Seanna's Kitchen

  • All Recipes
  • About
  • Contact
  • Subscribe
menu icon
go to homepage
  • All Recipes
  • About
  • Contact
  • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Threads
    • YouTube
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • All Recipes
    • About
    • Contact
    • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Threads
    • YouTube
  • ×
    Home » Recipes » Appetizers

    Simple Charcuterie Board Ideas

    Last Updated: Mar 8, 2025 · Published: Nov 10, 2022 · by Seanna Borrows · This post may contain affiliate links. · As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. · 7 Comments

    Jump to Recipe Pin This!
    Charcuterie board full of a variety of meats, cheeses, and nibbles.

    Simple Charcuterie Board Ideas to help you create a show-stopping centerpiece for any gathering.

    A charcuterie board is the perfect appetizer for happy hour, a holiday party, or any gathering. We'll show you all the ingredients & helpful tips you need to make a beautiful board that is sure to impress.

    Charcuterie board full of a variety of meats, cheeses, and nibbles.

    Whether we're dining under California olive trees or back in our home in the Midwest, Friday nights mean one thing: a Steak Charcuterie Board.

    We alternate between whole beef tenderloin and perfectly grilled ribeye, always shared with friends. Join us on Instagram to see this week's creation and discover more simple charcuterie board ideas.

    Jump to:
    • Why You'll Love This Recipe
    • What Is A Charcuterie Board
    • Ingredients & Notes
    • Substitutions & Additions
    • Variations
    • How To Make A Charcuterie Board
    • Recipe Tips
    • How To Arrange It
    • Simple Charcuterie Board Ideas
    • Recipe FAQs
    • How To Serve
    • What To Do With Leftovers
    • Related Recipes
    • 📖 Recipe
    • 💬 Community

    Why You'll Love This Recipe

    • Perfect for any occasion, from casual gatherings to holiday parties.
    • Customizable with your favorite cheeses, meats, and accompaniments.
    • Easy to assemble and visually stunning.
    • Pairs beautifully with wine, cocktails, or festive punches, like our refreshing Non-Alcoholic Holiday Punch.

    What Is A Charcuterie Board

    A charcuterie board isn’t just an appetizer—it’s a show-stopping centerpiece for any gathering.

    A traditional charcuterie board features a variety of meats and cheeses, fresh and dried fruits, seasonal produce, nuts, pickles, crostini, and spreads.

    We love serving it alongside sliced steak, such as a tender & juicy grilled ribeye, perfect filet mignon, or a whole oven roasted beef tenderloin, for an elevated touch.

    Boards come in all shapes and sizes, from a simple charcuterie board for two to a large grazing board for a crowd at holiday gatherings.

    Ingredients & Notes

    For large gatherings, choose 3 meats, 3 cheeses, 2 fruits, and a variety of extras. You don't need everything listed. Choose your favorites. And only serve what is truly tasty.

    • Cheeses - A mix of soft, semi-hard, and hard cheeses provides variety.
      • hard cheeses - Manchego, gruyere, parmigiano-reggiano.
      • soft cheeses - Brie, camembert, havarti.
    • Meats - Choose a mix of mild, spicy, and dry-cured meats for balance.
      • Prosciutto (mild), Salami (mild Genoa & Soppressata), Chorizo (spicy), Capicola (spicy)
    • Fruits - Fresh fruits add brightness, while dried fruits offer concentrated sweetness.
      • Red grapes, figs, honey crisp apple slices, blackberries
      • Dried apricots, dates, cranberries, cherries
    • Dark chocolate - Taza Mexican-Style Chocolate is the perfect addition.
    • Crunchy Elements: Nuts and seeds add texture and pair well with cheeses.
      • Roasted pumpkin seeds, salted almonds, marcona almonds, pistachios, candied pecans.
    • Spreads & Condiments- Honey and jams complement both cheeses and meats.
      • jams and compotes - Cranberry sauce, peach or bourbon peach jam
      • butters - apple butter, pumpkin butter, compound butter
      • olive oil - Mix a little extra virgin olive oil with a pinch of Italian Seasoning and some crushed garlic for a tasty sauce to dip bread into.
      • horseradish sauce - Can't go wrong with Woeber's Sandwich Pal Horseradish Sauce.
    • Pickled Items - Adds a tangy contrast to rich cheeses and meats.
      • Mediterranean mixed olives, blue cheese olives, baby gherkins, marinated artichokes, pickled shallots.
    • Crackers & Bread - Provide a variety of textures to pair with cheeses and meats.
      • Thin slices of baguette, ciabatta, toasted crostini, or your favorite crackers. Sonoma Creamery's Gluten-Free Pepper Jack Crisps are always a hit.
      • Pro Tip: Put these out last to prevent them from getting stale.


