This Easy Thanksgiving Charcuterie Board is the perfect appetizer for your special occasion. The best part of this beautiful board is the combination of pumpkin goat cheese whip, cranberry orange sauce, meats, cheeses, fresh fruits, and crunchy crackers and nuts. Serving this board as a small family dinner or an appetizer before your Thanksgiving meal is the perfect way to kick off your holiday season.
Nothing says "happy thanksgiving" like delicious food. Making a gorgeous Thanksgiving charcuterie board is a fun idea to add to the days line-up.
I think I may actually enjoy Thanksgiving sides and snacks more than the main dish. Having one of the best charcuterie boards along with Homemade Sweet Potato Au Gratin, Old Fashioned Candied Sweet Potatoes, Glazed Shallots, Traditional Bread Stuffing and Southern Broccoli Cheese Rice Casserole would make me a very happy girl. I suppose I would need a few desserts too.
This meat and cheese board will make the perfect addition to your Thanksgiving table and leave your hungry guests happy!
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Recipe Ingredients
You can buy the ingredients you need for this recipe at your local grocery store or from an online retailer.
- Pumpkin Goat Cheese Whip - Goat cheese, cool whip, pumpkin butter.
- Cranberry Orange Sauce - Cranberries, sugar, apples, walnuts, raisins, orange juice, lemon juice, spices.
- Meats - Chorizo slices, salami, prosciutto.
- Cheeses - Blueberry goat cheese, blue cheese wedge, Artikaas gouda, yellow cheddar cheese, white cheddar cheese. Use any of your favorite cheeses, these are some of my favorites.
- Additional Ingredients - Crackers, candied pecans, grapes, figs, green olives, cornichons. See my favorite crackers for a charcuterie board. There are so many options!
- Optional Additions - Bosc pear, pomegranate arils.
How To Make A Thanksgiving Charcuterie Board
It's so much fun to put together a holiday charcuterie board because you can mix and match ingredients and really let your creative side come out to play. There's really no wrong way to create your own Thanksgiving charcuterie board.
Meats & Cheeses
It's best to choose a variety of hard and soft cheeses. I like using cheddar cheeses, mimolette cheese and a gouda for the hard cheese. Brie, goat cheese, Boursin and blue cheese work wonderfully for the soft cheeses.
Using a variety of meats gives a variety of flavors. You can't go wrong with prosciutto and salami for meats. I like to do a dry Spanish chorizo or a capicola.
Crackers & Bread
One of my all time favorite crackers for a charcuterie board is 34°F Rosemary Crisps. They are thin, crispy and full of rosemary flavor. Nothing says fall like the smell of rosemary. You can also add Ritz, artisan crackers or toasted crusty baguette.
Other Ingredients
Having a charcuterie board means having olives, fruit spreads, nuts and fruit. I pick one or two of my favorite olives, usually a kalamata or green olive but sometimes I use stuffed olives or Castelvetrano olives as well.
Some of the best nuts for a meat and cheese board include pecans, pistachios, almonds and cashews. For this Thanksgiving charcuterie board I have candied pecans.
Grapes are a must for your Thanksgiving themed board. Depending on the month, I will use strawberries, blueberries, figs or apricots.
Any jam will work well for a fruit spread but my cranberry recipe is perfect for the fall theme.
Make the pumpkin goat cheese whip
Blend all 3 ingredients together in a medium mixing bowl with an electric hand mixer on medium speed until fully combined, light and fluffy. Scoop it into a small bowl and place it on Thanksgiving charcuterie board.
Make the cranberry orange sauce
Follow the simple steps to make this delicious Cranberry Orange Sauce. Scoop a small bowl full and place it on meat and cheese board. The cranberry sauce can be made up to 5 days in advance and stored in the fridge in an airtight container.
This dish can be used two different ways on Thanksgiving day! As a side on its own or on a Thanksgiving board.
How To Build A Charcuterie Board
- Step 1: Choose what board you will use based on the look you're going for.
- Step 2: Start building by placing the largest items on the board first. If you have a circle of brie, small dishes with olives, jams, etc. then set them on the board first. Space them out so it doesn't look cluttered.
- Step 3: Slice meats and cheeses into circular, square or triangular shapes. Arrange meats and cheeses around the larger items. Make them flow in curves and waves to achieve a look of movement.
