Have you ever wondered how to make a charcuterie board really pop? A charcuterie board is the perfect appetizer and the essence of easy entertaining for small gatherings. Originating in France in the 15th century, charcuterie boards initially consisted of cured meats and cheeses. These snack boards have become incredibly popular and have evolved to include crackers, dips, fruits, nuts, vegetables, olives and so much more.
Many thanks to TRISCUIT and Sabra brands for sponsoring this post, all opinions are my own.
You can go as simple or elaborate as you want with a snack board. You can make a single serve board to graze on throughout the day or fill an entire table with charcuterie favorites for your next party. I love throwing one together for family movie night or even dinner, and I recently made a Valentine’s Day candy board filled with sweet treats for my family and it was a huge hit.
Snack time is everyone’s favorite time, so today I’m sharing how to make a charcuterie board featuring TRISCUIT Original Crackers and Sabra Hummus – two of my all time favorite snacks and noshes. Both TRISCUIT Crackers and Sabra Hummus can be found at Walmart in-store and via online grocery. You’ll love how easily this all comes together. Deliciousness doesn’t have to be complicated!
How to Make a Charcuterie Board
Making a beautiful charcuterie board is so easy to do.
Choose a board or tray.
First, choose your board or tray based on the number of people you’ll be feeding. Use a wood tray, wood cutting board, or serving platter. I purchased my board at HomeGoods, but this wooden tray found on Amazon is similar in size. Anything with a flat surface will do just fine. Remember, we’re keeping this simple. Also, when choosing the size of your tray or board, consider whether this will be the main course or in addition to other appetizers.
Select ingredients.
Next, choose your ingredients. I like to include a little bit of everything so that my guests have plenty of options. Choose foods with a variety of textures. TRISCUIT Original Crackers and Sabra Hummus add a wonderful contrast of texture to the board. Include foods that will add a pop of color to the board.
Arrange the board.
Arrange all the items on your board or tray. Try not to put too many like colors next to each other to keep it visually interesting. You can use a small dish or bowl to hold foods that might mix and mingle a little too much with the other grazing board ingredients. The board should look full, so don’t be afraid to pile it on.
To create this simple snack board I began with the placement of the Sabra Hummus which I left in the 10 oz. container. For this board I used the Sabra Roasted Red Pepper Hummus but the Sabra Classic, Roasted Pine Nut, Roasted Garlic and Supremely Spicy varieties would be great too and you can find them all at Walmart. We eat a lot of Sabra Hummus at my house. My 12-year-old isn’t a big meat eater and Sabra Hummus with TRISCUIT Crackers is one of her favorite snacks. If you’re not familiar with Sabra Hummus, it’s a delicious and creamy plant-based food that can be used in so many ways! Sabra Hummus is vegan, gluten free, and non-gmo project verified.
Most of my charcuterie boards include TRISCUIT Crackers. They are my absolute favorite cracker and they are wholesome too. For over 100 years, TRISCUIT Original Crackers have started with 100% whole grain wheat, oil and salt. Three simple ingredients.
I recently learned that all TRISCUIT Crackers are Non-GMO Project Verified which makes me feel even better about always having a couple of boxes in my pantry. It’s snacking I can feel good about. Now is the perfect time to stock up at Walmart!
Charcuterie Ingredient Ideas
You can put almost any bite sized item on a charcuterie tray. There really aren’t any rules. I try to cover the 4 S’s which are sweet, salty, savor and spicy. Here are some of the most popular items.
Meat: From its inception, cured meats are the centerpiece of any charcuterie display. Some of my favorite options are salami, pepperoni, prosciutto, ham and chorizo.
Cheese: I typically include a few types of cheese to get a variety of flavors and textures. Cheddar, mozzarella balls, gouda and soft cheeses such as goat cheese or brie are the ones I often use.
Bread: Crackers like TRISCUIT are always a safe bet and come in 18 different flavors!
Dips and Spreads: Sabra hummus, olive tapenade, and pesto are always good choices. Add some sweetness with fruit preserves or honey.
Vegetables: I like to offer an assortment of vegetables for dipping and added nutrients such as baby carrots, cherry tomatoes, sliced cucumber, marinated artichokes, pickles, roasted red bell peppers and celery sticks.
Nuts: I always include a handful or two of nuts such as cashews, almonds, candied pecans or pistachios.
Fruit: You can use fresh fruit or dried fruit or a combination of both on your party tray. My favorite fruit choices include dried apricots, prunes or dates, grapes, strawberries, and other berries.
How long can a charcuterie board sit out?
You shouldn’t let your snack board sit out for more than 2 hours. Depending on your ingredients, if left out for more than a couple of hours you run the risk of spoilage. If you plan to graze on it throughout the day, cover it with plastic wrap and place it in the fridge when you’re not noshing away on it.
My family recently moved into our new home which is much more conducive to entertaining. I’ll be making snack boards all summer long! You really can’t go wrong with a charcuterie plate. The variety it offers ensures you’ll have something that everyone will love.