This Easy Charcuterie Board is the perfect appetizer for all your special occasions or simply a fun weekend surprise for game night.
Cheese boards or charcuterie boards have been around forever. It is the perfect picky food. The array of meats and cheeses that you can use are endless so they never get boring. A great way to start a party. Fresh cheese, fresh fruit and vegetables, meat and a sweet treat or two.
If you are in need of more quick and easy appetizer ideas, check here. And, be sure to check out How To Make an Amazing Italian Charcuterie Board. I just love the flavors on this!
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What We Love About This Perfect Charcuterie Board
The rules for making a charcuterie board is that there are no rules. You can make this cheese and meat platter with almost anything you have on hand and it will be a success every time. Just remember a good charcuterie board uses a lot of different shapes and different textures for interest and variety.
- 10 Minute Meal: Indeed you can use this board as a meal.
- Easy Ingredients: All found in pantry or fridge.
- Family Friendly: It is easy way to put something that everyone in the family will love.
- Adaptable: Can make different ways, use sweet treats, different types of cheese, cured meat, and crispy crackers. Large and small items.
Ingredient Notes
- Cheeses: A variety of kind of cheese, hard cheeses and soft cheeses for this cheese plate, such as: Mozzarella, Brie cheese, Camembert,Goat Cheese,Cheddar,Bleu, to name a few.
- Meats: For example: Soppressata, summer sausage, hard salami, prosciutto, ham, smoked sausage are some of the best meats.
- Other Ingredients: These are a great idea that compliment the meats and cheese such as: crackers,baguette slices, fresh vegetables and fresh fruits, dried fruits, nuts, olives, or honey make a great option. Use these so there are no empty space.
Equipment Needed
- Large Board
- Sharp Knife
- Cutting Board
- Cheese Knives
How to Make this Easy Charcuterie Board
The basic steps for making easy charcuterie board. Please refer to the recipe card below for more detailed instructions.
STEP 1: SELECT CHEESES
First, select 4-5 different kinds of cheese. Select one that is fresh and mild (I chose mozzarella balls), one that is surface-ripened, like brie or camembert, a semi-soft or semi-firm variety, like Colby or Monterey Jack, a bold hard cheese like sharp cheddar, and cheese with a dominant flavor, such as a nice blue cheese, gorgonzola or stilton.
STEP 2: SWEET AND CRUNCHY
Then add height and sweetness with fresh and dried fruits. Like strawberries, grapes, and dried apricots.These can even be placed in small bowls. Next, place small containers of spreads, olives, and/or honey. Examples are: dark chocolate hummus, fig jam, and mini peppers.
STEP 3:FILL WOODEN BOARD
Begin filling in larger spaces with crackers or bread. I used a round multi-grain cracker and then add a selection of cured meats. Finally, fill in empty spaces with nuts and fresh herbs.
Prep and Storage Tips
MAKE THIS RECIPE AHEAD OF TIME?
Prepare and cut your different types of cheeses and meats ahead of time and store in airtight containers. Even use fun cookie cutters to cut out soft cheese for a Christmas Charcuterie Board.
HOW MUCH CHARCUTERIE SHOULD YOU PAN PER PERSON?
If serving as an appetizer plan on two ounces per person and if it is the main meal plan on about 6 ounces.
WAY TO PRONOUNCE CHARCUTERIE BOARD?
In case you’re wondering how to say this french word, the charcuterie pronunciation is shahr-ku-tuh-ree. The history of what is a charcuterie board can be found here.
HOW LONG CAN A BOARD SIT OUT AT ROOM TEMPERATURE?
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) says that two hours is the maximum, even for cured meats like prosciutto, salami, soppressata, and chorizo. Any longer than this and you run the risk of bacteria growing on the meats and potentially making guests sick.
Frequently Asked Questions about this Cheese and Meat Platter
Of course, make a Christmas charcuterie, fall charcuterie board or Italian charcuterie board by using the appropriate meats and cheeses. Truly you can even make a sweet charcuterie board with things such as cookies and candies on it.
