Who says charcuterie boards are just for fancy occasions? With our simple charcuterie board, you can indulge in this adult version of a lunchable any time you want, whether it’s for a party appetizer or a late-night snack!
We get it, putting together a charcuterie board might seem overwhelming. But fear not! We’re here to simplify this crowd-pleasing appetizer and make it easy for you to dive into the world of charcuterie boards. Think of it like a giant Lunchable, where you can keep it as simple or as elaborate as you like. Forget about all those extras you don’t want or don’t want to bother with. All you need are three key elements: crackers, meats, and cheeses. And don’t worry, we’ve got you covered!
What Goes on a Simple Charcuterie Board?
Traditionally, charcuterie boards consisted only of a selection of meats. But nowadays, they’ve become more versatile, featuring a range of cheeses, fruits, nuts, seeds, jellies, jams, and more. However, you don’t need to include all of these in your own charcuterie board. We encourage you to start simple and add only what you desire.
Here are the essentials for your simple charcuterie board:
- Hard-to-firm cheese
- Semi-soft cheese
- Soft cheese
- Bread and/or crackers
- Cured meats
- Deli meats
- Fresh fruit (optional)
- Nuts and/or seeds (optional)
Delicious Fruit Pairings:
If you want to keep things simple while still enjoying the heavenly combination of cheese and fruit, we recommend trying these thinly sliced options:
- Apples
- Pears
- Peaches
- Plums
- Apricots
- Grapes
- Berries
Choose Your Board Wisely:
No need to stress about finding the perfect board — use whatever you have on hand! It could be a large wooden cutting board, a serving platter, or any surface that suits your style. However, many chefs agree that a non-porous hardwood, slate, marble, or bamboo are excellent choices.
Prep Ahead for Convenience:
Planning to serve a charcuterie board for a party? You can easily prep it ahead of time, up to 24 hours in advance! Just wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and store it in the fridge. And remember to slice up fresh fruit right before serving to keep its fresh appeal. Trust us, nobody wants brown fruit!
Storage Tips:
To keep your ingredients fresh, store them in separate airtight containers in the fridge. Leftover meats and cheeses should be consumed within 24 hours. If the charcuterie board has been left out at room temperature for more than 2 hours, it’s best to toss out any remaining food for safety reasons.
If you enjoyed this simple charcuterie board, you might also be interested in our other charcuterie board ideas and appetizer recipes. So go ahead, get creative, and enjoy the delicious world of charcuterie!
