How to Create Your First Charcuterie Board

So, if you read a few posts back in December then you probably know that I had a small and safe baby shower for my best friend. One of the things that I knew she really wanted was a charcuterie board. Having never made one, I honestly was kinda stressed for a few weeks. Here is how I created my first charcuterie board and how you can too!

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The Basics

If you are making your first charcuterie board for anyone but yourself, then you need to know how many people you are feeding. As someone who is lactose intolerant but loves cheese, I knew that I was going to eat at least half and regret it later. With that being said, once I knew how many people were coming, I did some internet research.

According to Bristol Farms, you want at least 3 ounces of meat and cheese per person attending your party. Since we are cheese lovers in this little group, I decided to add a few more ounces just because I knew it would get eaten. From there, I had a few more decisions to make.

Since my friend is pregnant, I wanted to make sure that the board was safe for her to eat. Luckily my boyfriend is a doctor who was able to help quite a bit, but I also wanted to do some internet research just to make sure. I ultimately decided to add in items she wasn’t allowed to eat. I wanted there to be a good variety for everyone.

What am I going to put it on?

My next question was where is this charcuterie board going to go?! The good news is that from blogging for years, I have a ton of different surfaces and boards so I grabbed two. The first being a wooden circular and the second being a rectangular marble option.

For this, I think it really depends on who you are serving. If it is just you and your partner, a simple plate would do just fine. The size of the plate should be relative to how many people you are serving.

Choosing the meats

Now it is time to talk about everything that I put on my board! The first choice I made were meats. I wanted a variety of meats and I ended up going to Costco. I found a variety of different sausages and deli meats. While Amelia couldn’t eat any of them, I wanted everyone to have what they wanted. Did I over meat on my board? Honestly, probably.

When it comes to meats, traditionally you want a combination of different textures, flavors, and heat levels. Choose some harder meats such as salami or even pepperoni. Then choose some softer meats such as prosciutto and you can also use pâtés if that is something that you and your guests enjoy.

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Cheese, Cheese, and More Cheese!

Your first charcuterie board is nothing without a great selection of cheese. Similar to choosing meats, you want a combination of different cheese textures and flavors to make your charcuterie board exciting.

I chose soft cheeses such as brie, but I also had harder cheeses such as an aged Vermont cheddar. Once you have basic textures out of the way, make sure you have fun with different flavors. There are so many great seasonal and regional cheeses that you can include on your charcuterie board. One of my staples is always a great gouda!

extras for your first charcuterie board

Lastly, no good charcuterie board is ready without a few extra items. These are completely up to you. They are a great way to add different flavors such as sweet, sour, or spicy. Adding olives, pickles, or anything with some sort of brine to it can bring an entirely new flavor to your board.

Nuts and different breads can add a crunch factor that you board may be seeking. It also acts as a vessel to enjoy your cheese and meats. I make my own baguettes, so I just made them a little bit smaller so they were more bite size. You can also add different crackers to your board. I found a huge variety pack at Costco!

Spreads and jams and even fruits are great way to bring in the sweet flavor that goes so well with different meats and cheeses. One of my all time favorite combos is figs with cheese. You can also find grapes and strawberries that will help you fill in gaps on your board, but are also fan favorites!

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How did your first charcuterie board go?