Easy Charcuterie Board Ideas for 2023
I am a big fan of EASY when it comes to entertaining. If you don't feel like cooking or don't have a lot of time to prepare, a charcuterie board can be a great option for feeding a large group of people. All you have to do is make a trip to the store to buy all of your ingredients, arrange them, and you're done. Today I'm sharing with you 27 themed charcuterie board ideas for your next casual get together.
What is a charcuterie board?
Charcuterie is just the French word for cured meats. A typical French charcuterie board contains a couple of meats, a pâté or terrine, slices of baguette, a few cheeses, mustard, some pickles, and maybe a few grapes. But in the last few years, charcuterie boards have taken on a life of their own with all kinds of meats and cheeses, dips and spreads, crackers, and fruits and vegetables all artfully arranged on a beautiful board.
They've become popular because they're easy and yet impressively beautiful at the same time. Everyone thinks they're fun, and no matter what kind of diet you follow, you can usually find something to eat on a charcuterie board.
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What Kind of Board to Use
When it comes to putting together a charcuterie board, first, you have to decide what to use as your base. You can't go wrong with a wooden or slate board, but you can also just use anything that you have -- a platter or even a cookie sheet can work in a pinch.
Check out the 12 BEST charcuterie boards for sale online here!
How to Assemble a Charcuterie Board
Assembling a charcuterie board really isn't hard and there's no one right way to do it. But there is a certain art to it. Lexi from Lexi's Clean Kitchen has a great tutorial in this video below.

When to Serve a Charcuterie Board
Charcuterie boards can be served in a lot of different situations:
- As an appetizer for a party
- As part of a Charcuterie Board Party where each person brings a different theme
- As a meal for 3-4 people (or for a large group if you have a HUGE board)
- As dish for a potluck
- As an after-school snack for kids and their friends
- As a light lunch
If you want access to ideas for charcuterie ingredients that you can always refer to, download my Charcuterie Cheatsheet below!
Each of these charcuterie board ideas below will give you step-by-step "recipes" for making an awesome board that your guests will love. Let's dig in! No matter what time of year you're celebrating, there's a board here for you. Welcome spring (and your guests) with this colorful cheese board. Candied Meyer lemons and lemon yogurt dip add brightness to the salty flavors of salami and prosciutto. With clear step-by-step photos, this summer board is easy to build and filled with fresh fruits like peaches and tomatoes and creamy Burrata and Brie cheeses. Peppered salami, candied bacon, bourbon apple butter, and pumpkin hummus are the stars of this beautiful cheese boardt. It's the perfect way to celebrate fall. This colorful board is filled with seasonal fruit that will brighten up any winter party. The pears with blue cheese and prosciutto add a special touch so guests can just grab and go. With salami roses, this fruit and cheese board still technically counts as charcuterie but adds a yummy 3-ingredient chocolate fruit dip as an accompaniment. Mmmm! Celebrate the 4th of July with this festive charcuterie board that resembles the American flag. With all the tastiest red, white and blue snacks, you'll have a patriotic board you can be proud of. This Halloween spread is the perfect combination of yummy and scary -- "SPOOKcuterie," if you will. A lot of thought went into planning this themed board, from cutting ghost-shaped Brie to adding fall flavors like candy corn and caramel popcorn. Adding cranberry sauce, pomegranate arils, and decorative Thanksgiving elements makes this board special and festive. There are also a lot of suggestions for variations! How pretty is this Christmas wreath made out of traditional charcuterie ingredients? Impressive and almost too pretty to eat. Winter's best is featured on this holiday-themed board with pomegranate seeds and a homemade cranberry salsa making it extra special. Whether it's because of its presentation, its theme, or its ingredients, each of the following charcuterie boards are unique and fun! I love the bright colors in this charcuterie board that can serve as the perfect appetizer before an all-evening Italian meal. If you like shopping at Trader Joe's, you'll love that you can pick up all of the ingredients for this board on your next grocery trip. Both beautiful AND affordable, your guests will love all the flavors in this spread. I love the creativity in this board that provides both snacks and toppings for a Bloody Mary. From pickled asparagus to shrimp and cheeses, there are plenty of variety in the flavors here. These "jar-cuterie" cups are the perfect way to give your guests all of the things they love about a charcuterie board without the worry of spreading germs. Creative and adorable! Charcuterie