Ideas On How To Make The Best Beef Charcuterie Board

Here’s the thing about charcuterie boards, they can be made any way you’d like!

There really are no rules in assembling various meats, different types of cheese, and accompaniments.

The perfect charcuterie board is one that represents your personal style and taste.

So break the routine of the traditional meat and cheese tray with an easy and delicious beef charcuterie board!

There is a large rectangular wood board with various food items on it. Meats: rolled slices of roast beef, sliced beef sausage, thin slices of folded in half beef salami and slices of beef bologna folded in triangles. Cheese: There are 2 wedges of brie cheese, a wheel of smoked gouda on the board. There is a wedge of blue cheese on a small round wood board in front of the large rectangular board. There is a small wood bowl with pistachio nuts, another wood bowl with brown crackers in it. There are 3 small clear glass bowls on the board. One with brown colored fruit spread, one with olives and chunks of feta cheese and the third bowl has pieces of beef jerky in it. There are blackberries, sliced apples, and orange colored dried apricots. There is a wood bowl with a honey comb and honey dipper sitting in front of the board. There are three slices of crusty bread lying in front of the board. The board and items are on a black marble surface.

Charcuterie boards of every kind have become very popular over the past few years and why not? They are a wonderful addition to a dinner party as a great appetizer with favorite finger foods and can also be made as very large epic main meal board.

Besides being beautiful, boards are an easy and fun way to serve delicious combinations of different ingredients and your guests can serve themselves.

There is a large wood board. On the board there is folded dried beef, rolled slices of roast beef, folded slices of beef bologna, fresh black berries, dried apricots, a wedge of brie cheese, a pile of light brown crackers, a small clear bowl with olives and chunks of white feta cheese, a small clear bowl with dark brown jam in it, a wood bowl with pistachios in it. The board is on a black marble surface.

Charcuterie, (pronounced: shahr-koo-tr-ee) is the French word meaning the cooking of meat.

It refers to how meat products are prepared, particularly (but not limited to) pork specialities which are found in a delicatessen style of shop called a charcuterie.

There are so many special occasions you can create a charcuterie platter for although you really don’t need an occasion!

I often make small charcuterie boards for a last minute happy hour or when a neighbor stops by for a visit.

Boards and Dishes

There is a large rectangular wood board with five different size wood bowls and a small clear glass bowl sitting on it. The large wood board is on a black marble surface.

Boards can be different sizes and different shapes. The size of your board depends on the number of people you are serving.

You can also use multiple boards, dishes, or platters. Any flat surface will work even a kitchen island or counter top!

Serving Utensils

There are five cheese knives of different sizes and shapes, two small wooden spoons, two small forks, two small spoons and one honey spoon. All Items are on a black marble surface.

Various cheese knives
Jam spoons and honey spool
Olive forks

The Good Stuff – The Ingredients

Meats

There is a variety of meats that you can use when creating an all beef charcuterie board and most can be found at local grocery stores.

Some of the best meats include beef sausage, roast beef, corned beef, beef bologna, beef pastrami, beef salami, braseola, and beef jerky.

You can even add some sliced filet, brisket, or meatballs. Charcuterie meats present very well when sliced super thin. (See FAQ’s)

There is a black board with rolled slices of roast beef, round slices of beef salami, round slices of beef sausage, folded slices of beef bologna laying on it. There is also a small clear glass bowl with pieces of beef jerky in it sitting on the board. The board is on a black marble surface.

For This Board I Used:

Beef summer sausage
Beef bologna
Roast beef
Beef salami
Beef jerky

Cheeses

You’re talking to a cheese lover here, so to me, all cheeses go well with meat!

I like to present a variety of cheeses (see Pro Tips).

Hard cheeses: Swiss, smoked gouda, white cheddar, and parmigiano reggiano all taste great.

Soft cheeses: goat cheese, brie, cream cheese, and triple cream to name a few.

Aged cheeses: blue cheese and gorgonzola are my favorites.

There is a white round wheel of cheese, a wedge of blue cheese, and a wheel of light yellow cheese. Cheeses are on a black surface.

For This Board I Used:

Brie
Smoked gouda
Blue cheese
Cream cheese (not pictured) – wrapped with dried beef around bread sticks

Sweet And Savory Nibbles

Different varieties of spreads and accompaniments are great additions to any charcuterie or cheese board.

Fresh Fruit: Seasonal fruit is great way to add sweetness and color to your board. Some favorite fresh fruit of mine that pair well with beef are figs, cherries, blackberries, red grapes, and apples (see Pro Tips).

Dried Fruit: I love to add dried fruit like: apricots, cherries, figs, pineapple, mango, or cranberries.

