40+ Unique Charcuterie Board Ideas For Your Next Party (2024)

A spread to feed a crowd that goes by many names.

Charcuterie

40+ Unique Charcuterie Board Ideas For Your Next Party (2)40+ Unique Charcuterie Board Ideas For Your Next Party (3)

Grazing Table

Grazing Plater

Mezze

Antipasto

Snack Plate (as my daughter calls it)

Whatever you call it. It’s delicious, simple and always a party pleaser.

You can put in as much or as little effort as you like. There are different charcuterie board ideas to suit any budget, occasion, diet and age group.

With a selection of things like smoked salmon, cured meats, too many cheeses I can’t pronounce, seasonal fruits and something sweet, these unique charcuterie board ideas will make it easy next time you need to know what to put on a charcuterie board.

With so many charcuterie board party ideas, you will be fighting over who is bringing what!

Where to have a charcuterie board

There are so many places to serve a charcuterie board.

  • Girls night
  • clothing swap party
  • pool party
  • co*cktail night

Red, White and Blue

Red, white and blue is a popular theme around the summertime in America. But you might be surprised to learn many other countries have red, white and blue flags:

  • Australia
  • New Zealand
  • United Kingdom
  • Norway
  • Iceland
  • Puerto Rico
  • Chile
  • Thailand
  • France

This Fourth of July board includes a suggested list of red, white and blue food ideas.

For this Patriotic Charcuterie Board, it’s all about the placement. (hint: it looks like a flag)

Budget Friendly Charcuterie

If the cost of creating a fabulous charcuterie spread is a concern, these setups keep your budget in mind.

You might not think its possible, but you can create this charcuterie board for under $30

Step-by-step photo instructions help you make this Patriotic charcuterie board on a budget

Breakfast Spreads

Nothing beats an all-you-can-eat breakfast-style buffet. And a scrumptious DIY option is so easy to put together for breakfast. Or whip up a mimosa (or two!) and call it a brunch board.

As if you can say no to this Pancake Breakfast Platter.

Waffle Charcuterie Boardis possibly the only thing better than frozen waffles for breakfast.

Breakfast or Brunch Fruit Platter is the perfect well-balanced breakfast.

Holiday Themed Charcuterie Boards

The holidays are a great time to come together and share stories from the year over a bite to eat. And these are the most creative charcuterie board

An intricate charcuterie board design, thisThanksgiving Turkey Shaped Charcuterie Boardis sure to wow.

What is Christmas without a Christmas Charcuterie Wreath?

This Christmas Tree Charcuteriewon’t look like a tree for long.

Cheat your way to this Easter Charcuterie Boardwith store bought decorated cookies.

An Easter Candy Boardthat adults and children will enjoy.

Dietary Specific Smorgasboard

Sometimes dietary restrictions can make it hard to feed a lot of people. But a grazing table is a great way to include items that suit all different dietary requirements. Whether you’re plant based, a meat lover or gluten free, there is always a

Keto Charcuterie Boardprovides a low-carb option.

A Veggie Tray with loads of colour.

Vegetarian Mezze Boardinspired by the Mediterranean.

This Vegetarian Charcuterie Board is perfect for a light heat-free dinner during the hot summer.

Vegetarian Mezze Plattermade in a few minutes.

Dessert Charcuterie Board

All that’s missing from these sweet dessert boards is ice cream. Although I’m not sure how long it will last before it melts!

A S’mores Board that provides for many different tastes and s’mores combinations.

A Chocolate Cheeseboard that pairs perfectly with sweet wines.

S’mores Dessert Board is a low-maintenance way to take your next summer BBQ to the next level.

Dip the sweet treats from your Hot Chocolate Charcuterie or eat them as is.

Valentines Day Grazing Plates

Unique charcuterie ideas to share with your special someone.

This Valentine’s Charcuterie Board is full of all things sweet, perfect for your sweetheart.

All things pink, white and red make up this Valentine’s Day Snack Board

A chocolate fruit dip is the stand out in this Valentine’s Day Charcuterie Board

An Easy Valentine’s Day Charcuterie Board that is simple to prepare.

Store Specific

Shopping at specific stores can also help you nail down your budget and buy from brands you know and trust.

Trader Joe’s provides the goods for this Trader Joe’s Charcuterie

An Aldi Charcuterie Board is a cheap way to provide food for a BBQ, potluck or party.

Around the World

The perfect way to celebrate all the different types of produce from all around the world.

Load up on cheese with this French Charcuterie platter

With Mediterranean diet-friendly foods, a Mediterranean Diet Charcuterie Board can be a healthier option.

Mediterranean Mezze Platter (with recipes) is all about the dips, spreads and small bites.

A fresh and colourful Mezze Platter

Greek Appetizer Platter featuring pita, tzatziki and hummus.

Other Themes

And lastly, the other themes like minor holidays and the seasons.

A sweet spread forSt Patrick’s Day

Take your Halloween to the next level with this Halloween Charcuterie Board

I like the sound of Jacuterie – charcuterie in a jar

A Bloody Mary charcuterie boardto wake you up or get the party started.

A Fall Cheese Boardis the perfect way to experience new cheeses.

Warm up with this savory Winter Charcuterie Board.

A Summer Charcuterie Boardis perfect for those hot days when you don’t want to cook.

Packed with fresh produce, the Spring Snack Boardis all about a fresh start.

40+ Unique Charcuterie Board Ideas For Your Next Party (2024)

FAQs

What is the 3 3 3 3 rule for charcuterie board? ›

What is the 3-3-3-3 Rule for Charcuterie Boards? No matter the style of the wood charcuterie board, you can always follow the 3-3-3-3 rule. Every charcuterie board should have three meats, three cheeses, three starch options, and three accompaniments, such as fruit, nuts, or veggies.

