How to Make a Perfect Thanksgiving Charcuterie Board to Impress

A Thanksgiving charcuterie board or an appetizer platter will have all your friends and family grateful before the dinner is served. It will allow you to show off your creative plating skills and give your guests a taste of some delicious fun bite-sized holiday foods.

Not only are charcuterie boards full of all kinds of tasty foods, but they are also visually stunning. They make for a fantastic edible Thanksgiving decoration! Plus, a charcuterie board doesn’t take much time to put together - all you need is a bit of inspiration, a pinch of imagination, and some delicious foods.

The key to a great Thanksgiving charcuterie board is to have a variety of savory and sweet foods. You want there to be something for everyone, so choosing a variety of fall-themed colors, textures, and flavors is essential.

1.Cheese and Cured Meats

No matter the occasion, every charcuterie board must have a selection of cheese and meat. For Thanksgiving, we recommend using a variety of flavorful and colorful types of cheese, such as sharp cheddar, gouda, manchego, Gruyere, goat cheese, camembert, and brie.

Brie can be an excellent centerpiece for your holiday charcuterie. It takes no time to bake a wheel of brie and top it with pistachios, pomegranate seeds, and fresh rosemary.

If you have time and want to take it to the next level, bake your brie wrapped in a pastry sheet lined with orange marmalade. It is a guaranteed wow factor for your Thanksgiving charcuterie board.

For meats, choose from the charcuterie classics like prosciutto, salami, chorizo, and Spanish ham to keep it festive. These cured meats go great with the cheese but also pair well with the fruit and nuts on the board.

2.Fresh Fruit

You should include seasonal fruit to add some sweetness and freshness to your Thanksgiving charcuterie board. Pears, grapes, figs, blackberries, persimmons, and apples are all in season and go well with the holiday theme.

3.Dried Fruit

It is optional, but dried cranberries, apricots, or cherries all pair well with tangy cheeses. They will make for a nice colorful element scattered across the charcuterie board or placed in a cute small bowl next to the goat cheese log or brie.

4.Bread and Crackers

You can’t have a charcuterie board without bread or crackers! As we make a seasonal spread, you might want to take it up a notch and serve homemade pecan walnut crackers. You can easily bake those ahead of time and have them waiting to be served on Thanksgiving day.

5.Nuts and Seeds

Nuts and seeds are a great way to add crunch to your Thanksgiving charcuterie board. Almonds, pistachios, cashews, and pumpkin seeds go great with cheese and meat. You can even roast them ahead of time to give them extra flavor and flair. Roasted sweet and savory pecans in a bowl can be another wonderful option.

6.Jams, Honey and Sweet Dips

You need something sweet and spreadable to pair with the cheese—jams made from seasonal fruits like pear, apple, or apricot work great here. You can also serve a small bowl of cranberry sauce or homemade pumpkin dip. These flavors complement other delicious elements and take your Thanksgiving charcuterie board to the next level!

7.Bite-Sized Appetizers

Thanksgiving charcuterie board calls for something special, so you might want to include one or two show-stopping appetizer bites. These manchego and almond stuffed dates take only a few minutes to make but add some unique festive element.

If you want to go all out, make these glazed apricots with ricotta and pistachios - they will surely be a hit with your guests!

The best thing about building a charcuterie board is that there are no strict rules. Every board will look different, and that’s what makes them so special. With that said, you can use a few tips and tricks to ensure your board looks beautiful and functions well.

Create a Focal Point

Every charcuterie board needs an eye-catching centerpiece. This could be a wheel of baked brie, a beautiful bunch of grapes, a cheese log, or a festive decor like a mini pumpkin or gourd.
Place your centerpiece on the board first and place a bowl of jam or honey next to it.

Keep It Colorful

Choose a mix of flavors, textures, and colors for an eye-catching display. Don’t place elements of the same or similar color next to each other.

Add Some Height

Place some items on stands or bowls to add dimension to your board. This will also help keep the board looking tidy.

If you are serving olives, marinated artichokes, or more than one dip, place them in bowls and spread them across the board, leaving space around them.

Layer the Ingredients

After your main element and the bowls are on the board, continue to layer the rest and place the meats, cheeses, fruits, and berries. Then add crackers, nuts, and dried fruit. Garnish with fresh seasonal herbs and seeds.

Make It Ahead of Time

Assemble the board 1-2 hours before.

There you have it – your very own Thanksgiving charcuterie board!

We hope all these have inspired you to build your very own one-of-a-kind Thanksgiving charcuterie board and blow everyone away this turkey day!