Nuts: A party isn’t complete without some kind of nuts and they are a great addition to a charcuterie board.

Walnuts, pistachio nuts, blanched almonds, cashews, macadamia nuts, or mixed nuts. Actually, any kind of nut works!

There are 3 square wood bowls, one with sliced apple, one with blackberries, and one with dried apricots in it. There is a wood scoop with pistachios in it. All items are on a black marble surface.

For This Board I Used:

Blackberries
Sliced apples (honey crisp)
Dried apricots
Pistachios

Sweet spreads: fruit jams, marmalades, or honey.

Savory spreads: mustards, herbed olive oil , hummus, or a pesto are great additions to any charcuterie or cheese board (see Pro Tips).

Briny, pickled or marinated: mixed olives, cornichons, olive tapenade, dill pickles, cocktail onions, pepperoncini. I love to add a Greek feta salad (kalamata and green olives with feta cubes marinated in herbs and spices) – yum!

There are 3 small clear bowls. One has a honey comb in it, one has a brown fruit spread in it and one has green and black olives with white feta cheese chunks in it. The bowls are on a black marble surface.

For This Board I Used:

Papaya golden raisin fruit spread (locally made)
A honey comb – so fun to serve and delicious with cheese!
Greek feta salad

Vessels To Carry The Meats And Cheeses

It’s a good idea to offer a variety of flavors and in this category as well.

Nothing beats a lean beef with your favorite cheese on a slice of bread, delicious!

Bread: Slices of crusty or rustic bread, sliced baguette, crisp bread sticks, pita wedges.

Crackers: Artisan crackers like date & apricot crips, raisin & rosemary crips, whole-grain crackers, and a gluten free cracker (rice or nut base) for your gluten free friends!

There is a large wood board with bread sticks and sliced crusty bread. There are two wooden bowls on the board. There is light brown crackers in one and dark brown crackers in the other. The large wooden board is on a black marble surface.

For This Board I Used:

Sliced multi grain Italian bread
Date and apricot crisps
Garlic parmesan bread sticks
Baked rice crackers

Tips & Tricks

Cheeses are always served best when served at room temperature.
Soak apple slices in a mixture of lemon juice to prevent browning.
Use small bowls to serve any condiments or pickled food along with toothpicks, small spoons or forks.
Keep it simple and keep in mind the people who will be eating from the board.

Wood board with slice beef sausage, sliced apple, blackberries, dried apricots, brie cheese, bread sticks with dried beef wrapped around one end, a bowl of brown crackers and a wheel of light yellow cheese. There is a knife on the wheel of cheese. Wood board is on a black marble surface.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Much Do I Serve Per Person On A Charcuterie Board?

Customize this recipe based on how many people you will be serving. If it is the main meal, double the portions per person.
Meats: 2 to 3 ounces per person.
Cheeses: 2 to 3 ounces per person.
Bread: 2 slices per person.
Fruit and vegetables: 4 to 8 ounces per person.
Crackers: 3 to 4 per person per item.

What Can I Serve For Dinner With A Beef Charcuterie Board?

If your delicious charcuterie board is your main coarse or just the best appetizer ever, green salads, roasted vegetables and baked potatoes go very well with beef!

Can You Make The Charcuterie Board Ahead?

When it comes to any boards, you just need a little bit of planning and there are a few things you can prepare ahead of serving it.
– Shop for your items.
– Select the boards and small dishes for spreads, nuts, etc.
– Wash the fruit and vegetables.
– Cut up chunks of cheese and slice meats if you want to present it in the matter and refrigerate in an airtight container.

Ideas On How To Arrange A Charcuterie Board

There is a wood board. On the wood board there is sliced of roast beef rolled up, slices of beef sausage. a wheel of light yellow gouda cheese, apple slices, blackberries, and dried apricots, a pile of light brown crackers, a small clear glass bowl with green olives and chunks of white feta cheese, a wood bowl with pistachios, thin bread sticks with dried beef wrapped around them. There are 3 slices of rustic bread and a wedge of blue cheese in front of the board and a wood bowl with a honey comb in it. Items are on a black marble surface.

1. Select a board and small serving bowls or plates. I like to use multiple boards in different shapes.

2. Start with the meats. Fan out, roll, or fold the meats and place them on the board in different locations such as the center and the corners.

3. Next is the cheese. Place the cheeses around the board and close to the meats.

4. Add the sweet and savory spreads and accompaniments. Mustards, jams, and briny items (use small bowls).

5. Don’t forget the vessels to carry the meats and cheeses! Add your crackers and bread. I like to have the bread on a separate board.

6. Add the sweet and savory nibbles. Fill in the nooks and crannies with colorful fruit (fresh and dried) and nuts.

7. Toss some sprigs of fresh herbs around the board for color and fragrance!

Last but not least…HAVE FUN!!

