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Thanksgiving Charcuterie Board

A generous, harvest-themed charcuterie board loaded with cheeses, cured meats, seasonal fruit, nuts, and honey — the easiest Thanksgiving appetizer and the perfect thing to keep guests happy while you finish the meal.

Thanksgiving Charcuterie Board — a complete Thanksgiving recipe

Prep time

20 min

Cook time

0 min

Total time

20 min

Yield

Serves 12–16 as an appetizer

Ingredients

  • 8 oz aged cheddar, sliced
  • 8 oz brie or camembert, whole wheel
  • 6 oz soft goat cheese (chèvre)
  • 6 oz prosciutto, thinly sliced
  • 6 oz salami or soppressata, sliced
  • 1/2 lb seedless grapes (red and green)
  • 2 apples, sliced (toss with lemon juice to prevent browning)
  • 1 ripe pear, sliced
  • 1/2 cup dried figs or apricots
  • 1/2 cup toasted walnuts or pecans
  • 1 small jar honey or fig jam
  • 1/2 cup cornichons or pickled onions
  • 2 cups crackers or sliced baguette
  • Fresh rosemary and thyme sprigs for garnish

About 210 kcal per serving

Instructions

  1. 1

    1. Choose your board

    Pick a large wooden board, slate, or marble slab — at least 16x12 inches. Let the cheeses come to room temperature for 30 minutes before serving for the best flavor.

  2. 2

    2. Place the anchor items

    Set down the cheeses first, spacing them across the board. Fold or roll the prosciutto and salami into loose rosettes and tuck them between the cheeses.

  3. 3

    3. Add the seasonal produce

    Cluster the grapes in small bunches, fan the apple and pear slices, and scatter the dried figs and apricots in the gaps.

  4. 4

    4. Fill the corners

    Add small bowls or piles of the nuts, honey, and cornichons. Tuck crackers and baguette slices along the edges.

  5. 5

    5. Garnish

    Lay sprigs of fresh rosemary and thyme across the board for a harvest look. Serve at room temperature with small knives and picks.

Chef's notes

  • ★Build the board up to an hour ahead, loosely tented with plastic wrap; add the crackers at the last minute so they stay crisp.
  • ★Scale up the cheeses and meats by 2 oz per extra 4 guests.
  • ★For a vegetarian board, double the cheeses and swap the meats for marinated artichokes, olives, and roasted red peppers.