    See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.

    Substitutions & Additions

    • Cheeses: Swap Gruyere for Swiss or Havarti.
    • Meats: Use turkey or roast beef for a lighter option.
    • Fruits: Swap figs for pears or berries.
    • Nuts: Use walnuts or cashews instead of almonds.
    • Spreads: Try pepper jelly or balsamic glaze.
    • Crackers & Bread: Use gluten-free crackers if needed.
    • Crispy Roasted Chickpeas

    Variations

    There are no hard and fast rules for making a board. Other fun ideas are endless.

    • Halloween Board: Add themed treats like candy corn.
    • Dessert Board: Fill with chocolates, fruit, and cookies.
    • Brunch Board: Include smoked salmon, bagels, and croissants.
    • Steak Charcuterie Board: Serve with horseradish sauce and bruschetta.

      We make these with either whole beef tenderloin, tender filet of beef, or a juicy grilled ribeye steak.
    Steak crostini with gruyere, dollop of horseradish sauce and garnished with sprinkle of Italian parsley.

    How To Make A Charcuterie Board

    STEP 1. Gather Your Supplies. Use a flat surface like a wooden board, marble slab, or slate platter. Essential tools include cheese knives, small bowls, dipping dishes, ramekins, serving tongs, and labels.

    STEP 2. Curate Your Cheese Selection. Include a mix of soft, semi-hard, and hard cheeses. Slice them into wedges or cubes and arrange them around the board.

    STEP 3. Select Your Meats. Fold or fan meats around the cheese for an inviting presentation. 

    STEP 4. Add Fresh and Dried Fruits. Enhance your board with seasonal fruits and dried fruit pairings.

    STEP 5. Incorporate Additional Flavors. Add nuts, spreads, and pickled items for variety.

    STEP 6. Arrange Everything Beautifully. Start with cheeses as anchors, then add meats, and small bowls of condiments. Fill gaps with fruits, nuts, and crackers.

    STEP 7. Include Bread and Crackers. Offer a variety of textures.

    STEP 8. Keep It Fresh. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until serving.

    STEP 9. Label Your Selection. Use small note cards to introduce guests to different cheeses and meats.

    STEP 10. Enjoy! Serve your show-stopping centerpiece at your next gathering.

    Recipe Tips

    • Plan ahead: Purchase ingredients early and store them properly.
    • Prep in advance: Slice cheeses and meats ahead of time.
    • Add bread last: To prevent it from getting stale.

    With these tips, you’re ready to create a stunning board for any occasion. Get creative and enjoy the process!

    Would you like to save this?

    We'll email this post to you, so you can come back to it later!

    How To Arrange It

    Make it pretty by artfully arranging all the delicious meats and cheeses, and such to make a beautiful board for your guests. The goal is to arrange it so that each ingredient is easily reached.

