Charcuterie boards are a hosting must-have — experts share how to create the best spread

Charcuterie boards can make any occasion feel fancy and festive, be it a casual book club meeting or a large wedding. Plus, with hundreds of cheeses, meats and garnishes to choose from, you can get as creative as you want. But whether you’re hosting a massive guest list or a small group of friends, building the perfect charcuterie board takes practice. To help you create a delicious and beautiful spread, I asked chefs and caterers about everything to keep in mind. I also gathered boards and accessories that my experts and NBC Selected editors recommend. Want more from NBC Selected? Sign up for our newsletter, The Selection, and shop smarter. Best charcuterie and cheese boards of 2026 Best overall board When I first came across this gorgeous marble board, I immediately added it to my wedding registry. Three years later, it’s one of my favorite functional yet display-worthy items in my house. The board is adorned with an etched honeycomb pattern and small gold-finished honeybees. You can separately purchase a set of three stainless steel, brass-finished cheese knives in a matching design, including a pronged knife for hard cheeses, an oval knife for soft cheeses and a wide-blade knife for semi-hard cheeses. There’s also a round version that includes the cheese knives. Best pre-made charcuterie board For the past few years, my family gifts me Boarderie charcuterie boards for birthdays and anniversaries (and, most recently, I received one for my apartment move). The boards are pre-assembled and ready-to-eat, with artisan cheeses, meats and pairings like crackers, dried fruits, nuts and chocolates. Best of all, it gets shipped directly to my door, so I don’t have to worry about doing any of the work. Boarderie is also a favorite of NBC Selected commerce editor Bethany Heitman: “I’m always looking for ways to make entertaining easier, and the ready-made charcuterie boards from Boarderie are one of my best secret weapons,” she says. “They ship quickly and arrive fully arranged, so you can just open the box and set it out, which makes them a great way to feed a crowd with minimal effort.” Each of Boarderie’s cheese and charcuterie boards is available in three sizes that serve up to 14 people. This year, Boarderie launched dessert charcuterie boards filled with sweet treats, which makes it even more giftable. Best personalizable You can personalize this board with an engraved monogram, which makes it stylish and classy for events, says Emmy Rener, founder of cheese and charcuterie shop Sophisticated Spreads. Made from a combination of wood and marble, this serving platter comes with three small condiment bowls for your extras and spreadables, like jams, honey, olives and more. The brand recommends wiping the platter clean with a damp cloth, and warns that the marble is naturally porous, so it might stain from extensive contact with oily or colorful foods. Best for large spreads Best serving platter This circular serving platter is an elegant and attractive base to assemble your charcuterie spread on, according to Sarah Simms, co-founder of cheese and charcuterie shop Lady & Larder. It’s microwave- and dishwasher-safe, and comes in white and aqua. Most compact This round board folds into itself for easy storage, but expands to make room for all of your favorite treats. It has four tiers, so you can designate a specific food to each one if you prefer they don’t touch. It also has a slide-out drawer equipped with cheese knives. I have the 13-inch size of this board and love taking it when I have a small gathering with friends. The smaller size comes with two cheese knives (an all-purpose, stainless steel cheese knife and a cheese fork), and the larger size (17-inch diameter) includes an additional flat cheese knife. Best for small spreads If you want something small and simple, consider this Mark & Graham marble board, which is a favorite of Rener’s due to its whimsical scalloped design. If you’re stuck on a unique gift idea, you can also customize it with a monogram. Keep in mind, the brand recommends hand washing it only. Best multipurpose Although this is a traditional cutting board set, each one also serves as a great charcuterie tray, says NBC Selected reporter Zoe Malin. It includes boards in three sizes, so you can choose one that makes the most sense for your spread. “You can also make up to three charcuterie boards at once — for example, sometimes I do one with meat, one vegetarian and a nut-free one, depending on who I’m serving,” says Malin. The boards also have indents to keep food that tends to roll away (like olives or chocolate-covered almonds) in place. Plus, they’re easy to clean: Malin washes them with warm water and dish soap, and they dry quickly. Best for beginners If you’re a charcuterie beginner, the visual map on this one indicates where to place cheeses, meats, fruits and more. The board, which comes recommended by Rener, also has a handle so you can take it on the go. Most giftable If you’re a music lover, consider this unique board with a turntable-inspired design. It