Check out other recipes from that will tantalize your taste buds:

How To Create A Lox Charcuterie Board

Three Easy Delicious Leftover Pork Carnitas Recipes

How To Make Torchy’s Tacos Damn Good Queso Dip (Copycat) – super easy!

How To Make An Easy Rustic Blueberry-Lemon Galette

Easy Delicious And Healthy Recipe For Chicken Piccata

Rubio’s Grilled Gourmet Shrimp Tacos Recipe (Copycat)

Yield: 4-6 servings

Ideas On How To Make The Best Beef Charcuterie Board

Break the routine of the traditional meat and cheese tray with an easy and delicious beef charcuterie board. Mix and match the best types of meats and cheeses along with tasty sweet and savory accompaniments.

Prep Time 20 minutes

Total Time 20 minutes

Ingredients

Meats (choose how many depending on the number you are serving) – beef sausage, roast beef, corned beef, beef pastrami, beef salami, braseola, and beef jerky.
For This Board I Used:
Beef summer sausage
Beef bologna
Roast beef
Beef salami
Beef jerky
Cheeses – (choose how many depending on the number you are serving)
Hard cheese: Swiss, smoked gouda, white cheddar, and parmigiano reggiano
Soft cheeses: goat cheese, brie, cream cheese, and triple cream
Aged cheese: blue cheese or gorgonzola.
For This Board I Used:
Smoked gouda
Brie
Cream cheese – wrapped with dried beef around bread sticks
Blue cheese
Sweet And Savory Nibbles –
Fresh Fruit: Seasonal fruit is great way to add sweetness and color to your board. Some favorite fresh fruit of mine that pair well with beef are figs, cherries, blackberries, red grapes, and apples (see Pro Tips).
Sweet spreads: fruit jams, marmalades, or honey. Dried fruit: apricots, cherries, figs, pineapple, mango, or cranberries
Savory spreads: mustards, herbed olive oil, hummus, pesto
Nuts: walnuts, pistachio nuts, blanched almonds, cashews, macadamia nuts, or mixed nuts.
Briny, pickled or marinated: mixed olives, cornichons, olive tapenade, dill pickles, and or kalamata and green olives with feta cubes marinated in herbs and spices)
For This Board I Used:
Blackberries
Sliced apples (honey crisp)
Dried apricots
Pistachios
For This Board I Used:
Papaya Golden Raisin Fruit Spread (locally made)
A honey comb (so fun to serve and delicious)
Greek feta salad
Bread: Slices of crusty or rustic bread, sliced baguette, crisp bread sticks, pita wedges
Crackers: Artisan crackers like date & apricot crips, raisin & rosemary crips, whole-grain crackers, and a gluten free cracker (rice or nut base)
For This Board I Used:
Sliced multi grain Italian bread
Date and apricot crisps
Baked rice crackers

Instructions

Select a board and small serving bowls or plates. I like to use multiple boards in different shapes.
Start with the meats. Fan out, roll, or fold the meats and place them on the board in different locations such as the center and the corners.
Next is the cheese. Place the cheeses around the board and close to the meats.
Add the sweet and savory spreads and accompaniments – mustards, jams, and briny items (use small bowls).
Don’t forget the vessels to carry the meats and cheeses. Add your crackers and bread. I like to have the bread on a separate board.
Add the sweet and savory nibbles. Fill in the nooks and crannies with colorful fruit (fresh and dried) and nuts.

Notes

Pro Tips:

Cheeses are always served best when served at room temperature.

Soak apple slices in a mixture of lemon juice to prevent browning.

Use small bowls to serve any condiments or pickled food along with toothpicks, small spoons or forks.

Keep it simple and keep in mind the people who will be eating from the board.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Much Do I Serve Per Person On A Charcuterie Board?

Customize this recipe based on how many people you will be serving. If it is the main meal, double the portions per person.

Meats: 2 to 3 ounces per person.

Cheeses: 2 to 3 ounces per person.

Bread: 2 slices per person.

Fruit and vegetables: 4 to 8 ounces per person.

Crackers: 3 to 4 per person per item

What Can I Serve For Dinner With A Beef Charcuterie Board?

If your delicious charcuterie board is your main coarse or just the best appetizer ever, green salads, roasted vegetables and baked potatoes go very well with beef!

Can You Make The Charcuterie Board Ahead?

When it comes to any boards, you just need a little bit of planning and there are a few things you can prepare ahead of serving it.

Shop for your items.

Select the boards and small vessels for spreads, nuts, etc.

Wash the fruit and vegetables.

Cut up chunks of cheese and slice the meats if you want to present it in the matter and refrigerate in an airtight container.