How to make a charcuterie board for 50 people? ›

A typical board would be meat, cheese, extra (fruit, veggies, crackers). Therefore if you have 50 people you would want 50 ounces of meat, 50 ounces of cheese and 50 ounces of extras. One pound of cheese, one pound of meat, and one pound of a combination of fruit, veggies and crackers= 16 people.

What are 5 things to avoid on a charcuterie board? ›

5 Mistakes You are Making on Your Charcuterie Board
  • Peppers: Whether green, red, or yellow, peppers are best avoided. ...
  • Tricky vegetables: Namely, tomatoes or Asparagus. ...
  • Jalapeno stuffed olives (or anything too spicy): Very hot foods simply don't work well with most wines, and they can overwhelm your taste buds.

How do you make a high end charcuterie board? ›

You'll want at least one cracker or piece of bread for every slice of meat. Extras — pickles, spreads, nuts, fruits — should all be plentiful. It's OK if they out-number your meats and cheeses, since your guests may want to play with different flavor combos in each bite.

What are 3 good cheeses for a charcuterie board? ›

Here are the best cheeses for your charcuterie board
  • Hard cheese: chunks of parmesan, aged gouda, asiago.
  • Firm cheese: gruyere, comte, manchego, colby, cheddar.
  • Semi-soft cheese: havarti, butterkäse, muenster.
  • Soft cheese: burrata, mascarpone, stracchino.
  • Blue cheese: gorgonzola, dunbarton blue, marbled blue jack.

How many cheeses for charcuterie board for 20 guests? ›

Plan for about 1-2 ounces of cheese per person. As with your meat selections, have your cheese sliced thin (at a 1-2 thickness) to make layering easier. If you'd like to incorporate cheese cubes, or have guests cut their own pieces, have those sliced at an 8-10 thickness.

How much cheese do I need for 50 people? ›

CHEESE CALCULATOR
# of PeopleMain Meal6 oz. per personSnack/Appetizer2 oz. per person
5018.75 lbs6.25 lbs
10037.5 lbs12.5 lbs
15056.25 lbs18.75 lbs
20075 lbs25 lbs
7 more rows

How much cheese platter for 50 people? ›

How Much Cheese is Needed For 50 People. The quantity of cheese you need depends on if the charcuterie will be an entire meal or not. About 2-3 ounces per person will be enough if the charcuterie isn't an entire meal. So you will need about 100-150 ounces in total.

What not to put on a cheese board? ›

CHARCUTERIE // Stop Adding These 10 Ingredients To Your Charcuterie Boards!
  1. STINKY CHEESES. The cheese section at the grocery store can be overwhelming and intimidating. ...
  2. FRUITS THAT GO BROWN. ...
  3. SPICY FOODS. ...
  4. CRACKERS & BREAD. ...
  5. Veggies. ...
  6. Allergens and Sensitivities. ...
  7. Dips, Sauces and Jams. ...
  8. Boring and Bland Foods.

What does every charcuterie board need? ›

Cured meats: Prosciutto, genoa salami, chorizo, sopressata, ham, and cured sausages are all classic choices for a charcuterie board. Cheese: Choose a variety of textures and flavors. A few options are soft brie, burrata and camembert. For firm cheese oprions try cheddar, manchego, Parmesan and gouda.

What should every charcuterie board have? ›

The most important elements of a charcuterie board are meats, cheeses, savory accompaniments, sweet accompaniments, and crackers. Cheeses: choose a variety of hard and soft cheese, and cheese made from different animals (cow, sheep, goat).

What is the secret to charcuterie? ›

In general, a good charcuterie board will have 2-3 types of meat, 2-3 cheeses, 1-2 fruits, 1-2 crackers, nuts, bread, pickles, mustard and a dip or spread. The deliciousness of your board depends on the quality of your ingredients. Buy USDA Organic when possible and look for meats that are free from nitrates.

What is the best soft cheese for charcuterie? ›

The best cheese for charcuterie includes:
  • Soft cheeses like brie or ricotta.
  • Semi-firm cheeses like cheddar or emmentaler.
  • Hard cheeses like aged gouda or aged cheddar, romano, or parmesan.
  • Blue cheese like gorgonzola or a cheddar blue.
  • Crumbly cheese like ricotta salata or cotija.

What is the key to a good charcuterie board? ›

Five Keys to a Great Charcuterie Board
  • Fruits Should Always Be Seasonal. Make sure whenever you're preparing the charcuterie board, you're using fresh, in-season fruits. ...
  • Keep Color in Mind. Fruits are a great way to bring color into the picture. ...
  • Pair Meats and Cheeses Creatively. ...
  • Presentation is Huge. ...
  • Keep Flow in Mind.
Sep 23, 2019

What is the ratio for a charcuterie board? ›

I've found the following ratio works great: 4 types of cheese, 4 types of meat, 3 types of bread/crackers, 1 type of chocolate, 2-3 different nuts, 1 jam, 1 honey, and 1-2 types of olives.

Are there rules for charcuterie boards? ›

Depending on the size of your board, you should have one each of cow, sheep, and goat options with soft rind, firm, and hard cheeses in the mix. Flavors should range between nutty and mild to funky and unique. Rule of thumb: 1 cow, 1 sheep, 1 goat; 1 soft, 1 firm, 1 hard.

What is the order of making a charcuterie board? ›

Building a Charcuterie Board: Where Do I Start?
  1. Step One: Add Structure. Fill small vessels with dips, spreads, and items that can be piled onto the board. ...
  2. Step Two: Add the Cheeses and Meats. First, place the cheeses. ...
  3. Step Three: Add Crackers. ...
  4. Dera Burreson.
Dec 9, 2022

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