DIY Charcuterie Board Ideas

Homemade Charcuterie Board Ideas

How to Make a Charcuterie Board at Home 2 Ways

These deliciously simple DIY charcuterie board ideas are the perfect party appetizers for noshing! Made with your favorite charcuterie meats, cheeses, fruits, vegetables, nuts, and dips, it’s an easy yet elegant way to feed a crowd. Learn how to make a charcuterie board for beginners—including 2 charcuterie board recipe ideas for your inspiration.

A charcuterie platter is a great option to feed a crowd, and it’s a simple way to fit loads of different, nutritious foods onto the same platter. I designed these DIY charcuterie board ideas for World Osteoporosis Day, so I had bone health in mind. I’ve filled each platter with some of my favorite foods for bone health—and just some of my favorite foods in general!

What is the difference between a charcuterie board and cheese board?

A charcuterie board consists of a variety of meats (often dry cured meats) and other foods that pair well with them. Typically, a charcuterie board will also include some cheeses, but not always. A cheese board is similar, except it’s primarily a selection of cheeses and foods that pair well with them. Sometimes, a cheese board might include meats, but not usually.

What should be on a charcuterie platter?

Generally, a DIY charcuterie board should contain an assortment of meats, soft and hard cheeses, and foods that pair well for noshing. Such foods can include crackers, breads, fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, pickled foods, brined foods like olives, and a selection of dips and spreads. Jams, preserves, hummus, and tapenade are some classic choices!

DIY Charcuterie Board Ingredients

Charcuterie Board Meats

• Dry Cured Meats: Sliced meats like salami, sausage, prosciutto, sopressata, and bologna are all excellent and classic options for charcuterie. Try rolling or folding sliced meats to jazz up your DIY charcuterie board presentation!
• Cold Cuts: Sliced or shaved deli meats like ham, turkey, or roast beef are also fun and affordable options to include on your platter.
• Other Proteins: Consider adding a salty favorite like bacon to your board, some sliced hard boiled eggs, or even vegan tempeh bacon!

Charcuterie Board Cheeses

• Hard Cheeses: Slices or chunks of cheddar, Swiss, Colby, gruyere, gouda, parmesan, Manchego, or provolone are all great for charcuterie.
• Semi-Soft & Crumbly: I love to serve mozzarella balls with toothpicks on my DIY charcuterie board, or you could serve some mozzarella slices. Crumbly cheeses like goat and feta are other tasty options.
• Soft Cheeses: Some of my favorite softer, spreadable cheeses are an herbed goat cheese log, a blue cheese wedge, or a wheel of brie. These add some fun flavor and variety to your board, and they pair deliciously with fruit jam!

Other Charcuterie Board Pairings

• Crackers: Try fruit and nut crackers like Raincoast Crisps, homemade crackers like my quinoa crackers or oat and seed crackers, or a simple boxed assortment of party crackers.
• Breads: Add pita bread, crostini, sliced sourdough or ciabatta, or crunchy breadsticks to your charcuterie platter for layering and dipping.
• Fruits: Fresh fruits like raspberries, blueberries, and grapes are perfect for noshing, along with all kinds of dried fruits! Sunsweet Amaz!n™ prunes are deliciously sweet and absolutely my favorite—along with dates, dried apricots, and dried cherries.
• Vegetables: Serve up your favorite raw veggies like sliced bell pepper, carrots, cucumber, broccoli florets, and cherry tomatoes. Check out my vegetable crudite platter for some inspiration.
• Nuts & Seeds: Walnuts, cashews, pecans, almonds, pistachios, hazelnuts, macadamia nuts—use whichever nuts you enjoy! I also love to add a handful or two of pumpkin seeds or sunflower seeds.
• Pickled & Brined Foods: Salty olives are a must-have for me on a classic charcuterie board! Other pickled options to try are gherkins (mini pickles), sliced pickles, pickled red onions, or any pickled veggies you enjoy.
• Dips & Spreads: Savory spreads like hummus, olive tapenade, whole grain mustard, or dukkah yogurt dip are some of my go-to choices. Also, don’t forget about sweet spreads like fruit jam or preserves, honey, or even honeycomb—all of which can pair amazingly with different cheeses!
• Garnishes: Finish with a crack of black pepper, fresh sprigs of rosemary or thyme, or edible flowers to give your charcuterie board ideas some flair!

How much food do you need for a charcuterie board?

A good rule of thumb is to serve about 2-3 oz of meat and 2-3 oz of cheese per person. So, if you’re planning to feed 6 people for noshing, you’ll want 12-18 oz of different meats and 12-18 oz of different cheeses total. If the charcuterie platter will be the main course for a hungry group, consider increasing the portion size to 4-6 oz of each per person.

Then, for your accompaniments, think about how much each person might eat, and aim to have enough for everyone to try everything:

• Crackers & Breads: Anywhere from 3-8 oz per person. Serve more bread and crackers for a more filling meal or for a bread-loving group!
• Fruits & Vegetables: 4-6 pieces per person.
• Nuts & Seeds: About 1 small handful per person.
• Pickled & Brined Foods: 3-4 pieces per person.
• Dips & Spreads: A few tablespoons per person—and it helps to keep the jars or containers in the fridge to refill serving dishes as needed!

How much does a charcuterie board cost?

Generally, the budget for a homemade charcuterie board could be anywhere between $50 to $150. The cost will depend on numerous factors: how many people you’re feeding, which foods you’re including, where you buy those foods. Yes, some dry cured meats and cheese can be expensive—but some are more affordable than others!

How to Make a Charcuterie Board for Beginners

• Choose your board. Select a large cutting board or serving platter for your charcuterie—anywhere from 9×13 inches to 12×18 inches (or larger, if needed).
• Arrange items in bowls. Start by adding dips, spreads, or pickled items into small serving bowls. Arrange these on your charcuterie board first (unless you plan to serve them on the side).
• Add meats and cheeses. Since these will be the bulk of your board, arrange sliced or rolled meats next on the board, along with sliced or soft cheeses. For decorative purposes, it’s fun to roll or fold your meats, or layer sliced items in a line so they’re fanned out nicely!
• Then, add crackers and breads. Begin filling in the board with various crackers and breads that pair well with the meats and cheeses.
• Next, add fruits and vegetables. Arrange fruits and vegetable in small piles or rows, preferably next to foods that they’ll pair well with.
• Finally, add nuts and seeds. Place small handfuls of nuts and seeds in piles to fill in the rest of your board as needed.
• Finish with garnishes. If you’d like, give your board some pizzazz with a crack of black pepper or desired garnishes like fresh herb sprigs.

What can I use if I don’t have a charcuterie board?

If you don’t have a large enough wooden cutting board or serving platter, get creative with whatever you do have! Try using a smaller board or platter, combined with additional plates or bowls on the side. Or, consider using a large surface that you wouldn’t normally put food on, and simply place parchment paper onto it for serving.

How long can a charcuterie board sit out?

Generally, your DIY charcuterie board can be left out at room temperature for around 2 hours, give or take. (Closer to 90 minutes if it’s a hot day.) In most cases, it’ll be eaten up long before then! To keep your charcuterie board cold longer, consider freezing your serving tray and bowls for a bit before filling them with food and serving.

DIY Charcuterie Board Recipes

Now that you’ve learned how to make a charcuterie board using your favorite ingredients, check out my DIY charcuterie board ideas below for some inspiration! These recipes feature my personal go-to items that I love to serve, but they’re totally customizable. I hope they can also give you some ideas for how to design a charcuterie board to make it look beautiful!

To see how these charcuterie boards are made and arranged, watch my DIY Charcuterie Boards video!