This simple charcuterie board makes the best appetizer for parties or holidays! It is filled with meats, cheeses, crackers, fruits, and nuts and will surely be a hit at your next gathering!
In our family, we always serve a simple charcuterie board as an appetizer for our family parties and holiday events. It just makes for the best easy, no-cook starter where everyone gets to nosh on something they love!
If you’ve ever felt intimidated by the idea of creating a charcuterie board, this easy-to-follow charcuterie board recipe is exactly what you need.
This board features a simple yet elegant selection of cheeses, meats, crackers, nuts, and fresh fruit. To add a touch of sweetness and freshness, I included fig jam and a handful of fresh herbs, creating a beautifully balanced and visually stunning spread.
This turkey veggie tray would be the cutest addition to serve alongside this charcuterie board.
I love that you can change up the items on your charcuterie board based on the theme or event you are hosting. It is so easy and fun!
What is a charcuterie board?
A charcuterie board (pronounced shar-koo-tuh-ree) is an arranged selection of meats, cheeses, and accompaniments like fruits, nuts, and spreads arranged on a serving board for sharing. It offers a variety of textures and flavors, designed to be visually appealing and easy to enjoy as an appetizer or snack.
The beauty of charcuterie boards is their versatility—they can be as simple or as elaborate as you like. While meats and cheeses are the foundation, you can truly use any ingredients you enjoy. I’ve created dessert boards with cookies, frosting, and fruit, as well as colorful crudité platters filled with fresh veggies and a variety of dips.
Jump to:
- What is a charcuterie board?
- What goes on a simple charcuterie board?
- Recommended Tools
- How to make a simple charcuterie board
- Expert Tips
- Best places to shop for charcuterie board ingredients
- How much do charcuterie board ingredients cost?
- Best cheeses to use for a cheese board
- Best types of meat for meat and cheese boards
- My favorite crackers/bread for charcuterie
- Best spreads and dips
- Storing leftovers
- FAQs
- More Easy Appetizers
- Best Simple Charcuterie Board
What goes on a simple charcuterie board?
I always start my charcuterie boards with these simple ingredients. Then I may add more items depending on the occasion or theme. Here is what you’ll need:
- Cheeses – you want a mix of hard and soft cheeses. Soft cheeses (brie, goat cheese, Boursin), hard cheeses (parmesan, cheddar, asiago, gouda).
- Meats – salami, prosciutto, pepperoni, or chorizo.
- Crackers/bread – I like to mix things up and use different types of crackers like water crackers, crisps, buttery crackers, or crostini. You could even add pretzels or items like popcorn or goldfish.
- Nuts – all nuts work, I love mixed nuts, almonds, pistachios, cashews, and pecans.
- Fruits – I love a variety of fresh fruit (berries, grapes, apples) and dried fruit (figs, apricots, pineapple, kiwi)
- Dips and spreads – fig jam, strawberry jam, pesto, honey, Trader Joe’s Greek Yogurt dips, hummus, cheese dip, green goddess dip, etc…
Get the complete list of recipe ingredients, instructions and nutrition in the recipe card located at the bottom of this post.
Recommended Tools
- Large boards – I love using a wooden board in any shape, as long as it’s big enough to hold everything. This particular board is perfect because it provides guidance on where to arrange each item, and it’s the one I used for this setup.
- Cheese knives set
- Small bows and ramekins – to put nuts and spreads in
- Appetizer toothpicks
- Mini tongs
How to make a simple charcuterie board
Here are the easy steps for making a simple charcuterie board for your next party or gathering.
- Assemble the Board in place – set up your board where you’ll be serving it so you don’t have to move it later.
- Start with Larger Items – place larger items like big cheeses and bowls first. Arrange ramekins or dishes in their final positions on the board.
- Add Cheeses and Meats – place the cheeses and meats around the board, treating any “meat roses” as large items.
- Fill Bowls – add jams, nuts, or other accompaniments to the ramekins and bowls.
