What is a Charcuterie Board? (and 13+ Board Ideas!)

It is always fun to host a party and have a bunch of different appetizers, but sometimes I don't know which appetizers people will enjoy. That's where charcuterie boards come into play. So what is a charcuterie board you say? Let's dive in!

What is a charcuterie board?

Charcuterie boards have become super popular lately, typically paired with wine or other drinks. They make the perfect appetizer for any and all special occasions. Charcuterie boards come in all shapes and sizes, so they are perfect for your next party.

A charcuterie board traditionally was just made of cured meats. Charcuterie is a French term that translates to pork butcher. In France, it is the art of preparing meat products, such as hard salami, pork products, summer sausage, and others.

The ones we know today are also known as a cheese board, or large board (usually a cutting board) full of different types of cured meats, hard cheeses, soft cheeses, and artisan bread and/or crackers. Some people will put fig jam and a little bit of fresh herbs. My Small Charcuterie Board post goes into detail about a variety of ingredients you can use.

Charcuterie board vs cheese board: The difference is in the ingredients. A cheese board has a variety of cheeses, whereas a charcuterie board includes different meats but as mentioned, our American charcuterie boards are a mix of both and everything in between.

Get our free charcuterie board shopping list printable HERE

When to make a charcuterie board

Like I said above, charcuterie boards are perfect for any occasion. I even make them for a small get together, like a girls night. They are super simple to make and you do not have to go all out to make one. Here are some examples of great times to make a charcuterie board, with recipes!

• Valentine's Charcuterie Board
• Super Bowl Charcuterie Board
• Halloween Charcuterie Board: CharBOOterie
• Thanksgiving Charcuterie Board
• Christmas Charcuterie Board or ChatcuterWREATH
• Individual charcuterie boxes
• Mexican Charcuterie Board

How to make it for your next party

The first thing you need to do is find the perfect charcuterie board. If you are in a pinch, you can use a cutting board or serving board. But, if you have the time, it is super fun to find a cute board that will enhance the looks and make the perfect charcuterie board.

Next, you need to gather the food. You can find all of the ingredients at your local grocery store, but to save money, I prefer to buy at Costco. That way, you are able to buy assortments of meats and a combination of cheeses in bulk for cheap.

Buying in bulk is especially helpful if you are feeding a ton of people. In my Charcuterie Table and Grazing Table (Easy & Delicious!) posts, you can learn more about making the best charcuterie boards for a crowd.

When you are buying the food, you will also want to think of the types of bread you want, wine pairings, marcona almonds, and other things to fill the remaining space on your charcuterie board. You can also get decorations, depending on the theme of the party, to fill in the space.

Lastly, you will put the charcuterie board together. Place the meats, cheeses, and other foods on the board however you please. There is no wrong way to assemble one, so have fun with it! I like to use fresh herbs to put the final touches on a charcuterie board.

You can also have charcuterie cones, which are great for parties. That way you can go around and socialize while still enjoying your charcuterie.

Sweet Dessert Boards

Did you know that you can even go completely away from traditional meat charcuterie boards and make a sweet dessert board? They are so cute! Our Birthday Charcuterie Board is the ultimate party and kids love all the colors.

Our cookie charcuterie board is such a fun take on the classic making salami, olives, crackers and cheese into... you guessed it, COOKIES!

Charcuterie boards for allergies

One may ask if you can make charcuterie boards gluten-free and/or vegan. You absolutely can! I have celiac disease, so I have to make changes so I can enjoy a delicious charcuterie board myself.

For a gluten-free charcuterie board, you should check out my Gluten-Free Charcuterie and Cheeseboard recipe for all of the tips and tricks you need to know. Basically, you will replace the bread with gluten-free bread and/or gluten-free crackers. You can always omit bread entirely and stick with meats and cheeses.

THE BOTTOM LINE

A charcuterie board is a spread of the best meats, typically on wooden boards or a large cutting board. By adding a selection of cheeses as well, it becomes a charcuterie AND cheese board. It is a delicious appetizer that offers something for everyone!