Turn your usual charcuterie board into individual charcuterie cups for parties, weddings, baby showers, or anytime you just want a quick, creative snack!

These are like hand-held charcuterie boards filled with a selection of meats, cheeses, grapes, pickles, and breadsticks or crackers arranged in clear plastic cups or glasses.

a charcuterie cup filled with meats, cheese and crackers

Party Perfect Charcuterie Cups

  • Assemble them up to a day ahead of time and keep them chilled until ready to serve for a stress free snack.
  • They’re easy to customize with your favorite meats, cheeses, fruits, and nuts, making them versatile and adaptable to different preferences and tastes.
  • The individual servings make it easy for guests to grab and go, allowing them to mingle and socialize without being tied down to a table.

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CUPS – Use what you have on hand – here ar the items I used in my photos.

PICKS – Check the dollar store for cute disposable picks.

charcuterie cup ingredients on a tray with meat cheese and crackers

What to Put in Charcuterie Cups

Crackers – Small crackers, mini breadsticks, or cubes of bread like rye or sourdough will add height and color.

Meat – Salami, ham, and prosciutto are good basic meats to start with, however, feel free to experiment with slices of summer sausage, pepperoni slices, or even mini meatballs.

Cheese – Choose cheeses with varying colors and flavor profiles. Cheddar cheese and pepper jack are always crowd favorites and small balls of bocconcini (soft mozzarella) are rich and creamy and will offset the salty flavors of the meat. Even string cheese can be used to create visual interest.

Fruits – Grapes, fresh whole strawberries, blackberries, and even dried fruit like chunks of apricot or mango add sweetness and color to charcuterie cups. Spear them onto a wooden skewer or layer them on the bottom.

Veggies – Olives, pickled asparagus, or green beans will help cleanse the palate from fatty meats and cheeses.

Garnishes – Sprigs of fresh herbs like rosemary, parsley, or even edible flowers will make charcuterie cups look fresh and inviting. Add herbs just before serving.

charcuterie picks

How to Assemble Charcuterie Cups

  1. Place crackers or breadsticks into each cup.
  2. Thread salami and olives onto wooden picks secured by a grape at the bottom to keep them in place.
  3. Add cheeses in varying shapes and sizes to the cups.
  4. Tuck in extra meat into the spaces and add garnishes, as per the recipe below.

Make it Pretty

Once all of the crackers, meat, and cheese are in place, add fresh herbs or berries to add color and make them beautiful.

Tips For Assembly

  • Look for ingredients that will add color, contrast, shape, size, and flavors to charcuterie cups, it’s nearly impossible to make them wrong with so many amazing ingredients to choose from!
  • Start tall crackers or breadsticks in the back, and then add grapes. Place some of the meats on sticks and poke them into the grapes to hold them in place.
  • Assemble ahead and keep them chilled in the refrigerator until ready to serve or place them in a cardboard box for safe transporting.

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image of Everyday Comfort cookbook by Holly Nilsson of Spend With Pennies plus text
a charcuterie cup filled with meats, cheese and crackers
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Charcuterie Cups

A selection of meats, cheeses, crackers, & other snacks in a perfectly portable cup!
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings 12 cups

Equipment

12 Clear Glass Cups 4 to 6 ounces each
Wood Skewers on white background
12 Cocktail Picks 4 to 6 inches each
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Ingredients  

  • 24 long crackers or breadsticks
  • 48 seedless grapes green or purple
  • 24 small crackers or short crackers
  • 24 slices salami thin sliced, or pepper salami
  • 12 slices ham or turkey
  • 12 slices prosciutto or pancetta
  • 8 ounces cheddar cheese or other hard cheese
  • 8 ounces brie cheese or bocconcini, or other soft cheese
  • 8 ounces pepper jack cheese or other flavored cheese
  • 12 olives or small pickles
  • fresh herbs for garnish

Instructions 

  • Place 2 long crackers or breadsticks in each glass. Add 4 to 5 grapes to each glass to fill the bottom.
  • Fold the salami into quarters. Thread one olive onto each pick followed by the slices of salami. Add a skewer to each cup, poking the end into a grape to hold it in place.
  • Cut the hard cheeses into slices, triangles, or cubes varying the shapes for visual interest.
  • Add the hard cheeses to the cups (they can be added on picks if you’d like).
  • Roll or fold the remaining meat and add it to the cups along with the remaining crackers.
  • Tuck herbs into the glasses for garnish.

Notes

You can mix and match different types of meats and cheeses to your liking.
Dried fruits or a square of dark chocolate looks great and adds sweetness. You can also add nuts.
Make sure the grapes are seedless.
5 from 26 votes

Nutrition Information

Calories: 451 | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 22g | Fat: 35g | Saturated Fat: 16g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 12g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 94mg | Sodium: 1231mg | Potassium: 265mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 664IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 304mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.

Course Appetizer, Party Food, Snack
Cuisine American
ingredients to make Charcuterie Cups and finished cups with a title
meat and cheese Charcuterie Cups with writing
close up of individual Charcuterie Cups with a title
meat and cheese Charcuterie Cups with a title

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About the author

Holly Nilsson is the creator of Spend With Pennies, where she creates easy, comforting recipes made for real life. With a passion for nostalgic flavors and simplified techniques, Holly helps busy home cooks create delicious meals that always work. She is also the author of “Everyday Comfort,” which promises to inspire even more hearty, home-cooked meals.
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