How to Make an Easy Mini Charcuterie Board and Ideas

Here are my favorite mini charcuterie board ideas so you can make a fun mini board at home. You will find helpful kitchen items that make presentation easy and a few fast rules that keep your board easy and beautiful.

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Start With the Right Mindset for Your Mini Boards

When it comes to making a small charcuterie board, its hard to not feel overwhelmed by all of the options. The good news is we can make a small appetizer board over and over again without ever using the same ingredients. That being said, let's go over a few things to keep in before we hit the grocery store.

Make each food bite sized- the best boards are easy to eat from. A variety of cheeses should be cut in small portions that are easy to pair with crackers, meats, etc. Spreadable cheeses can be cut into smaller sizes so they fit on the board and are a good portion.
Less is more: choose no more than three or even two types of food per group. For example, choose two cheeses, one or two meats, one seasonal fruit, and one starch.
Pick a flavor profile and stick with it. That means put together items that match up. For example, prosciutto with brie and fig jam. Go more savory with salami, cheddar, and mustard.

Shopping for the Right Cheeses

Even small boards can have a little variety. Pick 2-3 favorite cheeses that are different but complement each other in both flavor and texture. Choose one soft cheese and one hard cheese for a small cheese board.

Hard Cheese Examples:

aged cheddar, manchego, gouda, gruyere, parmesan

Soft Cheese Examples:

Brie cheese- one of my all time favorites for mini cheese boards

Herbed Cheese such Boursin or Alouette

Goat Cheese topped with fruit or herbs

Blue Cheese

Choosing Great Charcuterie Meats

a white plate of charcuterie meats including prosciutto salami and capicola

The word charcuterie is a French term for cured meats. A classic charcuterie board combines a variety of cured meats with breads, crackers, and cheeses. And, there are so many meat options to choose from. When you go to your local grocery store, you may find pre-packaged charcuterie with a variety of meats. If you do't already know specifically what you want, these are great. You can try a few and learn what your favorites are.

To make a small board for date night, pick one meat that is simple and mild such as genoa salami or prosciutto. Pair that with something spicy like calabrian salami. Then finish your board with cheeses and spreads after.

Other great items for a mini charcuterie board

Now that we have our salty meats and cheeses out of the way, we need some lighter items to balance out our mini board. My first pick is fresh fruit. Dried fruit is another good sweet option to calm down the savory.

For some crunch and variety of texture, pick two items from the list below:

nuts
olives
pickles

Crackers or breads- pick one or two at most that will compliment the other foods you chose.

Spreads and Dips- for small boards I love these mini jars of mustard and fig jam that fit so well on smaller boards.

Balance the salty components of charcuterie for a couple sweeter items such as seasonal fruits, small cookies, or specialty chocolates.

How many items to include on a mini charcuterie board

Depending on the number of guests you have, I like to choose 1 cheese and 1 meat per person up to 4 total. Then choose 3-4 different accompaniments total. Here is an example of a simple small charcuterie board for 3-4 people:

2 charcuterie meats
3 kinds of cheeses
2 kinds of crackers
1 specialty food such as marinated olives, mixed nut, etc
1 sweet items such as chocolate covered cashews or wrapped chocolates

Shopping For a Small Board and Accessories

4 mini charcuterie plates small wood board small white serving platter on white table

For a small wooden board, look for one approximately 10"x5" to 2-4 people. For a round or circular board, one measuring 8"-10" in diameter is a good size for a small board.

You will also want a few small bowls or portion cups to keep together dips, spreads, or foods like chocolate that you don't want to touch other foods.

Optional but not required items include: cheese knives, small spoons or forks, toothpicks.

Step-By-Step Instructions

Now it's time to put this all together and build yourself a good charcuterie board. A great way to start is by placing the largest items on the board first and then working our way around to fit all of our favorite things alongside those larger items.

Prepare and fold your assortment of meats. Place those meats in the center of the board since they are star of the show.
Next, cut and prepare the cheeses and place those on opposite sides of the board to create some balance.
Now you can add your jars of spread or dips.
Fill in the empty spaces with little dishes of your accompaniments like olives or chocolates. Those items that you would want to touch other foods on the board.
Last step, fill in the empty space with your crackers or mixed nuts and similar items.

Charcuterie Plates for Easily Passed Appetizers

4 mini charcuterie plates on white table

If you want to serve several charcuterie apps that are easily passed, consider using small plates. They are the perfect appetizer to move around with that can also be served at room temperature. These little wine glass plates are also super fun and cute for any large party like a bridal shower, wedding event, or ladies night.

Think of these as individual charcuterie boards: one meat, one or two kinds of cheese, one cracker, one spread or dip. Garnish with a cut strawberry, edible flower, or herb.

How to Make Your Small Charcuterie Board Ahead of Time

You can get ahead by preparing some or all of the items ahead of time and storing them in airtight containers. I like to cut different types of cheese into different shapes for easier assembly when I am ready assemble by small charcuterie board. This also goes for folding salami and different types of meat.

You can also assemble the entire board and cover with plastic wrap up to one day in advance.

Building charcuterie cups

A fun appetizer for your next party could be these little charcuterie cups. Choose 2 kinds of meat and 2 bites of cheese. Pair them with a breadstick or cracker items and skewer of fruit like grapes or strawberries.

These cups can me purchased on Amazon and come with skewers so you will have everything you need for a fun easy to serve appetizer. These are especially great for bridal showers, baby showers, and large get togethers with a bunch of chatty women.