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Share a Thanksgiving Charcuterie Board for mid-day grazing before the main meal. Filled with a bounty of meat, cheese, and seasonal fruits, and holiday touches, this platter is as abundant as it is beautiful.
Megganโs notes
As a classically-trained chef, I had an entire class devoted to sausage and cheese-making, cold appetizers, and cheese boards. We built the most epic grazing boards Iโve ever seen and served hundreds of guests at a time.
So when it comes to charcuterie boards, Iโve got plenty of ideas and all the tips and tricks to make sure you find success, too. I love a holiday snack board, and this Thanksgiving-themed charcuterie board is equal parts beauty and abundance.
Knowing that this board is preceding a very important dinner, I minimized the meats and sweets in favor of cheese, nuts, and seasonal produce. Thereโs a little something for everyone, but not too much of anything. Feel free to add your own special Thanksgiving touches and decor to keep things festive.
Thanksgiving Charcuterie Board Ingredients
At a Glance: Here is a quick snapshot of what ingredients are in this recipe.
Please see the recipe card below for specific quantities.
- Meat and cheese: Since this snack board is served before a big turkey dinner, I feature just one type of meat. Choose your favorite or feel free to include more. Select a cheese from each category below, plus an extra, for 4 cheeses total.
- Soft cheese:ย Brie, feta, Camembert, chรจvre, ricotta, goat cheese
- Semi-hard cheese:ย Fontina, muenster, Gouda, Havarti, blue cheese, Manchego, Gruyรจre, Comtรฉ
- Firm cheese:ย Cheddar, Parmigiano-Reggiano, Romano
- Spreads and sauce:ย Cranberry sauce is the perfect choice at Thanksgiving, but any jam or jelly will do. Or, consider honey, mustard, or even maple syrup.
- Fruit and vegetables: Choose something seasonal such as apples, pears, pomegranates, or persimmons. Toss sliced apples and pears in lemon juice before assembly to slow the oxidation process that causes the flesh to brown.ย
- Sweets:ย Maple-flavored cookies look so festive at Thanksgiving (Trader Joeโs also has a version). I also love candied nuts, caramel corn, or candy corn on the board.
Charcuterie Equipment Notes
- Boards and platters:ย Wood, marble, slate; any flat, food-safe surface can act as a blank canvas for your Charcuterie Board. If youโre not certain that the surface is safe to serve food or easy to clean, line it with parchment paper.
- Dishes:ย Small bowls and cups can keep dips, jams, olives, and other ingredients that might roll or drip from invading the space of the other ingredients.
- Serving tools:ย Cheese knives, appetizer forks, small tongs, toothpicks, and tiny spoons ensure that the board stays as sanitary as possible and guarantee that guests can snag the items they like easily. No need to worry about investing in a matching set; a mix-and-match look can be stylish, too.
Thanksgiving Snacks and Props
You can source Thanksgiving decor and snacks locally when the season is right (Trader Joeโs always has a lot of interesting things). However, sometimes itโs easy and convenient to shop online.
When it comes to snacks and candy, seek out a variety of flavors and different textures (some soft, some hard, some crunchy, some chewy). Here are all the items I bought on Amazon:
How to Make a Thanksgiving Charcuterie Board
- Fold or roll the meat. Arrange the meat and cheese in separate areas of the board.
- Add fruits and vegetables, using bowls to corral any that might roll away. Add any spreads or jams.
- Add crackers, candy, cookies, and any other snacks. Layer and overlap as needed, and step back to check for gaps as you go.
- Garnish with sprigs of fresh herbs, and tuck in forks, spreaders, tongs, and other utensils where needed.
Thanksgiving Charcuterie Board Tips
- Yield:ย This board is designed to feed at least 8 as a precursor to the main Thanksgiving meal. Your exact yield depends on how much meat and cheese you buy. Plan on 1 to 2 ounces each of meat and cheese per person, especially if itโs a snack board that precedes a large meal such as Thanksgiving dinner.
- Storage:ย Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- Make ahead:ย Assemble the full board, cover it with plastic wrap, and refrigerate up to one day in advance. Bring to room temperature right before the party starts.
