Thanksgiving Charcuterie Board

Content… Why It’s Perfect for Thanksgiving Recipe Ingredients How to Make It Recipe Variations Tips and Tricks Make-Ahead Instructions Serving and Storage Instructions FAQs What to Serve More Awesome Thanksgiving Recipes to Try

Why Charcuterie Boards Are Perfect for Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving dinner traditionally means a ton of work. And if you do the bulk of the cooking, you already have a lot on your plate. So forget those complex appetizer recipes.

Enter the charcuterie board – no cooking needed, super easy to prep, gorgeous, something for everyone, and you can even throw it together the night before. The perfect solution. 🙌

What You’ll Need

1. Cheeses and Meat – These guys are the main ingredients on your charcuterie board because cured meats and various kinds of cheese will lessen your guests’ pre-dinner hunger.
2. Crackers and Bread – Who doesn’t love to pile meat and cheese on top of a good cracker or crostini? You’ll definitely want to include some carby elements on your board. 
3. Spreads and Dips – A few different spreads and dips (both sweet and savory) add flavor and texture to your board, making endless flavor possibilities for your grazers.
4. Fresh Produce – Fresh fruits and veggies are great for adding a pop of color to your board and balancing the rich meats and cheeses with something refreshing and crunchy.
5. Nuts – Another popular charcuterie board element, the nuts’ textures and colors are spot-on for a fall-themed charcuterie board. 
6. Decorative Elements – Flowers, fresh herbs, whole fruits, dried fruits, mini pumpkins – you can get really creative and make your board extra beautiful! ✨

Thanksgiving Charcuterie Board Ideas

Select Your Board and Utensils

• Choose a Board. A large wood cutting board works great, but try a slate board or a marble slab if you want to get fancy. 😍
• Gather Bowls and Tools. You’ll need a few ramekins or small bowls along with serving utensils. Think small forks and spoons for serving and knives to slice up any fruit and cheese.

Prep Your Elements

• Chop or Slice – Fruit, veggies, meats, and cheeses may need to be sliced, chopped, or cubed. Of course, you can buy these items already prepped or do it the night before. If any ingredients can be cut into leaf shapes, even better.
• Store the cut-up elements separately in airtight containers in the fridge until ready to assemble the board.

Arrange the Board

• Fill your Ramekins. Dips, spreads, jams, and other wet items, such as pickles or olives, can go in the small bowls. Fill them up and arrange them on the board, evenly spaced.
• Large First. Directly on the board, start with larger items like cheese wheels or that tiny decorative pumpkin you picked up for the occasion. (Photos 1-2)
• Slices. Fold sliced meats into quarters or your chosen decorative fold and place them on the board. (Photos 3-11)
• Crackers. Lay out any crackers or bread you’re including here and there around the board. 
• Smaller Last. Start filling in the gaps with smaller items, such as fruit, veggies, nuts, candies, and chocolate. (Photo 12)
• Final Touches. Take a look at your finished board and make necessary adjustments to fill in holes or balance out the colors and textures evenly. 

Recipe Variations

You can literally make a charcuterie board for any occasion by varying the ingredients.

1. Make a Mexican-themed board with meats, cheeses, salsas, tortilla chips, guacamole, mini tacos, mini churros, and brightly colored peppers.
2. Or try a breakfast charcuterie tray with bacon, mini pancakes, syrups and jams, French toast sticks, egg bites, and fresh fruit. You can literally make a charcuterie board with any theme, so use your imagination and get creative! 😄
3. Make any board gluten-free or dairy-free. Substitute traditional ingredients with non-dairy cheeses and dips and gluten-free crackers and breads.
4. Create a dessert board with mini pecan pies, pecan pie brownies, pecan pralines, apple cinnamon muffins, and no-bake cheesecake bites for a start.

Tips and Tricks

1. Don’t have a cutting board or serving tray you love? A cake stand or a pizza stone also works great for your charcuterie board. 
2. Remember to ask your guests about food allergies. For example, if someone has a peanut allergy, you’ll want to keep those off your board as they could contaminate other ingredients. 
3. Cut cheeses into various shapes to add visual interest to your board. Cube the cheddar, make little triangles from the gouda wheel, rectangles with the Colby jack, you get the idea. 
4. Check out my post on charcuterie board ideas for more tips and tricks. 😉

Make-Ahead Instructions

To save time, you can prep all your ingredients ahead of time. Washing fruit, cutting meats and cheeses, etc. Store prepped ingredients in the fridge in airtight containers if they are perishable until you are ready to create your masterpiece. However, it’s best to assemble your charcuterie board on the day of your event. The ingredients will taste fresher, and it only takes a few minutes.

Serving and Storage Instructions

To serve your charcuterie board, simply place it on the table and let the grazing begin! If you have leftovers, keep them in airtight containers separately and snack on them whenever you feel like it! Depending on your chosen ingredients, they’ll keep in the fridge for 3-5 days or maybe longer. 

FAQs

What to Serve With a Thanksgiving Charcuterie Board

Why, cocktails, of course! I like serving mulled wine or a hibiscus fruity sangria cocktail, but any pretty cocktail will go great with this fall charcuterie board. 

If your guests don’t do alcohol or are underaged, try a pretty juice or tea instead. Peach tea or homemade ginger juice also goes great with a charcuterie board. 😋

More Awesome Thanksgiving Recipes to Try

1. Smoked Turkey
2. Baked Spatchcock Turkey
3. Sweet Potato Casserole
4. Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes
5. Cranberry Sauce
6. Green Bean Casserole
7. Southern Jiffy Cornbread Dressing

This blog post was originally published in October 2022 and has been updated with additional tips and gorgeous photos