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!
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.

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.
Equipment / Helpful Utensils

Boards and Dishes
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
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)

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.

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!

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!

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!

For This Board I Used:
- Sliced multi grain Italian bread
- Date and apricot crisps
- Garlic parmesan bread sticks
- Baked rice crackers
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 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

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 Join Me In The Kitchen that will tantalize your taste buds:
- How To Make Torchy’s Tacos Damn Good Queso Dip (Copycat) – super easy!
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.
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.
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