    1. Cheeses. Start by arranging the cheeses first, as they will provide a place to lean the meats, which tend to unfold unless they have something to nestle up against.
    2. Meats. Next step is to add the meats. Fold some meats and lay them pushed up next to the cheeses, so that they will remain folded. Arrange other meats by fanning them out as they lay flat.
    3. Bowls. Next, arrange the filled dipping bowls and ramekins.
    4. Fill Empty Spaces. Fill in the empty spaces with fruit and nuts and such.
    5. Utensils. Arrange the serving utensils by placing them with each item for which they will be used. Make sure to include a spoon for each dip or sauce, a little fork for olives, and small serving tongs here and there so that meat can be easily grabbed.

    Simple Charcuterie Board Ideas

    Charcuterie board full of a variety of meats, cheeses, and nibbles.

    Large Board

    • genoa salami, hot capicola, soppressata
    • manchego, gruyere cheeses
    • dried apricots
    • marcona almonds
    • mixed olives, blue cheese olives
    • roasted red paquillo peppers
    • marinated artichokes
    • wafer crackers
    Charcuterie board full of a variety of meats, cheeses, and nibbles.

    Long Rectangular Board

    • genoa salami, hot capicola
    • manchego, guyere
    • olives
    • salted almonds
    • dried apricots
    Charcuterie board full of a variety of meats, cheeses, and nibbles.

    Small Charcuterie Board for Two

    • salami folded and shaped as a rose.
    • sliced hot and mild salami
    • manchego cheese
    • sweet and spicy pecans
    Charcuterie board full of a variety of meats, cheeses, and nibbles.

    Round Board

    • salami and hot capicola
    • Delallo Provolini Antipasti
    • extra virgin olive oil and Italian seasoning
    • manchego and gruyere
    • sliced baguette
    Charcuterie board full of a variety of meats, cheeses, and nibbles.

    Large Board

    • salami, prosciutto, manchego, gruyere, brie, salted almonds, marcona almonds, red grapes, bourbon peach jam, honey comb, mixed olives, Taza Mexican-Style Chocolate

    Recipe FAQs

    How far in advance can I make a charcuterie board?

    You can assemble it up to 24 hours in advance. Just cover it tightly and refrigerate.

    What is the best board to use?

    A wooden cutting board, marble slab, or slate platter works well.

    How do I keep cheese from drying out?

    Wrap cheese loosely in parchment paper or cover with plastic wrap until serving. For best results, we recommend using Bee's Wrap Reusable Beeswax Food Wraps.

    How To Serve

    Pull the board out of the refrigerator just before serving. It can remain at room temperature for a couple of hours. But watch that the temperature of the room doesn't get too hot. It cannot remain fresh and food safe if it is sitting in the hot sun. So, watch the edges of the meat for discoloration and that the cheeses don't sweat (condensation released on surface of the cheese).

    Serve with other appetizers. We always like crunchy tortilla chips on the side. So I make some easy, white queso dip, or spinach artichoke dip and serve it with a basket of chips as a second appetizer.

    What To Do With Leftovers

    Leftovers can be packaged up separately and used at a later date. Store leftovers in airtight containers in the freezer. Thaw and make small snack boards to enjoy on the weekends.

    Related Recipes

    • Beef Tenderloin
    • Filet Mignon
    • Grilled Ribeye Recipe
    • Candied Pecans
    • Crostini
    • Italian Seasoning
    • Crispy Roasted Chickpeas
    • Sliced slow roasted beef tenderloin aserved on a platter.
      Slow Roasted Beef Tenderloin
    • Crostini piled in a brown basket.
      How To Make Crostini From A Baguette
    • Juicy Grilled Ribeye with a pat of melting butter on top and garnished with herbs.
      Best Grilled Ribeye Recipe
    • Air Fryer Candied Pecans in a white bowl.
      Air Fryer Candied Pecans

    Did you love this recipe? If you make this recipe and love it, stop back, give it a 5-star rating ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ and leave a comment. THANK YOU!! Follow Seanna's Kitchen and share this recipe with your friends on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest, and subscribe to my Newsletter for ALL the latest recipes! We'd love to hear from you!

