Dessert

Charcuterie Board Recipe

ByThomas Greene November 7, 2025November 7, 2025

Introduction

A charcuterie board is a beautiful and delicious way to entertain guests or enjoy a special snack. It combines a variety of cheeses, meats, fruits, nuts, and spreads arranged artfully for easy sharing. Whether for a casual get-together or a festive occasion, this board offers something for every palate.

A large round wooden board holds many types of food pieces arranged in groups with layers. On the left, there are light beige square crackers topped by some round beige crackers, orange cheese cubes, light green grapes, sliced red apple, and dark red folded meat slices next to a small jar of dark green spread. A wedge of white cheese with rind is placed near brown seeded crackers and pale yellow pear slices. At the center, a dark purple cheese log coated with berries sits on a small white plate surrounded by pistachios, more round crackers, and sliced red fruit. To the right, there is a bowl with light green olives and small pickles, next to sliced white cheese arranged in a fan, spicy red circular sausage slices, and stacked dark chocolate pieces. Another small white plate holds a creamy white cheese square topped with light brown jelly. Scattered nuts add texture and a striped gray cloth is at the board's bottom edge, all set on a white marbled background. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Ingredients

Hard cheeses: manchego, cheddar, swiss, gouda, gruyere, parmesan
Soft cheeses: brie, triple cream, goat cheese, havarti, burrata, cream cheese with pepper jelly
Cured meats: prosciutto, salami, ham, chorizo, capicola, soppressata
Nuts: almonds, candied pecans, pistachios, cashews, walnuts, macadamia nuts
Briny, pickled or marinated items: olives, cocktail onions, cornichons, dill pickles, pepperoncini, olive tapenade, bruschetta
Savory dips and spreads: whole ground mustard, hummus, ranch, balsamic dip, romesco
Cold cut vegetables (optional)
Fresh fruit and berries: grapes, apples, pears, oranges, raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, strawberries
Dried fruit: apricots, cherries, figs, pineapple, mango
Sweet spreads: fig butter, orange marmalade, blackberry jam
Chocolate: quality dark chocolate or chocolate-covered nuts
Crackers: pita crackers, whole grain crackers, croccantini, or favorite kinds
Toasted baguette slices or mini toast crackers

Instructions

Step 1: Choose your board size based on the number of guests. Multiple boards can be used for larger parties.
Step 2: Start by placing the cheeses around the board in odd numbers like 3, 5, or 7 to anchor your arrangement.
Step 3: Fold the cured meats for easy grabbing: fold in half and fan out or fold twice for thicker cuts. Thin meats like prosciutto can be arranged in light ribbons.
Step 4: Add savory and sweet accompaniments, grouping complementary items and colors together. For example, place mustard, nuts, and briny items near stronger meats and cheeses, and sweet spreads with softer cheeses.
Step 5: Fill any remaining space with crackers, nuts, and fruit to complete the board attractively and ensure there’s something for everyone.

Tips & Variations

Use a mix of textures and flavors—combine creamy, crunchy, salty, and sweet components for balance.
Include seasonal fruits to keep your board fresh and vibrant.
Swap nuts or meats based on dietary preferences or allergies.
Try homemade spreads like rosemary honey or roasted red pepper hummus for a unique touch.
Use small bowls for dips and briny items to keep the board neat and easy to serve.

Storage

Store leftover ingredients separately in airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Avoid assembling the board too far in advance to keep crackers crisp and fresh produce vibrant. Reheat toasted baguette slices briefly before serving if needed, but cold cuts and cheeses are best enjoyed chilled or at room temperature.

How to Serve

A wooden board filled with layers of food starts with a base of oval-shaped white crackers lined up on the right edge, followed by thin slices of light yellow pear overlapping at the bottom center. Above the pears, there are clusters of crunchy walnut or pecan-like nuts, next to pale pink thin slices of prosciutto folded loosely around a large triangular piece of creamy white brie cheese with a soft rind in the center-left. Above the cheese, light green grapes are clustered tightly, surrounded by medium-sized orange cheese cubes and thin slices of red apples on the top left, along with white crackers placed nearby. To the right of the grapes, small shiny round light-brown pistachios are scattered, and a small glass dish of dark brown jam sits near sliced reddish meat and round white crackers on the far right. The far top right corner has a small block of purple and white cheese. The whole board is on a white marbled surface. photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I prepare the charcuterie board ahead of time?

You can pre-slice cheeses and meats and prepare accompaniments a few hours ahead, but it’s best to assemble the board just before serving to keep crackers crisp and fruits fresh.

What are some good cheese and meat pairings?

Sharp cheddar pairs well with savory and sweet items, parmesan complements briny and nutty flavors, and softer cheeses like brie work nicely with sweet jams and fresh fruit. Salami and soppressata are great near mustard and nuts for balance.

Thomas Greene