Need an easy weeknight meal the whole family will love? Look no further than this colorful Charcuterie Board. Savory, sweet and satisfying!
With the pop of spring, patio weather will be here before we know it. What better way to spend outdoors than grazing on a delicious combination of meat, cheese, fruit, veggies and cheese bread? Other family-friendly recipes you might like include my Old School Tomato Bruschetta, Brioche Monte Cristo Sliders and these Pepsi Milkshakes for dessert.
I’ve been loving all the different charcuterie boards I’ve seen around Pinterest lately. I recently drooled over French fry boards, pancake boards… but have yet to find my personal favorite, a cheeseburger board (should I make that next?).
INGREDIENTS FOR THE ULTIMATE CHARCUTERIE BOARD:
There’s really no right or wrong when it comes to building your display of deliciousness. Every family prefers different things, so don’t fret, utilize whatever your little ones enjoy most! Below are some ideas to get your creative juices flowing.
CHEESE: I mean… who doesn’t love cheese? Kid-friendly varieties my boys like include mozzarella sticks, cheddar cheese cubes, slices of Monterey Jack, Swiss and Colby Jack.
MEATS: We often opt for honey-smoked turkey, pepperoni and salami. For fun, I like to serve the turkey in little roll-ups and the salami as roses. Yes, you read that correctly. SALAMI ROSES. They’re pretty easy to make, all you need is a champagne glass. Fold the salami in half along the rim and keep layering all the way around. Flip the glass over to place the salami rose on your board. POOF, it’s that easy.
VEGETABLES: Try to think of items that are easy for little fingers to grab: mini carrots, sliced cucumbers, bell peppers, cherry tomatoes, etc.
FRUIT: This adds a pop of color and sweetness to your board. We like any kind of berry (blueberries, strawberries, blackberries, raspberries), slices of apple, grapes, cuties, and dried apricots.
NUTS: You can’t go wrong with any type of nut, really. My boys like pistachios, almonds, walnuts or trail mix.
DIPS: We like to mix-in both savory and sweet items here. So often our boards will feature hummus, ranch, mustard warmed marinara and some sort of jelly or preserves.
CARBS: As most of you know, my mom was from South America … so I’m absolutely obsessed with Parachutes Brazilian Cheese Breads. They’re made with just six ingredients, are gluten free and taste phenomenal. I serve them warm and they’re the perfect little homemade touch. We also like to munch on crackers and pretzels.
BEST WAY TO ASSEMBLE A CHARCUTERIE BOARD:
- Start with the things that need to be in bowls. Your dips and/or sauces. Place them randomly in spots on your board.
- Next grab your cheese. Lay them out sporadically throughout.
- Spread out the meats.
- Add a layer of fruits and veggies all around.
- Pile on the carbs (Parachutes, crackers, pretzels).
- Fill in any gaps with random nuts and dried fruits.
BROWSE ALL MY RECIPES BY CLICKING HERE
- Mozzarella Sticks
- Cheddar Cheese Cubes
- Monterey Jack Slices
- Swiss Cheese Slices
- Colby Jack Cubes or Slices
- Honey-Smoked Turkey
- Pepperoni
- Salami
- Deli Ham
- Mini or Sliced Carrots
- Sliced Cucumbers
- Bell Peppers
- Cherry Tomatoes
- Blueberries
- Strawberries
- Blackberries
- Raspberries
- Slices of Apple
- Grapes
- Cuties
- Dried Fruits
- Pistachios
- Almonds
- Walnuts
- Trail Mix
- Hummus
- Ranch
- Mustard
- Warmed Marinara
- Jelly or Preserves
- Parachutes Brazilian Cheese Breads
- Pretzels
- Crackers
- Chips
- Heat oven to 350F and arrange Parachutes Brazilian Breads in a single layer. Bake for 30 minutes.
- Arrange all remaining ingredients on a large board or platter and enjoy!
NOTES ON THIS RECIPE:
- This is a fabulous activity if you’re trying to get your kids more involved in the kitchen. Let them place the items on the board and arrange them how they want. Usually when I do this I can get them to try something new.
- Need to add some extra oomph to make this board into a hearty dinner spread? Try adding my Air Fryer Chicken Bites, Miso Deviled Eggs, Fried Pickles or these Cajun Mini Corndogs.
- Want more dips? We’ve got you covered. Try this Southern Pimento Cheese, Classic Spinach Dip or my Whipped Feta with a Swirl of Pesto.
This post is sponsored by Parachutes. Per the usual, all opinions here are mine alone and I would never recommend an ingredient that I did not immensely enjoy myself. Thank you for supporting the brands that support SliceOfJess.com!
Debbie McLoon
Hey, love your recipes. What charcuterie board do you use? This one looks like sections of wood and ceramic or did you put a plate on it? Thanks!!!
Jessica
Hi Debbie! Thank you for your kind words! In this post I used a large wooden serving tray and placed a serving plate on top of it. Then I used both the plate and the tray for building the board. When making platters I like to use a couple items to help create different heights and sections. Hope this helps! The serving tray was from Sur La Table and the plate is from Target.