When the holidays, game days, or last-minute gatherings call for something special, an easy charcuterie board is the perfect solution! This effortless spread is loaded with flavors and textures, featuring savory salami and pepperoni, freshly baked garlic rosemary breadsticks, and an assortment of cheeses, fruits, nuts, and spreads. With Bridgford Foods pantry-friendly meats and Bridgford Parkerhouse Style Rolls, you can create a beautiful, delicious appetizer board in no time.
This post is brought to you by Bridgford Foods.
Building an easy charcuterie board is one of the best party appetizer ideas because it’s simple and customizable! If you’re hosting a holiday gathering, game day party, or casual get-together, a beautifully arranged board filled with meats, cheeses, fruits, nuts, and spreads is sure to impress.
Looking for easy charcuterie board ideas? Keep it stress-free by using pantry-friendly items like Bridgford salami and pepperoni, plus freshly baked breadsticks for dipping. You can also mix in a variety of crackers, olives, and jams to create a board that’s both flavorful and visually stunning. No matter the occasion, this easy charcuterie board for party is guaranteed to be a hit!
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Why We Love This Easy Charcuterie Board Ideas
- Convenience at your fingertips.
Bridgford’s Summer Sausage, Salami, and Pepperoni can be stored in your pantry until opened, making them perfect for unplanned guests or spontaneous gatherings. Pair them with Parkerhouse Style Frozen Rolls to whip up fresh, flavorful breadsticks with ease. - Homemade touch without the hassle.
Transform frozen rolls into golden garlic rosemary breadsticks in just a few easy steps. It adds a warm, personal touch to your easy charcuterie board ideas without requiring hours in the kitchen. - Delicious flavors for everyone.
The savory, zesty flavors of Bridgford Meats Snacks pair perfectly with the fresh, herby aroma of garlic rosemary breadsticks. Add some cheese, crackers, and seasonal fruits, and you’ve got a variety of flavors and textures to please your guests.
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
- Bridgford garlic & herb breadsticks
- Bridgford pepperoni
- Bridgford Italian salami
- Bridgford summer sausage
- Dubliner cheese: or an aged, coastal type cheddar cheese for a tangy, salty flavor. Other firm cheeses or hard cheeses like asiago can be used, as well.
- White stilton with cranberries: this is ideal for a holiday themed board, but use any type of soft cheese like brie, goat cheese, or another type of blue cheese or gorgonzola.
- Baby Swiss: or regular Swiss cheese. The holes gives a visually appealing look to your board! Substitute it with a smoked aged gouda or gruyere cheese.
- Cherry tomatoes: I like how they bring a pop of red to the board, but you can substitute any small veggie in their place. Another great substitute is green olives.
- Red grapes or green grapes: these add a pop of sweet, dimension and texture to the board.
- Marcona almonds with rosemary: the ultimate nut for a holiday themed board. Use mixed nuts, smoked almonds, or even pistachios in their place. For a nut-free board, substitute with tiny pickles or cucumbers, raisins, dried cherries, dried apricots, dried cranberries, or fresh berries like strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries.
- Fresh rosemary: use this to bring a pop of green and texture to garnish the board.
Where to Buy Bridgford Products
Bridgford products are widely available at grocery stores and retailers nationwide. Check for a freestanding display in the meat section for the Salami, Summer Sausage, and Pepperoni, and the freezer aisle for Parkerhouse Style Rolls.
Here’s a link for where to buy Bridgford Bread & Rolls
Here’s a link for where to buy Bridgford Meat Snacks
To shop a selection of Bridgford Meat Snacks online, visit their online store. Now through New Year’s, use my code RENAE15 at checkout to save 15% off!
With Bridgford Foods ready to serve meats in your pantry and Parkerhouse Style Rolls in your freezer, you’re ready for anything this holiday season.
🎯 TFN Pro Tip
Wondering how much you’ll need for each person? For a charcuterie board appetizer, I recommend planning for at least 3-4 slices of meat, a handful of crackers or breadsticks, and a few pieces of cheese and fruit per person. Adjust this based on the size of your gathering and whether this is the main appetizer or one of several snacks.
Recipe Variations
- Sweet & savory: Balance the savory meats and cheeses with a selection of sweets like chocolate-covered almonds, honeycomb, dried apricots, and figs for a perfect contrast of flavors.
- Mediterranean-inspired: Include hummus, feta, olives, roasted red peppers, and marinated artichokes, paired with pita bread and crostini for a vibrant, Greek-inspired twist.
- Brunch board: Swap the traditional charcuterie platters for a breakfast-themed spread with smoked salmon, cream cheese, bagels, fresh fruit, and mini waffles with a drizzle of honey or jam.
- Kid-friendly: Make it fun and approachable with mild cheeses, turkey or ham roll-ups, crackers, pretzels, fresh fruit, and a yogurt dip for a spread that’s perfect for little ones.
Equipment Used in this Recipe
- Charcuterie board: Use a wooden cutting board, marble slab, or serving platter that’s large enough to hold all the ingredients. A medium-to-large board about 12-15″ or so works well for this recipe.
