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How to Make a Fabulous Charcuterie Board

December 27, 2020 By Patricia 34 Comments

Have you wondered how to make a fabulous charcuterie board? It’s easy to do, and there are so many foods you could include to make yours. Make a charcuterie board to serve as a substantial appetizer, or even as a light meal.

 

Overhead view show you How to Make a Fabulous Charcuterie Board

What’s a charcuterie board? I’ve seen some funny stuff online where people say that a charcuterie board is basically a Lunchables. Well, sort of! If you’ve wondered how to make a fabulous charcuterie board (or just wondered what one was), you’ve come to the right place.

A charcuterie board is an assortment of cured meats and, in fact, in France, the charcuterie is actually the deli – you know – a place where you’d go to get cured meats! Charcuterie boards are one of my favorite meals (although they’re mostly served as an appetizer) because there are lots of goodies to choose from. I love when I can have a little bit of a lot of different things!

Prosciutto, soppressata, speck, hard sausage, and salami are types of cured meats. In the “olden days,” curing meat was a way to prepare it and preserve it for later use without having to refrigerate it.

These days, charcuterie boards are allll over the internet and have evolved from just a sampling of cured meats into a variety of many foods, like cheeses, nuts, fruit, spreads like hummus or jam, breads and crackers, olives, peppers, you name it.

Charcuterie boards are served as starters or as an appetizer, but you could easily turn one into a meal. In fact, my husband and I often make a meal out of modified charcuterie boards: We’ll include hummus, pita chips, a few cheeses, crunchy bread and a favorite jam, and maybe some olives or a vegetable like grilled asparagus.

You get the picture. A charcuterie board is loaded with lots of goodies that are easy to grab and enjoy, with each food located in a small section of a flat platter, or wooden or stone cutting board.

You may need to put out a few appetizer-sized knives for the spreadable cheeses, and a few small spoons for olives or jam. Grab some pretty napkins and small plates and you’ll be ready to go.

You do you with what you include on your charcuterie board, because there are always so many things to include. Check out a few tips to make yours hearty and pleasant.

How to Make a Fabulous Charcuterie Board

  1. Include two-to-four types of cured meat. I love prosciutto and salami.
  2. Add several types of cheese. Use a mix of spreadable cheese like Brie, and also hard cheese like white cheddar.
  3. Fan out a few different types of crunchy crackers.
  4. Add a variety of nuts like pistachios, cashews, or almonds.
  5. Pile on a little fruit, like grapes, apple slices, berries, dried apricots, and at the holidays, pomegranate – it’s so festive! Beware the pomegranate’s crimson arils – they’ll definitely stain your clothes (or carpet).
  6. Include Italian-style or French bread along with your favorite jam (we were out of both our Trader Joe’s grapefruit marmalade AND our cherry jam).
  7. Spoon your favorite spread like hummus or another dip into small bowls along with a few small spoons.
  8. Stack up some veggies like roasted red peppers, olives, cucumber slices, or carrots.

Add a variety of flavors and colors to your board. Include foods that are sweet, salty, crunchy, and smooth.

For more appetizer recipes, check out the following:

Creamy Green Goddess Dip 
Grilled Asparagus, Prosciutto, and Brie Bruschetta
Roasted Eggplant Dip with Easy Garlic Pita Chips 
Red Pepper Italian Taralli (Breadstick Rings)

Not only is a charcuterie board wonderful for gatherings and special occasions, but it’s a great option to serve when you don’t have a specific meal to make for lunch or dinner, but you do need to clean out your fridge and pantry. Think of the half-empty cracker boxes, the cheese that’s in the fridge, and the fresh fruit you want to eat before it goes bad.

I’ll be staying in this New Year’s Eve, how about you? A charcuterie board is the perfect option for snacking on while playing games or watching movies. Let me know if you try one!

Filed Under: Appetizers, Dinner, Lunch, Recipes, Snacks Tagged With: appetizers, charcuterie board, food to celebrate with, light meal, party food, snacking, Snacks, starters

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Comments

  1. Bintu | Recipes From A Pantry says

    December 28, 2020 at 7:59 am

    This looks absolutely delicious - you can't beat a good charcuterie board and this one looks fabulous!
    Reply
    • Patricia says

      December 28, 2020 at 5:15 pm

      Thanks very much, Bintu!
      Reply
  2. Alisa Infanti says

    December 28, 2020 at 8:14 am

    This is my favourite kind of meal... Likely making this for New Year's. No mess and goes perfect with a bottle of wine!
    Reply
    • Patricia says

      December 28, 2020 at 5:14 pm

      Yes, me, too! Hope you enjoy your, Alisa! Happy New Year!
      Reply
  3. Jessica Formicola says

