Make a Thanksgiving charcuterie board for your next holiday gathering. This appetizer tray is filled with plenty of meats and cheeses, plus your favorite seasonal flavors like pecans, cranberry sauce, and apple butter.
Heather's recipe summary
Made with: A variety of meats, cheeses, nuts, and spreads. Seasonal fruits and Thanksgiving flavors (like candied pecans, apple butter, and baked brie with cranberry sauce) make it the perfect holiday appetizer.
Make ahead of time: Assemble your charcuterie board and store it until the party starts.
Yield: Feeds 12 or more people.
Other holiday boards: Easter Charcuterie Board, Halloween Charcuterie Board, and Christmas Charcuterie Board
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Meats and cheeses
Choose three meats and three cheeses for your charcuterie board. Odd numbers look nice together when assembled and give just enough variety to guests.
Meats - Any cured meats work well on a charcuterie board - pictured above is sopressata, pepperoni, and cappocollo. If you can find a variety pack of meats at your local grocery deli, they're often cheaper than purchasing each meat separately.
Cheeses - When choosing your cheeses, try to use a combination of soft and hard cheeses with a variety of mild and strong flavors. I chose brie, pepper jack, and colby-jack (pictured above). Hard cheeses should be sliced beforehand, and soft cheeses should include a knife or spoon so guests can serve themselves.
Crackers and bread
Add at least two types of crackers or bread to your charcuterie board. I like to use a thinly sliced baguette (preferably toasted) and one or two types of crackers.
Fresh produce
Add seasonal fruits or veggies that fit the theme of your board.
Fruits - Red or black grapes are always a great choice for a charcuterie board. I also added baked apple chips for a fun fall twist.
Vegetables - Baby carrots or broccoli florets are bite sized and easy to grab.
Spreads and seasonal extras
Spreads - Add at least one jam or spread to your charcuterie board. I added two sweet spreads (apple butter and cranberry sauce) to my Thanksgiving board, but a savory spread like stone-ground mustard is another great choice.
Savory additions - Olives and pickles are great additions. I also added some candied pecans to my board.
Seasonal treats - Any seasonal candies you can find at your local grocery store can be added to your Thanksgiving tray. Tiny candy pumpkins, candy corn, or caramel corn are great additions. I found some seasonal orange pretzels to add to my board.
Other items needed
Board - You'll need a board to assemble your meats and cheeses on. If you don't plan on entertaining often, don't bother buying an expensive charcuterie board. Instead, use a clean wooden cutting board or half sheet pan (like pictured) covered in a sheet of parchment or butcher paper. A sheet pan with a small lip around the edge helps hold your items in place.
Cups and bowls - You'll also need a few small cups, bowls, or short mason jars for jams and messier items (like olives and apple butter).
Serving knives - Lastly, you'll need a few serving spoons and knives. If you don't have a set of cheese knives, any small spoons and knives you have on hand will work just fine.
Frequently asked questions
Charcuterie is a term that refers to the preparation of cured and cooked meats. A charcuterie board is frequently made up of several cold, cooked meats and cheeses. Optional additions include sweet or savory spreads, fresh fruits and vegetables, crackers, nuts, and more.
Charcuterie is pronounced "shahr-ku-tuh-ree".
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📖 Recipe
Thanksgiving Charcuterie Board
Ingredients
Meats and cheeses
- 12 ounces cured meats, thin sliced sausage, pepperoni, capicola, prosciutto, ham, etc.
- 20 ounces cheese, a variety of hard and soft cheeses work best
Crackers and bread
- 8 ounces crackers
- 1 thin baguette
Spreads and seasonal extras
- 4 ounces apple butter, or honey
- 4 ounces cranberry sauce
- 8 ounces green olives, or pickles
- 6 ounces candied pecans
- 8 ounces chocolate covered pretzels, or other seasonal candy
Fresh produce
- 16 ounces seedless red grapes
- 16 ounces baby carrots
- 4 ounces apple chips
Instructions
- Line a half baking sheet or large wooden cutting board with parchment paper.
- Add meats and cheeses to board. Slice hard cheeses beforehand, and include a serving knife with soft cheeses (if using a wheel of brie, warm in the oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 15 minutes, then top with one of the jams in step 4). Fold thin sliced meats into halves or quarters for added visual appeal.
- Thinly slice your baguette, lightly toast the slices, and add along with your crackers to the board.
- Add jars of apple butter and cranberry sauce to the board. Pour nuts, pretzels, and pickles/olives into serving dishes and add to board.
- Cut grape vines into small portions, making it easy for guests to pick up one small bunch at a time. Use produce to fill in any gaps and small spaces you find around the board.
- These ingredients are suggestions - add your favorites and customize your own board to suit your tastes. Enjoy!
Equipment Recommendations
Notes
- Refills: Not all of the items listed will fit onto your board at once. Extra produce/crackers/nuts/cheeses that don't fit can be set aside to refill as needed.
- Serving options: I used a half sheet pan for my board (as shown in the photos), which is 13 inches by 18 inches. Any large wooden cutting board or sheet pan you have on hand will work well or you can divide your items between two smaller pans/boards.
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