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    Home ยป Recipes ยป Charcuterie ยป Summer Charcuterie Board

    Summer Charcuterie Board

    Published: Jun 2, 2022 ยท Modified: Nov 21, 2022 by Chandice ยท This post may contain affiliate links ยท 12 Comments

    JUMP TO RECIPE
    Summer Charcuterie Board pin

    A summer charcuterie board is the perfect dish to bring to any party this summer. There’s something for everyone on this board filled with fresh fruits, soft cheeses, your favorite crackers, and more.

    A snack board is great for any occasion because they’re so versatile. You can fill your board with whatever your favorite fruits, meats, and cheeses are. Fresh fruits and vegetables from the farmers market make this summer board such a crowd pleaser.

    Summer Charcuterie Board

    I love making this easy summer charcuterie board because the toppings are so vibrant. It’s similar to my Valentine’s day charcuterie board, my Christmas charcuterie board, and my Mexican charcuterie board.

    A small charcuterie board or individual charcuterie boxes are perfect for a handful people but I love making a grazing table for large groups. There are so many different ways to make a good charcuterie board which is my favorite part about them. You can get as creative as you’d like!

    I choose to make gluten free charcuterie boards but you can make a regular board or even a vegan charcuterie board. It’s super easy to accommodate for any dietary restrictions when making a snack board.

    Summer Charcuterie Board

    Can you make a charcuterie board a day in advance?

    No, it’s not a great idea to make a charcuterie board a day in advance because some foods could get soggy, stale, or brown. But you can make one 30-40 minutes in advance, wrap it in plastic wrap, and store it in the fridge before you serve. I recommend adding the crackers last minute so they don’t get stale or soggy.

    You can also give this summer board a breakfast theme with our Pancake Charcuterie Board! And if you want a fun way to carry your board, check out our charcuterie cones.

    summer charcuterie board

    What’s in a summer charcuterie board?

    Adding a variety of cheeses, fresh vegetables, seasonal fruits, dried fruit, crackers, and meats is a great way to get a wide variety of options on your board. You can add more ingredients or omit any of the ingredients below.

    Summer Charcuterie Board ingredients

    Cheeses

    I like to have different types of cheese spread out across the board. A variety of hard cheese and soft cheese is optimal for different textures and flavors. Goat cheese, soft brie cheese, blue cheese, ricotta and sharp cheese are some of my favorite cheeses.

    Meats

    I recommend having an assortment of meats on your board. Meats like prosciutto, genoa salami, sopressata, and sliced pepperoni are great options to choose from.

    Crackers

    Crackers make a great addition to any charcuterie board. I use gluten-free crackers and pretzels but you can use your favorite type of crackers/chips. Slices of bread, pita chips, flat pretzels, and regular crackers are on a typical charcuterie board.

    Fruits and vegetables

    Adding garden-fresh veggies and other summer produce is a fun way to add more color to your board. Apple slices, cherry tomatoes, fresh berries, dried fruits, and watermelon are common summer fruits and vegetables.

    Jam/spread

    I love adding dips like fig jam or date spread to my charcuterie board. You can dip fruit in the spread or mix it with cheese on crackers.

    How do you assemble a great charcuterie board?

    There is no wrong way to arrange a charcuterie board but these steps will help you get an aesthetic look.

    Summer Charcuterie Board being put together

    Step 1: I like to cut a piece of wax paper to fit my board first then place large items like cheese wheels and wedges on the wooden board 

    Summer Charcuterie Board being put together

    Step 2: Add dips and small fruits to small bowls and place the small bowls around the board wherever you see fit

    Step 3: Add the cured meats, crackers, fruits and veggies (I love adding olives to this board!)

    Summer Charcuterie Board

    Step 4: Add all the yummy treats! Charcuterie board cookies and chocolate covered strawberries are perfect here

    Summer Charcuterie Board

    Step 5: Finish by adding in the green herbs to give it a live, effervescent look

    Pro tip: Cheese is best served at room temperature so be sure to take it out of the fridge a few hours before serving. 

    Summer Charcuterie Board

    Expert tips and FAQs

    Can you put watermelon on a charcuterie board?

    Yes, adding watermelon to your summer cheese board is an easy way to fill up space, add color, and stay on theme. Feta or goat cheese would be the perfect complimentary cheeses for watermelon.

    How do you cut fruit for a charcuterie board?

    Cutting your sweet fruit into thin slices is the best way to make your board look layered and add depth. This way, you can stack fruit or easily arrange it in small spots on the board.

    How do you keep a charcuterie board fresh outside?

    You can keep your perfect summer charcuterie board fresh by keeping it in a cooler environment or restocking ingredients. You can keep fresh ingredients in the fridge and restock them outside as needed.