- Small bowl
🎯 TFN Pro Tip
5 things to avoid on a charcuterie board
1. Avoid overcrowding your cheeseboard. This makes it look messy. Instead, stagger the heights of your ingredients to give it a visually appealing look that makes guests want to dive right in!
2. Using low-quality ingredients or foods past their prime. Only use fresh, high quality ingredients.
3. Foods that turn brown, like bananas, pineapple, untreated apple slices, pears, and melons.
4. Overly spicy foods, since some people are sensitive to them, skip things like jalapeno peppers, and be sure to mark anything that is spicy.
5. Cooked foods. Dried fruits are fine, but skip the cooked foods as they tend to get messy.
How to Make an Easy Charcuterie Board for Party
- Prep and Bake the Breadsticks
Get the recipe for Bridgford’s Garlic & Herb Breadsticks.- Start by thawing the Parkerhouse-Style Rolls according to the package instructions (allow about 1-2 hours).
- Prep and bake breadsticks as directed.
- Choose Your Board. Use a wooden cutting board, marble slab, or serving platter that’s large enough to hold all the ingredients. A medium-to-large board about 12-15″ or so works well for this recipe.
Prep Your Charcuterie Board Meats and Cheeses, Fruits and Veggies
- Prep the meats, cheeses, fruits, nuts, and vegetables
- Meats:
- Slice the summer sausage into bite-sized cubes.
- Arrange the salami and pepperoni into small stacks or gently fold them for a decorative touch.
- Cheeses:
- Slice the Dubliner cheese into thin squares or rectangles.
- Cut the baby Swiss into bite-sized cubes.
- Leave the white Stilton wedge whole for guests to cut themselves, or pre-slice a few pieces for easy access.
- Fruits & nuts:
- Rinse and dry the red grapes. Separate them into small clusters for easy grabbing.
- Have the rosemary Marcona almonds ready for sprinkling or placing in a small bowl.
- Veggies:
- Rinse and dry the cherry tomatoes. Keep them whole for a fresh pop of color and flavor.
Assemble the Charcuterie Board
- Arrange your cured meats, cheeses, fruits, nuts, and veggies on the board:
- Place the breadsticks to the center right side of the board and the Stilton wedge in the center of the board.
- Arrange the meats:
- Place the cubed summer sausage in a neat pile.
- Fan out the salami and pepperoni slices into decorative layers or rosettes near the cheeses.
- Create small sections for each cheese:
- Place the Dubliner slices in one corner, fanning them out slightly.
- Add the baby Swiss cubes in a pile near the grapes.
- Arrange the cherry tomatoes between the salami and summer sausage or scatter them around the board to add bright pops of color in clusters of 2-3.
- Include Nuts for Texture. I recommend Rosemary Marcona Almonds, pecans, or mixed nuts in a small pile or bowl. Place them near the cheeses to provide a savory, crunchy option for guests.
- Fill in the Gaps by adding small bunch of grapes and fresh rosemary or parsley for a decorative and aromatic touch.
Serving Suggestions
An easy charcuterie board for a party is best enjoyed with a variety of textures and flavors, so be sure to include a mix of savory, sweet, crunchy, and creamy elements. Arrange your board with cured meats, cheeses, crackers, fresh fruit, nuts, and spreads, ensuring each bite is packed with delicious variety.
For the perfect presentation, serve your charcuterie board with cheese knives to make slicing and spreading easy. Add a selection of honey, mustard, and fig jam for dipping, and drizzle olive oil over fresh burrata or mozzarella for an extra gourmet touch. Pair your board with wine, sparkling water, or cocktails, and you have a stunning appetizer spread that’s perfect for parties, holidays, or casual get-togethers!
Recipe FAQs
Yes! You can bake the breadsticks a few hours in advance and store them in an airtight container. Reheat them in the oven at a low temperature for a few minutes before serving to restore their warm, fresh-baked feel.
You can customize your board with a variety of cheeses for a cheese board (soft, hard, or creamy), crackers, fresh fruits like cherries or berried, dried fruits, fresh vegetables, or small bowls of jams, hummus, shawarma, dipping sauces, cheese dips, or sauces like honey mustard. This variety will keep your guests coming back for more!
Bridgford products are widely available at grocery stores and retailers nationwide. Check for a freestanding display in the meat section the Salami, Summer Sausage, and Pepperoni, and the freezer aisle for Parkerhouse Style Rolls.
Here are links to for where to buy Bridgford Bread & Rolls and where to buy Bridgford Meat Snacks. Now through New Year’s, use my code RENAE15 at checkout to save 15% off!
Other Easy Recipes to Consider…
If you tried this easy charcuterie board for party recipe or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. Thanks for visiting!
Easy Charcuterie Board
Equipment
- charcuterie board - Use a wooden cutting board, marble slab, or serving platter that’s large enough to hold all the ingredients. A medium-to-large board about 12-15" or so works well for this recipe.
