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.

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.
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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.

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!
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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.
- 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.
- 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.
Simple Charcuterie Board Ideas

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

Long Rectangular Board
- genoa salami, hot capicola
- manchego, guyere
- olives
- salted almonds
- dried apricots

Small Charcuterie Board for Two
- salami folded and shaped as a rose.
- sliced hot and mild salami
- manchego cheese
- sweet and spicy pecans

Round Board
- salami and hot capicola
- Delallo Provolini Antipasti
- extra virgin olive oil and Italian seasoning
- manchego and gruyere
- sliced baguette

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
You can assemble it up to 24 hours in advance. Just cover it tightly and refrigerate.
A wooden cutting board, marble slab, or slate platter works well.
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.
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📖 Recipe

Simple Charcuterie Board Recipe
Equipment
- 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
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
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!
Debi says
Thank you for this incredible tutorial on how to make a charcuterie board! It's truly a work of art!
Seanna Borrows says
Wow, thanks Debi!
Annie Taylor says
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!!!
Seanna Borrows says
Thanks so much Annie!
Russ B says
Amazing presentation and great way to start a gathering!
Seanna Borrows says
Thanks Russ!
Seanna Borrows says
Thanks Russ! It's always a great hit at a party.