How To Make The Perfect Charcuterie Board for Your Garden Party

How has your Summer been going? I know that life is looking a bit different than we are used to lately, but I have found goodness in it. One of my favorite parts of this strange summer is also the same thing that has made me a little stir crazy. Staying home.

Staying home is tough when you are used to getting out and staying busy, but considering how go-go-go life typically is, it’s nice to actually just stay put. We have been doing a lot more entertaining lately for smaller groups. 

My husband’s brother and his family have been visiting often and this coming week it will be my brother and his family. It’s nice to spend this time with those that we love without the constant chaos that we typically deal with.

Since it is summertime and I have been home more to spend a lot of time in my yard and garden, I actually love doing this entertaining outdoors. A “Garden Party”, if you will. I love entertaining outdoors. We have a gazebo and an outdoor table and it’s just a wonderful place to congregate, visit and eat delicious foods! 

For gatherings like this, my husband likes to fire up the grill and I prepare the sides and appetizers. My favorite food to prepare for these garden parties is charcuterie boards. They are always a big hit! If you are new to charcuterie boards, I’m going to walk you through how to make the perfect charcuterie board for your garden party.

How To Make The Perfect Charcuterie Board for Your Garden Party

What is a Charcuterie Board?

Okay, let’s get this out of the way, because I know you are about to ask. Charcuterie is pronounced shahr-koo-tuh–ree. Yeah, it’s a tough one. What is a charcuterie board though? 

A charcuterie board is a serving board that is topped with foods such as smoked or cured meats such as ham and salami and cheese.

There are several steps for creating the perfect Charcuterie Board:

Start with a great board

We have some really amazing boards here that will be an awesome base for your charcuterie board. Here are my favorites:

• round marble and mango wood board - our bread and cheese boards add an artisan aesthetic to your serving table. the smooth mango wood adopts a weathered patina over time and the marble stands in cool contrast to the warm texture of the wood.
• rectangular marble and mango wood board - our bread and cheese boards add an artisan aesthetic to your serving table. the smooth mango wood adopts a weathered patina over time and the marble stands in cool contrast to the warm texture of the wood.
• rectangular baselina board- this beautiful board looks terrific on your buffet or coffee table when serving light appetizers. the cool marble surface prevents your cheeses from over-softening. also use the board to serve crackers, smaller bread loaves or fruits.

Go Shopping

Once you know how many people you will be serving, it is time to shop for your charcuterie board. If you are wondering how to calculate how much of each of the items you need, this is how I calculate it for my parties:

Cheese - I always choose a variety of cheeses, and I stick to about 1-2 ounces per guests)

Meat - I have found that about 4 slices of meal per person is perfect when building a board. Of course this is not a hard and fast number, but it seems to work pretty well for entertaining.

Crackers - I always include several different types of crackers and I just load up the board with them!

Fruits - Sometimes I add fruits, sometimes not. I don’t usually follow any specific rules for this, I just go to my local farmers market and grab what looks great.

Olives and dips - Again, these don’t always make their way to my boards, but olives and dips always keep my guests happy, so I try to include them often. I do black and green olives as well as several different types of dips.

Think about your colors

The best charcuterie boards have a color theme. That’s right, picking a color/texture theme to go with and you will have a beautiful display of delicious snacks to keep your guests nibbling and smiling. 

I prefer to go with a brightly themed color pattern. Along with meat and cheese I like to add berries (raspberries, blueberries), dried mangos, olives and several types of dips in different colors.

More Info

Be sure to check out our other blogs, serving festive snacks for the holidays and six savory appetizer ideas for new year's eve for more tips and suggestions.

Fill it up

Don’t worry about your board being too full-- your board SHOULD look full. Pile your various snacks high, you want your guests to dive right in and enjoy any and all of these delicious and delightful snacks on your board.

As you begin thinking about making the perfect charcuterie board, you will want to start thinking about different colors

The board should look full, don’t be afraid to pile and stack them while thinking about varying the different items throughout.

Now it’s time to enjoy your home, your garden and your guests.