These Charcuterie Boards Prove That It's Totally Acceptable to Play With Your Food (2024)

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The charcuterie trend has taken the world by storm, because who doesn’t love adult Lunchables? And, as a result, there are so many creative charcuterie board ideas to make your basic meat and cheese combo TikTok-worthy. These creations look pretty, are easy to make, and are a totally acceptable way to consume a whole block of cheddar in one sitting.

Or whatever cheese you prefer. Our favorite’s gouda.

And if you’re trying to diversify your eating options, you’re in luck! The Internet has given “charcuterie” boards a whole new meaning with variations that will please the pickiest person in the room. There’s sweet treats, vegan foods, holiday-themed boards, and more, all placed beautifully on a board.

Or a plate. Or the coffee table, if you ran out of all your clean dishes. Whatever your taste and the dietary restrictions of your friend group are, these charcuterie board ideas will make you the coolest host on the block.
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22 Unconventional Charcuterie Board Ideas

1. Rainbow Charcuterie Board

They say it’s important to include lots of colors into your diet, and this gorgeous charcuterie board covers them all. Not sure this is actually a rainbow? Squint harder.

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2. Bagel Charcuterie Board

A New Yorker may call this blasphemy, but we call this our perfect weekend breakfast. Look, we saved you all the kiwi!

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3. Butter Charcuterie Board

Butter boards may just be charcuterie boards that jumped the shark, but we’re kind of obsessed. Are they impractical? Sure. But do they let us live our intrusive thoughts of covering everything in a creamy, delicious layer of butter? Absolutely. It feels good to be seen.

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4. Bachelorette Party Charcuterie Board

Keep your raunchy straws and don’t waste your money on balloons. If you’re planning a bachelorette party, this creatively shaped charcuterie board takes the c…ake.

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5. Christmas Charcuterie Board

If it’s between decorating a real Christmas tree and designing this charcuter-tree, we’ll take the second option any day. We’re still not over the debacle with the string of lights from 2009. We will, however, tell you that the ornaments aren’t spaced very evenly.

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6. Sweet Treats Charcuterie Board

You know it’s rough out there when Willy Wonka has to start a side business as a charcuterie board out there. Well, rough for him. We’re loving this!

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7. Baby Shower Charcuterie Board

Charcuterie boards aren’t only for adults complaining about their jobs with a bottle of wine. They’re also for new parents who are complaining about their jobs with a bottle of milk! And their friends who are there for moral support. And cheese.

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8. Movie-Themed Charcuterie Board

Popcorn had it’s time, but we are *adults* now. And for our movie snacks, we will now be playing with our food and designing it into fun shapes that look like our favorite characters. Like *adults.*

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9. Vegan Charcuterie Box

You know, like a charcuterie board, but…vegan! And in a box. Because you can get a lot more vegan cheese stacked up with those sides.

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10. Charcuterie Cones

With this genius hack, you can take your charcuterie on the go. Although it will be insulting to present it as a charcuterie board, it’s the perfect snack for a weekend walk around the park. Just watch out for extra needy birds.

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11. Infinite Charcuterie Board

This infinite charcuterie board – nay, table – is high up on our vision board. When you’ve reached this level of meat-urity and can afford this amount of meat, cheese, crackers, and sure, fruit, you know you’re living the good life. And no we didn’t steal this idea from The Lost City.

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12. Veggie Charcuterie Board

A perfect choice for your veggie and vegan friends, this stunning design looks like it came right out of Barbie’s kitchen. Luckily, it’s not all plastic. Though raw radishes pretty much taste the same as Barbie’s shoe.

13. Peanut Butter and Chocolate Charcuterie Board

Peanut butter and chocolate is a match made in heaven. Put them together on a board with apple slices for dipping, and angels start to sing. Be not afraid!

14. Hot Dog Charcuterie Board

If the United States were a charcuterie board, it would be this hot dog board. Featuring pickles, fries, chips, and other accouterments, it’s the perfect way to elevate your next cookout. Just ignore the beer pong game.

15. Pasta Charcuterie Board

This pasta board may be a case of looking better than it tastes, but we’re here for it. And it’s better than that “let’s make pasta directly on the counter” trend. Our eyes are satisfied, and our mouths, well…they’ll just skip those raw eggs and dive right into the mac and cheese.

16. Halloween Charcuterie Board

The idea of peeling off meat from a skull is a little questionable, but there’s no doubt that cheese ribs are irresistible. This spooky charcuterie board is ideal for horror movie marathons, especially if you want to spend as much time being distracted from the scary parts.

17. Birthday Charcuterie Board

This creatively constructed meat and cheese board may just be the best way to enter a new year of life. Well, other than that Batman cake from your fourth birthday. But it’s a super close second.

18. Breakfast Charcuterie Board

If you thought the brunch aesthetic was good already, it skyrockets to a whole new level with this waffle and pancake-packed breakfast board. And, gets substantially stickier. Turns out plates are pretty good at holding in syrup.

19. Pizza Charcuterie Board

The idea of this pizza board with a glass of wine sounds like the perfect plan for a Friday night. Or Saturday. Or Sunday, or Monday…okay we may need to get a few more boards.

20. Candy Charcuterie Board

Is this a brilliant idea for a child’s birthday party? Definitely. Is it also a way to make an adult’s sweet tooth more acceptable? Probably. We’ll have to test it out to decide that. Don’t mind us.

