How to Create An AMAZING Simple Charcuterie Board

Learn how to create a simple charcuterie board that not only looks incredible, but tastes great too!

With warmer weather on the way, I wanted to share one of my favorite easy (and most beautiful) ways to entertain- with an easy charcuterie board.

If it’s fall, then you’ll love our pretty fall charcuterie board too!

What is a Charcuterie Board?

The charcuterie board concept is simple.

Add some meat, cheese, fruit, nuts, and anything else that you would like to a marble, slate, or wood serving platter.

Now you’ve got an instant appetizer or snack that is great for the family, friends, and entertaining!

Why Create a Meat and Cheese Board?

Not only is a charcuterie platter simple to create, it has an elegance and sense of sophistication that can add just the right touch to your next get-together.

Just remember that there is no right or wrong to this!

There are a few guidelines, but feel free to include your favorites and personalize your charcuterie plate to you and your group, as well as to the fruit that’s in season.

How to Make a Charcuterie Board

You’ll need just a few things to create a gorgeous charcuterie board. Here are some necessities and a few of my favorites…

Best Serving Platters for a Simple Charcuterie Board

A slate, marble, or wood platter all work great as the base for your board.

I wanted a long, rustic style platter, so I used a piece of aged wood that I had saved for the perfect occasion.

Fresh white and purple flowers that grow in my yard were arranged around the outside of the board. They added such a pretty, natural look!

Start with the Meat and Cheese

A variety of high quality meat and cheese is essential to a delicious meat and cheese board.

A variety gives everyone options to try, add different colors and shapes to your serving tray.

Add Some Fruit

Sliced apples, sliced pears, grapes, figs, and kumquats are all great choices for your cheese plate.

I included some amazing green kiwi berries that look like kumquats, but are actually small kiwi (minus the brown fuzzy skin).

Dried fruit can also be used in place of or in addition to fresh fruit.

Fill in with Bread and Crackers

Serve some combination of bread and/or crackers on your charcuterie board to pair with the meat and cheese.

A sliced baguette and a variety of crackers are great additions to the platter.

Don’t Forget the Olives

Olives add a nice depth of flavor to a simple charcuterie board. You can serve a variety, or stick to one or two different flavors.

A Variety of Nuts

Whole nuts add an earthy, nutty taste to a cheese plate.

I used raw almonds and walnuts, but any nuts can be used as well.

Extra Flavors

It’s fun to add a few extra flavors to your table.

Fresh herbs, like the fresh rosemary sprigs I used, add some pretty green to the platter.

They also add a layer of depth and complexity to the other flavors in the meat and cheese board.

Other extras flavors to consider:

olive oil
mustard
pate
preserves

I won’t tell you how quickly we devoured everything from our charcuterie board. Let’s just say that it was a big hit!

My daughter was especially excited that the Felino sausage were shaped just like little hearts…

More Entertaining Ideas:

This post was updated in March 2021, and was originally posted in March 2017.