21 Festive & Fun Thanksgiving Charcuterie Board Ideas for 2024

As we approach the holiday season, it’s time to start thinking about your Thanksgiving charcuterie board. From charcuterie board ideas to Friendsgiving ideas to potluck ideas and more, this list of festive and fun Thanksgiving charcuterie board ideas will fill your head with possibilities. Skip the restaurants are open on Thanksgiving and try to provide a nice balanced board at home. 

So, if you’re wondering what can I put on a Thanksgiving charcuterie board? What cheese goes with Thanksgiving? Read on to find out. 

Jump to Section

• 21 Best Thanksgiving Charcuterie Board Ideas
• Practice Thanksgiving Cooking With Top Chefs

21 Best Thanksgiving Charcuterie Board Ideas

1. Assorted Meats 

Let's start with meats. From salami to duck breasts, meats add an earthy and savory element to any Thanksgiving charcuterie board. Given the occasion, however, you may want to steer clear of any roast, smoked or marinated turkey... for obvious reasons.

Instead, try thinly sliced prosciutto seasoned with rock salt, finely hashed mortadella flavored with pistachios or delicately dry-cured serrano ham.

Don't feel obligated to choose just one! Meats come in all different flavors and textures. Some may be chewier, and others may be gamier. Mix and match the meats, allowing guests to forge their own path to the perfect pairing of crackers and cheese. Serve a Thanksgiving salad on the side filled with juicy fruits of the season to balance the meaty oils. 

2. Savory Cheeses 

Grab the Lactaid pills if you have to because no Thanksgiving charcuterie board is complete without cheese. Cheeses are versatile as they add both a world of flavor and a world of texture to the smorgasbord.

Balance out those rich, gamy flavors with soft, semi-soft or hard chesses. Soft chesses like brie, camembert, goat cheese and burrata are buttery, tangy and oh-so-gooey.

Semi-soft cheese like Havarti, fontina, Munster and gouda are smooth and mild. Hard cheese like cheddar, Parmigiano-Reggiano, asiago and pecorino are sharp, salty and perfect for shaving or crumbling. 

3. Choose the Right Crackers 

Forget what you know about crackers, which tend to go over-looked when Thanksgiving charcuterie board planning. However, these crunchy cousins of restaurant bread deserve their time in the spotlight.

Crackers add a delightful crunch to a charcuterie board and serve as a convenient vessel for transporting dips and cheeses from board to mouth.

Flax, poppy or sesame-packed crackers leave behind a nutty flavor that pairs well with soft, creamy cheeses like brie, while the sweet accent of a whole wheat cracker pairs well with the sharp punch of a cheddar slice. 

4. Fall-Colored Fruits 

Balance all of those savory notes with the sweet and fresh bite of your favorite fruits. From fresh to dried, fruit adds color, flavor and texture to your Thanksgiving charcuterie board.

This charcuterie board also makes for a great Thanksgiving breakfast idea. They provide a refreshing tanginess without the pitfalls of artificial sweeteners. Showcase the vibrant look of persimmon, the chewy and pleasant texture of dried apples and the tropical touch of sliced kiwi.

5. Vibrant Vegetables

Now that we've covered the sweet, the crunchy, the creamy and the savory, let us move on to the nutritional. Like fruit, vegetables will add freshness to your Thanksgiving charcuterie board.

Enjoy the satisfying crunch of vibrant bell peppers, the crisp and slightly salty edge of cucumber and the spicy punch of radish. Roasted, grilled, raw or pickled, make sure to include veggies in your list of Thanksgiving charcuterie board ideas.

6. Seasonal Nuts and Seeds

Enhance the overall experience of your Thanksgiving charcuterie board with nuts and seeds. Nuts like almonds, cashews and pecans provide a nutty crunch and a burst of flavor to any pairing.

While seeds like pumpkin and sunflower provide a much more subtle flavor and crunch.

7. Sweet Treats

If you're hosting Thanksgiving then a sweet treat can go a long way, especially for the kids of the family. Sweets offer a much-needed contrast in flavor, making the Thanksgiving charcuterie board more versatile and therefore, more enjoyable to a wider audience.

Chocolate, honey or preserves make wonderful additions to your Thanksgiving charcuterie board. 

8. Barbecue Style

Now, use these classic charcuterie elements to assemble creative charcuterie like a barbeque themed board. Barbecue is a wonderful flavor no matter the holiday, so for this Thanksgiving season, try focusing on the grilled and the smokey.

Incorporate cornbread, a selection of barbecue sauces, pulled pork, roasted veggies and sliced brisket.

9. Dips and Spreads 

What do you dip on a charcuterie board in the fall? Pumpkin hummus, cranberry relish, maple pecan goat cheese, caramelized onion dip, spiced apple butter, roasted red pepper spread — the sheer number of dips and spreads you can add to your list of Thanksgiving charcuterie board ideas is never-ending.

Whether you're in the mood for something subtle, savory or sweet, dips and spreads are a simple way to add a festive touch to your presentation.