    📖 Recipe

    Charcuterie board full of a variety of meats, cheeses, and nibbles.

    Simple Charcuterie Board Recipe

    Simple Charcuterie Board Ideas to help you create a show-stopping centerpiece for any gathering.
    5 from 3 votes
    Print Pin Save Recipe!Saved!
    Prep Time: 30 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 30 minutes minutes
    Servings: 12 Servings
    Calories: 877kcal
    Author: Seanna Borrows

    Equipment

    • rectangular charcuterie board
    • cheese knives
    • dipping bowls
    • ramekins
    • spoons
    • serving tongs

    Ingredients 

    Charcuterie Meats

    • .5 lb genoa salami
    • .5 lb soppressata
    • .5 lb hot capicola

    Hard Cheese

    • 8 oz manchego
    • 8 oz gruyere

    Soft Cheeses

    • 8 oz brie

    Fresh Fruit

    • 1 anjou pear

    Dried Fruit

    • 8 oz dried cranberries

    Nuts and Seeds

    • 8 oz salted almonds
    • 8 oz candied pecans

    Condiments

    Bread and Crackers

    • 1 baguette sliced
    • 1 box crackers

    Extras

    • 8 oz kalamata olives
    Get Recipe Ingredients
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions

    How To Make A Charcuterie Board

    • Shop. Purchase ingredients.
    • Gather. Choose board, bowls, and utensils.
    • Prep. Slice cheeses, put olives, jams, sauces, etc. in small bowls.
    • Arrange. Fold and artfully arrange all ingredients, bowls, and utensils on the board.
    • Serve. Or cover with plastic wrap and put in refrigerator until time to serve.

    How To Arrange A Charcuterie Board

    • Make It Pretty. Make it pretty by artfully arranging all the delicious meats and cheeses, and such to make a beautiful board for your guests. The goal is to arrange your board so that each ingredient is easily reached from all sides of the board.
    • Cheeses. Start by arranging the cheeses first, as they will provide a place to lean the meats, which tend to unfold unless they have something to nestle up against.
    • Meats. Next step is to add the meats. Fold some meats and lay them pushed up next to the cheeses, so that they will remain folded. Arrange other meats by fanning them out as they lay flat.
    • Bowls. Next, arrange the filled dipping bowls and ramekins on the board.
    • Fill Empty Spaces. Fill in the empty spaces with fruit and nuts and such.
    • Utensils. Arrange the serving utensils by placing them with each item for which they will be used. Make sure to include a spoon for each dip or sauce, a little fork for olives, and small serving tongs here and there so that meat can be easily grabbed.

    Video

    Notes

    Pro Tips

    • Plan Ahead.
    • Prep Ahead. 
    • Bread and Crackers. Add just before serving so that they don't get stale or soggy in the refrigerator.
     

    Nutrition

    Calories: 877kcal | Carbohydrates: 53g | Protein: 36g | Fat: 60g | Saturated Fat: 21g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 10g | Monounsaturated Fat: 25g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 107mg | Sodium: 2275mg | Potassium: 406mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 25g | Vitamin A: 473IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 559mg | Iron: 3mg
    DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE?Mention @SeannasKitchen and tag #seannaskitchen!

    Did you love this recipe? If you make this recipe and love it, stop back, give it a 5-star rating ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ and leave a comment. THANK YOU!! Follow Seanna's Kitchen and share this recipe with your friends on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest, and subscribe to my Newsletter for ALL the latest recipes! We'd love to hear from you!

