This Thanksgiving charcuterie board is a display of meats, cheeses, nuts, crackers, fall fruit and seasonal treats. A super easy yet impressive appetizer offering that is sure to be a hit at your Thanksgiving gathering.
I always put out a big spread of appetizer recipes on Thanksgiving day, including fall favorites such as sweet and creamy pumpkin dip, cheese ball bites, slow cooker cranberry meatballs, and a Thanksgiving charcuterie board.
Charcuterie boards are all the rage right now, and for good reason! They’re easy to make, look really fancy, and there are so many choices for even the pickiest eaters. I like to take my meat and cheese displays a step further by making seasonal versions. This Thanksgiving charcuterie board is perfect for any fall celebration. I also have a spooky Halloween charcuterie board that is the perfect complement to any pumpkin carving party. Looking for even more inspiration? Check out my list of Thanksgiving appetizer recipes! Don’t forget to make some Thanksgiving punch to serve with your snacks.
Table of Contents
Thanksgiving Charcuterie Board Ingredients
The best charcuterie boards contain multiple sweet and savory items.
- Meat: A charcuterie board typically includes multiple types of meat, such as salami, prosciutto, pepperoni or even pate!
- Cheese: Be sure to select an assortment of cheeses including a hard aged cheese such as parmesan or gouda, blue cheese, goat cheese, brie and cheddar. I also used an herb cheese for visual interest and added flavor.
- Produce: I went with fall seasonal produce to stay within the Thanksgiving theme. I chose pears, grapes and figs, but other great options include apples, pomegranate or persimmons. I also included a bowl of fruit and nut olives that I found in the deli section. Small pickles such as cornichon also work well, along with dried fruit such as cranberries and apricots. You could also include fresh vegetables such as radishes, cucumber or carrots.
- Nuts & Seeds: Pumpkin seeds are must for Thanksgiving! I found some candied pumpkin seeds, which I served along with candied pecans. I also found a date and walnut cake which I included on the board. Candied walnuts or almonds are also a great choice.
- Herbs: I add a few sprigs of fresh herbs for added color, some great options for fall include sage, thyme or rosemary.
- Crackers: Choose a variety of interesting crackers, such as herb crackers, a fruit and nut variety, and some plain water crackers. I also went with rye crackers, and found some twisted Italian crackers called taralli which were super delicious!
- Thanksgiving Sweets: I found some harvest chocolates, maple sugar candy and maple cookies that I added to the board to make it festive. Check out the candy and bakery area of your local grocery stores to see what you can find!
- Jams & Spreads: I typically offer at least one type of spread or condiment such as preserves or honey. Here I used a fig and walnut spread to stay with the Thanksgiving theme.
How Do You Make A Thanksgiving Charcuterie Board?
Start by placing your larger items on the board, such as wedges of cheese, jars of honey or bowls of olives. Next, start filling in gaps with your crackers and fruit. Add in some fall themed sweets and sliced meats, then nuts and seeds. Finally, finish by adding a few sprigs of fresh herbs.
Tips For The Perfect Platter
- Don’t worry about finding the exact same items in these photos! Just do your best and look for things that fit the theme and that you think your guests will enjoy.
- When you’re out shopping, stick to ingredients that are primarily in fall colors such as orange, green and burgundy for a more festive looking board.
- You may need to go to more than one store to find everything you need. This board is primarily made up from items at Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods.
- Cut your meats and cheeses into different shapes and sizes for more interesting textures as well as visual effect. Use some pre-cut thinly sliced prosciutto, then buy a whole salami and cut it into thicker slices or cubes. Cheeses can be served whole, or cut into thin slices or cubes.
Quick Tip
Think outside the box, and be sure to check out the whole grocery store for ingredients, not just the deli area. For example, I found the maple sugar leaves in the candy aisle.
Recipe FAQs
Charcuterie is a French term that traditionally has referred to any processed meat, such as cured meats or pate. In the past, a charcuterie board primarily consisted meats with a few other accompaniments.
A charcuterie board always contains meats, such as salami, prosciutto, coppa and sometimes pates. It often also has assorted cheeses, crackers or bread, and complementary items including pickles, fruit and nuts.
Avoid very strongly flavored items on a charcuterie board that could clash with the other items on the platter. For example, a hot and spicy chipotle cheese may not pair well with other fall ingredients.
FOLLOW ME
Make Ahead Instructions
You can assemble your Thanksgiving board up to 8 hours before you plan to serve it. Keep the platter covered with plastic wrap and in the refrigerator until you’re ready to eat. If you’re making it ahead of time, leave off any wet items that aren’t contained in a bowl, and add them at the last minute. I also recommend adding the crackers right before serving, as is it possible that crackers can get stale or soggy in the fridge.
A Thanksgiving charcuterie board is a must-have for turkey day. Everyone will be so impressed by your entertaining skills!
More Recipes For Entertaining
Caramel Apple Dip
6 mins
Antipasto Platter Recipe
21 mins
Bacon Wrapped Water Chestnuts
1 hr 35 mins
Caponata Recipe
1 hr
The Best Veggie Tray
21 mins
Love This Recipe?
Please leave a 5-star 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 rating in the recipe card below & a review in the comments section further down the page.
Thanksgiving Charcuterie Board
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 pounds assorted cured meats such as salami, pepperoni and prosciutto
- 1 1/2 pounds cheese assorted, try to include a blue, cheddar and hard aged cheese
- 1 1/2 cups fruit, veggies and/or olives such as pears, pomegranate, figs or apples
- 12 ounces assorted crackers
- 3/4 cup nuts and seeds
- fresh herbs for garnish such as sage or rosemary
- 8 ounces Thanksgiving sweets harvest chocolates, maple sugar candy, maple leaf cookies, etc.
- 1 jar jam or honey
Instructions
- Place the larger ingredients on a giant platter, such as the cheeses, jam and a bowl of olives.
- Next add crackers, and fresh and dried fruit to the board.
- Add the fall themed treats and meats to the platter.
- Fill in any gaps with nuts and seeds.
- Garnish with fresh herbs, then serve.
Notes
- Don’t worry about finding the exact same items in these photos! Just do your best and look for things that fit the theme and that you think your friends and family will enjoy.
- When you’re out shopping, stick to ingredients that are primarily in fall colors like orange, brown, green and burgundy.
- You may need to go to more than one store to find everything you need. This board is primarily made up from items at Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods.
This board is so beautiful. That’s a great idea about putting it on the table for an appetizer. This will keep the guests nibbling on healthy foods while waiting on the big feast. Everyone stays happy.
That’s a beautiful charcuterie board. I love that there are so many different flavors and textures. Something for everyone in the family.
As a regular user of your recipes, I’m never disappointed! This amazing looking charcuterie will definitely be used at the holidays! Thanks again!
This is so beautiful and easy to set up. We loved it. We will definitely be making it a lot for any parties.
I made this last night and it turned out so beautiful and festive! I love the idea of adding maple cookies. Next time I’ll be adding some spiced crackers. Thank you!
This board is so beautiful! So many great ideas for what to include.
Such a beautiful board with so many delicious options to choose from! Thanks so much for sharing- can’t wait to make it for thanksgiving!
This Thanksgiving charcuterie board is absolutely gorgeous, and so packed with appealing goodies. I love that we can make it in advance and simplify Thanksgiving.
This is one fabulous looking charcuterie board. It’s perfect for the pre-dinner cocktail hour at my house.
This is exactly it! Thanks for the idea; I will put it together to make my Thanksgiving table shine!