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!
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.
How much meat and cheese per person?
- 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
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
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
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.
Wanderlust and Wellness participates in the Amazon affiliate program. Please see my affiliate disclaimer. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
How do you make a charcuterie board step by step?
- Start by selecting the right board for your spread. You can use large cutting boards, slate boards, or large marble or ceramic platters.
- 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.
- Next, add your cheese and separate them from one another on the board, not all together.
- Place your crackers and/or bread onto the board close to the cheese.
- 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.
- Add the fruit by placing it throughout the platter.
- Fill in any remaining gaps with any extras such as squares of chocolate, fresh herbs, nuts/seeds, or fresh flowers.
- Right before serving, add your spreads to the bowls and items on the board (ex. if you’re drizzling honey over the brie).
- Serve and enjoy!
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.
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.
Wanderlust and Wellness participates in the Amazon affiliate program. Please see my affiliate disclaimer. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
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!
Charcuterie Board for Beginners
Brunch Charcuterie Board
This is the perfect red, white, and blue Charcuterie board!
Ingredients
- any type of meat
- any type of cheese
- fresh fruits
- dried fruits
- spreads and dips
- crackers, bread, chips
- chocolate
- nuts
- pastries
Instructions
- Figure out the type of board that you want to use. Options include large cutting boards, slate boards, or large marble or ceramic platters.
- Let your creativity flow!
- Add the cheeses and the crackers.
- Add the meat and tuck the meat into nooks and crannies as well.
- Add the fresh fruit.
- If there are gaps, add nuts, chocolate, or more!
- Add the spreads right before serving.
- Serve and enjoy!
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.
I had no idea where to begin to make a charcuterie board. This article helped me immensely.
I had never done a charcuterie board before and was a bit nervous when my Goddaughter asked me to bring one to her party. I didn’t mention that I was nervous because she would have said, “Don’t worry about it.” She rarely asks me to do anything. So I consulted wanderlust and wellness and found a step-by-step guide for beginners. I received compliments on the presentation and selection of foods. Everything was eaten. I am so thankful to Jennifer at Wanderlust and Wellness for the guidance. This isn’t the first time this website has positively affected my party skills.
This is wonderful! I love the way you’ve broken things down step-by-step and have explained every single element of a good charcuterie board. I’ve pinned this to my Hospitality & Entertaining board on Pinterest, and I’ll be consulting it in the future!
Thanks so much for joining the Grace at Home party at Imparting Grace. I’m featuring you this week!