- Step 4: Add any fresh fruits or crackers, artfully arranging them around the other items. The key here is to create patterns and layers for a beautiful charcuterie board. This will quickly become one of your favorite things to serve at your Thanksgiving gathering.
Substitutions
There are so many fun ideas and ways to make a traditional charcuterie board. Here are some other options for this Thanksgiving version.
- Honey - I love Local Hive Honey. They have a lot of different varietals that have unique tastes.
- Peppadew Peppers - These peppers are slightly spicy but not so much that they'll blow anyone away.
- Hummus - Be creative and pick your favorite flavor. Some options include olive, lemon, roasted garlic, or roasted red pepper.
- Jam - Add your favorite jam. I like raspberry, orange, or fig jam.
- Fresh Berries - Try fresh fruit like raspberries, blackberries, strawberries or blueberries. You can also add some dried fruits such as cherries, cranberries, apricots, or figs.
- Marinated artichokes - These have a lot of flavor and go really well with meats and cheeses.
- Seeds - Add a small bowl of pumpkin seeds or sunflower seeds.
- Cheese - Whipped goat cheese is one of my favorite additions on a cheese board. Use your favorite cheeses!
Expert Tips
These are my best tips for Thanksgiving Charcuterie Board ideas. Thanksgiving charcuterie boards are so versatile, mix and match any combo of ingredients you're in the mood for.
- Use any assortment of cheeses you like. Variety is good. Try soft cheeses and hard cheese with added flavors and different colors.
- Make sure you're buying Spanish dried chorizo, not raw Mexican chorizo.
- Serve this Easy Thanksgiving Charcuterie Board at room temperature for best flavor. Cheese is best served this way!
- Make the Cranberry Sauce and Pumpkin Dip several days ahead of time then just build your board the day of!
- Have fun with it, and make a salami rose!
- If you run out of room on your board, you can always add the crackers and toast to a side plate. My favorite boards to use are these French Charcuterie Boards or a round board.
- Toss apple or pear slices in lemon or apple juice to keep them from browning, or slice them closer to the time you're serving.
- I like to buy my cheese from Mariano's or Whole Foods.
- I use Artikaas Gouda cheese on this board.
- Adding candy corn is a fun way to add fall colors to this charcuterie platter.
Serving A Thanksgiving Charcuterie Board
Serve this board as an easy Thanksgiving appetizer before your big meal or throughout the day for people to munch on.
You want your meats and cheeses to be around room temperature for the best flavor. Use toothpicks or a cheese knife set for easy serving.
Make sure **most** of the items are bite size and easy to pick up with your fingers if needed.
Why You'll Love This Thanksgiving Charcuterie Board Recipe
- Perfect appetizer - The smaller items on this board are great portions for an appetizer for your Thanksgiving feast.
- Easy Thanksgiving charcuterie snack board - Serve this board for brunch or lunch before Thanksgiving dinner.
- Uses seasonal produce - Use fresh fruits available locally for the best fall board.
- Eat it for the main course - This is an easy main course for dinner the week of Thanksgiving. It's simple to prepare and a great crowd-pleaser.
Storage
Refrigerate - If there are any leftovers after turkey day, you can store meats, cheeses, fruits, and jams in a separate airtight container in the refrigerator. You can also cover the entire board in plastic wrap then store in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Reheat - The beauty of a meat and cheese board is that nothing is heated up, so there's no need to reheat leftovers.
Freeze - Charcuterie boards are meant to be made and eaten within a few days. They're best served fresh, so there's no need to freeze leftovers.
Equipment
This is the equipment you need to make all parts of this fall charcuterie board.
- Medium bowl - You'll need a bowl to whip up the pumpkin goat cheese.
- Hand mixer - An electric hand mixer is the perfect tool for whipping cheese.
- Serving board - Place the ingredients on a beautiful serving platter.
- Cheese knife set - This looks pretty sitting on the side of the board and for cutting hunks of cheese.
Frequently Asked Questions
When making a charcuterie board, the foundation is usually centered around sliced meats and a variety of cheeses, along with crackers, fresh fruits, and dips. I can't go without some type of olives or jam either! I almost always use grapes too, whether it's red, green or concord.
