Simple Charcuterie Board

There is one snack that dominates today’s soiree scene, and that’s snack boards. Learn to build a snack board that demands attention with this deliciously Simple Charcuterie Board!

You have the guest list, the decoration, the music, and all that is left for planning your event are the snacks, but big meals mean big work and no host has time for that. No matter the size of your soiree you cannot go wrong with a charcuterie board. It is the elegant, adult way to snack and it's so much easier to put together than one might think. Bring together delicious flavors with this easy guide to crafting a Simple Charcuterie Board.

Jump to:

• What You’ll Love About This Simple Charcuterie Board
• Ingredients
• Special Equipment
• Simple Charcuterie Board Recipe

What You’ll Love About This Simple Charcuterie Board

Completely Customizable

With these helpful steps, you will have a great jumping-off point to let your culinary imagination run wild. A delicious charcuterie board is all about you and finding fresh and fun flavors. Follow these suggestions and you will feel confident choosing the right elements for your event’s charcuterie board.

Gorgeous at any Get-Together

This Simple Charcuterie Board is all about versatility. There is no gathering that is made worse by cheese and crackers! That’s why it's great to master this basic board and then build off of it. Make the portion bigger for a larger group or keep it small for an intimate gathering. No matter what you can’t go wrong with these classic snack staples.

Stylish Snacking

Cheese and crackers are for the kiddos because charcuterie boards are here for the grown-ups. Even if you’re not feeling very adult at the moment this classy snack board is sure to up your shine. This Simple Charcuterie Board can elevate your snacking and turn it into an elegant affair, even if it's just sweatpants night!

Ingredients

Sharp Cheddar

Sharp cheddar is a must-have for a great charcuterie board. Sharp when talking cheese refers to the development of the flavor. Sharp cheddar is fully matured and packed with salty, tangy, and creamy flavors. Cubes are the traditional choice for cheddar, but you can opt for slices if you prefer.

Parmesan

Parmesan has a beautiful nutty and mild taste that makes it a standout on any charcuterie board. For yours choose a parmesan that has a firm texture and a full savory body like Parmigiano Reggiano.

Medium Cheddar

Medium cheddar is cheddar on its way to maturity but with not quite as much body as sharp cheddar. Choose a nice creamy flavored medium cheddar and use either slices or cubes for the board.

Dubliner

This sweet Irish cheese has a nice grit and irresistible creaminess. Its texture makes it good for slicing or serving as a block with a cheese knife.

Gruyere

This hard Swiss cheese is beautiful on charcuterie boards. It is known for its salty, nutty richness and firm texture. This cheese is great for serving in slices or with its own cheese knife.

Brie

Brie is a beautiful soft cheese with an edible rind. Brie is most commonly sold in either wheels or triangles. If you’re preparing this for a large group, you can use the whole wheel. Just be sure to cut a piece out first because people never want to be the first to slice a perfect wheel.

Black Olives

Black olives are the bite of salt this board needs! Many of these cheeses are rich, creamy, and even sweet so having the black olives available is a great sweet savory pairing.

Green Olives

Green olives have more tangy tartness than their cousin the black olive. Their tangy flavor is a welcome complement to all the savoriness on this board. Choose your favorite variety of green olives for this snack.

Almonds

What makes almonds just right for snack boards is their flip-flopping flavor. These nuts walk the line between savory and sweet so deliciously. You can pick your favorite style of almonds for this board but simply salted or chili seasoned are great options.

Cashews

Cashews add a great nutty bite to the board to cut through all the creamy richness of the cheese. This mild nut tastes full of flavor yet it's low-fat making it a nice respite from all the fatty elements on this platter. Choose a simple salted or roasted cashew for this charcuterie board.

Seedless Grapes

With all the savory and lush elements on this board, your palate will be begging for something fresh and fruity. That is why grapes are a great addition to a Simple Charcuterie Board. Use red, green, or both to build this snacking board.

Crackers

You can have fun with this element of your charcuterie board. If you’re not sure which crackers to choose, try water crackers, herbed crackers, or classic butter crackers. Choose your favorite and don’t be afraid to put out more than one type.

Salami

This tasty sausage is made with pork or beef and is beloved for its smoky flavor. Salami adds a wonderful bite of salty and meaty flavor to the mix. For your board choose Genoa or Sopressata.

Prosciutto

Prosciutto is a dry-cured ham. Unlike salami, it is not smoked, but it's full of salty, meaty, sweet, and savory ham flavor. Prosciutto is often found in thin slices that are perfect for arranging on a Simple Charcuterie Board.

Chopped Vegetables

Chopped veggies can add some freshness to balance the flavors on this board. Pick traditional crudité veggies like carrots, cucumbers, radishes, or even peppers. Baby pickles are another great choice to add to the vegetable mix.

Honey

Honey and cheese just go together. A little drizzle of honey can bring all bold snacking elements together. Choose quality organic honey or spice things up by opting for hot honey instead.

Special Equipment

Cheese Knives

This specialized style of knife was designed to cut the cheese! Cheese knives come in a few different shapes designed for cheeses of different textures.

Hard cheese knives are often short and spade-shaped. They’re great for parmesan or gruyere.

Soft cheese knives might have holes along the blade and generally have sharp tips. This type of knife goes with the brie. An alternative to a typical soft cheese knife is a spreader which is a dull rounded blade made to smear or spread.

A cheese plane is another type of cheese knife. They sometimes resemble trowels but with a slit in the middle for slicing cheese. Cheese planes are perfect for cheddar.

Large Culinary Board

The board is as much a star as the food when it comes to this dish. You have to choose the right board to build your charcuterie on. There are a few things to consider when choosing the right board, including:

• Size - How many people are you serving and how much food did you buy? Pick a board that suits the size of your guest list and your supply!
• Shape - Round, square, rectangular, or even non-traditional shapes are all great. Some shapes lend themselves to different arrangements, like a spiral arrangement on a circular board.
• Style - Do you like wood? Do you like stone? The board makes a statement so pick a nice board that suits your personal style!

How to Arrange Simple Charcuterie Board

• Choose a shape, like a star or cross, and place a cheese or protein at each intersection.
• Fill the space between larger items with smaller things like loose olives or veggies.
• Fan the crackers evenly so they are easy to grab.
• Leave individual cheese knives with bigger blocks of cheese and the brie wedge.
• Place a honey wand in the honey for a cute touch.
• Items like olives and grapes can be loose or in small bowls.

Expert Tips

• Do not put everything out at once. Save some in the fridge to replenish as needed.
• Place a stack of plates and napkins next to the board for guests.
• Toothpicks come in handy when making charcuterie boards. Use them to serve or to help you craft decorations like olive spears.

How Long Can a Simple Charcuterie Board Sit Out?

The last thing you want people to remember about your snacking board is getting sick, so keep things safe by not leaving food out too long! It’s important to remember that common charcuterie elements are perishable and should not be left at room temperature all day.

The maximum amount of time charcuterie can stay out of refrigeration is 2 hours. That does not mean you have to stop serving, just discard anything uneaten and replenish from the fridge!

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