5 Charcuterie Board Ideas for Party Snacks and Pre-Dinner Nibbles (2024)

FAQs

What is the 3-3-3 rule for charcuterie board? ›

The 3333 rule applies to the number of foods to create the perfect board. To follow the 3,3,3,3 rule, stick to three cheeses, three meats, three starches, and three accoutrements.

Accompaniments: Olives, pickles, cornichons, nuts, baguette slices, bread sticks and crackers are all great options. They add flavor and texture to your charcuterie board. Fruit: Choose whatever fresh fruit is in season.

The best side dishes to serve with a charcuterie board are ricotta, ham and cheese pinwheels, ranch crackers, Caprese salad, pita bread, homemade yogurt, cheese Rangoon, crostini, stuffed olives, vegetable sticks and hummus, fruit jam or preserves, mini quiches, marinated artichoke hearts, pickled onions, and ...

There are a few that I would stay away from eggplants, brussels sprouts, turnips, beets, zucchini and mushrooms. Many of these vegetables taste best when cooked, and Charcuterie boards generally don't include steamed or cooked veggies.

Entertaining Tips: If there is anything to prep, do so ahead of time. If you're serving a hard cheese, cut it into cubes so your guests can just grab a few bites. Build your board about 30 minutes before your guests arrive.

What are common fruits on a charcuterie board? ›

A charcuterie board is an appetizer typically served on a wooden board or stone slab, either eaten straight from the board itself or portioned onto flatware. It features a selection of preserved foods, especially cured meats or pâtés, as well as cheeses and crackers or bread.

The flavors can be paired with the cheeses or chosen for their unique qualities, but always aim to have something spicy, something smoky, and something unexpected. Rule of thumb: 1 small salami, 1 large salami, 1 whole-muscle meat.

A good rule of thumb is 1 ounce of each cheese for every guest and about five types of cheese. For a party in which cheese is the main event, plan on buying 3 pounds for eight people, 6 pounds for 16 people, or 9 pounds for 24 people. If cheese is one of many items being served, plan on buying 3 to 4 ounces per person.

Cheese is usually sliced much thicker than meat, both by the store and by your guests, so you'll need a little more than the meat. So pick one cheese from each category, but don't sweat if you want fewer than four cheeses. Even if you only choose two, that just leaves more room for bread, grapes and other extras.