Really, you don’t need to get fancy when creating a gorgeous cheese board. In fact, if you do it right, you shouldn’t have any of the serving platter showing at all. You can use a fancy tray, like this one, a piece of slate, or even a large serving platter. You can also use a wooden board, small board or cheese plate.
Again, you can adjust to the size of your gathering. Make a small charcuterie board for just yourself or make a large one for a party.
Above all there are no best cheeses, however here are a few suggestions:
* Hard cheese: chunks of parmesan, aged gouda, asiago.
* Firm cheese: gruyere, comte, manchego, colby, cheddar.
* Semi-soft cheese: havarti, butterkäse, muenster.
* Soft cheese: burrata, mascarpone, stracchino.
* Blue cheese: gorgonzola, dunbarton blue, marbled blue jack.
Use the best ones you can find at your grocery store.
Expert Tips for Making This Recipe.
- Fill the board: The goal is to completely cover the entire surface with cheese and other nibbles.
- Think about texture: Include a variety of soft, hard, chewy, and crunchy options.
- Favor Matters: Choose options that will pair well together, like cheddar and apples.
- Assemble the cheeseboard where you are serving it: The last thing you want to do is try to move a completed cheeseboard to another location.
- Slice cheese on a separate cutting board: If you’re pre-slicing cheese, make sure you cut it on another cutting board so your serving platter stays neat.
- Visit the deli bar: Your grocery store’s deli bar may have some great nibbles to include on your cheeseboard. And, you can buy as much or little as you want.
- Add height: Include something with height to add dimension to your cheeseboard.
What to Serve with your Easy Charcuterie Board
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Easy Charcuterie Board
Ingredients
CHEESES (select 4-5 varieties for 1-2 ounces total per person)
- Mozzarella
- Brie
- Camembert
- Goat Cheese
- Monterey Jack
- Colby
- Cheddar
- Swiss
- Stilton
- Bleu
- Gorgonzola
- Muenster
MEATS (select 2-3 varieties for 1-2 ounces total per person)
- Soppressata
- Salami
- Prosciutto
- Ham
- Smoked sausage or kielbasa
OTHER INGREDIENTS
- Crackers or baguette, 2-3 varieties
- Fresh vegetables and fruits
- Dried fruits
- Nuts
- Olives
- Pickles
- Jams
- Mustard
- Honey
- Fresh herbs
Instructions
- Begin by arranging the cheese on the board. I usually try to have one in each corner.
- Add fresh fruits and vegetables and dried fruits.
- Next, add small bowls of jams, mustards, honey, etc.
- Add crackers and breads.
- Fill in the gaps with nuts and fresh herbs.
Expert Tips
- Fill the board: The goal is to completely cover the entire surface with cheese and other nibbles.
- Think about texture: Include a variety of soft, hard, chewy and crunchy options.
- Think about flavor: Choose options that will pair well together, like cheddar and apples.
- Assemble the cheeseboard where you are serving it: The last thing you want to do is try to move a completed cheeseboard to another location.
- Slice cheese on a separate cutting board: If you’re pre-slicing cheese, make sure you cut it on another cutting board so your serving platter stays neat.
- Visit the deli bar: Your grocery store’s deli bar may have some great nibbles to include on your cheeseboard. And, you can buy as much or little as you want.
- Add height: Include something with height to add dimension to your cheeseboard.
I really liked these tips! Texture is just as important as flavor for me, so I agree that it is something to really pay attention to. Your cheese board is beautiful and well balanced. Thanks for all the information. I can use it for building my own charcuterie board on Easter.
loved how everything was displayed
This cheeseboard looks absolutely amazing! I can’t believe how quickly and easily it comes together. You really went into detail giving people like me hope that it can be accomplished.
Thank you for your kind words!
Love a good cheese board! Always something delicious for everyone to enjoy! 🙂
it’s one of my all-time faves!
Nothing beats a good cheeseboard! I love how you’ve included all tips and tricks!
Cheese boards are my go-to appetizer! Simple, but so pretty and always a hit!