ingredients in a giant homemade pretzel is genius. If you're a fan of Topgolf's Pretzel Board with those yummy dipping sauces, now you can make it at home. What do you do when your get together includes both adults and kids? Make a board that both will love! This cheese board features kid-friendly cheeses and crackers and enough fruits and vegetables to please Mom, too. With a bacon-covered cheeseball in the shape of a football, this charcuterie board is perfect for Game Day. Your friends will love it! Smoked salmon, hard-boiled eggs, fresh fruits and veggies, flavored cream cheese, and bagels make up this fancy board. This gourmet spread will elevate your breakfast experience. This gluten-free, Keto charcuterie board is a perfect option for entertaining. With so many meats, cheeses, fruits and veggies, you won't even miss your carbs. When it comes to date night or inviting a friend over for a simple lunch, you can't go easier than a small charcuterie board. With Boursin cheese, fruit, pickles, cheeses, and meats, you get a little taste of everything. This last set of boards may not be technically "charcuterie" since they lack meats, but they're definitely a hit for entertaining. Who needs meat when you get to eat waffles with all the toppings? This colorful board is the perfect meal to wake up to. I love the idea of these individual grazing boxes for a casual lunch with friends or a picnic. Pick from sweet or savory and make these portable boxes perfect for snacking. While "vegan charcuterie" may seem like an oxymoron, this board full of vegan meats and dairy-free cheeses proves that you can make a beautiful and tasty display fit for your plant-loving friends. I'm not sure I could ever say, "no," to a pot of cheese fondue. With all kinds of carb-y dippers as well as broccoli and apples for a healthy twist, this beer cheese fondue board is perfect for entertaining a crowd. Whether you're celebrating Valentine's Day, Galentine's Day, or an anniversary, nothing says "love" more than a board full of dark chocolate, homemade sugar cookies, nuts, cheese, and fresh berries. This St. Patrick's Day dessert board brings elements of everything we love about the holiday: rainbows, pots of gold, lucky shamrocks, and the color green. Such a fun way to celebrate! Hot cocoa is the perfect drink to serve when it gets cold out, and this board provides all the most delicious stir-ins. From peppermints to marshmallows and chocolate chovered spoons, your guests will be able to make their perfect cup.Seasonal and Holiday Charcuterie Boards
Fun Themed Charcuterie Boards
Nontraditional Themed Boards
Love this post? You may also like:
- 42 of the Best Homemade Charcuterie Ingredients
- The BEST Charcuterie Boards for Sale on Amazon and Etsy
Bintu | Recipes From A Pantry
So many delicious charcuterie board ideas - thanks for including my French board!
sandi
You're welcome, Bintu!
Jennifer
Love these ideas!
sandi
I'm glad you like them, Jennifer! I'm kinda obsessed myself.
Meg
What a fun read! The Southern-Inspired board reminded me of a Black-eyed Pea humus I have always intended to make. There will be charcu happening this weekend at our house, for sure.
sandi
Ooh -- black-eyed pea hummus sounds good! You'll have to share the recipe if it's good.
Ann
Such wonderful ideas! Thank you for sharing at Party In Your PJs!
Carrie
I have been pinning this lately. I want to do one for New Years Eve.... all we do is snack anyway. Yours look wonderful.
sandi
I served one at a little get together last weekend, and I loved how it drew everyone to just sit/stand around and eat while they visited. They're so fun! I hope yours goes well, Carrie!
Dyan
Just found your blog from A Morning Cup of Joe and LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this post! I have a small house so am always looking for "pick-up" food so that I don't have to try and fit more than 4 around the table! Thanks for the effort in research.
sandi
You're welcome, Dyan! I'm so glad that it was helpful to you!
Michele McDonough
With the Covid virus, I don't want to do a board that everyone picks on. I'd rather do individual boards. Any ideas?
sandi
I am so sorry for the late response -- I took a break from the blog during the height of the pandemic because I felt conflicted about encouraging people to get together. But I thought this was a really great question. What I did when we finally felt comfortable inviting people over again, was to make a board where everything was in individualized portions. So I made charcuterie skewers with cheese tortellini, olives, meats, and roasted red peppers and had little cups with hummus and veggies, etc. That way no one was touching serving utensils OR each other's food.
Ann Miller
I just fumbled over your wonderful website. You have given me the best ideas for my canasta days.
I will look forward to more great information.
Ann
sandi
Great, Ann! I've been inactive on the site for a bit but am hoping to update and get back to encouraging people towards community. Thanks for stopping by.
Christine Mathews
They all look amazing!