- Arrange Crackers – place crackers around the cheeses and meats, fanning them out along the edges for easy grabbing.
- Fill in Gaps with Fruit – add grapes, berries, or dried fruits in any empty spaces for color and texture.
- Garnish – add fresh herbs or edible flowers for a seasonal touch—herbs work well for holiday boards, and flowers add a bright note for spring and summer boards.
Expert Tips
- Make sure to assemble the board where you plan to serve it since they are difficult to move and keep intact.
- Keep it simple – it can become overwhelming to create a charcuterie board, especially if it’s your first time. Stick to 2-3 types of each item then add on as you become more comfortable making them.
- Be creative – this is an opportunity to be creative by adding fun items that you love like edible flowers, fresh seasonal herbs, fun cheese knives, or creating things like a meat rose or kiwi flower.
- Adjust the size – since charcuterie boards can be made in all sizes, you want to first consider how many people you will be serving and adjust the size and number of items on your board based on that. This simple charcuterie board I made would be good for a gathering of about 10-15 people.
- Serve at the right temperature. The flavors of most meats and cheeses are enhanced when served at room temperature. So plan to assemble your board close to the time when your guests will be arriving.
- Balance is key. You want to make sure you have a good variety of flavors and textures that pair well together but are also arranged to be visually appealing. Have fun with it!
Best places to shop for charcuterie board ingredients
This will vary by location but here are some stores that have a wide selection of charcuterie items that are decently priced.
- Trader Joe’s
- Publix
- Lowe’s Foods
- Aldi
- Whole Foods
How much do charcuterie board ingredients cost?
The cost of ingredients for a charcuterie board can vary widely depending on the quality, variety, and quantity of items chosen. Here’s a rough breakdown for various ranges.
- Basic Charcuterie Board: Around $60-$90 – Includes 2-3 types of cheeses, 1-2 types of meats, crackers, and a few basic accompaniments like nuts and fruit. Like the one I created in this post.
- Mid-Range Charcuterie Board: Around $100-$130 – Offers a greater selection with 3-5 types of cheeses, 2-3 types of meats, premium fruits, nuts, honey, spreads, and artisanal crackers.
- High-End Charcuterie Board: Around $150 – $175 – Includes premium cheeses (like truffle brie or aged gouda), specialty meats, and luxury accompaniments like olives, fig jams, nuts, and a variety of fresh fruits and garnishes.
Best cheeses to use for a cheese board
For a well-rounded charcuterie board, include a mix of cheeses with different textures and flavors. Here are some popular options:
- Aged Cheese (e.g., Aged Cheddar, Gouda): Adds a sharp, nutty flavor and firm texture.
- Soft Cheese (e.g., Brie, Camembert, Boursin): Creamy and mild, perfect for spreading.
- Blue Cheese (e.g., Gorgonzola, Roquefort): Bold and tangy for a unique contrast.
- Semi-soft cheese (e.g., Havarti, Fontina, manchego): Smooth and mild, easy to pair with other flavors.
- Goat Cheese (e.g., Chèvre): Tangy and creamy, great with fruits and honey.
This variety offers a balanced mix of flavors and textures, allowing guests to explore different pairings on the board.
Best types of meat for meat and cheese boards
- Salami
- Chorizo
- Mortadella
- Pepperoni
- Prosciutto
My favorite crackers/bread for charcuterie
- Water crackers
- Crisps
- Wheat thins
- Ritz
- Toasteds
- Crostini
- Baguette
- Bagel chips
- Pretzels
Best spreads and dips
- Fig jam
- Strawberry jam
- Hummus
- Greek yogurt everything dip – Trader Joe’s
- Ranch
- Vegetable dip/Green goddess dip (link)
- Honey
Storing leftovers
If you have any leftovers from your charcuterie boards then store the items in the containers they came in or in other appropriate storage containers. Keep pantry items (crackers, nuts) in the pantry and refrigerated items (meats, cheese, various fruits) in the fridge. Pull them out for quick snacks in a pinch.
