Mini Charcuterie Boards

Charcuterie boards are full of bite-sized meats, cheeses, fruits, nuts, grains, olives, and more. They are perfect for entertaining, date night, hosting a fun event, dinner party, or bridal shower… or thrown together as dinner when there’s no time or no plan. A mini charcuterie board is highly adaptable and anything goes!

WHAT’S NEW?

I’ve been a bit under the weather and chugging tea and trying to ward off or recover from whatever is trying to take me down. The next 5 weeks are jam-packed with fun and travel and I’ve got no time to mess around with any sort of illness!

Michigan, per usual for this time of year, is oscillating between shorts weather and snow. While Friday and the first half of Saturday were shorts weather, today (Sunday), it’s snowing. The girls and I took this opportunity to marvel at how much they’ve grown since last summer by cleaning out their closets and ensuring we have adequate hot weather clothing for spring break. They informed me that they wish we had a mall nearby which is just so ironic because they are certainly the generation of online shopping. After a clean-the-fridge-out lunch, it was again requested that we have a charcuterie dinner again soon. With sports and science fairs and all the other things ruling our evenings, a build-your-own charcuterie dinner is a staple in our house.

ROLL CALL FOR THIS RECIPE

Busy Families: Pack this charcuterie board as a “snackle box” and take it to the soccer fields or where ever your evening activities lead you!
Prep Ahead: For an ultra-quick option, prep the cheese or anything requiring cutting or slicing ahead of time.
Adaptable: This build-your-own option is ideal for making a meal that speaks to everyone’s likes and dislikes!
Kid-Friendly: This is ultimate kid food. The assembly, the presentation, the decision making, the eating – so, so FUN!

KEY INGREDIENTS AND SUBSTITUTIONS

Meat: Totally optional but salami, prosciutto, and other charcuterie meats work well.
Cheese: Hard cheese such as gouda, aged cheddar, and Manchego are some of my favorites for on-the-go. If you have the option to add soft cheese that may require a knife for serving, consider blue cheese or goat cheese.
Vegetable: Not always traditional to a charcuterie board, I encourage a vegetable for both color and a more balanced meal. Consider cucumber slices, snap peas, carrots, or bell peppers to keep it quick and easy.
Fruit: Fresh berries, grapes, sliced apple or pear, or dried fruit such as apricots, apple, or dates are some of my favorite fruits to include. However, anything goes and seasonal fruit or fresh fruit of any kind works great.
Fat: Tree nuts such as pecans, pistachios, cashews, and almonds are my go-tos, as are green olives or olives of any variety.
Grains, Crackers, or Bread: Sliced baguette, breadstick rods, pretzels, pita chips, or crackers of any kind work well.
Condiments: Honey, whole grain or Dijon mustard, and fig jam can make the perfect addition to your serving board

FAQ

What are your favorite charcuterie board combinations?

Most boards I whip up will include Manchego cheese with a fig jam and/or blue cheese with honey. These two combinations are absolutely incredible. I also tend to include green olives and marcona almonds, often with some type of herb seasoning.

How can I make a charcuterie board look amazing?

Don’t use too large of a board and start with your largest items, spacing them apart. Disperse your colorful ingredients across the board and try using different shapes in terms of your cut cheese, crackers, etc. You can add small cups or bowls for nuts and olives to add height dimension. Salami roses and rolled meats are easy and fun to add with helpful tutorials online. Fresh herbs or even an edible flower can be included for a truly show-stopping presentation! It’s fun to add in a few specialty chocolates or a little something sweet, too.

Is this an appetizer or meal?

Traditionally, charcuterie is a French appetizer. However, with a well-rounded offering of various food groups, it can double as a meal.

Love this idea but my kid won’t include a vegetable, fruit, or nut/olive on their board. What do I do?

I recommend laying out all the available ingredients and offerings and make some type of a checklist or go through the food groups together and asking for each food group to be included on the board, and leave up to the child whether or not they eat it. The group activity and repeated exposure to new and different foods will increase acceptance and likelihood of trying new foods.

NUTRITIONAL MERITS

Easily contains all food groups for a complete meal
Easily made vegetarian or vegan
Can be adapted to meet any allergy need

VARIATIONS, STORAGE, and TIPS

Allowing each person to create a mini board can make for a fun, intimate gathering or on-the-go dinner or snack.
Most boards can be kept at room temperature for a short period of time but any leftovers should be refrigerated within 1-2 hours
Wood boards (such as cedar planks for grilling) can be found at many grocery stores or online. A plate or platter works just as well! If you’re on-the-go, a tupperware is perfect too!
Proteins and fats are filling – the perfect size board for an individual is probably less food than you’d expect.