How to Make a Charcuterie Board (Two Different Ways!)

We’re on the home stretch of holiday season and I’ve been loving seeing all of your AK holiday creations. We’ve covered the best holiday cookies, delicious dinners & sides to serve for your holiday table, and now I’m here to bring you two epic, beautiful charcuterie boards that are perfect for any occasion.

There’s truly nothing better than a full stocked charcuterie board to bring people together. They’re both delicious and gorgeous, and you don’t even have to cook anything (win!)

FREE Ultimate Thanksgiving Guide (+ printable checklist!)

Whether you’re hosting or just attending, this Ultimate Thanksgiving Guide email series is for everyone. Enter your email below to get all of my best recipes, tips, and a FREE printable checklist for all of your Thanksgiving needs.

I included both a meat & cheese charcuterie board and a vegan charcuterie board that are perfect for entertaining all of your guests. Check out my favorite snacks to add, plus some helpful tips when choosing yours. I also added my favorite serving tools + props so that you’ll be a charcuterie artist in no time. Enjoy, xo!

Board 1: Meats & Cheese

Meats:

1. Spicy salami
2. Summer sausage
3. Thinly sliced prosciutto
4. Cured chorizo

Cheeses:

1. Soft brie (or camembert)
2. Sharp cheddar (we love a spicy cheddar)
3. Herby havarti
4. Zesty blue cheese or gorgonzola
5. Feta cheese cubes (put these in a ramekin and drizzle with olive oil!)

Crackers:

1. Your favorite multigrain variety (we love Simple Mills)
2. Mini bruschetta crackers
3. Pita chips
4. Pretzel crisps

Fruits:

1. Grapes
2. Fresh figs or dried dates
3. Dried fruit like apricots, cherries or cranberries
4. Optional: apple or pear slices

Extras:

1. Cocktail pickles
2. Olives
3. Mixed roasted nuts
4. Apricot or your favorite jam
5. Spicy grainy mustard
6. Roasted red peppers
7. A delicious wine! We love rosé for the warmer months, but a deep red is delicious for the holidays.

Tips + Tricks:

• Choose both spicy and mild meat to compliment the fresh flavors on your board.
• Use a mix of hard and soft cheeses, and include one with a bold flavor.
• Mix it up with different consistencies — a thicker cracker or baguette slices are great with crispy, thin crackers.
• Use your fruits to add pops of color and sweetness to your board! Add some greens using fresh herbs.The more color variety the better.
• Get creative with jams, mustards, and a variety of nuts to fill out your board. Leave no spaces!

Board 2: The Vegan

Dips:

1. Your favorite hummus varieties
2. Olive tapenade
3. Homemade guacamole

Crackers:

1. Classic or gluten free crispy rounds
2. Sea salt: Simple Mills is my go-t0!

Fruits & Veggies:

1. Matchstick carrots
2. Celery
3. Grapes
4. Pear or apple slices
5. Blackberries or raspberries
6. Fresh figs or dates
7. Fresh pomegranate segments

Extras:

1. Kalamata olives
2. Crispy roasted chickpeas
3. Sweet and spicy nuts (or sub roasted mixed nuts)
4. Dark chocolate: try these Theo Chocolate flavors or put some Enjoy Life chocolate chunks in a ramekin to keep it dairy-free!
5. Rosemary: for garnish

Tips + Tricks

• Choose a couple of different flavors for your vegan dips, and preferably different colors!
• I love adding a buttery, crispy cracker to pair with these vegan dips.
• Get a little wild with fruits & veggies! They’re perfect for filling out your board and for dipping.
• Incorporate a creative snack or two, like crispy chickpeas and dark chocolate, to keep your board fun & interesting.

Our favorite props

1. Sonder Los Angeles Cutting Board

2. Fun cheese knives

3. Porcelain ramekins and glass ramekins

4. Pretty wine glasses

5. Cutting board mineral oil

6. Porcelain cheese markers (or snag some cute, disposable flag markers)

Share your board creations with us using the hashtag #ambitiouskitchen on Instagram!