    Get our free charcuterie board shopping list printable HERE

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    Summer Charcuterie Board

    Summer Charcuterie Board
    5 from 10 votes
    A summer charcuterie board is the perfect dish to bring to any party this summer. There's something for everyone on this board filled with fresh fruits, soft cheeses, your favorite crackers, and more.ย 
    A snack board is great for any occasion because they're so versatile. You can fill your board with whatever your favorite fruits, meats, and cheeses are. Fresh fruits and vegetables from the farmers market make this summer board such a crowd pleaser.ย 
    PRINT RECIPE SaveSaved!
    Prep Time: 2 minutes mins
    Cook Time: 3 minutes mins
    Total Time: 5 minutes mins
    Course: Appetizer
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: charcuterie, gluten-free
    Servings: 8 servings
    Calories: 439kcal
    Author: Chandice Probst

    Ingredients

    • 16 ounces fresh berries
    • 1 small seedless watermelon sliced into triangles
    • 8 ounces variety of cheeses
    • 8 ounces variety of cured meats
    • 6 ounces gluten-free crackers and pretzels
    • 6 ounces fresh veggies
    • 3 ounces chocolate
    • 2 small jars of jam or spread
    • 1 cup olives
    • fresh herbs for aesthetic

    Instructions

    • Step 1: Place large items like cheese wheels and wedges on the boardย 
    • Step 2: Add dips and small fruits to small bowls and place the small bowls around the board wherever you see fit
    • Step 3: Add the cured meats, crackers, fruits and veggies (I love adding olives to this board!)
    • Step 4: Add all the yummy treats!ย Charcuterie board cookies and chocolate covered strawberries are perfect here
    • Step 5: Finish by adding in the green herbs to give it a live, effervescent look

    Notes

    Pro tip: Cheese is best served at room temperature so be sure to take it out of the fridge a few hours before serving.ย 
    Leftover cheese, meats and fruits or veggies can be stored in the refrigerator. It is usually best to just toss leftover crackers as they tend to be a bit covered in cheese.ย 
    How do you keep a charcuterie board fresh outside? You can keep your perfect summer charcuterie board fresh by keeping it in a cooler environment or restocking ingredients. You can keep fresh ingredients in the fridge and restock them outside as needed.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1serving | Calories: 439kcal | Carbohydrates: 27g | Protein: 16g | Fat: 31g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 11g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 51mg | Sodium: 1289mg | Potassium: 270mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 1437IU | Vitamin C: 8mg | Calcium: 259mg | Iron: 2mg

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    Chandice of This Vivacious Life

    Hi, I'm Chandice!

    Parties, gatherings, gorgeous food and ESPECIALLY holidays with my people are what make my heart pitter patter. Having a place to share our favorite traditions, recipes and celebrations is very important to me. I live each day with unapologetic, authentic happiness and hope to help others do the same. More About Chandice

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Kathleen H says

      June 24, 2022 at 9:11 pm

      Hi Chandice,

      I wish you would tell us which cheeses and meats you are using. They look inviting and it would give us a chance to try new varieties that we haven’t thought of.

      Thanks.

      Reply
      • Chandice says

        June 25, 2022 at 8:26 pm

        Hi Kathleen, I am so sorry they aren’t specifically included in the recipe card. I did mention in the body of the text under cheese which ones I love. However, here I use ricotta, blueberry windsordale, blue cheese, edible flower topped goat cheese and vegan smoked gouda. ๐Ÿ™‚ Thanks for stopping by!

        Reply
    2. Tayler says

      June 10, 2022 at 5:11 pm

      5 stars
      I had a movie night with my girls the other night and this recipe was a hit! Such a fun charcuterie board idea ๐Ÿ™‚

      Reply
    3. LaKita says

      June 06, 2022 at 1:54 am

      5 stars
      Love and good charcuterie board and making this summer version is so perfect for this time of year!

      Reply
    4. Kim says

      June 05, 2022 at 10:10 pm

      5 stars
      Love the addition of berries and watermelon for the summer touch! Huge charcuterie fans here and this is a perfect combination!

      Reply
    5. Enri Lemoine says

      June 05, 2022 at 3:19 pm

      5 stars
      I’m in love with the tiers, how you arranged the meats and cheeses, and how you incorporate the flowers. This is one of the most beautiful charcuterie boars I’ve ever seen!

      Reply
      • Chandice says

        June 23, 2022 at 4:34 pm

        Awwww thank you so much!!

        Reply
    6. Jenny says

      June 05, 2022 at 11:41 am

      5 stars
      I love your choices. This recipe is on the list to make again. Many thanks!

      Reply
    7. Jamie says

      June 05, 2022 at 1:15 am

      5 stars
      This charcuterie board includes all of my favorite summer fruit! This is one of my favorite ways to serve guests during the summer. Thank you!

      Reply
    8. Allyssa says

      June 04, 2022 at 1:44 pm

      5 stars
      Very fantastic idea of charcuterie! Will surely use this again and again for our gatherings! Thanks a lot for sharing your bright idea! Loved it!

      Reply
    9. Cathleen says

      June 04, 2022 at 1:20 am

      5 stars
      This is the most beautiful charcuterie board I have ever seen! I am definitely making this this summer again, pinned for others to make later too ๐Ÿ™‚

      Reply
    10. Patricia @ Grab a Plate says

      June 03, 2022 at 2:09 pm

      5 stars
      This is beautiful and I can’t wait to make this again with all the fresh fruit! I have figs on the tree outside as we speak! They’ll be ideal for this!

      Reply
    5 from 10 votes (1 rating without comment)

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