When you think of charcuterie boards, fancy dinner parties may come to mind, but you don’t need a special occasion to make any meal or snack into a board. Pick a meal and deconstruct it to its essential parts with a focus on using a variety of flavors and textures.
A snack board is also a fun, new way to present picky eaters with fruits, veggies, or a new food. Having choices empowers kids to put what they want on their plate and explore new flavors.
If you’re looking to shake up the dinner routine or put a playful spin on dessert, here are five ways to rethink charcuterie.
Lunchtime Board
A traditional charcuterie board puts the focus on meats and cheeses. To make this into a healthier lunch, limit the meat and cheese to 2-3 choices and amp up the fruits and veggies. Add fresh, crunchy green beans and carrot sticks with hummus or a creamy dressing for dipping. Grapes, berries, and dried fruits work well for added sweetness. Include whole wheat crackers, nuts, and a few antipasti choices like olives and artichokes. It’s easy to put together, and you don’t have to turn on the oven. The best part is everyone will happily graze the way they want.
Breakfast Board
Imagine everything you love about breakfast on one big tray. Sounds like heaven! Try a board with small pancakes and waffle sticks with a few different syrup flavors to sample. To prevent a total carb and sugar overload, add hard-boiled eggs, or egg cups, chicken sausages, and fruit. Oranges, berries, grapefruit wedges, and melon all make delicious choices for a vibrant breakfast board.
Movie Night Board
If movie nights are a regular event in your house, try this twist on the usual bowl of popcorn. Create a snack board of popcorn, dried and fresh fruits, nuts, pretzels, and movie theatre candies. Your movie-goers can fill a small bowl with their favorite choice or create a yummy snack mix.
S'mores Board
It’s fun to say and fun to eat. Toast up some marshmallows ahead of time and load up your board with graham crackers and little chocolate bars. You can get adventurous with tons of decadent add-in and flavor combinations. Did someone say peanut butter-banana s’mores?
Call it a platter, a snack board, or charcuterie, it doesn’t matter because this style of eating gives you a ton of creative options. So why wait for a party to set out a spread? It’s one of the easiest, no-fuss meals or snacks you can put together. Share your beautiful (or simply delicious) snack board creations using #howipamperedchef. We can’t wait to see what you come up with!
Platter nice for cook outs
Great idea Debbie! It would be great for condiments or “fixins”!
Does the food come with the board too? lol
Or does the board come with the food?
These look absolutely beautiful and delicious.
I am interested in the Jamaica jerk…rub.
Cast iron skillet. garlic press, quick shredder. And juicer.
Hi Lynne, Did you get your requests met?
My fave way to feed friends and fam‼️ #partycentral
I wish! Those would definitely sell out! Love the idea!
Sadly, and for now, these boards should be individually prepared due to COVID.
It works out great for the family not to share in public due to Covid.
Great ideas!!! Thank you!!! And, I’ll bet those bamboo trays would be perfect ❤️
I need to check out those boards!
They are a great addition for any gathering!
Want to try this
When I had our neighbors over for appetizers, I made up 2 platters. One for us and one for them. Individual hummus bowl and dip bowl, also. It worked perfectly. I love the ideas here.
Favorite idea!! Would rather eat a like this anytime!!
Breakfast board
Yummy looking
Great ideas for those families going to soccer or baseball events.
This is how we roll on the regular because of food sensitivities and autism. It’s also how we roll when it comes to holidays and pot luck because it ensures there is always something for my son to enjoy. We do have to skip the nuts due to food allergies but it’s always well received elsewhere. And it keeps us in raw fruits and veggies as well as whole grains and filling foods.
Also great for outside activities like Concerts, art museums, baseball games.
Boiled shrimp smoked salmon smoked crab dip cjheeses cocktail sauce apples sliced Carmel Chocolate pots(microwave Carmel and chocolate chips put in little dishes ) pretzel rods crackers voila ❤️
Such a great idea for these hot summer days! Especially if you need something light!
My favorite eating style. My family often eats different choices, so this makes it an easy style for us
We like olives, carrot sticks, apple slices, crackers, pepperoni , broccoli , with cheese slices
Wonderful idea💗
Love this and think these are wonderful ways to introduce new foods to kiddos ! 😊
Looks delicious. You can put parchment paper on the boards for easy cleanup too!
So much fun!! So many choices!! What’s not to love? You’ve given us ideas for every meal, snack time, dessert. All I can say is thank you and I can’t wait!!!
My family is loving to eat from charcuterie boards. We’ve done this several times and it just gets better each time! I love the versatile pieces PC has to choose from for this style of dining.
a pizza board…… individual pizza shells . assortment of pizza toppings..
. everyone makes their own then pop it in the oven and enjoy with fresh. lemonade
What a great idea for guests! For what ever time they visit! Just have ingredients on hand!
That brunch with the eggs and potatoes looks delicious
Midnite snack board..
I ❤️ the lunch-board idea for my grandsons who are 2 1/2 and 4. We’ll make it a collaborative effort to determine what will go in it. ☺️
Great idea.. and how about A lesson in what each snack is.. and where it comes from.. the earth, Root vegetables a tree, apples, etc..pig for salami, the oven for crackers.. and the different colors.. and what’s inside an apple, orange rind banana skin Well you got it?
Grandmas would love to do this kind of teaching..
Take it from one who knows!
I used to pack my kids’ lunches like this about once a week or so… we called it snack lunch, and it was one of the favorites. As long as you use the word “snack” they are all in. Still is a favorite into the adult years.
great ideas for summer entertaining