5 Small Charcuterie Board Ideas (2024)

FAQs

5 Small Charcuterie Board Ideas? ›

A salad or dessert plate is perfect as your platter for a personal charcuterie board. I recommend using 1 cheese and 2 meats or 2 cheeses and 1 meat. Then sprinkle in a few pieces of fruit (like apple slices and some grapes) and a handful of crackers and you're ready to dine!

A salad or dessert plate is perfect as your platter for a personal charcuterie board. I recommend using 1 cheese and 2 meats or 2 cheeses and 1 meat. Then sprinkle in a few pieces of fruit (like apple slices and some grapes) and a handful of crackers and you're ready to dine!

The 3333 rule applies to the number of foods to create the perfect board. To follow the 3,3,3,3 rule, stick to three cheeses, three meats, three starches, and three accoutrements.

Plan for about 1-2 ounces of cheese per person. As with your meat selections, have your cheese sliced thin (at a 1-2 thickness) to make layering easier. If you'd like to incorporate cheese cubes, or have guests cut their own pieces, have those sliced at an 8-10 thickness.

The term “charcuterie” refers to the preparing of cured meats, like prosciutto, bacon, salami, etc., but these days when people say charcuterie, they are usually referring to a fun, meat and cheese board that typically includes cured meats, a variety of cheeses, crackers, nuts, fruits and vegetables, and dipping sauces ...

Arrange the items on the board – Once you've selected your meats, cheeses, and accompaniments, it's time to start arranging them on the board. Start by placing the larger items, like meats and cheeses, on the board first. Then, fill in the gaps with the smaller accompaniments.

Divide your board into quadrants, and place one type of meat in the middle of each quadrant. There are different ways to place the charcuterie: You can shape slices into a rose-like shape, by rolling them like a cinnamon roll. Little clumps and swirls of cured hams are easy and fun.

The Best Vegetables to Use

When it comes to what vegetables you should use for your vegetable charcuterie, almost any vegetable can work. Some easy favorite vegetables to incorporate in your boards include, carrots, celery, bell peppers, cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, broccoli, cauliflower, asparagus and green beans.

Can you make a charcuterie board the night before? ›

*You can easily prep boards in advance. Prepare up to 24 hours in advance, cover, and store in the fridge until ready to serve.

Picking the Right Size Charcuterie Board

They're also compact and easier to store. A medium-sized board (12 to 15 inches in length, or roughly 150 square inches) is likely the most versatile and ideal for households of four to six people or those who entertain frequently.

Arrange 2-3 cheeses around bowls, slicing or cutting to make them a little easier to pick up. Add additional snacks and meat to fill out board. Fill in spaces with crackers or bread, or serve on the side. Enjoy!

In addition to balancing flavors (sweet, salty, sour), you also want to balance textures. For cheese, you'll want something hard, medium and soft. For meat, pair a thinly sliced meat (like prosciutto) with something a bit denser (like a salami) and something more spreadable (like a pate).

The flavors can be paired with the cheeses or chosen for their unique qualities, but always aim to have something spicy, something smoky, and something unexpected. Rule of thumb: 1 small salami, 1 large salami, 1 whole-muscle meat.

A good rule of thumb is 1 ounce of each cheese for every guest and about five types of cheese. For a party in which cheese is the main event, plan on buying 3 pounds for eight people, 6 pounds for 16 people, or 9 pounds for 24 people. If cheese is one of many items being served, plan on buying 3 to 4 ounces per person.