Looking for an easy and delicious way to serve food at your next gathering or dinner party? Charcuterie boards combine creativity and convenience, and they can be adapted for any taste or situation.
But what exactly is a charcuterie board, and how can you start making your own? Below, we serve up everything you need to know – including some inspiration, common ingredients, and presentation tips.
What is charcuterie?
The word charcuterie comes from the French phrase chair cuit, which means ‘cooked meat’. It’s not only used to describe the food itself but also the shops where it’s sold.
Charcutiers have plied their trade at least as far back as Roman times. Back then, the Gauls (a group of Celtic people living in mainland Europe) in what’s now France were particularly renowned for curing meat and would send hams to Rome.
However, our modern understanding of charcuterie emerged in the 15th century, when cooked meat sellers in France banded together as a guild. Originally, charcutiers were only allowed to sell pork and pork fat, but the restrictions soon relaxed – for example, they sold cured fish during Lent when meat sales dropped.
Strictly speaking, traditional charcuterie only includes meat products from France – such as galantines, jambons, and pâtés.
However, today, the word has come to describe an assortment of appetizers, usually served at parties or group meals. It can work well as finger food, a shared starter, or even as a light main. On a modern charcuterie board, you might find meats from different countries (such as chorizo and salami) and other bites – from fruit and vegetables to cheese and bread.
Common charcuterie board ingredients
Unless you’re looking to emulate a traditional French spread, there are no rules when it comes to creating a charcuterie board. However, this no-holds-barred approach may leave some wondering where to begin. With this in mind, we’ve listed some common charcuterie board ingredients.
Cured meats
For many meat eaters, cured meats are the main event of any charcuterie board.
Curing is a method of extending the shelf life of meat with salt and other preservatives, but it also helps to give it a satisfying texture and savoury flavour. Popular cured meats include ham, prosciutto, chorizo, salami, mortadella, and pancetta.
Cheese
Cheese can be served either as an accompaniment to your meat or instead of it if you’re making a vegetarian board.
Pâtés and other spreads
Traditional charcuterie included pâtés made from things like pork and rabbit. However, nowadays, you may find all kinds of spreads on a charcuterie board – from spicy nduja and duck terrine to hummus and tzatziki.
Fruit, vegetables, and nuts
Olives, pickles, and sundried tomatoes are all popular choices. Fresh and dried fruit – such as grapes and figs – can add some sweet relief from the rest of your savoury snacks.
Crackers and bread
As much a vehicle for eating all the other bits on your board as tasty treats in their own right. Get creative with breadsticks and flatbreads or keep it simple with water crackers and crusty loaves.
Condiments
Jams, chutneys, honey, and sauces can all help to add extra flavour to your spread.
9 charcuterie board ideas
As we’ve already mentioned, you can include whatever you like on your charcuterie board – and you don’t have to follow a recipe. However, choosing a theme for your platter can be helpful.
Below, we’ve pulled together nine charcuterie board ideas to give you some inspiration.
1. Traditional French charcuterie board
If you want to keep things conventional, why not make a traditional French charcuterie board?
Unlike many modern charcuterie boards, a traditional French one just involves meat (and maybe some crackers or crusty bread to eat it with). Cheese is typically served after the main course, before the dessert.
There are plenty of different items you can include in a traditional French charcuterie spread, but some firm favourites include pâté, jambon, saucisson (French dry-cured sausage), and boudin (the French version of black or white pudding).
Check out this article from Serious Eats to learn more.
2. Italian charcuterie board
Nowadays, Italian ingredients often grace charcuterie boards, so why not lean into the theme?
This Italian spread from Modern Honey offers a cornucopia of crowd-pleasing delights – including burrata, salami, prosciutto, sun-dried tomatoes, and mini Caprese salad bites. It’s sure to go down a treat, especially during summer.
3. Seasonal charcuterie board
Speaking of summer, crafting a seasonal charcuterie board is a great way to make the most of timely ingredients and nail the vibe of your next gathering or dinner party.
For example, this autumnal board from My Moonstone Kitchen uses seasonal ingredients like blackberries and apples to deliver the rich flavours of harvest time. Nibbles like dried apricots and black figs also add some classic autumn colours.
Alternatively, this platter from Sweet Tea and Thyme uses fresh springtime berries, which offset the saltiness of cured meats like prosciutto.
4. Fruity charcuterie board
For something light and endlessly sweet, why not ditch the savoury element altogether with this fruity charcuterie board from The Recipe Critic?
It’s perfect served up alongside a summer brunch spread or as a healthy dessert option. Because it features practically all the colours of the rainbow, it’s also an eye-drawing showstopper.
