19 Best Charcuterie Board Ideas, Perfect for Holidays

 

If you’re looking for the best charcuterie board ideas to wow your guests at your next holiday parties, read on and be inspired by the top food bloggers!

The holidays are coming, and that calls for lots of dining and wine! And what better way to pair it than a well-loved appetizer option.

A gorgeous Charcuterie board can please a crowd. And when done right, make a great centerpiece as well! 

But before that, let’s first answer some of your basic questions.

 

What is charcuterie?

Charcuterie (pronounced “shahr-ku-tuh-ree”) is the art of preparing and assembling cured meats and other meat products. But, many people use the term charcuterie to refer to an assortment of meats that are paired with different accompaniments, such as toast, fruit, cheese, and sauces.

 

How to build a charcuterie board?

Building a Charcuterie Board: Where Do I Start?

1. Add Structure. Fill small vessels with spreads, dips, and items that can be piled onto the board. You can try honey, cornichons, mustard, blue cheese-stuffed olives, or a mixed selection of salted nuts.
2. Add cheese and Meat. First, place the cheeses. Arrange them evenly around the board and allow space for slicing and scooping. You can use two kinds of Brie (a robust, creamy Brie and a mild Brie), blue cheese, an aged cheddar, and goat cheese on this board. Next, add the meats. You can place the prosciutto, Italian salami, and American salami in little piles next to the cheeses. It’s OK if items on the board touch; they’re meant to be enjoyed together.
3. Add Crackers. Slip two or three small stacks of sliced bread or crackers among the bowls, meats, and cheeses. Let them topple over and get a bit messy—it’s part of the board’s beauty.
4. Add Veggies, Fruits, and Herbs. Lastly, fill in any gaps on the board with fruits, vegetables, and sprigs of herbs. If you don’t have fresh items available to you, sub in dried fruits like apricots, cherries, and plums for something sweet and chewy. When your board is finished, set it out with a few cheese knives so guests can help themselves after they marvel at your masterpiece. Enjoy!

 

Alright! Without further ado, here are some of our favorite holiday charcuterie board ideas! Check them out, lovelies!

 

 

PIN THIS FOR LATER!

20 Epic Charcuterie Board Ideas for Your Next Holiday Parties

(This post contains affiliate links. For more information, please see my disclosures here.)

 

 

1. Greek-inspired antipasto platter – one of the best charcuterie board ideas I’ve seen

Found on Half Baked Harvest

You guys, I am pretty sure there’s nothing better than a giant spread of appetizers. I only recently got into making and eating appetizers, but I am now HOOKED. Not only are they fun to make and put together, but umm, appetizers/snacks may just be some of the most delicious foods…

 

2. This refreshing Fall Cheese Board is to die for

Found on APT. 34

For our happy hour, we decided to create the charcuterie board of champions. But again the task required little else than a power shopping trip at Trader Joe’s and an epic 3-foot long wood board. Cured meats, crackers, cheese, olives, pickles, fresh berries & figs, dried fruit, nuts, and our little trade secret – fresh flowers created a truly stunning display. Piling everything high makes your board so pretty you almost don’t want to dig in and mess it all up. Almost.

 

3. This Scrumptious Bruschetta Bar makes one amazing charcuterie board

Found on What’s Gabby Cooking

Throwing a dinner party can be a lot of work! Am I right? And sometimes you want to have everyone over for a little impromptu bash and not spend the entire day slaving away in the kitchen. Bruschetta Bars are the answer. It’s essentially the best of the best when it comes to tapas-style eating. Grilled bread, tons of vegetables, different kinds of sauces, meats, various cheeses…. and voila… your dinner party is done.

 

4. Gorgeous cheese board to enhance your wine

Found on The Crumby Kitchen

There are so many great pairs in the world of food, but cheese and wine are the best of all to a foodie! Anyone can learn how to build a cheese board, but knowing how to pair each element with your favorite wine is an art. Today, we explore the options that go beautifully with a toasty oak Chardonnay.

 

5. This awesome cheese board that you can do in minutes

Found on Wholefully

Cheeseboards are my JAM for holiday entertaining. They are delicious. They are impressive. And they are crazy easy to put together. I’m a big fan of dishes that have a high oooh-and-ahhh to elbow grease ratio. And cheese boards are the epitome of a great return on investment.

 

6. Simple and easy cheeseboard

Found on Food Lovin Family

Putting together a cheese board is easier than you think. Check out these tips and tricks for assembling a beautiful and delicious cheese board.

 

7. The ultimate beer and cheese pairing party

Found on Freut Cake 

When it comes to making appetizers, there’s nothing I like better than building a beautiful and delicious cheese board. Pair your cheese and accouterments with some delicious beer, and you have yourself a party.

 

8. The lighter cheese board

Found on Half Baked Harvest

I love eating cheese, I think I love creating and assembling a cheese board equally as much. Yes, I LOVE putting together a cheeseboard. It’s one of my favorite things to style and take photographs of…and then of course eat.

 

9. Presidential Cheese Board

Found on The Modern Proper

In honor of President’s Day, we are giving you, our readers, a little history lesson by rounding up a few favorite snacks and staples of past presidents to create one epic charcuterie board.

