Exploring unique charcuterie board ideas is a fun and surprisingly simple way to impress guests at any event. Wondering what should be included on a charcuterie board? Classically, the term “charcuterie” refers to meats and cheeses, such as prosciutto and cheddar.

As it turns out, you can cover a charcuterie board in pretty much any edible substance you want and still call them charcuterie board ideas. That includes everything from pizza ingredients to candy or brunch favorites.

If you're stumped and looking for some fabulous charcuterie board ideas, check out our fun list below! From charcuterie experts to those wondering how to host your first dinner party, we also have some ideas for learning how to put your board items together. 

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• Learn How to Make the Perfect Charcuterie Board
• Best Charcuterie Board Ideas for a Party
• Simple Charcuterie Board Ideas for Two
• Unique Charcuterie Board Ideas
• Vegetarian Charcuterie Board Ideas
• Inexpensive Charcuterie Board Ideas

Learn How to Make the Perfect Charcuterie Board

Top Tips for Perfecting Charcuterie

What are some tips for making a charcuterie board? According to this University of Mississippi Dissertation by Megan Staffieri, “Liquid pigment [can seep] into the pine board,” and one way to prevent this is to glaze the wood of the charcuterie board before you use it for your delicious snackables.

Other tips include making sure to pick your meats and cheeses wisely, perhaps a heavier meat with lighter cheeses, or heavier cheeses with a selection of sliced meats and crackers and adding accompanying snacks like nuts, oils and olives to your board.

Lastly, what is the 3 3 3 3 rule for charcuterie board? This relates to the way in which you divide the board into sections for visual and taste appeal — 3 of each: cheeses, meats, starches and accompaniments.

Don't forget to arrange your charcuterie board ideas with each item in its own particular area of the board!

Join Charcuterie Board Cooking Classes

If you're looking to learn some of these skills and pro charcuterie board making tips with world-class chefs, look into cooking classes near you, such as cooking classes in Austin, cooking classes in Boston and cooking classes in Chicago — or even try some online cooking classes.

You'll work with top chefs to learn to create impressive charcuterie board ideas for every occasion. 

Best Charcuterie Board Ideas for a Party

1. Holiday Charcuterie Board

If you're looking to share your charcuterie board, one idea is to set it to a holiday theme, like a festive, tree-shaped Christmas charcuterie board, or a board entirely filled with red and pink foods for Valentine's Day, or latkes and matze for Hannukah gifts.

If you're struggling with your charcuterie board ideas, here are some Halloween food ideas and New Year's Eve foods to inspire your fall charcuterie. 

2. Breakfast or Brunch

Who doesn't love breakfast and brunch food items? Fill your board with bacon, eggs and steak and pop some Champagne for mimosas while you chat over the board with your friends. Here are some magnificent brunch party ideas to further elevate your gathering.

3. Seasonal

If you're searching for a party theme, why not choose foods from the season? Take some fresh flowers for garnish in spring, use cookies with icing in the snowy winter or foods you can only get during that season, or check out some fall party ideas to add to your next event.

4. Kid's Party

Whether you loved going to the movies or a good slumber party, savory and sweet party snacks from childhood are always a hit. Your charcuterie board ideas could involve little dishes of popcorn and candy or ice cream toppings (which, to be fair, is usually more candy).

5. Fair Food

Start with some mini caramel apples — cut up some apples into slices and include a dish of rainbow sprinkles and another one of caramel for dipping.

You could also add your other favorite fair snacks like small bite-sized fried dough or fried Oreos. 

Simple Charcuterie Board Ideas for Two

6. Fried Potatoes

Similar to the previous charcuterie board ideas for a party, you can fill a wooden palette with your favorite fried potato snacks like chips, fries, tater tots and more.

This makes a delightful comfort food option for charcuterie board ideas for two — comfort foods displayed aesthetically on a charcuterie board also make for great gifts for foodies.

7. S'mores

If you are a camping and hiking kind of couple, scrumptious s'mores are the order of the day. You can fill little open jars with fluff and marshmallows and chocolate, both solid and melted, plus a selection of crackers.

8. Classic Meat & Cheese

Share some lighter snacks in classic-style charcuterie board ideas with your honey or your best friend. You could give your choices in meats and cheeses a more specific theme, like Mediterranean (lamb and feta with oil) or Midwestern (sausage and cheddar with honey mustard). Spice it up or keep it simple for a delectable treat.

