Fill your plate with all kinds of flavors.

Be the hostess with the mostess with that Pinterest-worthy charcuterie board. It’s the best way to give your guests snacking options with minimal effort, plus they look so cute!

Cheese boards are completely customizable for each event and can be tailored for any dietary restrictions. Start with a wooden or stone board (shop my favorites below). If you’re feeling ambitious, go with a theme such as springtime fresh or autumn harvest.

Also, don’t forget to check out my happy hour hosting guide!

The Elements to Building the Perfect Charcuterie Board

Mix and Match the Colors and Textures

You want to make the board visually appealing with bright colors and textures which add depth and vibrance.

Fresh Herbs

Garnish your board with fresh herbs to add a touch of greenery and a savory fresh scent. Rosemary, sage and mint look and smell great.

Sweet and Tangy

When planning your layout, alternate between fresh and dried fruits. Both pair well with cheese and meat slices. Pickles and olives also add a fun punch of flavors.

Go Nuts

Protein packed nuts add a great crunchy texture. Be sure to add a variety of nuts to give your guests plenty of options. Add less common nuts such as macadamia, pecans, pistachios, etc. for a more exotic palette.

Rich and Decadent

If you’re feeling especially indulgent, add dark chocolate, caramelized nuts, chocolate covered pretzels and other sweets.

Light and Fresh

If your guests are looking to keep things on the healthier side, pack your board full of sliced apples, vegetables and hummus. See my guide to building a plant based and vegan charcuterie board.

Shopping List

The most cost effective way of purchasing so many diverse products is by shopping the bulk bins. That way you don’t have to buy full-sized packages of all the ingredients. High quality nuts can get pricey quickly! Whole Foods and many health food stores offer bulk shopping.

Serve it Up!

Encourage your guests to build a plate a robust plate full of diverse flavors. Serve with toothpicks and small plates for easy eating. Pair your board with your favorite wine or mocktails.

Grocery Shopping List

A Selection of Cheeses

My favorites are sliced Cheddar, Mozzarella, Brie, spreadable goat cheeses, Havarti, Brie and spicy peppered cheeses. Cream cheese (plain or herb flavored) can be spread on either crackers or apple slices. Be sure to serve with a knife.

Crunchy and Salty Snacks

Crackers and pretzels are great for pairing with cheese, dips and spreads. They’re also delicious just by themselves.

Charcuterie Meats

You can opt for extra indulgent fatty meats such as slices salami and prosciutto, or serve leaner options such as deli sliced turkey and ham. If you live near a gourmet deli counter they may have more exotic cured meat options to dazzle your guests.

Nuts

Choose from a variety of nuts including cashews, pecans, macadamias, almonds, pistachios, salted peanuts and candied walnuts.

Fresh & Dried Fruits

Some easy finger food fruits are sliced apples (choose a variety of types to add color to your board), grapes, dried apricots dried cranberries and pomegranate seeds. When possible shop for seasonal produce, it’s fresher and better for the environment.

Olives & Cornichons

Add some salty and tang flavors with olives and pickled foods. For those unfamiliar, cornichons are tiny pickles that you can pop into your mouth in one bite.