by Holly
Charcuterie boards are not only gorgeous, they contain a combination of flavors and nibbles for a simple no-fuss party snack!
It’s not difficult to prepare a meat and cheese board that everyone will rave about! Adding various flavors from simple everyday ingredients takes very little prep and just minutes to build!
I’ve included a few tips below to make sure your next party platter is the talk of the event!
This post is sponsored by Walmart and SheKnows Media.
Weekends around here are for hanging out with friends, enjoying drinks and sitting around the table with a glass of wine telling stories. It’s truly my preferred way to spend a Friday night.
Preparing a Charcuterie board is not only fun, it always looks gorgeous and it’s quicker and easier than ordering a pizza!
What is Charcuterie?
First off … how do you pronounce charcuterie? [shahr-koo-tuh–ree].
Charcuterie is the art of preparing meats which are often cured or smoked such as bacon, ham or salami. A charcutier is a person who prepares charcuterie and while the term is loosely translated in English to “pork butcher”, any kind of meat can be used.
A charcuterie board is commonly seen on menus pretty much everywhere these days and it’s the perfect way to enjoy some nibbles with friends and family!
Preparing a Charcuterie Board
A charcuterie board most often consists of a variety of meats and cheeses and often fruit or nuts; essentially a meat and cheese board!
It’s very easy to prepare a charcuterie and you can find absolutely everything you need at Walmart!
The gorgeous wood board in the photos on this post was purchased at Walmart (it’s a part of the Pioneer Woman Collection) along with all of the ingredients! If you’d prefer, Walmart also has a great selection of plates to create the perfect Charcuterie platter!
As you begin thinking about making the perfect charcuterie board, you will want to start thinking about different colors and textures to make it vibrant and interesting.
Red and black berries, dried apricots, fresh herbs, pickles, olives and various dips can add lots of color.
The board should look full, don’t be afraid to pile and stack them while thinking about varying the different items throughout.
Meat: I estimate about 3-4 slices of meat per person when building a board. I try to include a variety of flavors and textures for example a sliced pepper salami, a rolled prosciutto and thoughtfully piled ham.
Cheese: Choose a variety of cheeses; about 1 or 2 oz per person as an hors d’oeuvre. Look for various hard and soft cheeses from mellow to sharp. Cheeses are easiest served already sliced.
Bread and Crackers: Again variety is key, I like to include buttery flaky crackers, grain crackers and thinly sliced and toasted baguettes.
Fruit & Nuts: Both dried and fresh fruit will add gorgeous color and lots of flavor to your charcuterie board! As you are purchasing fruits, keep a variety of colors in mind for a beautiful board. Nuts should be shelled and salted.
Pickles, Olives and Dips: Adding small bowls filled with dill pickles, olives, jellies, mustards and delicious dips is a great way to add some zip and flavor to your board.
Most of the items can be prepared, washed and/or sliced ahead of time meaning this easy appetizer can take just minutes to prepare.
A beautiful meat and cheese board with various flavors takes very little prep and just minutes to build! I was able to find all of
the items I needed at Walmart. Below is the list of some of my favorite additions!
Cheese
Sliced Monterey Jack Cheese
Sliced Cheddar Cheese
El Cortijo Manchego Wedge Cheese
Bel Gioioso Parmesan Cheese Wedge
Meat
Peppered Salame
Salami
Prosciutto
Ham
Fruit
Dried Apricots
Assorted fresh berries
Cherry tomatoes
Grapes
Crackers/Bread
Marketside French Baguette sliced and toasted
Ritz Crackers
Everything Pretzel Crisps
Artisan or Seeded Crackers
Other
Planters Nuts
Marketside Spinach Dip
Marketside Onion Dip
Great Value Black Olives
Mini Dill Pickles
The next time you need an easy and totally fuss free party snack, creating a charcuterie board is not only loved by everyone… it’s so pretty!
I am excited to have partnered with Walmart & SheKnows Media to bring you this post. While I was compensated, all thoughts and opinions are my own. Working with great brands I love allows me to keep bringing you the great recipes you love!
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I Love Your Charcuterie Board ingredients. My Daughter in Law and I, both Love to make them for gatherings.(I always add Havarti Fill cheese to my tray. Thanks for all your recipes and ideas. I’ll be making your Feta pinwheels next, Bon Appetit!
A work of art!!!!! So much fun!
