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Charcuterie boards are definitely on our holiday menu! Check out these Thanksgiving charcuterie board ideas.
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Perfect for Any Thanksgiving Table!
Charcuterie boards (pronounced shahr-koo-tuh–ree) are perfect for any gathering, but we LOVE them for the holidays! They’re easy to make, look elevated, and can feed a crowd. Your guests can grab right off the board or fill a small plate, which makes them such a convenient and fun option for Thanksgiving.
The best part is that you can easily swap ingredients to fit a theme or holiday! We’ve created SO many different boards, like our Easter Charcuterie Board, Christmas Tree Board, Halloween Charcuterie Board, and even a S’mores Charcuterie Board! Now let’s dive into Thanksgiving charcuterie board ideas.
Why We Love Charcuterie Boards:
- Simple and budget-friendly. Charcuterie boards are easy to assemble with a variety of ingredients you likely already have on hand.
- Easy to Serve, Charcuterie boards are a hassle-free way to serve appetizers. Your guests can simply help themselves to their favorite items!
- Fun and creative: Charcuterie boards offer endless possibilities for customization and creativity. You can experiment with different combinations of meats, cheeses, fruits, and crackers to create a unique and visually appealing presentation.
Supplies for a Thanksgiving Charcuterie Board
While it’s impossible to list all the ingredients you could include, here are some ideas for supplies you’ll need to create the perfect Thanksgiving charcuterie board:
- board – You can use an actual charcuterie board, a wooden cutting board, serving platter, or large tray as the base. A standard cutting board is about 9×13, however, you can choose a smaller or larger one depending on the size of your party.
- meat – Some great options for meats include salami, ham, pepperoni, pastrami, peppered beef, cured sausage, and prosciutto. You can get super creative with presentation by rolling larger meats or fanning and creating flower shapes out of smaller meats. You’ll want to include 3-4 slices of meat per person.
- cheese – We recommend using at least one soft cheese and one hard cheese to give some variety. Soft cheese options include brie, camembert, goat cheese, cream cheese, and ricotta. Hard cheese options include parmesan, gouda, gruyere, and aged cheddar cheese. You’ll want to include 2-3 ounces of cheese per person.
- fruit – Typical charcuterie fruits include grapes and berries (raspberries, blackberries, strawberries), but for Thanksgiving vibes, consider apples, pears, oranges, persimmons, and pomegranates. Dried fruits like figs, apricots, and cranberries are also great options!
- vegetables – Some of our favorites for a Thanksgiving board include carrots, bell peppers (we prefer orange, yellow, or red peppers), snap peas, celery, cucumber, pickles, and cherry tomatoes. If needed, slice veggies into bite-size pieces.
- nuts – Add in nuts for more flavor. We recommend pecans, almonds, walnuts, or hazelnuts. These can be however you like — raw, candied, roasted, salted, or even candied.
- crackers and bread – Some favorites include Ritz, pita, Grissini breadstick, Parmesan crisps, toasted crostini, Artisan crackers, baguette, pretzels, wheat thins, or Triscuts.
- dips – We recommend adding at least one sweet dip and one savory dip. The type of dip you choose is going to depend on the other ingredients you chose and what pairs well. Try dijon mustard, Homemade Ranch, or Dill Veggie Dip, for savory and Fruit Dip, Cranberry Cream Cheese Dip, Nutella Dip, or fig jam for a sweet option.
Thanksgiving Elements
Try adding some of these touches to give your board a Thanksgiving look and feel:
- Garnish your charcuterie board with fresh herbs like a sprig of fresh rosemary or thyme for a nice touch!
- Add little pumpkins on or around the board.
- Place artificial leaves on and around the board for that cozy fall feeling!
- Use shredded turkey as one of your choices of meat—because, well, it’s Thanksgiving!
- Candy corn, of course! Add a little bowl of candy corn for that festive feel.
Charcuterie Board Building Tips
- Don’t worry! If you’ve never made a charcuterie board, we have an entire post dedicated on how to make a charcuterie board.
- Choose a classic wooden board, a festive platter or tray, or even a metal baking sheet. Use a large board, or a small one, depending on the number of expected guests.
- When deciding what to put on your board follow the 3-3-3-3 rule: 3 types of meat, 3 types of cheese, 3 types of crackers/bread, 3 types of accompaniments (one should be a fruit, one should be a veggie, and the third can be your choice).
- When building the board, arrange the items so that there’s a pattern or symmetry, or make it look random!
- Consider contrasts! The most beautiful and delicious boards are ones that offer contrasting colors, textures, and flavors.
- Don’t set it all out at once. Only place a sampling of each of the different elements on the board and refill as needed.
- Have plates and napkins available near the board. Provide toothpicks, forks, tongs, and spoons to transfer items from the board to a plate.
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FAQs
You can prep most of the ingredients a day in advance. However, it’s best to assemble the board a few hours before serving to keep items fresh.
Consider the number of guests and the types of food you’ll include. A larger board is ideal for more items and guests, while a smaller board works well for intimate gatherings.
Store leftovers in airtight containers in the fridge. Most cheeses and meats can last a few days, while fruits and veggies should be consumed within a day or two for freshness.