FAQs
The number of people a charcuterie board can feed depends on its size and the amount of food included. Here’s a general guide:
Small Board: Feeds 2–4 people, ideal for an intimate gathering or appetizer.
Medium Board: Feeds 6–8 people, good for a small group or as part of a larger spread.
Large Board: Feeds 10–12 people, great for larger gatherings or as a main feature.
For a standard serving size, plan on about 2-3 ounces of meat and cheese per person, along with fruits, nuts, crackers, and other accompaniments.
I found the best places to buy charcuterie boards are TJ MAXX, Amazon, Williams Sonoma, Crate & Barrel, or thrift stores and antique shops.
Creating an abundant yet simple charcuterie board is all about variety. You want to pick 3 cheeses, 3 meats, 3 starches, and 3 additional items like jams, spreads, and nuts.
Start by placing any bowls and dishes for spreads, then add cheeses to anchor the board. Layer in meats, crackers, fruits, and nuts around the cheeses, finishing with fresh herbs or edible flowers for a beautiful, balanced presentation.
More Easy Appetizers
Did you try this simple charcuterie board recipe? If you did, then please leave a rating and comment below. I would love to hear how yours turned out!
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Best Simple Charcuterie Board
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: Serves 8–10 people 1x
- Diet: Low Calorie
Description
This simple charcuterie board makes the best easy appetizer for parties or holidays. It is filled with an array of meats, cheeses, crackers, fruits, and nuts and is sure to be a hit at your next gathering!
Ingredients
- 8 ounces cured meats (salami, prosciutto, pepperoni)
- 8 ounces hard cheese (parmesan, manchego, gruyere)
- 8 ounces soft cheese (brie, goat cheese, Boursin)
- 10–12 ounces crackers ( 2–3 different varieties)
- ½ cup fig jam – strawberry jam, apricot jam, or honey
- ½ cup mixed nuts – or any variety of nuts you like
- 1 cup fresh berries (raspberries, strawberries, blueberries)
- 2 bunches of grapes – I used gree and purple grapes
Instructions
- Choose your board and the location where you will be serving it since you do not want to have to move it. Then choose any bowls or ramekins you want to place on the board for dips, spreads or nuts.
- Arrange the board. I like to place the larger items on the board first like the bowls/ramekins, larger cheeses, meat rose, etc…
- Fill the bowls with the items you plan to put in them like nuts, jam, olives, or spreads. So you get the heavier items on the board first.
- Add sliced/cut cheeses and meats. I like to make a meat river to fan out the meats so they look fancier, depending on the type of party. Some sliced meats are great as well. Cut the cheeses in different shapes to mix things up.
- Build around the meat and cheese. Once your meats and cheeses are arranged on your board then you can add the varieties of crackers/breads. You want to make sure that these items are on the edges of the board so they are easy to grab.
- Finishing touches. Fill in any gaps with fresh ( grapes, and berries) and dried fruits (apricots, mango, pineapple). You can also add additional items like fresh herbs, edible flowers, and such to add some more creativity to your board, depending on the theme.
Notes
- Design a theme. Sit down and think about the event/party you are creating this for and what the theme might be. Is it a birthday party, shower, or holiday event? Then decide on what types of items you want to include based on the theme.
- Shop your pantry and fridge. Before heading to the store, check to see what items you already have in your pantry and fridge so you can save some money. I always have crackers, pretzels, and nuts in my pantry.
- Get a head count and decide on the size. Once you know how many people you will be serving then you can determine how much of each item you will need so you have enough for everyone.
- Choose the right temperature – most meat and cheeses have the best flavor when served at room temperature so plan to assemble your board close to when you expect your guests to arrive.
- Storing leftovers – store any leftovers in containers in the pantry or fridge.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Category: snacks and appetisers
- Method: no cook
- Cuisine: American
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