Your board looks very appetizing and thank you for the ideas. I would have separate cheese and charcuterie boards as most vegetarians wouldn’t want to eat cheese form a board that has meat on it
Wow, glad my friend shared with me
Love your recipes!
I’m so glad I came across this beautiful eye candy display. Taking the cheese & fruit board to a whole new level to satisfy the appetite & eye . Where can b enjoyed sitting in the lounge area ,relaxing around the coffee table with a beverage, great company & of course a great play list.
I’M IN HEAVEN just thinking about it.
THANKS for your share.
It is so beautiful and just as delicious, we agree Joan!
Your charcuterie board looks amazing! I’m thinking about making something similar for my wedding. About how much do you think it would cost for about 100 people?
Thanks so much Joselyn! Congrats! I think the price would vary on what you are including.
About $400
Thank you for sharing this info on a Charcuterie board and how to fill it! I was becoming overwhelmed looking at a lot of these boards but none showed the basic info on how to fill one. Your post is so informative and greatly appreciated!
Thanks Julie! We love a good charcuterie board, have fun making yours!
Beautiful presentations! I often prepare a charcuterie board for holidays with cheese and fruits for vegetarians in the family. Most times my family prefers a variety of “boards” to a regular heavy meal. Thanks for the many ideas for presentations.
So happy we could help Vicki! Making beautiful charcuterie boards is one of our favorites around the holidays too.
5 stars all the way!! Charcuterie has replaced our Friday pizza~it’s sufficient for a complete meal, imho! Thank you for sharing some new additions to try out
That’s such a fun Friday meal. They are so pretty, yet filling and delicious!
So happy I found you! I love this! Thank you!
Welcome Linda! We are so happy to have you.
Love this site
Thank you Heidi!
Thank you
You’re welcome Chris! Enjoy!
My family did our first real Charcuterie board for Christmas day as a snack between a big breakfast and a big dinner; opening presents is hard work. ;-) I had asked everyone (15 of us) if they had any particular things they wanted and most thought I was overdoing it. We had 6 cheeses, 3 meats, a nut sampler, Granny Smith apples (awesome with sharp cheese), red and green grapes, a veggie tray, 4 types of crackers (forgot to cut up the baguette), two types of olives and a sample pack of various spreads (9 flavors, lots of fun).
I did my best to make it look like your board, a pleasant mixture of yumminess, but had to split it onto three different platters. It was all a huge success! I spent 4 months sampling cheeses (a labor of love) to find the best and they were the center of attention. And surprisingly few touched the veggie platter (except the 4 year old, he mostly ate plain cucumbers, it was amazing to see!), may cut that down next year and do more fruit instead.
I had some leftovers and made a simplified version for the much smaller New Years group. A big hit again!
I have officially been charged with making a Charcuterie board every Thanksgiving and Christmas day (which means, I don’t have to do dishes!). I’m thinking of adding berries, honeycomb and maybe little caviar next year; plus a bit of dark chocolate to juxtapose the super sharp cheddar I found.
Your post took the intimidation factor away. Thank you so much for the tips and inspiration!
You’re so welcome! Thank you for sharing your great success with the charcuterie boards! I’m so happy to hear that you have a new job for the holidays :)
This looks WONDERFUL but I have a question.
What can I make for my gluten-free vegan company that looks this good? They come about once a month to my house. I am stuck about what to make next.
Please help.
Elaine
A cheese board is a great option for your GF guests! Fruits, nuts, cheeses, meats and GF crackers are great options. I would suggest double checking the packages of items you purchase to ensure they’re Gluten Free.
There are lovely vegan cheeses made with nuts. Check out Whole Foods or other health food store. They will likely be by the “alternative meats”. Cashew cheeses are creamy and delicious and are on the softer side like a thicker ricotta! (there are great recipes to make them yourself too!).
As for charcuterie meats, you may have to just stick with other savory umami flavors like olives.
Love to entertain and enjoy appetizer recipes.
I love this idea so much, I posted a link to it on my own blog as a must try! Thanks for sharing this!
I am glad you enjoyed it Samantha!
Great esthetic- one of those “almost looks too good to eat” occasions. How do you prevent lots of fingers touching lots of things on the periphery of what is taken, esp with nuts and berries which can’t efficiently be speared, scooped, or picked with tongs?
I’m sending this link to my husband now!! Great post thank you!
I hope you enjoy it!