Learn how to make the best charcuterie board, whether it’s for two people, or 20! We review the type and quantity of meats, cheeses, and other snacks needed for the best meat and cheese board.

Charcuterie boards consist of meat, cheese, and other bite-sized snacks. With some careful consideration, it’s perfectly possible to put together a charcuterie board that will have something that each of your guests love! For me, charcuterie recipes are meant for premium snacking and are perfect for parties and holidays!

They’re also a very easy meal for 2! My husband and I have the summer tradition of wine and a charcuterie board on Friday nights after a long work week.

How to pronounce Charcuterie

First things first here. I don’t like ordering food that I don’t know how to pronounce! I assume that most people feel the same way! So, let’s make sure we can all pronounce the word before we move on. The word charcuterie looks intimidating, but once you get it down, it’s no big deal! I’ve heard it pronounced two ways. shahr-koo-tuh–ree and shahr-CUE-tuh-ree. Either way, folks will know what you’re saying with either of these pronunciations.

How much meat is needed on a Charcuterie board?

The amount of meat that you need on a charcuterie board depends entirely on how many people will be enjoying it! You will need to provide 2-3 ounces of meat in total for each guest. I recommend providing 2-3 meat choices, so that everyone will have at least one option they enjoy.

Typically, I include one mild whole cut like prosciutto, speck, or jamón from Spain. These are typically sliced very thin and are crowd pleasers! Then, I include one or more flavorful sausage options, like salami, chorizo, or venison sausage.

How much cheese is needed on a Charcuterie board?

I love cheese. And I think most people do! So, I tend to go heavy on the cheese portion of my meat and cheese boards. I include 4-5 ounces of cheese per person, and almost never have any cheese left over!

I think that 2-3 types of cheese is ideal, and choosing them is pretty simple! You need a soft, mellow cheese (goat cheese, brie, camembert), a hard cheese (aged cheddar or gouda, parmesan), and something fun and funky! I love to switch up the funky varieties. Sometimes I include a very stinky blue cheese. Sometimes, a cheese that’s been infused with sun dried tomatoes, or chipotle. Have fun with it, the great thing about charcuterie recipes is how easy they are to modify!

Salty and sour options for Charcuterie Boards

I usually try to include two salty or sour options for Charcuterie boards. Pickled items and olives are my go-tos! Pickled peppers or vegetables, like the pickled carrots and green beans, are always a hit.

For my olives, I always choose Pearls® Specialties from Musco Family Olives! On this charcuterie board, I used Pitted Kalamatas, but I also love their Garlic Stuffed Olives and Blue Cheese Stuffed Olives. Be sure to include them on your next cheese and charcuterie platter!

Sweet options for Charcuterie Boards

I love sweets and to me, they’re a critical piece of a good meat and cheese board. Some of my favorites to include are sour cherry jam, fig jam, caramelized onions, bacon jam, and honey. If you have fresh fruit laying around, sliced apples, pears and grapes are a wonderful addition as well!

Starch options for Charcuterie Boards

I like to include two starch options as well. This could be a variety of crackers, crostinis, or breads. If you include bread, it’s best to leave the bread whole so that it doesn’t get stale! Make sure to include a small bread knife and cutting board so that your guests can cut slices of bread.