

On a large charcuterie board, place the small bowls onto the board. Fill them with condiments of choice or finger food. I used:

Gherkins (Baby Pickles)
Green Olives
Honey
Raspberry Jam

I find this to be a great mix of sweet, savory, and tangy! They’re perfect for dipping and combining with the other items on the board. You could also fill your bowls with hummus, Greek yogurt dip, or whipped feta dip.

2. Arrange Cheeses

Arrange the cheese around the board and cut the brie into wedges so that it is easier for serving. Cheese is one of the most important parts of a charcuterie board. I always try to make sure I have a wide range of flavors and textures.

Blueberry Goat Cheese
Smoked Gouda
Double Creme Brie Wheel
Wensleydale and Blueberries Somerdale Cheese
Black Pepper Bellavitano Cheese
Semi-Hard Beecher’s Flagship Handmade Cheese
Sharp Cheddar Cheese

These cheeses are all great options to include on a charcuterie board. A few of my personal favorites – the blueberry goat cheese has a sweet and tangy flavor, and a soft and creamy texture that spreads easily. Double creme Brie is a creamy and buttery cheese that pairs well with fruit and crackers. The Wensleydale is a tangy and fruity cheese with the perfect crumbly texture. These cheeses provide a range of flavors and textures that create a well-rounded (and delicious!) charcuterie board.

3. Next, Add Your Meats

Fold the salami in half and arrange them around the board. Then make a Salame rose, and finish layering the prosciutto and peppered salame around the board.

Italian Dry Salame
Prosciutto
Peppered Salame

If you’ve never made a salame rose before, you can find a full guide here! Italian dry salame, prosciutto, and peppered salame are the triple threat of cured meats that add a burst of flavor to any charcuterie board. They have a deliciously salty taste and a tender texture that melts in your mouth like butter.

6-photo collage of how to make a charcuterie board.

4. Surround Meat and Cheese With Fruit

Add the fruit around the meats and cheese. I added fresh berries on top of my wheel of brie for an extra pop of color.

Strawberries
Blackberries
Figs
Blueberries
Green Grapes
Blueberries
Kiwis

Not only does fresh fruit add juicy, sweet flavor to the charcuterie board, but gorgeous color as well! You could also include things like raspberries, cranberries, orange slices, or sliced pears.

5. Finish With Crackers and Nuts

Finish the board by filling in any space with the crackers and nuts. For the best mix of textures, I used:

Flatbread Crackers
Crostini (A sliced baguette also works)
Seedy Crackers

From crunchy baguettes to buttery crackers, the key is to have a variety of textures and flavors to complement the meats and cheeses. And let’s be real, who doesn’t love a good cracker-to-cheese ratio? It’s the perfect excuse to pile high and savor every bite.

Closeup of various meats, cheeses, crackers, fruits, and spreads.

Tips for Making the BEST Charcuterie Board

There really isn’t a wrong way to make a charcuterie board, the options are endless! But here are a few extra tips to keep in mind so you create the best appetizer possible!

Don’t Forget the Utensils: Supply your guests with things like toothpicks, skewers, cheese knives, or small individual plates to keep their food on!
Think About Shapes: Play around with different shapes and sizes of your items to create an eye-catching display. Think cubes, slices, and wedges!
Add a Garnish: Don’t forget the garnishes! Fresh herbs, olives, and nuts can add a pop of color and flavor to your board.
Variety, Variety, Variety! Think of your charcuterie board as a mini buffet, and give your guests plenty of options to choose from.

More Sauces, Spreads, and Dips

The best way to complement your favorite meats and cheeses is by serving things like sauces, dips, and jams to serve alongside them. Here are a few of my personal favorites! These recipes are super easy to whip up. Your guests will love their flavor!

Dressings, Sauces, and Dips

Homemade Strawberry Jam

Dressings, Sauces, and Dips

Olive Oil Bread Dip

Dressings, Sauces, and Dips

Creamy Avocado Yogurt Dip

Dressings, Sauces, and Dips

Hot Honey

A salame rose surrounded by things like pickles, cubed cheese, honey, and crackers.