- small bowl
Ingredients
- 12 Bridgford Garlic & Herb Breadsticks see instructions for recipe link
- 5 ounces Bridgford Pepperoni
- 5 ounces Bridgford Italian Salami
- 8 ounces Bridgford Summer Sausage
- 7 ounces Dubliner cheese may use other firm cheeses or hard cheeses
- 8 ones White Stilton with cranberries wedge; or use any type of soft cheese like brie, goat cheese, or another type of blue cheese or gorgonzola
- 4 ounces baby Swiss cheese substitute it with a smoked aged gouda or gruyere cheese
- ¼ cup cherry tomatoes or green olives
- ¼ cup red grapes
- ¼ cup Marcona almonds with rosemary
- 6-8 sprigs fresh rosemary
Instructions
Prep and Bake the Breadsticks
- Get the recipe for Bridgford's Garlic & Herb Breadsticks. Prepare and bake as directed.
Prep Ingredients
- Slice the Summer Sausage into bite-sized cubes. Arrange the Salami and Pepperoni into small stacks or gently fold them for a decorative touch.
- Slice the Dubliner cheese into thin squares or rectangles. Cut the baby Swiss into bite-sized cubes. Leave the white Stilton wedge whole for guests to cut themselves, or pre-slice a few pieces for easy access.
- Rinse and dry the red grapes. Separate them into small clusters for easy grabbing. Have the rosemary almonds ready for sprinkling or placing in a small bowl.
- Rinse and dry the cherry tomatoes. Keep them whole for a fresh pop of color and flavor.
Assemble the Board
- Place the garlic & herb breadsticks on side of the board and the large cheese Stilton wedge in center of the board.
- Arrange the meats by placing the cubed summer sausage in a neat wedge shaped pile. Fan out the salami and pepperoni slices into decorative layers or rosettes.
- Create small sections for each cheese: Place the Dubliner slices in one corner, fanning them out slightly. Add the baby Swiss cubes in a pile near the summer sausage.
- Arrange the cherry tomatoes between the salami and summer sausage or scatter them around the board to add bright pops of color in clusters of 2-3.
- Add the Marcona almonds in a small pile or bowl near the cheeses to provide a savory, crunchy option for guests.
- Place a small bunch of grapes opposite the tomatoes for balance. Fill in any empty spaces with sprigs of fresh rosemary or parsley for a decorative and aromatic touch.
Notes
- Sweet & savory: Balance the savory meats and cheeses with a selection of sweets like chocolate-covered almonds, honeycomb, dried apricots, and figs for a perfect contrast of flavors.
- Mediterranean-inspired: Include hummus, feta, olives, roasted red peppers, and marinated artichokes, paired with pita bread and crostini for a vibrant, Greek-inspired twist.
- Brunch board: Swap the traditional charcuterie platters for a breakfast-themed spread with smoked salmon, cream cheese, bagels, fresh fruit, and mini waffles with a drizzle of honey or jam.
- Kid-friendly: Make it fun and approachable with mild cheeses, turkey or ham roll-ups, crackers, pretzels, fresh fruit, and a yogurt dip for a spread that’s perfect for little ones.
Here are links to for where to buy Bridgford Bread & Rolls and where to buy Bridgford Meat Snacks. Now through New Year’s, use my code RENAE15 at checkout to save 15% off! Wondering how much you’ll need for each person? For a charcuterie board appetizer, I recommend planning for at least 3-4 slices of meat, a handful of crackers or breadsticks, and a few pieces of cheese and fruit per person. Adjust this based on the size of your gathering and whether this is the main appetizer or one of several snacks. What are some tips for creating a stunning charcuterie appetizers board? You can customize your board with a variety of cheeses (soft, hard, or creamy), crackers, fresh fruits like grapes or apple slices, nuts, and small bowls of dipping sauces or spreads like mustard or honey. This variety will keep your guests coming back for more! Things to avoid using on your board: 1. Avoid overcrowding your cheeseboard. This makes it look messy. Instead, stagger the heights of your ingredients to give it a visually appealing look that makes guests want to dive right in!
2. Using low-quality ingredients or foods past their prime. Only use fresh, high quality ingredients.
3. Foods that turn brown, like bananas, pineapple, untreated apple slices, and melons.
4. Overly spicy foods, since some people are sensitive to them, skip things like jalapeno peppers, and be sure to mark anything that is spicy.
5. Cooked foods. Dried fruits are fine, but skip the cooked foods as they tend to get messy. Storing Instructions
- Make Ahead Instructions: Prepare the board without the breadsticks, and cover it tightly with foil and store in the fridge for up to 1 day, to preserve the freshness. Bake the breadsticks a few hours in advance and store them in an airtight container. Reheat them in the oven at a low temperature for a few minutes before serving to restore their warm, fresh-baked feel.
- Storing leftovers: Cover the board tightly with foil and refrigerate for up to 3 days.
Nutrition
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Joseph says
I’m usually nervous about putting together fancy appetizers, but this guide made it so easy and fun. I even added a few of my own touches, and it turned out beautifully! My family loved it!