How to Make the Best Charcuterie Board

Charcuterie boards are just about everywhere these days. From butter boards to Super Bowl snack boards, the trend of arranging small bites on a board is an entertaining essential. And it's easy to see why! Not only are these appetizers the first thing your guests will graze on at a party, but a beautifully assembled charcuterie board will be an impressive centerpiece that will have everyone raving. They're colorful, overflowing, and filled things people love to eat, namely cheese, meat, and bread.

The word "charcuterie" is a French word that describes a shop that sells cured pork products such as salami and ham as well as cheeses, olives, nuts, crackers, dried fruits, and other condiments. In fact, the best part about charcuterie boards is that they're totally customizable! You can switch up the components based on the occasion, the season, or simply what your guests will like best. For instance, adding spiced nuts and a cranberry-pecan cheeseball would be perfect for making your charcuterie board into a Christmas party appetizer while your Thanksgiving charcuterie board could include pumpkin hummus and fresh figs and persimmons. Of course, there are no hard and fast rules for what you can use or how you can put together a charcuterie board. Alex Drummond even once took the concept and made charcuterie cups for an easy pick-up snack at a friend's baby shower! But whether you're a first-timer or longtime fan of charcuterie boards, we've rounded up our best advice for how to build the perfect one—including the best types of meats and cheese, plus tips for arranging them.

So how do you make a charcuterie board for your next party? Don't worry, it's shockingly easy and always impressive looking! In fact, you don't need any special equipment. Just have a wooden cutting board, cheese board, marble slate, or even a serving platter ready to use. Then, follow our steps for how to make a charcuterie board—pair it with a pitcher of sangria and you'll have yourself a party!  

What should be on a charcuterie board? 

- The best cheeses for a charcuterie board: You can add variety to your board by thinking about the textures, colors, and types of cheese. We recommend having a soft, semi-soft and hard cheese such as brie, cheddar and Parmesan. Cheese made with different milks, such as cow, sheep or goat, can also offer different textures and flavors.

- The best meats for a charcuterie board: Cured ham, baked ham, hard salami, summer sausage and even pepperoni are great meats for a charcuterie board to offer a variety of flavors, spices and colors.  

What should you not put on a charcuterie board?

You'll want to avoid overly juicy fruits whose juices will run across the board and turn your crackers and bread soggy. Skip fruits like watermelon, pineapple, and tomatoes and stick with grapes, berries, and apples or dried fruits. Dried apricots and cranberries are delicious options. It's also best to avoid sour fruits such as lemons, limes, or grapefruit, and overly spicy additions. Some pepper-crusted salami or spicy pepper jelly is just fine, but skip the hot peppers or sauces with a big kick. 

How long should cheese sit out on a charcuterie board?

The FDA recommends not letting cheeses and meats sit out for more than two hours. That should be plenty of time for a crowd to graze a charcuterie board without feeling rushed, but don't let it sit out all day!

Is making a charcuterie board expensive?

This is flexible, based on your budget. Specialty butchers and cheese shops offer great products, but many delicious meats and cheeses can be easily found in the supermarket. If you’re looking to make a charcuterie board on a budget, we recommend using younger, fresher cheeses such as cheddar, smoked gouda or even cream cheese. Buying sliced meats straight from the deli versus buying pre-packaged meat slices can also save money (and give you a fresher product!). 

How do you make a charcuterie board?

- Slice hard cheeses and meats in advance. Items that cannot be easily cut by your guests should be pre-cut into easy-to-grab pieces. Soft cheeses like brie can be served whole—just don’t forget the knife!

- Think about how you slice. Different shapes on your board help to create visual variety. Small cubes of cheese will contrast well with triangles of another type. Hard meats like salami are best served thinly sliced for easy chewing.

- Anchor the board with bigger objects first. Wheels of cheese or small bowls that hold condiments should be placed first. Start with your largest piece near the center and place all other vessels evenly around the board.

- Place cheeses and meats down next. After placing your anchors, arrange sliced cheeses and meats in the spaces in between. Think about alternating colors and shapes. 

- Keep "like" items grouped together. To keep the board organized and make things easy for your guests to grab, keep cheeses and meats of the same type grouped together.

- Add touches of freshness. Small bunches of grapes, sliced apples, a few berries, or sprigs of fresh herbs all add beautiful colors and bites of freshness to the board.

- Serve a variety of crackers and sliced bread. If you still have space on the board, add thin slices of bread (like a thin baguette or French bread) or a variety of crackers with different shapes and textures. No more room? Divide the bread and crackers into two small bowls or baskets that can sit on either side of the board on your table so that guests coming in from all sides can grab and snack easily.

- Don't forget the serving tools. Forks arranged around the board can help guests grab items easily, but toothpicks are a good, disposable serving alternative, too.