Charcuterie board ideas for your next get together

by John Griffith
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Going out and partying is something that almost seems wrong at the moment. However, a small at home get together is always a good idea. And if you are the designated hostess of your friend group’s parties, we are rooting for you. What’s more, we want to help you impress your friends and guests even more. Which is why in this article, we are going to show you how to assemble a meat and cheese platter for the ages. So, keep reading to find a bunch of charcuterie board ideas, what it actually consists of, as well as ideas for what types of meat, cheese, fruits and condiments to use. Trust us, follow our tips and your friends will be super impressed by your hosting skills at your next get together.

Impress your guests with a charcuterie board

baked brie in the middle charcuterie board cheese meats fruits bread nuts on wooden tray

What is a charcuterie board?

In general, a charcuterie board is a meat and cheese platter. However, it has become so much more than that. The art of charcuterie is the preparation of cured or smoked meats. How to pronounce charcuterie, you may ask? Well, it is pronounced shahr-koo-tuh-ree. So, nowadays, these platters are a must have part of the menu. They consist of the must have cheeses and meats, as well as fruits, veggies, nuts and different condiments. In general, you can assemble a charcuterie platter from literally anything you can find in your fridge. There are, however, a few things, which are staples and you definitely need to use. So, keep reading to find out how to build a charcuterie board.

Meat and cheese are must haves on the platter

fruits veggies meats cheeses crackers nuts condiments arranged on wooden board how to make a charcuterie board

What is in a charcuterie board?

As we have already stated you can put anything on a charcuterie board. But, there are a few things, which are always there:

  • meat
  • cheeses
  • bread and crackers
  • fruit and nuts
  • pickles or olives
  • dips

Of course you can always be creative with the things you put on the board

cheese board ideas crackers different types of meat small glass bowls filled with jam arranged together

What meats go on a charcuterie board?

In general any type of cured meat works on a charcuterie platter. You can also add more than 2 types, it is up to you. Salami, pepperoni, prosciutto and ham work great. However, you can always add cooked sausage or even steak cut into pieces. Count about 3-4 slices per person. Also, don’t forget to be creative when displaying the meat on your board. You can roll up the salami and create interesting shapes, so it looks beautiful and interesting.

Carefully select your meat

different types of meat rolled up cheese olives cherry tomatoes cheese board ideas arranged on black tray

What cheese goes on a charcuterie board?

All types of cheeses are welcome on a charcuterie platter. Wedges of brie cheese or blue cheese look great. What’s more you can bake the brie with some jam and let it be the main focus of your platter. Cheddar, Gouda, mozzarella, feta or even parmesan can be used on a board. Below you can find a detailed list of the different types of cheese as well as their best pairings. After all, you want to have pieces on your charcuterie board, which compliment each other. So, have a look at the list and choose the type of cheese you want to serve and find out what to pair it with.

Detailed list of the types of cheese you can use and what to pair it with

cheese board types of cheese aged fresh soft semi soft semi firm blue charcuterie board

Charcuterie board ideas for the rest of the items you need to add

  • Bread and crackers – this is pretty straight forward. Add a selection of crackers, which can have herbs in them or different kinds of seeds. When it comes to bread you can use a baguette to which you can add butter and garlic or butter and herbs.
  • Fruit and nuts – it is always a good idea to use seasonal fruits. So, depending on the season choose fresh fruits to add to your board. If you are in the middle of winter, dried fruits are also an option. Nuts, on the other hand, are completely up to you. They are a good complimentary piece to your meat and cheese platter.
  • Pickles and olives – another good complimentary piece to the rest of the board. Having something pickled added to your charcuterie platter will add some sourness to the meat and cheese.
  • Dips – any type of condiments are welcome as long as they compliment your meat and cheese. If you are using brie cheese for example, it is a good idea to have some kind of jam or even honey. Hummus, spinach dip, onion dip and just dip of any kind are great additions to your multi-flavoured platter.

You have so many options for things to add to your platter

charcuterie board ideas large wooden tray filled with different types of cheese meat fruits veggies jams

How to assemble a charcuterie board?

