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Home » Party Appetizers » Charcuterie Board for Beginners

Charcuterie Board for Beginners

LAST UPDATED: February 19, 2021 • FIRST PUBLISHED: January 15, 2021 • Leave a Comment

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Charcuterie boards are one of the hottest food trends, and this charcuterie board for beginners will help you ease your way into creating epic charcuterie boards. You’ll find step-by-step instructions on how to prepare and create a simple yet beautiful charcuterie board. Then, check out these charcuterie board ideas for almost every occasion!

an easy charcuterie board for beginners

Charcuterie boards are all the rage, but sometimes they can feel overwhelming to create. Where do I start? How much meat do I need? How much cheese? How do I put it all together on the board, so it looks good? We’ll cover all of these questions and more in this easy charcuterie board for beginners tutorial.

So where do you begin? Start with this for building your first charcuterie board.

  • Choose 2-3 types of meat – mix mild to spicy
  • Choose 2-3 kinds of cheese – mix soft/hard, mild/sharp flavors
  • Choose 2-3 seasonal fruits – mix fresh and dried
  • Choose 2-3 types of spreads – mix sweet and salty
  • Choose 2-3 types of crackers and/or bread
  • Choose 1-2 extras to fill in and garnish your board – chocolate, nuts, fresh herbs, flowers

How much meat and cheese per person?

a charcuterie board with packages of meat and cheese on it

An easy rule of thumb to follow is to allow

  • 3-4 slices of meat per person in a variety of flavors and textures.
  • 1-2 ounces of cheese per person in a variety of flavors and textures.

Best meats for a charcuterie board

  • Prosciutto
  • Salami
  • Capicola
  • Sopressata
  • Calabrese
  • Pepperoni
  • Chorizo
  • Bacon

Best cheeses for a charcuterie board

  • Brie
  • Blue
  • Aged Cheddar
  • Mild Cheddar
  • Gouda
  • Burrata
  • Camembert
  • Goat
  • Stilton

How to cut cheese for a charcuterie board

a variety of cheese for a charcuterie board

There’s no right or wrong way to cut cheese for a charcuterie board. Charcuterie boards are like a blank canvas, and you are the artist – you get to create the unique art of designing your board.

My one suggestion would be to not leave large chunks of cheese (block size over 1-2 inches) on the board. Instead, slice them into small sections so your guests can easily grab and go.

Try slicing the cheese at different angles to create unique shapes. Then, have fun when arranging on your board.

How to Put Prosciutto on a Charcuterie Board

an image showing how to put prosciutto on a charcuterie board

Prosciutto is probably one of the most popular meats for a charcuterie board because of its mild salty flavor profile. But, it’s fragile and sometimes finicky to work with. One of the easiest ways to put prosciutto on your charcuterie board is to roll it up and then stack it standing up on your board, nestled in between the other items on your board.

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How do you make a charcuterie board step by step?

  1. Start by selecting the right board for your spread. You can use large cutting boards, slate boards, or large marble or ceramic platters.
  2. Think of your board as a blank canvas and let your creativity flow. I recommend starting with the larger items and then filling in from there. Start by adding any small bowls you may use for spreads.
  3. Next, add your cheese and separate them from one another on the board, not all together.
  4. Place your crackers and/or bread onto the board close to the cheese.
  5. Next, add your meat, tucking them in close to the other items on the board. This not only helps keep their folded shape but also allows your guests to grab meat and cheese together easily.
  6. Add the fruit by placing it throughout the platter.
  7. Fill in any remaining gaps with any extras such as squares of chocolate, fresh herbs, nuts/seeds, or fresh flowers.
  8. Right before serving, add your spreads to the bowls and items on the board (ex. if you’re drizzling honey over the brie). 
  9. Serve and enjoy!
an easy charcuterie board for beginners

Recipe FAQs and Notes

How big should a charcuterie board be?

This will depend on how many people you are serving. If you’re serving 2-4 people, a small 12-14 inch round board would be a sufficient size. If you’re serving a larger group, you’ll want to go with a larger round board or large paddle-style board.

How early can you prepare a charcuterie board?

You can slice the cheese and any fruits the night before and refrigerate in an air-tight container overnight. You can also fold any meats and place them into a glass storage container to refrigerate overnight.

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    Must-Have Items for your Charcuterie Board

    You can find affordable items for your charcuterie board at places like Home Goods or Target. Or, check out these items below.

    Check out these additional charcuterie board ideas!

    • Thanksgiving Charcuterie Board
    • Fall Charcuterie Board
    • Holiday Charcuterie Board
    • Wild Game Steak Graze Board

    Great appetizers to add to your board!

    • Air Fryer Candied Bacon
    • Strawberry Bacon Brie
    • Cranberry Caramel Baked Brie
    • Bacon Jam Recipe
    an easy charcuterie board for beginners

    Charcuterie Board for Beginners

    an easy charcuterie board for beginners

    Charcuterie Board for Beginners

    Yield: 4
    Prep Time: 15 minutes
    Total Time: 15 minutes

    Charcuterie boards are one of the hottest food trends, and this charcuterie board for beginners will help you ease your way into creating epic charcuterie boards. You'll find step-by-step instructions on how to prepare and create a simple yet beautiful charcuterie board.

    Ingredients

    • Choose 2-3 types of meat - mix mild to spicy
    • Choose 2-3 kinds of cheese - mix soft/hard, mild/sharp flavors
    • Choose 2-3 seasonal fruits - mix fresh and dried
    • Choose 2-3 types of spreads - mix sweet and salty
    • Choose 2-3 types of crackers and/or bread
    • Choose 1-2 extras to fill in and garnish your board - chocolate, nuts, fresh herbs, flowers

    Instructions

      1. Start by selecting the right board for your spread. You can use large cutting boards, slate boards, or large marble or ceramic platters.
      2. Think of your board as a blank canvas and let your creativity flow. I recommend starting with the larger items and then filling in from there. Start by adding any small bowls you may use for spreads.
      3. Next, add your cheese and separate them from one another on the board, not all together.
      4. Place your crackers and/or bread onto the board close to the cheese.
      5. Next, add your meat, tucking them in close to the other items on the board. This not only helps keep their folded shape but also allows your guests to grab meat and cheese together easily.
      6. Add the fruit by placing it throughout the platter.
      7. Fill in any remaining gaps with any extras such as squares of chocolate, fresh herbs, nuts/seeds, or fresh flowers.
      8. Right before serving, add your spreads to the bowls and items on the board (ex. if you're drizzling honey over the brie).
      9. Serve and enjoy!

    Notes

    • Best meats for a charcuterie board
      Prosciutto
      Salami
      Capicola
      Sopressata
      Calabrese
      Pepperoni
      Chorizo
      Bacon
    • Best cheeses for a charcuterie board
      Brie
      Blue
      Aged Cheddar
      Mild Cheddar
      Gouda
      Burrata
      Camembert
      Goat
      Stilton

    © Jennifer Shreckengost
    Cuisine: American / Category: Party Appetizers

    Jennifer

    Jennifer is the recipe developer and food photographer behind Wanderlust and Wellness since 2016. She creates easy, approachable gluten-free recipes for the everyday home cook; because cooking gluten-free doesn’t mean food has to be complicated or tasteless.

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