While most dips are easy to make, you can simplify this Thanksgiving charcuterie board element even further by selecting some from the grocery store.

10. Tin Fish

Don’t knock it until you try it — tin fish is a great way to add a sophisticated touch to your Thanksgiving charcuterie board without having to spend all the money in your wallet.

They provide a salty, almost umami flavor that couples well with cheese, meats and fruit. Plus, tin fish tend to attract guests who appreciate an adventurous charcuterie board, so think of them as a good conversation starter.

11. Herb It Up

Emphasize all things aromatic and fresh with an herb-themed Thanksgiving charcuterie board. If your focus is on a Thanksgiving turkey charcuterie board, this idea is sure to take your turkey from bland to flavorful.

Include rosemary and oregano marinated turkey breast, dill-infused goat cheese and herb-spiced nuts.

12. Dried Ingredients

A dried ingredient-themed charcuterie features everything from cured meats to kale chips. If you’re tired of the same ole’ board filled with cheeses and crackers, this easy Thanksgiving board is one way to spice things up. 

13. Autumn Delight

Craft a staple Thanksgiving charcuterie board with a surplus of delightful autumn treats. The fall brings with it the nostalgic flavors of cinnamon and apple slices.

Lean into this festive nature by highlighting the warm and cozy essence of Autumn with smoked turkey, aged Gouda, peanut butter-dipped figs, roasted butternut squash, pumpkin seeds and rye bread.

Make sure to include apple butter and pumpkin seeds! Both are easy to make and wonderful to eat and will add some zest to your Thanksgiving decoration ideas. 

14. Color Coordinated 

A color-coordinated Thanksgiving charcuterie board sounds like a type-A heaven. But it’s also a theme that everyone can easily participate in.

So, if you’re hosting an event and you’re assigning someone else to charcuterie duty, keep it simple and organized with a color-coordinated theme.

15. Around the World

Make it a tradition of exploring cultures outside of your own backyard with a country-themed Thanksgiving charcuterie board. Travel to France with pate, Roquefort cheese and, of course, a baguette.

Visit Germany with bratwurst, Limburger cheese and pickled vegetables. Stop by South America with Argentinian salami, queso de bola and plantain chips. 

16. Pair With Fondue

Up your cheese game with a warm and interactive element: a fondue pot. Guests can fill their plates with bite-size meats and breads to dip into a fountain of ooey, gooey goodness.

Whether you want to keep it savory with cheese fondue or sweet with chocolate fondue, this idea will add an entertaining aspect to your Thanksgiving charcuterie board. 

17. Brunch Board 

As the saying goes, breakfast is the most important meal of the day... or night. Whether you want to start the Thanksgiving festivities off right or end it on a lighter note, a breakfast board is sure to impress.

Try out some halved hard-boiled eggs dipped in rock salt and covered in hollandaise sauce. Sip on a fresh glass of hand-squeezed orange juice as you bite into a flaky, honey croissant.

18. Build-Your-Own Charcuterie Party

If you’ve been asking, how to assemble a charcuterie board for Thanksgiving? Try taking the pressure of yourself and instead, share the process with your friends!

Head to the store, assemble the ingredients, but give your guests the opportunity to make their own mini-Thanksgiving charcuterie board. This wonderfully simple activity is perfect for those of us looking for an easy Thanksgiving charcuterie board idea or a party food idea. 

19. Go Gourmet

If you're looking for a Thanksgiving turkey charcuterie board, but you're having trouble finding one that fits a more elevated pallet, don't worry! A meticulously crafted charcuterie board showcases a symphony of flavors and textures through a more artisanal spread.

This spread combines the finest cured meats, exquisite (and often pungent) cheeses and a variety of accompaniments that honor indulgence.

Perhaps you will include a traditional French dry-cured sausage called Saucisson Sec to pair with a creamy, semi-soft elegant cheese, like truffle Gouda. 

20. Farm to Table

Support local farmers and artisanal vendors by crafting your Thanksgiving charcuterie board completely farm-to-table. Plan a visit to a local ma-and-pa grocery or farmers market to peruse the seasonal ingredients.

And who knows? You may even come across the perfect turkey for a post-charcuterie Thanksgiving feast. 

21. S'mores

When it comes to a Thanksgiving dessert charcuterie board, no other impresses a crowd quite like a S'mores board. Filled with chocolate, marshmallows, graham crackers, other finger food ideas and special toppings like sprinkles and M&M's, a s'mores board is fun for the whole family. 

Practice Thanksgiving Cooking With Top Chefs

Now that we’ve taken care of the Thanksgiving charcuterie board, there’s still a whole feast to prepare! But first, it’s important that you are prepared. Luckily, there’s a slew of top chefs out there who are waiting to help you make an unforgettable Thanksgiving menu. 

With their help and expertise, you’ll be asked to prepare the Thanksgiving meal next year too. Check out cooking classes in Austin, cooking classes in Orlando, cooking classes in Los Angeles, cooking classes near you or online cooking classes.

All that’s left to do is decide which Thanksgiving board you want to serve up this season.

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