There are a few steps to follow to assemble the perfect charcuterie board:

  1. Prepare your board. Choose a wooden or marble board, which is big enough to fit all of the ingredients you want on your charcuterie platter.
  2. Add small bowls. Scatter small bowls around the board, which your are going to fill later with your jams, dips and pickled veggies.
  3. Prepare all of your ingredients. Peel, cut, slice and make sure all of the pieces are ready to be placed on the board. If you have decided on cooked sausage or baked brie, prepare it beforehand.
  4. Add your cheese. Once again if you are using baked brie as the main focus of your platter, make sure it is the focal point of the board. Then, add the other types of cheese you have decided to use.
  5. Add the meat. Roll up the meat and add it around the cheese. If you are using cooked sausage or steak, cut it in cubes or slices and add it as well. Furthermore, it doesn’t have to all be in the same place. You can scatter it around the board.
  6. Add fruits nuts, crackers, bread as well as any types of veggies you are using. Once again feel free to scatter them around the platter.
  7. Finally, fill the bowls with your dips and condiments. You can also use them for the nuts or pickled veggies.
  8. For the gran finale you can add some fresh herbs and twigs for extra decoration. If you are making a holiday platter you can decorate it with things, which are synonymous with the holiday. For example for Christmas you can use rosemary twigs and cranberries.

This is a pretty simple example of what a charcuterie board consists of

cheeses cured meats nuts fruit olives pickled things charcuterie platter how to arrange it

Now scroll through our wonderful, delicious looking photo gallery to find many more examples and steal a few charcuterie board ideas

charcuterie board cheese pickled olives in bowls with crackers meats cheeses veggies and fruits

Wine – the perfect addition to a charcuterie platter

charcuterie board with meat cheese fruits crackers three wine bottles and wine glasses next to it

If you know what your friends like to eat you can tailor your meat and cheese platter accordingly

charcuterie platter with different types of meat cheese crackers veggies on round wooden tray

There is no specific way in which you need to arrange the board, it is all about creativity

cheeses crackers meats pickles condiments fruits arranged on black stone board charcuterie platter

Grape is another great addition to any cheese platter

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Example of a simple charcuterie board and what it contains

cured meats bread or crackers cheeses honey and jams fruits olives charcuterie board ideas wooden baord

Sweet charcuterie board with chocolate, candy and cookies – perfect for St. Valentine’s Day

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These are probably the best types of cheese to use

different types of cheese to use for cheese board ideas cheddar gouda edam mozzarella blue cheese different types of meat and cheese arranges on two round trays charcuterie board ideas condiments and bread on the side four bottles of wine next to round wooden board charcuterie board cheese meats fruits veggies crackers nuts

4th of July charcuterie board ideas

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Who says you can only have one board – you can use multiple, instead

large wooden table covered with wooden boards meat and cheese board with crackers different types of fruits long wooden board with different types of cheese meat what is a charcuterie board crackers fruits

The ultimate charcuterie board

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Is there anything better than baked brie with honey, grapes and toasted baguette

baked brie with honey and thyme charcuterie board bread and grapes on the side meats cheeses bread fruits nuts condiments arranged on black board what is a charcuterie board meats cheeses nuts olives bread how to make a charcuterie board arranged on elliptical wooden tray pretzels crackers cheeses fruits pickles charcuterie platter chocolates purple flowers for decoration round wooden board charcuterie board ideas different types of cheese meat fruit veggies condiments taboule salad hummus olives in bowls what is charcuterie crackers veggies nuts around them

Cute idea for Christmas

tree shaped cheese board ideas with cheeses meats fruits veggies rosemary branches two bottles of wine placed next to wooden board meat and cheese board with baguette crackers fruits nuts two separate charcuterie board with different types of meat cheese bread fruits honey and nuts two wine glasses next to wooden board meat and cheese board baguette olives fruits and nuts what is a charcuterie board wooden tray covered with types of cheese meat fruits condiments veggies what is charcuterie round wooden tray filled with meats cheeses crackers nuts condiments in small bowls

The wine is the most important addition to your meat and cheese platter

wine bottles and glass next to round wooden board meat and cheese platter with fruits veggies crackers nuts wooden board covered with fruits crackers meat and cheese platter condiments veggies wooden board with cheeses crackers grapes dried fruit olives meat and cheese platter

olives in a bowl meat and cheese board with nuts rosemary wine glass on the side

John Griffith
John Griffith

John Griffith is a young, passionate journalist. Writing has been John’s hobby ever since he was a boy. He has worked in some of the UK’s most successful news portals over the course of his professional career but found his forever home at Archzine.

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