Charcuterie Boxes - a portable single-serving charcuterie board! (2024)

Create a charcuterie board “to go” with these gourmet Charcuterie Boxes. These handheld containers, also known as grazing boxes, are full of meats, cheeses, crackers, fruits, nuts, and other little nibbles. Perfect for entertaining, outdoor get-togethers, or a snack on the go, you’ll be looking for any reason to pack up these delicious snack boxes.

You are in for a treat! I’m sharing everything I know about creating easy, adorable, and totally delicious charcuterie boxes.These are designed to be individual servings, but I’ve also shared a larger box to serve two.

Here on Inspired by Charm, we’ve covered…

• jarcuteries (a single serving charcuterie in a jar),
• snackle boxes (a charcuterie in a tackle box),
• charcuterie wreath (a round wreath shaped charcuterie),
• and charcuterie cups (a single serving charcuterie in a paper cup).

Now I’m adding another to the list: charcuterie boxes!

What are Charcuterie Boxes?

Charcuterie boxes typically contain thinly sliced meats, cheeses, crackers, olives, fresh fruits, nuts, and other little nibbles that you may find on a charcuterie board.

They are unique in that they are perfect for on-the-go events, activities, and parties. They travel really well as everything is self-contained right in a little box. Each person gets their own box to snack on and enjoy.

Love that!

Why You’ll Enjoy This Recipe

• Easy to assemble. Truth be told, you can get really fancy with these boxes and consequently, they could take a long time to put together. Life is busy and I wanted to avoid that, so I kept things simple while still adding a few special and decorative touches. You’ll appreciate this approach.
• Completely customized. The options for filling these are virtually endless. Use seasonal ingredients, ingredients you love, and/or ingredients inspired by a special occasion or holiday. Just keep it yummy and have fun.
• Cute as a button. I mean, does it get any cuter than these? It’s like a Lunchable, but for adults and much fancier. If you handed this to someone, I’m certain you’d put a smile on their face.
• Perfect for parties and picnics. Whether you’re planning a picnic or an outdoor party, these are beyond perfect. Everyone gets their own self-contained and individual snack box.

Ingredients

Since this is basically a mini charcuterie, you’ll probably want to stick to things you’d find on a charcuterie or grazing board. It’s important to strike a balance between salty and sweet, soft and firm textures, and bold and mild flavors. With that being said, you can also keep it really simple do whatever you’d like.

When I’m putting together a box like this, I always like to include some sort of seasonal element. Here I used some honey and pansy flowers. In the fall you might consider using pumpkin seeds and more dried fruit. For the holidays, try cranberries and fresh rosemary for a seasonal feel.

Beyond that, here are some of the basics I recommend when building your charcuterie boxes.

Charcuterie Box Ingredient Ideas:

• Cheeses: Use what you love. I find harder cheeses a bit easier to manage, but you could certainly make anything work. I used cheddar, pepper jack, and mini mozzarella balls. I love skewering the mini mozzarella balls with olives, berries, etc.
• Meats: Charcuterie literally translated means “the products of a fancy pork butcher.” Therefore, including cured meats is a must. Prosciutto, salami, pepperoni, soppressata, capicola, etc. are some of my favorites. Feel free to shape them into flowers or fold them in fancy ways; a more basic presentation, like I did here, works too.
• Berries and Fruits: Berries and fruits add freshening sweetness. Try blueberries, blackberries, strawberries, fresh figs, grapes, etc.
• Veggies: I didn’t use any here, but sugar snap peas, carrots, radishes, etc. would be lovely. You can even use pickled vegetables like carrots, onions, gherkins, etc.
• Nuts: Pistachios, walnuts, almonds, pecans, etc.
• Dried Fruit: Raisins, Craisins, figs, apricots, etc.
• Olives: Kalamata, stuffed olives, etc. (I recommend using pitted olives.)
• Crackers/Bread: Use whatever cracker(s) you like best. Here I’m using raincoast crisps. They are one of my favorite crackers and come in a variety of unique flavors.
• Fresh Herbs and Edible Flowers (to garnish): A sprig of fresh herbs makes any dish look gourmet. Rosemary, thyme, or sage is perfect here. As I mentioned above, I also had some pansies (edible flowers) that I used to make these look extra special.
• Mini Jam or Honey Jars: For a unique element, consider putting in a mini jar of honey and/or a mini jar of jam. Not only are they adorable, but they taste delicious with everything in your charcuterie box.I like using a mini honey dipper with the honey jar.

How To Make:

There is no exact formula for assembling a charcuterie box. However, I will walk you through the process and share any tips I have. For your convenience, I’ve also provided a full ingredient list and detailed instructions in the printable recipe card below.

1. If your box is not sealed (more on that below) consider adding a piece of parchment or wax paper inside first. (As you can see, I did this with my larger box.)

2. Next, add large and stackable items to your box: things like crackers, cheeses, and meats.
3. Then add in your berries and fruits. If using a deeper box, you can also add in your mixed nuts to help build up the layers.
4. To create interest in your box, skewer a few items like small cheeses, fruits, olives, etc. Place those near the top.

5. Continue adding your meats and cheeses.
6. Fill in holes with extra berries, nuts, etc.
7. Add any decorative element to the top: wrapped cheese, mini honey or jam jars, fresh herbs, and dried flowers.
8. Place the lid on the top of the box and secure it with a piece of twine. Decorate with a flower, fresh herbs, or any way you’d like.
9. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Boxes and Accessories

You’re going to need a box or container for each of your charcuterie boxes. I’ll share details on the ones I used in this post, plus a link to a few others you may want to consider.

Boxes

• 6×6 box with clear lid: Serves one. These are the ones I used. I really like these boxes because the interior is sealed. This will prevent any grease from transferring to the box.
• 8×8 box with hinged lid: Serves two. These ones are a bit larger which makes them ideal for serving two. I recommend adding a piece of parchment as this cardboard is not sealed.

Here are a few other boxes you may want to consider:

• 7.5″ box – longer and thiner
• 6×6 box – with four divided sections
• 5×5 box – smaller and available in white and pink

Toothpicks

Toothpicks are great for skewering items and add a little interest and flare to your charcuterie boxes. They just have a way of making things look fancier! There are so many beautiful toothpicks, forks, and skewers to choose from.

Here are a few of my favorites:

• Mini Gold Forks
• Faux Pearl Wooden Picks
• Looped Bamboo Picks
• co*cktail Tasting Forks
• Pearl Wooden Picks

And although it’s not a toothpick, I like pairing these mini honey dippers with the mini honey jars.

And with that, I’m confident you should have all of the tools and information you need to put together an impressive charcuterie box. If I missed anything, please leave a comment below. I’d love to help!

More Charcuterie Ideas You May Enjoy

• Snackle Box – charcuterie in a tackle box
• Jarcuterie – single-serve charcuterie in a mini jar
• Charcuterie Cups – single-serve charcuteries in paper cups

If you make these charcuterie boxes, I NEED to hear all about them. Please leave a comment and a 5-star rating below. I can’t wait to read about what you create.

Want more from Inspired by Charm? Join the IBC Mailing List for inspiration in your inbox! Follow along on Instagram and TikTok for daily updates and behind-the-scenes looks at my processes. There’s even more inspiration on Facebook and Pinterest!