How To Build The Perfect Summer Charcuterie Board

Looking to impress your friends with a Summer Charcuterie Board?! Here is the fool-proof formula for building the ultimate spread this summer.

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Ahhhh… summer! The best time of the year. When the temperatures are boiling and you need a quick fuel-up before jumping into the next water activity, use this post to whip up the perfect summer charcuterie board.

Charcuterie has become very popular and for good reason! It makes a fantastic appetizer for your dinner parties or just a snack to pick on during wine nights. They invite people to congregate around the same table, build their perfect bite, and savor the moment with friends or family.

We already went over a spring-inspired charcuterie board, but today I will take those same tips and apply them to a summer charcuterie board.

In this post, you will learn how to build the perfect summer charcuterie board that will invite your guests to stay a while. You will learn the formula of what makes a great charcuterie board, what fruits & veggies are in season, and tips on how to make your board REALLY pop.

This post is all about how to build the perfect summer charcuterie board.

The Charcuterie Formula

Even if you have never stepped foot in a kitchen before, I bet you could still put together an impressive spread. It’s easy to make a beautiful presentation in just a few simple steps. A charcuterie board requires minimal (if any) cooking and minimal knife skills. It mostly entails assembly, which also makes it a kid-friendly kitchen activity!

Side note: The only time a charcuterie would require cooking is if you decided to make your jams from scratch, bake your bread, or candy your nuts. While that’s great, odds are you are too busy soaking up the sun. So I would suggest just buying the jams, bread, and candied nuts from your local store or farmers market. Maybe save the “from scratch” charcuterie for a Sunday wine night instead – or not. I won’t tell!

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The Law of 3

I like the idea of everything coming in threes on a charcuterie board. This is, of course, not a hard-and-fast rule. However, if you don’t know where to start, just remember the law of three.

1. 3 kinds of cheese – one soft cheese (like brie or goat cheese), one hard cheese (like smoked gouda, sharp cheddar, or parmesan), and one cheese of choice (whatever is standing out to you at the store!)
2. 3 kinds of meats – one hard (like salami or soppressata), one soft (like prosciutto), one meat of choice (maybe something peppered or a spicy option)
3. 3 kinds of dip or spreads – such as hummus, honey, olive tapenade, balsamic reduction, or various jams
4. 3 kinds of “snacks” – such as nuts, olives, pickles, sundried tomatoes, or roasted red peppers
5. at least 3 colors – in your fruit and veggie display (such as watermelon paired with nectarine and green grapes)
6. 3 types of carbs – a variety of crackers, breadsticks, and bread

Finish it off by considering your garnish. I love using miniature daisies for an unexpected visual. Or you can use herbs such as fresh thyme, mint, rosemary, or dill.

Where To Shop

I LOVE Aldi for all things charcuterie. They have some amazing options of cheese, crackers, jams, and other specialty items for a fraction of the cost! Another wonderful option is to swing by your farmers market for local jam, honey, fruit, veggies, sausage, and cheese. I picked up the summer sausage for this board from a ranch near our house.

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Summer Fruits & Veggies

Using seasonal produce creates that extra “wow” factor because it makes your board seem intentional & thought out. Of course, with current farming practices, we can find almost every fruit and vegetable year-round these days. So while I encourage using as much seasonal produce as possible, feel free to use any fruit or veggie combo that you enjoy!

The fruits & veggies that I think would work best on a summer charcuterie are:

For fruit & jam “sweet” board:

1. Apricots
2. Blackberries
3. Blueberries
4. Cantaloupe
5. Cherries
6. Mango
7. Peaches
8. Plums
9. Nectarines
10. Watermelon
11. Grapes

For a dip & spread “savory” board:

1. Celery
2. Carrots
3. Bell Pepper
4. Okra
5. Cucumber
6. Green beans

You can find a more extensive list of seasonal produce here.

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Make it POP

Is there anything more fun than tablescape?! “Making it pop” is the fun part. This is where your personality comes alive. This is more of an expressive art form – the cherry on top!

Dress it up by using your best wooden butcher block or serving tray. Consider the bowls and serving utensils for your dips, cheeses, and bread (I got my glass mini bowls from the dollar store in a pack of 4!). Feel free to incorporate baskets, seasonal napkins, or little signs that tell your guests what’s what. You can play with depth and dimension with tiered serving trays or bowls that vary in height and circumference. Nothing has to match, just play with it and see what happens!

Here are some of my favorites:

• a neutral table runner
• a summer-inspired table runner
• wooden serving board option
• my tiered serving tray
• my charcuterie board accessories (highly recommend!)
• my extra-long serving board
• my adorable honey dipper

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Charcuterie Tips

The unique and wild arrangement of charcuterie is what makes it beautifully yours. So don’t focus on straight lines and perfectly placed items. Add a curve in your crackers, make a pile of raspberries, fill the tray then let it spill onto the table – the sky is the limit!

With that being said, there are a few tips I’d like to let you in on as you start to build your charcuterie.

1. Start with the largest items, such as the cheeses or maybe certain bowls that you know you want to use.
2. Decide if you want a fun shape, such as a curve in your crackers or a salami rose. Place your shape next and build around it.
3. Cover the whole board by using your smaller items as fillers. Do you see a smidge of the board between a bowl and some cheese? Fill it with some nuts, olives, or blueberries!
4. Finish with a garnish: mini daisies, a fresh flower, or fresh herbs.

Bonus tip: Don’t be afraid to make store-bought items your own. For example, I often make Moroccan Honey or Thai Hummus simply by mixing my spice blends into the basic honey or hummus. It adds a little unexpected flair!

Whew! That was a lot. If you hung in with me through all of that, you’re a real one and I hope you feel inspired to eat some cheese now!

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This post was all about how to build the perfect summer charcuterie board.

Did you make this recipe? Make sure to tag me @thespicegirlkitchen_ on Instagram or @thespicegirlkitchen on TikTok! I love seeing your recreations! I will be your ultimate hype woman!