Easy Charcuterie Board

5 from 1 vote

Create the perfect easy charcuterie board for the holidays, game day, or any gathering! Follow our step-by-step guide to impress your guests.

Prep Time30

Total Time30

Course: Appetizer

Cuisine: American

Keyword: easy charcuterie board, charcuterie, game day food, holiday appetizers, charcuterie board, charcuterie appetizers

Servings: servings

Calories: 313kcal

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

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

Get the recipe for Bridgford's Garlic & Herb Breadsticks. Prepare and bake as directed.

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.

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.

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.
Things to avoid using on your board:

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!
Using low-quality ingredients or foods past their prime. Only use fresh, high quality ingredients.
Foods that turn brown, like bananas, pineapple, untreated apple slices, and melons.
Overly spicy foods, since some people are sensitive to them, skip things like jalapeno peppers, and be sure to mark anything that is spicy.
Cooked foods. Dried fruits are fine, but skip the cooked foods as they tend to get messy.

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.

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.