comes with a removable slate platter designed to look like a record, as well as a wooden outer base to hold the platter. Lift up the record player “needle” and you’ll find a hidden cheese slicer too. Most sleek Marble helps food stay cold, so this board is great for keeping meats and cheeses fresh, says Malin. The board also doesn’t tend to absorb odors or colors, so she can serve colorful fruits or veggies (like beets) without worrying about stains, she says. Plus, it sits on non-slip rubber feet, which allows Malin to easily lift and move it. “I think the elevation is a nice way to showcase a beautiful board you created,” she adds. How I picked the best charcuterie boards and accessories When shopping for a charcuterie board, the experts I spoke to recommend keeping the following factors in mind: Type of spread: Your charcuterie spread — meaning the different foods you’ll be presenting — directly impacts the type of board and tools you’ll need. Consider whether your focus is strictly meats or cheeses, or if you’re adding spreadables like jams or honey, fruits, nuts and other extras that’ll require more room (and more flavor and texture considerations).Board type: You can use virtually any kind of board for your charcuterie spread, including cheese boards, plastic trays and cutting boards. I included a variety of options on this list.Board size and food amount: The size of your board depends on how much food you’re preparing and how many guests you’re feeding. You should have a minimum of two to three ounces of meat and cheese per person for an appetizer, and double that amount if it’s the main course, says Simms.Material: Most charcuterie boards are made of wood or marble, each of which has its own unique benefits. A wooden board is a favorite among my experts because it’s sturdy, durable and often comes with side ridges, dips and handles to add space and avoid spillage. Marble boards can keep cheeses and meats at a colder temperature and often look more aesthetically pleasing, experts say. A step-by-step guide to assembling your charcuterie board One of the most important considerations when crafting a charcuterie board is how to arrange the foods. Below is a step-by-step guide for the perfect meat and cheese assembly. Consider what foods you’ll be using. There are several delicious food combinations you can make on a charcuterie board. One thing remains consistent among my experts: it’s the perfect time to work with flavors you love and get creative with other tastes and textures. “When you have something out of the ordinary [on your board], that’s when it becomes a conversation piece. Charcuterie boards actually have a lot of ways of getting people connected,” says Serge Krikorian, owner and head chef of Vibrant Occasions Catering.Prioritize quality over quantity. “If you take the time to source intentionally, your board will always be delicious,” says Simms, who recommends checking out your local farmers market to find out what is in season near you.Select a good quality serving board. Choose the right sized board to fit all of your foods without them overflowing, and consider ones with indented edges to catch any loose bites or leftover juices. Some boards might also have specific dips for ramekins or handles so you can take them on the go, experts say.Determine your arrangement. A basic stack of meats and cheeses won’t be aesthetically pleasing — they need to be assembled the right way. For meats, a salami river and prosciutto ribbons are some of the prettiest and easiest ways to make meat look good, allowing them to flow across or around your board, says Rener. Don’t be afraid to work with different colors and textures, too: red grapes, for example, can make a board look more elevated compared to green grapes, and adding a darker berry, like blackberries, on top can add more height, texture and a contrasting color, according to Rener.Add bowls and other decorations. To hold loose foods like nuts and olives, consider a ramekin or small bowls for extra flair. Mini dishes are also great for jams and spreads, which not only makes them look good, but keeps them from touching other foods on the board. Meet our charcuterie experts At NBC Selected, we work with experts who have specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and/or experience. We also take steps to ensure all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and without undisclosed financial conflicts of interest. Sarah Simms is the co-founder of cheese and charcuterie shop Lady & Larder in Los Angeles.Emmy Rener is the founder of cheese and charcuterie shop Sophisticated Spreads.Serge Krikorian is the owner and head chef of Vibrant Occasions Catering in Arkansas.Cheyenne Nichols is a chef and owner of catering company Finest Cravings. Why trust NBC Selected? I’m a commerce editor at NBC Selected who has written about beauty, wellness, home and kitchen and more for over six years. For this article, I interviewed four chefs and hosting experts about what they consider when building a charcuterie board, and compiled their favorite boards to shop. 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