31 Drop-Dead Gorgeous Charcuterie Board Recipe Ideas - PureWow

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Who can resist an epic party platter?

By Stephanie Cain•Published Oct 16, 2024Additional reporting byTaryn PireThe Modern Proper

A charcuterie board is a no-brainer for hosts—and a fan-favorite of guests. While “charcuterie” technically means a range of different cured meats, so these platters go beyond salami and prosciutto, typically featuring various cheeses, crackers, spreads and produce. But why are they so popular? For starters, they’re extremely flexible: You can adjust the ingredients for different preferences, scale the portions up or down (looking at you, jarcuterie) based on the number of guests and make them as affordable or high-end as you’d like. You can even tie them to a certain theme, like a color, geographic region or season. And for an extra touch, add a few finger foods—think mini skewers or stuffed olives—that make it even easier for guests to graze. But perhaps the main reason they’re a must for entertaining is that they require zero culinary skills to assemble—and often no cooking at all.

That said, there is an art to making a charcuterie board look as impressive as those you see on Instagram and Pinterest. I love the following picks because they’re easy enough for beginners to tackle, endlessly riffable and guaranteed to impress. Many can also be prepared in advance. In case you’re in need of inspiration, here are 36 wow-worthy recipes and charcuterie board ideas for your next potluck gathering, non-traditional Thanksgiving, or holiday party, plus tips on assembling a snack tray to remember.

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How to Create a Charcuterie Board

Believe it or not, you don’t need to be artistically inclined to make a memorable charcuterie board (although it definitely doesn’t hurt). It’s a pretty formulaic process that’s as simple as breaking the board up into categories, then choosing complementary ingredients for each one.

• First, get the proportions in order. Mentally split the board into fours, reserving equal quarters for meat, cheese, some kind of crackers or bread and whatever other accoutrements you’re craving.

Katherine Gillen

• I like to choose soft, pre-sliced meats (like prosciutto or jamón Ibérico) and a couple harder meats that require cutting (like a log of salami or soppressata).

Katherine Gillen

• Start by placing your harder cheeses, like a block of sharp cheddar or Manchego, alongside the meats.

Katherine Gillen

• Next, add at least one spreadable cheese (like chèvre) or a dip (like tzatziki or hummus) with a small knife or spoon for serving.

Katherine Gillen

• Weave in some complementary easy snacks. Think crackers, jam, bread, pickles, fruit, honeycomb and whatever else you fancy.
• Organize it well. There’s no best order or layout when it comes to making a charcuterie board. All you need to keep in mind is that the meat, cheese and accoutrements should be accessible from all or most angles of the board. I like to layer meat, cheese and crackers or bread across the entirety of the spread, then nestle small bowls of jam, olives, pickles and more between them or at the corners of the board.
• Dress it up. Beyond serving it on a pretty wooden butcher block or a marble cutting board, consider working in other decorative elements. Tiny label tags are both cute and helpful, while little bowls and plates for preserves or fruit offer color and dimension to the spread. Fresh herbs are always a solid finishing touch as well.

The Best Types of Cheese to Use for a Charcuterie Board

Manchego, cheddar, Brie, havarti, Swiss, comté—there's no limit to what cheeses you can use. Just try to include a variety of textures on your board, meaning some cheese for slicing, some for spreading and perhaps even some warmed or baked. (Brie is prime for that.)

The Best Types of Meat to Use for a Charcuterie Board

Salami, pepperoni, prosciutto, capicola, chorizo, mortadella, jamón Ibérico and sopressata are all fair game. If you make a themed board, there are of course other options (for instance, bacon on a breakfast spread or steak on a fondue board).

The Best Types of Bread and Crackers to Use for a Charcuterie Board

Go with what you like, but try to have some variety. For instance, I use soft bread, seeded crackers and crispy breadsticks for a visually intriguing board and to give my guests a range of textures to choose from.

Ready to Get Started? Read on for 36 Charcuterie Board Ideas You’ll Love:

Katherine Gillen

1. Fall Charcuterie Board with Black Pepper–Honey Brie, Figs and Rosemary

• Time Commitment: 15 minutes
• Why I Love It: no cook, crowd-pleaser, special occasion–worthy
• Serves: 4 to 6

Who doesn’t love zhuzhing up a store-bought item? Here, an easy honey drizzle (plus plenty of seasonal garnishes) will impress without much effort. "If you can't find fresh figs, try dried or use another seasonal fruit," suggests former PureWow senior food editor Katherine Gillen. "I chose sour cherry preserves, but apricot or fig would be just as lovely."

Get the recipeKatherine Gillen

2. Charcuterie Board Flatbread

• Time Commitment: 5 minutes
• Why I Love It: beginner-friendly, 2026 Wow Media