Charcuterie boards have a reputation for being intimidating, but the truth is, a great one just comes down to balance — a little salty, a little sweet, a little creamy, a little crunchy. Once you understand the basic building blocks, you can build a board for any occasion using whatever looks best at the counter that day.
Here's exactly what goes on a charcuterie board, and how to put it together.
What Goes on a Charcuterie Board?
Every great board is built from a few core categories:
Meats — a mix of textures and flavors, like salami, prosciutto, and coppa
Cheeses — a range of soft, hard, and aged varieties
Something crunchy — crackers, crostini, or breadsticks
Something sweet — honey, jam, or fresh fruit
Something salty or briny — olives, pickles, or nuts
A garnish — fresh herbs to tie it all together visually
The key isn't quantity, it's variety. A well-balanced small board beats an overloaded one every time.
Meats and Cheeses for Your Board
This is where the board really comes to life, and it's worth leaning on your local deli and cheese counter for both quality and variety.
For meat, don't just default to one salami. Mix textures: something finely ground, something coarse, and something with visible fat marbling. One local standout worth seeking out is Gemma Salumi, a family-owned, Connecticut-based salumeria making clean-label, Italian-style salami using heritage-breed pork and traditional methods. Their lineup includes several signature flavors, and you can grab it either pre-sliced for easy board-building or in stick form if you'd rather slice it yourself at your preferred thickness.
For cheese, aim for at least three different styles — something soft, something hard or aged, and something with a bit of funk. If you want a true Connecticut showstopper for the board, look no further than Arethusa Farm Dairy's Europa, an aged gouda made right in Bantam, Connecticut (find this in our cheese cases). Europa has now won the U.S. Championship Cheese Contest's Best in Show award two years running, the first cheese in the competition's history to do so. It's rich, nutty, and more than earns its spot as the centerpiece of any board. Uschampioncheese
Simple Charcuterie Board Ideas
You don't need a fancy setup to make a great board. A few easy approaches:
The classic: 2–3 meats, 2–3 cheeses, crackers, olives, and a small dish of honey or fig jam.
The seasonal board: Swap in fresh fruit depending on the time of year - grapes and pears in fall, berries and stone fruit in summer.
The mini board: For smaller gatherings, use a cutting board and scale everything down to just a few standout items done well.
Charcuterie Board Ideas for a Party
Hosting a bigger group? A few tips to make your board party-ready:
Fold or ruffle sliced meats instead of laying them flat for more visual texture.
Add cheese in a mix of shapes — some sliced, some cubed, some left whole with a knife for guests to cut themselves.
Fill any empty gaps with something colorful, like grapes or fresh herbs, so the board looks full without adding more of the main ingredients.
Set the board out about 20–30 minutes before serving so the cheese comes to room temperature — it tastes noticeably better than cold from the fridge.
Build Yours at LaBonne's
The easiest way to build a great charcuterie board is to start with great ingredients, and that's exactly what our cheese cases are for. Ask our team what’s in stock and we’ll help you find the best items for your next gathering.