Build a gorgeous Thanksgiving charcuterie board this holiday season that will keep your hungry guests at bay! Learn how to build a seasonal charcuterie board that will look gorgeous on your Thanksgiving table – one of our favorite charcuterie board ideas.
Charcuterie boards are the perfect addition to any holiday meal – like my Holiday charcuterie board for the Christmas season. Not only are they gorgeous, but they’re also an easy solution to keeping your guests grazing while they wait for the big dinner. I like to have charcuterie boards around for either early in the day if we’re eating late, or late in the evening if dinner was earlier in the day.
Ingredients needed for a Thanksgiving charcuterie board
The best part of creating any charcuterie board is that it’s a blank canvas! I think that’s why I love building charcuterie boards so much; it allows me to tap into my creative side. You can choose whatever you’d like for your board, but here are some basic ingredients I recommend for any
- 3-4 slices of meat per person – variety of flavors and textures
- 1-2 oz. of cheese per person – variety of flavors and textures
- Fresh seasonal fruit
- Dried seasonal fruit
- Assortment of nuts
- Assortment of crackers
How to build a gorgeous Thanksgiving charcuterie board
- Start by selecting the right board for your spread. You can use large cutting boards, slate boards, or large marble or ceramic platters.
- Once you know how many guests you’ll have, you can begin choosing your meats. You’ll want 3-4 slices of meat per person, but also a variety of flavors and textures.
- Select 1-2 oz. of cheese per person, again choosing a variety of flavors and textures. I recommend a balance between soft and hard cheese and mild and robust flavors.
- Add in both fresh and dried seasonal fruit. For Thanksgiving, figs, pomegranate, pears, dried cranberries, apples, and grapes are good options.
- Add in an assortment of nuts.
- Add in an assortment of crackers in both shape and flavor.
- Begin assembling your board – 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.
Recipe FAQs and Variations
How much food should I buys for my Thanksgiving charcuterie board?
A general rule of thumb is 3-4 slices of meat per person, and 1-2 oz. of cheese per person. From there you can add in the additional items, also based on your guest count.
What cheese goes well on a charcuterie board?
Choose a variety of flavors and textures. I recommend a balance between soft and hard cheese and mild and robust flavors. Also, look for fun seasonal cheese options that are available during the Thanksgiving season.
Recipe tips and variations
- Time-saving tip – slice any cheese or fruit the night before and store in an air-tight container overnight.
- Be sure to ask your guests about food allergies! You don’t want to include items that your guests may be allergic to.
- Get creative – add in fruit jams and spreads, chocolate, or whatever you’d like! A delicate balance between flavors and textures is key!
Recommended kitchen resources for building a Thanksgiving charcuterie board
Wanderlust and Wellness
Grab a copy of Gather – A Thanksgiving Cookbook to create a memorable holiday meal!
Some of our favorite recipes you’ll find inside Gather
- Thanksgiving Maple Herb Turkey – with a seasoning rub is infused with flavors like maple, sage, and thyme – giving it a hint of sweet combined with the traditional seasonal flavors
- Honey Caramelized Brussel Sprouts – another sweet + savory vegetable side dish
- Thanksgiving Punch – with a Thanksgiving Sangria option included!
Thanksgiving Charcuterie Board
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Thanksgiving Charcuterie Board
- Prep Time: 20
- Total Time: 20
- Yield: varies
Description
Build a gorgeous Thanksgiving charcuterie board this holiday season that will keep your hungry guests at bay! Learn how to build a seasonal charcuterie board that will look gorgeous on your Thanksgiving table.
Ingredients
- 3–4 slices of meat per person – variety of flavors and textures
- 1–2 oz. of cheese per person – variety of flavors and textures
- Fresh seasonal fruit
- Dried seasonal fruit
- Assortment of nuts
- Assortment of crackers
Instructions
- Start by selecting the right board for your spread. You can use large cutting boards, slate boards, or large marble or ceramic platters.
- Once you know how many guests you’ll have, you can begin choosing your meats. You’ll want 3-4 slices of meat per person, but also a variety of flavors and textures.
- Select 1-2 oz. of cheese per person, again choosing a variety of flavors and textures. I recommend a balance between soft and hard cheese and mild and robust flavors.
- Add in both fresh and dried seasonal fruit. For Thanksgiving, figs, pomegranate, pears, dried cranberries, apples, and grapes are good options.
- Add in an assortment of nuts.
- Add in an assortment of crackers in both shape and flavor.
- Begin assembling your board – 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.
Notes
- Time-saving tip – slice any cheese or fruit the night before and store in an air-tight container overnight.
- Be sure to ask your guests about food allergies!
- Get creative – add in fruit jams and spreads, chocolate, or whatever you’d like! A delicate balance between flavors and textures is key!
- Category: appetizers
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: charcuterie board, Thanksgiving charcuterie board, seasonal charcuterie board
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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