We love a good charcuterie board. The cheeses, the meats, & everything in between. Not only does it look incredible, but the tastes all blend together like a party in your mouth.

One of the best things about charcuterie boards is that you can make them a lil’ different each time. Make them small, make them extra cheesy, make them simple, or make them extravagant (like we did for our Christmas board!).

We’ve made quite a few in our days, and below are some tips + tricks we’ve learned to up your charcuterie game.

Start with a Good Base

The reason so many boards look so good is that the food has the spotlight. Choose a wooden board preferably to have a nice neutral background.

We’ve used a variety of different boards. Actual cheese boards, cutting boards, or serving plates that we find in our mom’s cabinets.

Don’t be afraid to choose different board shapes. Squares, rectangles, or circles will all work.

Clean out the Fridge

You don’t need to spend an arm & a leg on your board. Open your fridge and see what you can get creative with.

Some ideas: olives of all kinds, pickles, cheese blocks, salami, and fruit! Don’t be afraid to use up that old honey or jam either. Spreads are great on charcuterie boards!

Use Small Dishes First

To break up the food, use small dishes throughout the board. We love these little white dishes because they are a fun shape and are a nice neutral white.

Use a Variety of Textures

If you have three different blocks of cheese, use a variety of cuts and presentations to break them up. We cubed one, sliced another, and left another as a block.

Use different varieties of meats & crackers too! Don’t be afraid to try new ways to present the food.

Fill in the Holes

Once you have everything on the board, fill in the holes & gaps with grapes, more crackers, and garnish if you have it.

The trick is to spread out the colors and the textures around the whole board.