You can buy an assortment of crackers from the store, including whole grain, artisan, toasted sesame, and buttery crackers. Around the holidays I like to buy crackers with cranberries in them or rosemary flavored crackers. Both of those go perfectly on a charcuterie board!
You get to have fun with this! Soft, hard, salty, sweet, or flavored cheeses are wonderful on charcuterie boards. I always try to include a blue cheese, cheddar, gouda and either goat or brie cheese. The rest is totally up to you!
It may seem daunting to buy food for a charcuterie board, but it's actually very easy. Buy 2-4 types of each category (meat, cheese, crackers, crunchy bits, jams). I usually shoot for 3oz per person if I don't want leftovers. I prefer to make sure I have enough, so usually I do a little more than that because sometimes people end up snacking on it again after dinner or the next day. In the case that you want a little extra then aim for 5oz per person.
A charcuterie board is a tray spread with meats, cheeses, fruit, nuts, crackers, jams, jellies, and other assortments of items. This themed board is perfect for a small family Thanksgiving celebration.
It's better than a traditional board with homemade pumpkin goat cheese whip, cranberry orange sauce, delicious meats, fresh fruit, 3-4 different cheeses, olives, crackers, and candied pecans.
These ingredients are creatively arranged in mini bowls around a large square or circular board in different shapes and patterns. Bring your own Easy Thanksgiving Charcuterie Board to your next holiday party for the ultimate 'wow factor!'
Easy Thanksgiving Charcuterie Board
Equipment
- 1 serving board
- 1 cheese knife set with forks & spoons
Ingredients
Pumpkin Goat Cheese Whip
- 4 oz goat cheese room temperature
- 4 oz cool whip refrigerated or room temperature, not frozen
- 3 tablespoon pumpkin butter
Cranberry Orange Sauce
- 1 https://inkristaskitchen.com/cranberry-orange-sauce/ you can make ½ the recipe if you don't want leftovers
Meats
- 8 oz dried chorizo slices
- 4 oz salami thinly sliced
- 6 oz prosciutto thinly sliced
Cheeses
- 4 oz blueberry goat cheese
- 6 oz blue cheese wedge
- 6 oz vintage lot-36 artikaas gouda
- 5 oz aged yellow cheddar cheese block
- 6 oz extra sharp white cheddar sliced
Additional Items
- 6 oz assorted crackers/toast
- 4 oz candied pecans store bought or homemade
- 10 oz concord or red grapes
- 6 fresh fig cut in half lengthwise
- 4 oz green olives
- 2 oz cornichons
Optional Additions
- 1 bosc pear sliced
- 1 pomegranate quartered or seeded
Instructions
Making the Pumpkin Goat Cheese Whip
- Blend all 3 ingredients together in a medium mixing bowl with an electric hand mixer on medium speed until fully combined, light and fluffy. Move into a serving bowl and add to the board
Making the Cranberry Orange Sauce
- https://inkristaskitchen.com/cranberry-orange-sauce/
- Make the cranberry sauce 1-3 days ahead of time. Place it in a serving dish and add it to your board
Building an Easy Thanksgiving Charcuterie Board
- Arrange the pumpkin goat cheese whip, cranberry sauce, green olives, cornichons and pecans in small dishes on the board
- Add meats, cheeses and additional items to the board in any pattern you like
- Add cheese knives, mini spoons and forks to the board for easy serving
Notes
- Use any assortment of cheeses you like. Variety is good. Try soft cheeses and hard cheese with added flavors and different colors.
- Make the cranberry sauce and pumpkin whip a couple days ahead of time then just build your board the day of!
- Make sure you're buying Spanish dried chorizo, not raw Mexican chorizo.
- Serve this Easy Thanksgiving Charcuterie Board at room temperature for best flavor. Cheese is best served this way!
- If you run out of room on your board, you can always add the crackers and toast to a side plate.
- Toss apple or pear slices in lemon or apple juice to keep them from browning, or slice them closer to the time you're serving.
Tammy Cruse
I had the opportunity to try this amazing appetizer. It was so delicious! Very easy to put together and very elegant! This is a perfect addition to any dinner party, especially a holiday dinner party. Your family and guests will be impressed!
admin
Thank you!! So happy you liked it!