    December 28, 2020 at 9:37 am

    I'm a sucker for a charcuterie board, but I don't make them often. Thanks for sharing your tips- I will definitely be making one for New Years Eve!
    Reply
    • Patricia says

      December 28, 2020 at 5:14 pm

      Thanks, Jessica! I love them, and variations of them - perfect as a light meal :)
      Reply
  4. Kushigalu says

    December 28, 2020 at 9:39 am

    This charcuterie looks amazingly delicious. Would be great for get togethers or party. Thanks for sharing
    Reply
    • Patricia says

      December 28, 2020 at 5:14 pm

      Yes, for sure! Thank you, Kushigalu!
      Reply
  5. Dannii says

    December 28, 2020 at 10:21 am

    This is going to be what we make on new year's eve. It looks incredible.
    Reply
    • Patricia says

      December 28, 2020 at 5:13 pm

      Thanks, Dannii! Yes, perfect for NYE!
      Reply
  6. Mimi says

    December 28, 2020 at 10:57 am

    THIS LOOKS SO GOOD, I DON'T THING I'D BE ABLE TO MAKE IT LOOK THIS GOOD!
    Reply
    • Patricia says

      December 28, 2020 at 5:13 pm

      Yes, you could! It's so easy - thanks, Mimi!
      Reply
  7. Jen says

    December 28, 2020 at 11:43 am

    We also love having these as meals, especially on the weekends. Such an easy way for the family to graze and get all of their favorites too.
    Reply
    • Patricia says

      December 28, 2020 at 5:13 pm

      For sure! And so easy to do!
      Reply
  8. Amber Myers says

    December 28, 2020 at 2:06 pm

    Oh yum, I love these boards. I think I'll make one for NYE to snack on throughout the night.
    Reply
    • Patricia says

      December 28, 2020 at 5:12 pm

      What a great idea! So easy and fun - it's like a little party on a platter!
      Reply
  9. Deborah Brooks says

    December 28, 2020 at 2:53 pm

    Charcuterie boards are always a big hit at our house. This looks delicious thanks for sharing your ideas
    Reply
    • Patricia says

      December 28, 2020 at 5:12 pm

      Thanks so much, Deborah!
      Reply
  10. Sara Welch says

    December 28, 2020 at 10:50 pm

    What a beautiful spread! Definitely going to serve this for New Year's Eve; looks amazing!
    Reply
    • Patricia says

      January 1, 2021 at 5:57 pm

      Thanks so much, Sara!
      Reply
  11. Erin | Dinners,Dishes and Dessert says

    December 28, 2020 at 10:51 pm

    This Charcuterie Board is seriously making me hungry!
    Reply
    • Patricia says

      January 1, 2021 at 5:57 pm

      Always! I love them! Thanks, Erin!
      Reply
  12. Sarah Althouse says

    December 29, 2020 at 10:16 am

    I have the most beautiful mahogany board just waiting for me to make a charcuterie board!
    Reply
    • Patricia says

      January 1, 2021 at 5:57 pm

      Ahhh! Perfect for this! Thanks, Sarah!
      Reply
  13. Catalina says

    December 29, 2020 at 1:29 pm

    I love charcuterie board! I would like to make one for our movie night!
    Reply
    • Patricia says

      January 1, 2021 at 5:56 pm

      Perfect for movie night! Thanks, Catalina!
      Reply
  14. Nadalie Bardo says

    December 29, 2020 at 4:30 pm

    Fabulous indeed! The perfect spread for New Year's eve! I can eat the whole thing myself
    Reply
    • Patricia says

      January 1, 2021 at 5:56 pm

      Haha! Yes, I could too, Nadalie! Thank you.
      Reply
  15. Kevin says

    December 30, 2020 at 11:11 am

    What a great platter for any party! I have to make this for New Years!
    Reply
    • Patricia says

      January 1, 2021 at 5:53 pm

      For sure! Thanks, Kevin!
      Reply
  16. Cathy says

    December 30, 2020 at 3:46 pm

    This board is absolutely gorgeous! I love the colors!
    Reply
    • Patricia says

      January 1, 2021 at 5:53 pm

      Thanks very much, Cathy!
      Reply
  17. Sandra says

    December 30, 2020 at 6:10 pm

    These are really amazing tips! Thank you!! This is perfect for NYE!
    Reply
    • Patricia says

      January 1, 2021 at 5:53 pm

      Thanks, Sandra!
      Reply

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I'm Patricia

Welcome to Grab a Plate!

Growing up surrounded by my Italian family it was always, "grab a plate" whenever anyone came to visit. Food was always a celebration, even everyday meals, and I like it that way. I try to make each meal memorable with my recipes for mainly meatless, mostly healthy, and easy-to-make dishes (with sweet treats in between).

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