We are sharing our charcuterie board shopping list printable with you so you can make the best charcuterie board with ease! This printable is too cute and has everything you need to make the perfect charcuterie board.
So whether you are a novice charcuterie maker or a pro, this list is going to help you better your talents and make an easy charcuterie board. Get your printable copy at the end of this post…
I am so excited to share this charcuterie board shopping list with you! Lately I have been super interested in making different kinds of charcuterie boards, so I knew I wanted to make this list for y’all. There are often a lot of ingredients when it comes to charcuterie boards, so having a list is a very helpful.
Even with an easy charcuterie board, you will have multiple ingredients, so having a list handy will keep you from forgetting something and having to run to the store again. There is nothing more frustrating than having to go to the grocery store again because you forgot something. Trust me…I know.
What is a charcuterie board?
You may be wondering, “What is a charcuterie board?” And how do you even say charcuterie? It is pronounced “shar-coo-ter-ee,” and it is going to be your new favorite thing.
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We have a whole post dedicated to what a charcuterie board is, but it is basically a platter of different meats, cheeses, breads, and dried fruits that you snack on. Usually they are paired with wines or other drinks and are perfect for any and every occasion.
For a great board, you have got to check out our best charcuterie board post that gives you all of the tips and tricks you need to know. We also go into detail about decorations and how to make your board beautiful.
What goes first on a charcuterie board?
Before you can build a charcuterie board, you need a charcuterie platter. You can use so many different things to be the base of your epic charcuterie board. This is where you can get creative, choosing different bases to match whatever theme you are going for.
The size of your board you choose depends on how many people you plan on serving. If you are planning on serving a big group of people, you will want a large board, whereas if you are having a small gathering, you can use a small board. You can even put a plastic table cloth on the table and have that be your charcuterie board (like we do in our grazing table).
How many cheeses should I use?
Another name for a charcuterie board is a cheese board, so you could saying having a variety of cheeses are a must. You can have hard cheese, soft cheese, goat cheese, firm cheese, or whatever you prefer. There are so many types of cheeses and you can’t really go wrong.
Brie cheese is pretty popular as is blue cheese for a cheese platter. I’ve even seen people use cream cheese. You will also find fresh mozzarella, aged cheddar, and pepper jack!
Pro Tip: Here are our picks for best cheese for charcuterie.
Really, just pick your favorite cheeses so you can have plenty of cheese options and you should be good to go! You can’t really go wrong here.
If you are vegan, there are plenty of great vegan cheeses to choose from to easily swap out with cheese in a charcuterie board recipe. We also have a vegan charcuterie board recipe to make it easy for you.
Pro tip: Get a really pretty cheese knife set to take your charcuterie board to the next level!
What are good crackers for a charcuterie board?
You can use whatever you want on your charcuterie board. Typically you will see different types of breads and crackers to pair with cheeses and meats, but it isn’t required.
Because I have celiac disease, I came up with our Gluten-Free charcuterie board, which omits crackers and bread. But, we also have other charcuterie boards, like our Thanksgiving charcuterie board, Summer charcuterie board, and Super Bowl charcuterie board that have regular crackers and gluten-free crackers. Our Mexican charcuterie board uses corn tortillas and corn chips.
You could also go without crackers and use a cone, like in our charcuterie cones recipe. It’s a fun twist on a charcuterie board and is great for when you are on-the-go.
What meats are good on a charcuterie board?
There are plenty of great options when it comes to meats for a good charcuterie board. Meats are great to pair with slices of cheese and a cracker. Just like with cheese, you will want to have different varieties of meat for many flavors and so there is something for everyone.
Any type of deli meat is a good call for a charcuterie board. Turkey and ham are easy to find and they are crowd favorites. But, to spice up your beautiful charcuterie board you can try some fancier meat products.
Prosciutto is a super common meat you will find on charcuterie boards. You will also find sliced salami, soprasetta, sliced pepperoni, cured sausage, and many others! Finding tasty meats to add to your charcuterie board is fun because you get to be creative with the flavors of your board.
Our charcuterie table recipe and grazing board uses a variety of meats and makes a “board” for a large crowd of 25+ people! It is a fun way to feed your guests and they will talk about it for years to come.
Can I add decorations to it?
Of course! The easiest way to decorate a charcuterie board is to use dried fruit and fresh herbs. They add a lot of color to your beautiful board and it’s okay to eat.
If you have a specific theme for your charcuterie board, you can cater to that theme. For example, in our Valentines charcuterie board, we use heart-shaped bowls to place jams in and use a heart-shaped platter as the base for the board. We also use heart-shaped chocolates to really go with the theme.
Are there different types of charcuterie boards?
Absolutely. I am a big fan of experimenting with different ideas and recipes when it comes to a party. If you haven’t noticed, I love a good party.
For a birthday party, I think it is cute to have a birthday charcuterie board. You can put whatever you want on this board, but for this recipe, we went with tons of candy. It is so beautiful, colorful, and delicious.
We have a pancake charcuterie board that is perfect for a sleepover or a brunch. It’s the same concept of a typical charcuterie board, but switching out the breads with pancakes and adding syrup. We love this recipe because it is so easy to put together and our kids love it because they are able to build their own pancakes.
Another fun charcuterie board to try is our cookie charcuterie board. This one is one of my favorites because it looks just like a typical charcuterie board, but everything is a cookie! The cookies are decorated and shaped to look like cheeses, meats, and pickles.
We also love to have charcuterie boards for different holidays. For example, we made a spooky Halloween charcuterie board (CharBooterie) that has bat cookies and witch finger cookies.
Of course, we also have a Christmas charcuterie board (CharcuterWREATH) that is designed to look like a wreath shaped with yummy treats. Using seasonal jams in this charcuterie board really adds that holiday flavor.
Charcuterie boards don’t have to be super big or extravagant. Sometimes you just want to have a small snack for yourself. We have a small charcuterie board recipe that is perfect for a small girls night or a stay-at-home date night with your partner.
We also have these adorable individual charcuterie boxes that are perfect for small gifts, corporate events, or for a friend that needs cheering up. I love to make these and drop them off when I know someone is having a bad day because it is such a cute little treat and who doesn’t love food?
Let’s Break it Down
Okay, so we have given you a TON of information about different types of charcuterie boards and every kind of food you can add to a board, but don’t be overwhelmed. That is why I created this shopping list for you.
Your board doesn’t have to be large or extravagant. All you need is some meat, cheese, fruit, crackers, a garnish, and you are good to go. I can’t wait to hear about the charcuterie boards you make!
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