21. St. Patrick’s Day Charcuterie Board

We’re not sure that green food coloring makes this board healthy, but we’re also not not sure that it doesn’t. Really, who’s to say that green Kit Kats aren’t just as good as green grapes? Ignore all those doctors, it’s fine.

22. Fast Food Charcuterie Board

Okay, we can admit that this fast food “charcuterie board” is really stretching the concept. But it looks great, tastes good, and help you catch up on all that sleep you’ve been missing.

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Nora Garcia

Nora Garcia is a Spaniard lost around the world but sure about her love for writing. She has a background in broadcast journalism and a passion for lifestyle content. When she's not in a spinning class, you can find her writing for sites like Weloversize and KeiKeiTravels or podcasting.

Nora has lived in three countries and six cities, and you can follow her adventures on her Instagram or LinkedIn.

Latest posts by Nora Garcia (see all)

  • It’s Totally Acceptable to Play With Your Food, So Start With These Charcuterie Board Ideas - February 22, 2023
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These Charcuterie Boards Prove That It's Totally Acceptable to Play With Your Food (2024)

FAQs

What is the purpose of a charcuterie board? ›

There's nothing quite like getting together with friends to share an appetizer, and charcuterie boards are the most easily shareable appetizer we can think of. Gathering around a charcuterie board to pick out your favorites, try new combinations and discuss your preferences is almost as fun as the eating itself!

Are there rules for charcuterie boards? ›

Stick with cuts of meat shaved from a larger piece of meat, like prosciutto or cured, thin-sliced ham, as opposed to blended meat like salami.) 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.

What makes a charcuterie board food safe? ›

Cut produce and cheeses need to be refrigerated until served and should not be kept at room temperature for more than 2 hours total (one hour if the temperature is above 90 °F). Use clean serving utensils, spoons for dips, tongs, or toothpicks to keep guests from contaminating the entire board.

What is a fun fact about charcuterie boards? ›

Charcuterie is derived from the French words for flesh (chair) and cooked (cuit). The practice of salting and smoking meats to preserve them dates back about 6,000 years to ancient Rome. Charcuterie is rooted in the belief that nothing from the animal should be wasted; not even the heart, lungs, kidneys, fat, or brain.

What are 5 things to avoid on a charcuterie board? ›

5 Mistakes You are Making on Your Charcuterie Board
  • Peppers: Whether green, red, or yellow, peppers are best avoided. ...
  • Tricky vegetables: Namely, tomatoes or Asparagus. ...
  • Jalapeno stuffed olives (or anything too spicy): Very hot foods simply don't work well with most wines, and they can overwhelm your taste buds.

What is the 3-3-3 rule for charcuterie board? ›

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.

What does charcuterie mean literally? ›

What Is Charcuterie? Charcuterie, the branch of cooking devoted to prepared meats, is the result of humans' need to preserve meat before refrigeration was invented. The word is derived from the somewhat disturbing-sounding French term “chair cuit,” which means “cooked flesh.”

What does charcuterie actually mean? ›

Charcuterie is just a fancy word for cured meat. The word derives from French origins in the 15th century, when people used every last bit of the meat and left nothing to waste. The meat was then put through a preservation process of curing and often formed into some sort of sausage or dry-aged meat.

What does not belong on a charcuterie board? ›

Charcuterie boards are known for being over the top and so colorful. All of these incredible colors are thanks to, in large part, the fruits. Bananas, pineapples and melons are not such a great idea.

What should every charcuterie board have? ›

Ingredients
  • variety of sliced cured meats and salumi such as Sweet Sopressata, salami, proscuitto, pepperoni.
  • variety of soft and hard cheese options such a Brie, Havarti, Gouda, Mozzarella, Provolone, Blue Cheese, etc.
  • cured olives and colorful antipasti,
  • roasted and fresh veggies on the side, optional.
Dec 11, 2022

How long will a charcuterie board last? ›

We suggest eating your board/box the day it is picked up or delivered for peak freshness. It is always freshest on the day it is created, but within 24-48-hours is acceptable. We do not recommend beyond 2 days. Please note that all charcuterie boards & creations are perishable and require refrigeration.

Do you eat a charcuterie board with your fingers? ›

Thankfully, per MarthaStweart.com, you can use your hands to eat the delectable assorted cheeses and meats. Amy Sherman finds that charcuterie boards are typically made to be eaten by multiple people, which is why it's perfectly acceptable to use your fingers.

What goes first on a charcuterie board? ›

Though there are many easy charcuterie board ideas out there, the process is somewhat formulaic. Start by adding structure with little dishes, then place your ingredients on the board starting with the largest elements like the cheeses and meats, followed by smaller items like crackers and fresh produce.

Do you use your fingers for a charcuterie board? ›

Charcuterie boards are the epitome of finger food. That means lots of fingers touching the food throughout your party. No host wants to play hand-washing police, so give your guests multiple options for picking up their food selections.

Why are charcuterie boards so trendy? ›

With a charcuterie board, you have the opportunity to arrange it in a way that is aesthetically pleasing. If arranged in a way that's truly impressive, your guests may even feel compelled to post your creation on social media, sharing your creation with their followers. Not bad for a simple appetizer, eh?

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