Small Charcuterie Board Ideas - A Red Spatula (2024)

We all love a huge charcuterie board that feeds a crowd, but what about a small board for date night? Let me share some of my favorite Small Charcuterie Board Ideas.

Let me suggest a few other charcuterie board ideas if they are your thing. How about a hot cocoa charcuterie board? They are a fun winter board. Or my fall charcuterie board? A breakfast board? Or even a Patriotic board.

Why Make Small Grazing Boards?

Well, the most obvious answer is, that you aren't always feeding a crowd. This helps reduce food waste and also helps with overeating (this is a serious problem for me).

They are the best snacks for date night or movie night with a friend. It feels cozy and intimate.

These small boards are so much more cost-effective. Charcuterie boards can be so expensive to make, these smaller sizes help keep you on budget.

Any type of grazing board allows you to express creativity in putting together your board. I think these are fun to design.

Food Ideas

• Meats- The possibilities for meats to use are endless. Traditionally cured meats are popular, and my family always loves them. These would include salumi, sausages, and hams (which would include speck, prosciutto, and soppressata). Aside from this, if your family likes milder meats, you can always go with sliced deli meat.
• Cheese- The cheese is like the meat. The possibilities are endless and depend so much on preferences. My family is boring when it comes to cheese, we generally stick with fresh mozzarella, pepper jack, aged gouda, etc. There are no hard and fast rules with cheese, just go with what you like.
• Crackers or bread- We like to have starch on the board. For us it can be crackers or bread, we are not too picky. I love pita or whole-grain crackers. Pretzels are also a good choice.
• Dried Fruits- My boards will almost always have some type of dried fruit on them. Apricots are my favorite. But I also love golden raisins, dried cherries, etc. The added sweetness with the salty foods is a must.
• Fresh Fruits- I also like to add seasonal fresh fruits to my boards as well. This helps add a delicious twist.
• Nuts and seeds- Our charcuterie boards are always high-protein, so nuts and seeds are always included.
• Vegetables- I know traditionally charcuterie boards are only meat and cheese. I like to add in fruits and vegetables for a variety of tastes and textures.
• Chocolate- There will never be a board created in my home that does not have chocolate on it. It is a must and for me, it is always dark chocolate.

How To Create

Okay, let's start with the board. You can always use a dinner plate for your board, or you can buy one specifically for the occasion. I love boards from World Market. They have some larger boards, but most are a great size for feeding 2. For my photo examples, I used a dinner plate.

Next, find some very small serving bowls. These will anchor the board as you create your masterpiece. I like to fill these with nuts, seeds, or even cheese.

Once these are in place, start filling in. I like to use sliced cheese and salami to create movement. I layer the cheese and meat in a wave motion to create leading directions.

When the small serving dishes and movement are in place, let's start filling in. On mine, this was the

I love to fill my board nice and full. That means leaving no empty spaces. It might take a few minutes of working and rearranging to get it to look like you want it to. That is it! The work is done and it is ready to enjoy.

Tips

• My recommendation would be to buy your meat and cheese from the deli and cheese counter. This way you can buy it by the pound and only order what you want for the board.
• When you have to order a full pound or package of each, you will have a lot left over. This also allows you to get a greater variety of foods too as you can order a little of each.
• Another recommendation is to buy a variety of foods. Not just in the types of foods you buy, but the taste and textures as well. This adds interest and color to the board.
• If you are looking for unique pieces for your charcuteries, try antique stores or thrifting.
• Charcuterie boards can be made ahead of time, but I like to prepare them right before serving. They are the best and freshest this way.

Other Charcuterie Board Ideas

• Snacks