Once you have decided you want a charcuterie board for appetizers or for dinner, you then need to decide how you want it to look. We have five tips for arranging a charcuterie board that will help you.
You want your guests to enjoy the charcuterie board with their eyes first and then have fun eating all the scrumptious food. Here are our five tips for arranging a charcuterie board.
First Tip For Arranging a Charcuterie Board
The nice thing about charcuterie boards is that they can be used for any and all parts of a meal. Only the foods will change depending on when you serve your charcuterie. Decide what you want to serve, then you can start arranging your charcuterie board.
- Think about snacks and easy-to-grab food
- crackers
- cheese
- olives
- sliced apples
- grapes
- blueberries
- strawberries
- Dried apricots
- Sliced radish
- Sliced cucumber
- Include heartier foods if this board will be your main meal
- Cured meats like prosciutto or ham
- Deli meat such as chicken, turkey, or ham
- Bread slices
- Cheese slices
- Crostini
- Get creative if your charcuterie board is a dessert board
- Ginger snap cookies, chocolate chip cookies
- Assorted chocolates
- Chocolate covered strawberries
- Donuts
- Yogurt covered pretzels
- Macaroons
- Cheesecake bites
- Add fresh flowers for color
- Celebrate holidays or birthdays with special charcuterie
- Think about a picnic charcuterie board
Second Tip
- Find the board you want to use before you start arranging a charcuterie board
- Think about the right sizeVisualize your foodCount the number of guestsFind the best material for the food
- Use whatever board you have
Do not feel pressured to buy a new board if you have one that will work. Keep in mind what food you will be serving and how it will look on your board. You may already have something that will work, even though it may technically not be a charcuterie board. Once you decide that, you can start to think about arranging a charcuterie board.
- Some ideas for your charcuterie board
- Large glass plate
- Wooden cutting board
- Glass serving tray
- Chrome drink tray
- Lazy Susan
- Slate slab
- Ceramic platter
Third Tip For Arranging a Charcuterie Board
The food you serve on your charcuterie board will depend on your guests’ tastes, the number of guests you will have, and your individual taste. You should have a variety of food but do not feel you have to include all the food listed.
- Before you can start arranging your charcuterie board, decide the foods you want to serve
- Meats
- Cheeses
- Spreads or jams
- Nuts
- Olives
- Dips
- Vegetables
- Crackers
- Crostini
- Baguette
- Fruits
Fourth Tip For Arranging a Charcuterie Board
- Decide where to place your items on the board
- Place larger items, like bowls, on the board first
- Arrange cheeses in a pattern you like, starting at the edge
- Place meats near the cheeses
- Lay crackers near the cheeses and meats
- Put baguettes near spreads or dips
- Arrange fruits by colors
- Place vegetables close to dips
- Fold meats and place in empty spots
An inviting charcuterie board is pleasing on many levels. Take your time to arrange the charcuterie board and add the foods in an attractive manner that your guests can easily reach. You may have to rearrange some items to get it the way you want it to look. Bright colored fruits and vegetables look good when paired next to yellow or white cheeses.
Fifth Tip For Arranging a Charcuterie Board
You’re almost there.
- Stand back and take a look at your charcuterie board
- Rearrange if necessary
- Add another small bowl if you need some height
- Fill in any spaces with garnishes of herbs or flowers
- Add utensils near where they will be used
- Place napkins and small plates close to the charcutier board
Additional tips
Think of all the ways you can create, arrange, and serve a charcuterie board. Our five tips will help you get started. Then you can let your creativity flow and wow your guests with a charcuterie board they will enjoy. Want some more ideas? How about these:
- Birthdays
- Anniversaries
- Graduations
- Saturday night pizza parties
- Super Bowl parties
- Just because get-togethers