5. Spanish charcuterie board
With plenty of sumptuous cured meats, buttery cheese, and other delightful, tapas-style delicacies, Spanish cuisine and finger food are a match made in heaven.
Mainstays of Spanish charcuterie boards include chorizo, Serrano ham, Manchego and Iberico cheese, nduja, and whole Marcona almonds. This recipe from My Kitchen Love even includes a homemade Romesco sauce made with roasted peppers, almonds, and tomatoes.
6. Breakfast charcuterie board
Who says you can’t have a breakfast charcuterie board? Whether you’re having friends over or just want to level up your Sunday morning meal, a bit of everything is a great way to start the day.
If an all-American breakfast tickles your fancy, check out this board from The Recipe Critic complete with fresh fruit, mini pancakes and waffles, and plenty of indulgent toppings. Or embrace the continental way of life with this one from Noshing with the Nolands, which features a crowd-pleasing mix of sweet and savoury.
7. Vegan charcuterie board
Charcuterie boards typically feature lots of meat and cheese, but that doesn’t mean you can’t make a sumptuous and satisfying vegan version.
As well as plant-based meat alternatives (such as this sliced selection from Faux Butcher) and artisan vegan cheeses (La Fauxmagerie’s products come highly recommended), the possibilities for a vegan charcuterie board are almost endless.
Check out this article from No Sweat Vegan to learn more.
8. Smoked salmon charcuterie board
This charcuterie board from Wholly Tasteful revolves around the delicious umami flavour of smoked salmon. Making the most of classic smoked salmon pairings like cornichons, capers, radishes, cream cheese, and mini bagels, it promises a memorable meal.
9. Dessert charcuterie board
If you’d rather have your finger food after your meal, why not swap your cheeses and meats for sweet snacks?
For a fondue-style board, try pairing delectable dips like Nutella and white chocolate ganache with things like marshmallows, strawberries, and brownies. Or give this platter from Little Ferraro Kitchen a try, which combines cheese and crackers with biscuits and cakes. It’s a far cry from traditional charcuterie, but it’ll surely taste good!
Tips for creating the perfect charcuterie board
Hopefully, by this point, you’ve got an idea of what you’d like to include on your charcuterie board. But what about putting it all together?
Below, we’ve listed some tips for crafting a fabulous and flavourful spread.
Get creative with your board choice
We tend to think of wooden boards when it comes to charcuterie, but you can use whatever feels right for your occasion.
For a bistro feel, why not choose something like this slate serving platter from B&Q? A marble board – for example, this two-toned one from John Lewis – can also add an extra touch of class to proceedings. A pizza peel can create a rustic vibe, if that’s what you’re going for.
Mix flavours, textures, and colours
Variety is key when serving up charcuterie. With this in mind, try incorporating plenty of different flavours, textures, and colours.
For example, when it comes to cheese, why not vary the intensity by featuring a firm, soft, and blue option? As for fruit, try both dried and fresh.
Consider positioning
Thinking about what goes where is important from a practical perspective, as well as a visual one. For example, placing crackers at the edge of your board can make for easier access.
You also might want to try spacing out different types of food – for example, you probably don’t want all your meat in one corner and all your cheese in the other.
Make use of containers
While you can arrange most of your treats freely on the board, using containers like bowls and ramekins can help to bring a bit of order to your chaos.
Not only will containers help keep things tidy, but they can also add an extra visual element to your platter. Try placing your containers on the board first before arranging other ingredients around them.
Fold and roll
Creating patterns with your ingredients can also help elevate the aesthetic allure of your charcuterie board. Try rolling or folding meat slices on top of each other to create some volume. You can even create mini roses – this article from Planning Inspired will show you how.
Use smaller items to fill the gaps
Some of the best charcuterie boards look almost overflowing. So, to achieve a real horn-of-plenty feel, try filling any gaps with clusters of smaller items, such as nuts.
Don’t forget to garnish
Not everything on your platter needs to be edible. For maximum presentation points, try garnishing your board. Flowers can add a springtime look, while herbs like rosemary and thyme are ideal for autumn and winter boards.
For a farm table feel, you could also leave some shells on your nuts and keep leaves on some of the fruits and vegetables.
Final thoughts…
Whether you’ve got an event coming up or you’d just like to mix up your meals at home, charcuterie boards are a great way to share food with your loved ones. Plus, they offer a chance to get creative in the kitchen without hustling over a hot stove all day.
For more culinary advice and inspiration, why not head over to our food and drinks section? Here, you’ll find everything from recipes to restaurant reviews.
Are you thinking about making a charcuterie board? Or have you already made one and have some advice to share? If so, we’d love to hear from you in the comments below.