Thanksgiving Charcuterie Board Ideas: Easy Festive Appetizer Guide
This Thanksgiving charcuterie board is a festive, customizable appetizer featuring cheeses, cured meats, fruits, nuts, and spreads. It’s easy to assemble, visually stunning, and perfect for keeping guests happy while you finish the main meal.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 8-10 servings
- Category: Appetizer
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- Brie or Camembert cheese
- Sharp cheddar cheese
- Gorgonzola or blue cheese (optional)
- Goat cheese log
- Fresh mozzarella balls or marinated bocconcini
- Prosciutto
- Salami or soppressata
- Smoked turkey breast
- Roasted nuts (pecans, almonds, or walnuts)
- Red or green grapes
- Apple slices (brush with lemon juice to prevent browning)
- Pear slices
- Dried apricots or figs
- Carrot sticks
- Mini bell peppers
- Assorted crackers (multigrain, water crackers, rosemary crackers)
- Crostini or sliced baguette
- Pita chips
- Cranberry sauce
- Fig jam or apple butter
- Whole grain mustard
- Honey
- Fresh rosemary sprigs
- Dried cranberries
- Dark chocolate squares (optional)
- Mini decorative pumpkins or gourds (for decoration, not eating)
Instructions
- Choose and prep your board or tray. Line with parchment paper for easy cleanup if desired.
- Arrange small bowls or ramekins for spreads, jams, honey, and sauces on the board first, spacing them out as anchors.
- Place cheeses in different corners or along the edges. Slice hard cheeses in advance; leave soft cheeses whole.
- Arrange prosciutto and salami in loose ribbons or rosettes around the cheese. Layer smoked turkey in small piles.
- Tuck stacks of crackers, crostini, and pita chips near cheeses and spreads. Keep crunchy items away from moist ingredients.
- Fan out apple and pear slices, cluster grapes, and scatter dried fruits for color. Add veggie sticks near dips or mustards.
- Sprinkle roasted nuts, pumpkin seeds, and dried cranberries in empty spaces. Add chocolate squares and tuck in rosemary sprigs or mini pumpkins for decoration.
- Drizzle honey over goat cheese or blue cheese. Add cheese knives, spreaders, and small forks. Check the board for a balanced, abundant look.
- Serve at room temperature for best flavor. Add bread and crackers just before serving to keep them crisp.
Notes
Customize the board to suit dietary needs—use gluten-free crackers, nut-free seeds, or plant-based cheeses as needed. Let cheeses come to room temperature before serving for best flavor. Keep moist and crunchy items separate to avoid sogginess. Prep most ingredients ahead, but add crackers and bread just before serving.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: About 3-4 ounces per person
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 8
- Sodium: 500
- Fat: 15
- Saturated Fat: 7
- Carbohydrates: 18
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 10
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