How to Make the BEST Cheese Board (Charcuterie Board) with 6 variations! Here’s a simple party appetizer tray that you can make in less than 20 minutes. Learn everything you need to know to build an awesome charcuterie board, plus tips and tricks for low carb options.
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THE PERFECT PARTY APPETIZER/EASY SNACK RECIPE
Summer entertaining season is in full swing and there’s nothing better than serving up the perfect charcuterie and cheese board for your guests to enjoy.
Veggie platters and cheese boards are the best because they require no cooking and no baking so you don’t have to turn on your hot oven on those crazy humid days.
Having a variety is key when you’re feeding a crowd — that way there is something for everyone.
So are you ready to learn how to make that epic charcuterie board for your next party?
Awesome! Cheese boards are crazy easy and take just a few minutes to put together. Here, you’ll find 6 different Cheese Boards that you can assemble (with low carb and keto cheese boards) that are a sure way to impress your house-guests.
And if you’re looking for more ideas, we’ve already got a few popular snack boards on our site that you can check out here:
Low Carb Cheese Platters – 2 Ways
How to Build the Perfect Fall Cheese Board
HOW TO ASSEMBLE A CHARCUTERIE BOARD:
CHEESE BOARD INGREDIENTS:
1. THE CHEESE BOARD:
There are lots of items you can use as your cheese board:
2. CHEESE
Cheese is and should be the star of any amazing cheese board so be sure to pick up some good quality cheeses.
Pick a variety of about 3-5 cheeses depending on how large your board is.
- Soft
- crumbly
- semi-soft
- semi-hard cheese
- hard cheese
It’s a good idea to arrange the cheeses first on your cheese board and then start assembling the rest of the ingredients around then.
For these cheeseboards, we used:
- Aged Cheddar
- Brie – rich and creamy
- Blue Cheese
- Smoked Gouda – cut into cubes
- Goat Cheese
Be sure to set the cheese out to come to room temp prior to serving.
3. WHAT TYPE OF CHARCUTERIE/MEATS SHOULD I USE FOR THE BEST CHEESEBOARD?
Use a variety of your favorite cured or deli meats with different textures.
Seafood (such as smoked salmon) makes a great option to add to give your guests more choices.
For the ultimate cheeseboard, here are some great options you can easily find:
- Proscuitto
- Salami / Sausage
- Smoked Salmon
- Beef Jerky
- Pepperoni Sticks
- Grilled Shrimp
4. CRUNCHY SNACKS/CRACKERS FOR THE BEST CHEESE BOARD:
I love using 2-3 different types of crackers. Some conventional square crackers to crunchy or long bread-sticks are some great breads to start off with.
Just lay them on the cheese board around the meet and wherever there are opening.
FOR LOW CARB / KETO -FRIENDLY – Leave out the crackers and use crispy cheese bites (Whisps) and pork rinds instead.
5. WHAT FRUITS & VEGGIES ARE BEST IN A CHARCUTERIE BOARD?
Adding fresh fruit and veggies not only adds a bright pop of color but they also add flavor and texture.
Use a variety of dried and fresh fruit you like or have on hand.
For these cheese boards:
- Dried Apricots
- Fresh Berries (Strawberry, Blackberry, Blueberry, Raspberry)
- Broccoli – low carb
- Cauliflower – low carb
- Cucumbers – low carb
- Cherries
- Freeze-Dried Raspberries – low carb
- Grapes
- Olives – low carb
- Radishes – low carb
- Red Bell Peppers – low carb
- Pineapple
- Plaintain Chips
- Tomatoes
- Watermelon
- Zucchini – low carb
6. NUTS AND OTHER EXTRAS/CONDIMENTS
Use your favorite nuts, sauces and spreads.
- almonds – low carb
- pecans – low carb
- macadamia nuts – low carb
- Pili nuts – low carb
- honey
- jam
7. USE UP EXTRA INGREDIENTS TO FULL UP THE SPACES
Fill up any opening spots with the remainder of ingredients of your choice. To add some fun pops of color, add fresh herbs or fresh flowers.
And there you have it!
You don’t HAVE to include all of the items we used in our cheeseboards.
Pick a few of your favorites or things you have in your pantry.
You can even create separate boards for various categories.
We have a low carb/ keto friendly version here as well:
Another keto-friendly version.
How to Make the BEST Cheese Board (Charcuterie Board) with 6 variations! Here's a perfect party appetizer tray that you can make in less than 20 minutes. Learn everything you need to know to build an awesome charcuterie board, plus tips and tricks for low carb options.
- Brie
- Blue Cheese
- Cheddar
- Goat Cheese
- Smoked Gouda
- Genoa Salami
- Prosciutto
- Smoked Salmon
- Grilled Shrimp
- Beef Jerky
- Pepperoni Sticks
- 2-3 varieties of crackers, breadsticks, mini toast bites
- FOR LOW CARB: Use Cheese Crisps (Whisps) and pork rinds
- Fresh vegetables broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, cucumber, tomatoes, zucchini & red bell peppers
- Dried fruits apricots, cranberries, plaintain chips
- Fresh berries or other fruits strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, blueberries, pineapple & watermelon
- 2-3 types of nuts almonds, pecans, walnuts, pili nuts, macadamia nuts etc.
- Olives
- Honey
- Jams
Place the cheeses on a large cookie sheet, platter, slate board or wooden cutting board.
Arrange the meats around the cheeses.
Add crackers or crispy snacks.
Fill in gaps with vegetables, fruits and nuts. Use small bowls or cups for extra dimension. Top with fresh herbs and flowers for a pop of color. Enjoy.
Did you try this recipe?
ww -
The boards you used looks great and the cheeseboard itself look DELICIOUS with those foods.
Taylor Hansen -
I like how you mentioned using 2-3 different types of crackers on the board and trying a low-carb option as well. My friends and I want to do a charcuterie board party this weekend and I need to find some high-quality crackers for it. I’ll be sure to find some that everyone will like and will pair well with the cheese.