- Avoid overcrowding:ย You want it to look abundant but not messy. Be sure to refill it throughout your event, too.
- Avoid cooked vegetables:ย Soft, mushy vegetables are unappealing on a platter. Itโs okay to quickly blanch raw veggies (boil rapidly and shock in ice water) to tenderize and set their bright colors. Or, serve fresh or pickled veggies.
- Avoid spicy foods:ย Some people, and many children, are sensitive to spicy foods and wonโt know that theyโve eaten something until its too late. Spicy items or condiments can be served off the platter and carefully labeled.
- Embrace variety:ย A variety of colors, textures, and flavors makes a more interesting board. Incorporate soft, hard, crunchy, chewy, sweet, and savory.
Charcuterie Board Variations
- Charcuterie board: This classic charcuterie board has a variety of meats, cheeses, fruits, vegetables, nuts, and spreads. Itโs all an all-purpose, yet elevated, snack platter perfect for parties of all kinds, wine tastings, movie nights, and more.
- Cheese board: Learn how to build a cheese board, how much cheese per person, and other cheese tips to serve a spread thatโs gourmet and gorgeous all at once.
- Christmas board: For the merriest grazing at the holidays, make your ownย Christmas charcuterie board.ย This version is styled like a Christmas tree.
- Midwestern board:ย Try myย Midwestern charcuterie boardย for my favorite Wisconsin snacks likeย ham and pickle roll-ups,ย mini cheese balls, venison sausage,ย dill dip, andย red pepper jelly with cream cheese.
- Vegan board: Aย vegan charcuterie boardย delivers all the indulgence of a traditional one with a vibrant mix of plant-based flavors, textures, and creative pairings, so even non-vegans are fans.ย
Looking Ahead: Christmas
Share aย Christmas Tree charcuterie boardย for Christmas morning, an all-day buffet, or as a precursor to Christmas Dinner.
Frequently Asked Questions
This depends on your budget, the appetites of you and your guests, as well as the other items youโre serving (if any). I usually plan on 1 to 2 ounces each of meat and cheese per person, especially if itโs a snack board that precedes a large meal such as Thanksgiving dinner.
Instead of just transferring cured meats from the package to the platter, try to highlight their textures and build dimension. But most importantly, you want the meat to be easy to access in reasonable portions. Consider rolling individual slices into spirals, forming salami roses, or creating prosciutto โriversโ in an โSโ shape. Pinterest is a terrific source of inspiration.
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Thanksgiving Charcuterie Board
Ingredientsย
Meat and cheese:
- 8 ounces prosciutto or serrano ham
- 1 (8 ounce) round brie
- 1 (8 ounce) wedge Gouda or Fontina or Parmesan
- 1 (4 ounce) wedge Roquefort blue cheese
- 4 ounces Cheddar cheese cubed
Spreads:
Fruits and veggies:
- red grapes
- apple slices a mix of red and green (Gala apples brown the slowest)
- pears cored and quartered
- pomegranate seeds
- green beans blanched
- olives and baby pickles
Cookies and nuts:
Garnishes and decorations:
- fresh rosemary and sage leaves
- silk leaves or plastic acorns
Instructionsย
- Fold or roll the meat. Arrange the meat and cheese in separate areas of the board. Add any spreads or jams.
- Add fruits and vegetables, using bowls to corral any that might roll away.
- Add crackers, candy, cookies, and any other snacks. Layer and overlap as needed, and step back to check for gaps as you go.
- Garnish with herbs, and tuck in forks, spreaders, tongs, and other utensils where needed.
Notes
- Yield:ย This board is designed to feed at least 8 as a precursor to the main Thanksgiving meal. Your exact yield depends on how much meat and cheese you buy. Plan on 1 to 2 ounces each of meat and cheese per person, especially if itโs a snack board that precedes a large meal such as Thanksgiving dinner.
- Storage:ย Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
I love this! It looks absolutely beautiful, and Iโll be making this for my neighborhood fall gathering.