9. Chicken Wings

Cook them in different marinades ahead of time or include a few sauces on your board, either way, you can settle into a feast of chicken wings — and any side that feels appropriate, like broccoli and cauliflower or carrots.

Unique Charcuterie Board Ideas

10. Travel-Inspired

Collect a few different snacks from your favorite food cultures. You could have egg rolls, pierogies, Belgian waffles, goat cheese, with a side of some Irish whiskey.

What are your favorite snacks from around the world? Put them together for superb charcuterie board ideas.

11. Hot Chocolate

There are tons of different flavors of hot chocolate. Put some little marshmallows in a little dish, some chocolate sauce in another and fill the rest with a flavor you'd love to try adding to your hot chocolate. Would you try caramel or maple syrup first? Peppermint would be a favorite!

12. Hollywood VIP

Don't you love dressing up fancy and feeling like the star of the show? Now you can do the same thing with your food! Include some edible glitter or just sprinkle it over the whole board, and include some Ritz-y food items like escargot and chocolate-covered strawberries.

13. Spanish Tapas

Pre-cook the ingredients for these unique charcuterie board ideas — grill some heirloom pan con tomate and have a side of patatas bravas, as well as a variety of olives and aioli.

Vegetarian Charcuterie Board Ideas

14. Focus on Fruits

Another classic set of charcuterie board ideas is matching fruits or vegetables with cheese. Perhaps you might pair heavier cheese with light, sweet fruits or vegetables with lighter cheese. You could also try a Mediterranean or tropical theme.

This theme of charcuterie board is especially popular on lists of baby shower food ideas as it contains a lot of items that are healthy for both baby and mom. 

15. Seafood

This one is a little more far-fetched than some of the others since seafood is a little harder to prepare for small charcuterie board ideas. Cocktail shrimp and small bites of fried haddock could work for some seafood snack item options.

16. Opt for Vegan

There are so many vegan snacks you can add to your charcuterie board ideas. There are vegan versions of cheese, but there are also seasonings like olive oil with dill and parsley and vegetables or pickled vegetables.

There are also sauces and dips like honey, jam and hummus. Don't forget your legumes (nuts, beans, etc) and items made of them (like falafel made of chickpeas).

17. Choice Chocolates

Split up your board for arrangement purposes like usual. Then fill each compartment with a different kind of chocolate — it will be like a unique take on a chocolate box! Share it with your friends or keep it all to yourself.

Inexpensive Charcuterie Board Ideas

18. Pretzels Around the World

Different nations around the world prepare pretzels in different ways, some with wasabi, some with schnitzel. Make yourself delightfully diverse and inexpensive charcuterie board ideas around the theme of Pretzels of the World. 

If you're planning a wedding and want to serve a crowd on a budget, then a pretzel charcuterie board is a great wedding food idea. 

19. Keep Ingredients Simple

Expensive or luxurious ingredients are certainly not required to create an impressive charcuterie board! Cut down on costs by opting for meats, cheeses and other snacks to create charcuterie board ideas that best suit your budget. 

20. After-School Snacks

When you got home from school as a child, what was your favorite snack? Some examples might have included Goldfish, animal crackers, Annie's gummies, Ritz crackers, Cheez-Its and more! Pile on the kiddie snacks and enjoy your delectable savory dish.

21. Build Your Own Taco

This is precisely what it sounds like. Each section of your board has a different taco-building ingredient. Then you get together with friends and everybody can build their own. One of the most enjoyable inexpensive charcuterie board ideas is right here. 

22. Build Your Own Pizza

Choose a variety of pizza toppings and sauces and bread with cheese melted onto it. Arrange these in a visually appealing manner on your board. Your friends will be impressed with this fun and upscale pizza-making experience.

23. Picnic Picks

Akin to the classic “meat and cheese” or “vegetable and cheese”, a charcuterie board with a picnic lunch theme has similar items, but more variety.

Include a starch, a cheese, a vegetable, a condiment and a dessert – plus some side snacks like nuts or potato chips — for an adorable yet simple picnic date idea.

Keep in mind that if you don't have a small dish to put it in, anything too oily or fruits that are extremely juicy may cause issues with the wood.

There are so many exciting charcuterie board ideas and themes to experiment with! Which will you try first? Another question you might have is: what not to put on a charcuterie board? 

For even more fun food and cooking ideas, check out other experiences happening on Classpop!