    More Quick and Easy Appetizer Recipes

    • Crispy Roasted Chickpeas in a glass bowl.
      Crispy Roasted Chickpeas (Oven & Air Fryer)
    • BBQ Pulled Pork Sliders stacked on a cutting board with melted cheese pull.
      Easy BBQ Pulled Pork Sliders Recipe
    • Chip dipped into spinach artichoke dip.
      Easy Spinach Artichoke Dip Without Mayo
    • Non Alcoholic Christmas Punch with cocktail sugared rim.
      Non Alcoholic Christmas Punch

    Comments

      5 from 3 votes

      Join the Discussion Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Recipe Rating




    1. Debi says

      November 13, 2022 at 2:06 am

      5 stars
      Thank you for this incredible tutorial on how to make a charcuterie board! It's truly a work of art!

      Reply
      • Seanna Borrows says

        November 13, 2022 at 9:20 am

        Wow, thanks Debi!

        Reply
    2. Annie Taylor says

      November 11, 2022 at 1:34 pm

      5 stars
      What a great list of inspiration for a charcuterie board! LOVE all these great ideas, and I never knew you could free some in smaller portions. Wow! Thanks Seanna!!!

      Reply
      • Seanna Borrows says

        November 11, 2022 at 1:49 pm

        Thanks so much Annie!

        Reply
    3. Russ B says

      November 10, 2022 at 2:08 pm

      5 stars
      Amazing presentation and great way to start a gathering!

      Reply
      • Seanna Borrows says

        November 10, 2022 at 2:11 pm

        Thanks Russ!

        Reply
      • Seanna Borrows says

        November 12, 2022 at 6:59 pm

        Thanks Russ! It's always a great hit at a party.

        Reply
    Photo of Seanna Borrows of Seanna's Kitchen.

    Hi, I'm Seanna!

    Welcome to my kitchen! I'm a Midwestern home cook and food blogger, sharing simple, tasty, family-friendly recipes.
    Good food…made with love…for the people you love…Now, that's a great recipe!

    About Seanna →
    Featured In graphic.

    Springtime Favorites

    • Copycat Panera Greek Salad in a big white bowl with fresh pita bread on the side.
      Copycat Panera Greek Salad Recipe

    • Classic Chicken Salad Sandwich on a brioche bun and garnished with lettuce.
      Classic Chicken Salad Recipe

    • A whole pan of cinnamon rolls with icing.
      Old Fashioned Cinnamon Rolls Recipe (Soft & Gooey)

    • A casserole dish of baked easy pizza casserole.
      Easy Pizza Casserole Recipe

    • A bowl full of creamy parmesan risotto garnished with shavings of parmesan cheese.
      Creamy Parmesan Risotto

    • Sliced grilled chicken on a cutting board.
      Citrus Chicken Marinade Recipe

    Popular Favorites

    • Old Fashioned Banana Bread loaf with slice shown.
      Old Fashioned Banana Bread Recipe

    • Image of Ground Turkey Pasta with grated parmesan cheese on white plate with fork and spoon.
      Ground Turkey Pasta

    • Chunky tomato sauce over spaghetti on a white plate.
      Oma's Easy German Spaghetti Recipe

    • The best coleslaw for pulled pork in a white bowl with a spoon and a light blue towel to the side.
      Best Coleslaw For Pulled Pork

    • Juicy Grilled Ribeye with a pat of melting butter on top and garnished with herbs.
      Best Grilled Ribeye Recipe

    • A small, white dipping bowl full of zesty Cowboy Butter Sauce with a little spoon inside bowl and spices scattered around.
      Easy Cowboy Butter Sauce Recipe

    Footer

    Featured in graphic.

    About

    Privacy Policy

    Accessibility Statement

    Disclosure Policy

    Keep in touch

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube

    Sign up! Sign up for our newsletter and never miss a recipe!

    Contact Us

    Contact

    About

    We promote products and brands we love through affiliate links, at no cost to you.
    As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2025 Seanna's Kitchen, All rights reserved. ~ SDG

    101 shares

    Rate This Recipe

    Your vote:




    A rating is required
    A name is required
    An email is required

    Recipe Ratings without Comment

    Something went wrong. Please try again.