Thanksgiving Charcuterie Board

This easy Thanksgiving Charcuterie Board is packed with cured meats, cheeses, dips and Fall inspired goodies. Don’t forget some cute pumpkins and gourds! Perfect for holiday entertaining.

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If you love making an epic charcuterie board for every holiday, you are in the right place! But wait, are charcuterie boards hard to make? NO!

Even if you are a charcuterie first-timer, I will show you how to make this easy Thanksgiving charcuterie board with step by step instructions, pictures and flexibility to build your board with any flavors you choose to please your guests.

And speaking of amazing charcuterie boards to enjoy this holiday season, be sure to check out this Fall Charcuterie Board, Christmas Charcuterie Board and delicious sweet and spicy Butter Board, amazing for holiday entertaining.

And because I just can’t help myself, in case you need any other charcuterie board inspiration for the holidays, check out this Halloween Charcuterie Board and Easter Charcuterie Board!

Why this recipe works

This easy Thanksgiving charcuterie board is beautiful, festive and a true show stopper. Perfect for holiday entertaining.

You can mix and match your charcuterie board to please any palate. Add different meats, cheese and dips or feel free to omit.

For example, want to make a fully vegetarian board, omit the meat and go heavy on the cheese fruit and veggies.

No cooking required! Even thought this Thanksgiving charcuterie board might look intimidating at first, once you get the hang of things, you can build these boards in as little as 10 minutes!

But be prepared for all the wows you will get from your guests!

Ingredients

• Cheeses (see recipe card for specific recommendations on each category)
• Cured meats and/or seafood
• Crackers, pretzels, chips, popcorn, sliced bread or crostini
•  Jam, jelly, sauce, dip or honey
• Nuts
• Fresh fruit
• Dried fruit
• Pickled items or other miscellaneous finger foods
• Pumpkins or gourds (decorative)
• Springs thyme or rosemary (decorative)

Thanksgiving/Fall Specific Items from Trader Joe’s:

• Fall Leaf Corn Tortilla Chips
• Fig & Olive Crisps
• Pumpkin Cranberry Crisps
• Pumpkin Tortilla Chips
• Pepita (Pumpkin Seed) Salsa
• Mixed Corn Salsa

How to make a Thanksgiving Charcuterie Board

Build a Foundation

Place any bowls first. Then, place any larger blocks of cheese or large items (blueberry goat cheese, brie cheese, salami rose or smoked salmon piece). This sets your foundation.

From there, you will want to arrange your items in descending order focusing on next heaviest or large items. The items should get gradually smaller and fill in the gaps.

Sample Order: (Start) Bowls, Cheese, Meats, Bunches of Grapes, Crackers, Smaller Dried Fruit and Nuts (Finish)

Create Movement on the Board

You want to utilize movement to create a beautiful board. Experiment with placing your bowls off-center in a variety of places on the board.

When placing the foods, you can create a combination of wavy patterns or more uniform placements. Don’t be afraid to play.

Contrast your Colors

When placing your foods, contrast your colors indifferent areas of the board.

For example, if you have white crackers, you might place them near green or red grapes instead of near a white cheese. This creates visual excitement.

Vary your Sizes and Cutting Techniques

Play around with placing larger items next to smaller items. You can also experiment with different sizes in your slicing.

For example, you might cut some slices off a block of cheese and set it next to the remaining block of cheese for a beautiful contrast.

You might do the same with a salami stick. You can also experiment with slicing patterns.

You can cut things in a rustic way or you can do fun crisscross or dragon patterns. You can arrange meats in roses, slices or swirls.

Vary Flavors

Depending on your dietary preferences, it is always great to have a variety of flavors on the plate.

Use different meats and cheese, veggies or fruits, different dips (sweet vs. savory). This variety is part of the fun of these appetizer boards.

How much food do I need to build my charcuterie board?

The amounts of each item will depend on the size of your board and your taste preferences. It will also depend on how many people are coming to your gathering and what you will be serving for dinner.

For example: If you are serving a very large dinner and you don’t want everyone to fill up on charcuterie, you can make a smaller board.

If you are having a party with just appetizers and perhaps some holiday cocktails, don’t be afraid to grab a few extras so you have a full and bountiful charcuterie board. Leftovers are always great!

Charcuterie board topping ideas

Cheese:

• Triple Cream or Double Cream Brie 
• Goat Cheese: Plain, Italian herb or cranberry.
• Cheddar Cheese
• Gouda
• Parmesan Reggiano.
• Mozzarella

Meat:

• Prosciutto
• Salami
• Hot Smoked Salmon
• Cold Smoked Salmon
• Deli Meats, hams, turkey, roast beef.

Jam, Jelly, Sauce, Dip or Honey

• Artichoke Spread
• Fig Jam
• Yogurt Dip
• Honey
• Jams
• Honey mustard or stone ground mustard

Nuts

• Almonds
• Pistachios
• Walnuts
• Pecans
• Hazelnuts
• Macadamia Nuts

Fresh Fruit 

• Green Grapes
• Red Grapes
• Raspberries
• Blueberries
• Blackberries
• Strawberries

Dried Fruit

• Apricots
• Mango
• Figs
• Dates
• Candied Oranges

Pickled Items or Misc. Finger Foods

• Olives (mixed, kalamata, castelvetrano or green olives)
• Pickles
• Roasted Red Peppers
• Hearts of Palm
• Grilled or Marinated Artichokes

FAQ and expert tips

Looking for other delicious holiday appetizers?

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