If you are new to charcuterie boards, you should give them a try. They are fun to put together and are becoming quite popular because they showcase a variety of foods and usually satisfy the different tastes of your guests. Technically, a charcuterie board includes meats like cold cuts, but create what you like. You can create a fruit board, veggie board, or a full charcuterie board with a combination of meats, fruits, nuts, cheeses, and vegetables. Include a dip or two for the vegetables and crackers or bread for the cold cuts.
Include several types of cheeses and cut them into smaller pieces to fit on crackers. It is a good idea to include both mild and strongly-favored cheese, as well as spicy cheese.

Include a variety of veggies for guests. Popular veggies include carrots, celery, cucumbers, and grape tomatoes.

Pickles, especially tiny gherkins are always a hit. It is good to have extra on hand to refill the container when you run low.

Cold cut meats should be rolled or positioned so that they don’t stick together and are easy to pick up. Favorites are honey turkey and ham. With so many choices at grocery deli

Include dips for the veggies. This board has a pimento cheese dip. (Click here to jump to the recipe below.) As an extra choice for very hungry guests, you can provide individual containers of dip. These mini 2-ounce red cups are perfectly sized for individual dips.

Have plenty of crackers on the board and even bread if you want guests to make sandwiches. Just remember to provide containers with condiments if offering sandwiches. Nuts are also a great addition to a charcuterie board. People love to nibble on them so you should have extra on hand to replenish empty containers.

Fruit offers a dessert to your board. Watermelon is one of the most popular choices. If they are not in season, many times you can find mini-sized watermelons that are the perfect amount to fill a food board. Grapes are another popular choice as well as strawberries and other berries. Boards can also be a great place to try some unusual fruits that guests might not be familiar with.

Whatever you place on your board, have fun choosing and arranging items!


Prep Time | 20 minutes |
Servings |
cups
|
- 1 8-ounce block medium cheddar cheese
- 1 8-ounce block Colby cheese
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 2 teaspoons vinegar
- 2/3 cup mayonnaise (start with 2/3 cup and add up to 1 cup if needed)
- 1 4-ounce jar chopped pimentos, liquid reserved
Ingredients
|
![]() |
- Grate the blocks of cheese in a medium bowl.
- Add the sugar, vinegar, mayonnaise, and pimentos. Add a tablespoon of the pimento juice. Stir until well combined. The pimento cheese should be easy to stir and not too stiff. Add additional pimento juice and mayonnaise as needed. Refrigerate.
This recipe makes approximately 3 cups of pimento cheese.ย One trick for using less mayonnaise in this recipe is to use more of the pimento juice.ย You can even store any leftover juice in the refrigerator and use it to refresh the pimento cheese after it stiffens from refrigeration.
Following this same recipe, substitute an 8-ounce block of pepper jack for the Colby cheese for a variation of this recipe.
When creating a charcuterie board, work the crackers in so that they donโt touch anything that could make them soggy.ย If using strongly flavored items like rosemary sprigs, be careful not to place them too close to fruits that might absorb the flavor.ย Also, make sure you don't put fruits and vegetables that stain on top of cheese slices.