 

---

---

 

10. Simply stunning Cheese Board with pears, prosciutto, and blue cheese

Found on Honest Cooking 

Create the perfect holiday cheese board spread with Castello’s selection of expertly crafted cheeses. It’s sure to bring extra joy to this wonderful time of the year.

 

11. Beautiful summer cheese board with my favorite cheese, fresh fruit, and grilled bread

Found on Half Baked Harvest 

Honest, I could eat the foods on this cheese board all summer long. It has EVERYTHING I love most in the world; cheese, fresh fruit, and grilled bread, I mean, what more could a girl need in life?

 

12. Pretty cheese board that’s totally crowd-pleaser

Found on Take Two Tapas

The perfect addition to any holiday party is a cheese board!  Full of fruits, meats, cheeses, nuts, and olives, it is perfect for satisfying all your guests at the same time! Check out all these tips and tricks for making a crowd-pleasing platter for your next crowd!

 

13. Epic Charcuterie and Cheese Board

Found on Skinny Taste 

Meat and cheese boards are my go-to for super chill, no-stress summer entertaining. You can load them up with all your favorite cheese, cured meats, fruit, nuts, and spreads. Add some wine and baguettes and you have yourself a meal!

 

14. New Crudité Platter that’s LOADED with a great mix of fresh and fried veggies

Found on Half Baked Harvest 

This platter is one of my most favorite creations yet. Unlike other crudité platters, this one is LOADED and has a really great mix of fresh and fried veggies.

 

15. The Perfect Cheese Platter

Found on Waiting on Martha

I love preparing a charcuterie and cheese platter because there are no rules.  Literally, you can pretty much combine anything your heart desires and as long as the spread is ample enough there’s sure to be something to please every guest’s palette.

 

16. Winter Cheese Board with German Beer Cheese Fondue (charcuterie board ideas)

Found on Foxes Love Lemons

 

17. Brunch Bruschetta Bar that’s a perfect mix of both sweet and savory!

Found on Half Baked Harvest 

This board contains so many of my favorite go-to breakfast options. This is what I would call the ultimate brunch spread. There is SO much here to love! I’m really not sure brunch can get much better.

 

18. Blood Orange Marmalade and a Winter Cheese Board

Found on Honest Cooking 

Castello cheeses are epicurean delights – from tangy blue to complex-aged Havarti, the cheeses are wonderfully balanced and come together perfectly to create a delicious winter cheeseboard. Paired with rich golden honey, winter fruits, nuts, olive tapenade, whole grain mustard, and blood orange marmalade the board is a combination of sweet, salty, bitter, sour, and umami flavors – a feast for the senses

 

19. Beautiful holiday cheese board for Vegetarians (charcuterie board ideas)

Found on Feasting at Home

Here’s a little Cheese Board inspiration – to dazzle your guests this holiday season! This one is made with Honey Roasted Quince, persimmons, figs, maple glazed pecans, olives, and gourmet crackers -and an easy step-by-step guide on how to create a beautiful holiday cheese board! Vegetarian!

 

---

---

 

Wow, all these charcuterie board ideas are soo drool-worthy! But if you’re on a budget, you can still create some beautiful platters like these. Here’s how:

 

How do you make a cheap charcuterie board? 

1. Use leftovers to create a charcuterie board. If you have a handful of olives leftover from another dinner, put them in a tiny bowl or scatter them on the board. Do the same with leftover cubes of cheese, crackers from your cabinet, and sliced fruit from the refrigerator. 

2. Roll up affordable deli meats for an elegant look. Three rolled pieces of regular ham look as
elegant as three pieces of prosciutto. Pick your favorites that fit within your budget and taste delicious. 

3. Use salad dressings and hot sauces as dips placed in tiny bowls.
From Russian and Italian dressing to ranch and Caesar, you’ll satisfy many different tastes by serving up a variety of dips.

4. Buy small bags of nuts for a little crunch.

Buying nuts can get pricey but they do make a nice, crunchy addition to a charcuterie board. Why not buy a little snack-size bag of pistachios or macadamia nuts instead to give your board a gourmet appeal without having to overspend.

5. Add some pickles. Buy the smaller jars of your favorite pickles. Options like mini dills, bread-and-butter slices and gherkins will add texture and heft to your board.

6. Look for cheese sold as “ends” at the deli counter. Did you know that many deli counters packed cubed leftover cheese ends? These little packages of cheese are left from larger blocks and are priced to sell, making perfect inexpensive additions to your board.

7. Make your own mini-appetizers. If you’re looking for something a little more on the simple side, try spreading cream cheese on crackers with slices of pepperoni on top.

8. Build a dessert charcuterie board. This sweet board of treats is sure to make merrier at your holiday gathering. Shop your pantry for leftover cookies, nuts, candy, and sweet chocolate. Treat guests to samples of everything sweet.

 

MORE APPETIZER IDEAS YOU’LL LOVE:

31+ Easy Game Day Appetizers Perfect For Super Bowl Party!

41 Easy New Year’s Eve Party Appetizers

My Cheesy Hot dog Rolls Recipe (Simple and Filling!)

 

 

PIN THIS FOR LATER!

If you find this article useful, please share it on Facebook or Pinterest. Thank you for visiting Sharp Aspirant!

 

---

Follow us on PINTEREST for more holiday charcuterie board ideas!

---