Best charcuterie boards for hosting parties in 2024: Our review

Theres something about a well-arranged charcuterie board that has everyone at the dinner party going. From baked bries to crispy crackers, its a good time, to say the least. Not to mention, the advent of dinner parties on Instagram has been littering everyones social feeds as of late. From vision board-making nights to girls night

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There’s something about a well-arranged charcuterie board that has everyone at the dinner party going. From baked bries to crispy crackers, it’s a good time, to say the least.

Not to mention, the advent of dinner parties on Instagram has been littering everyone’s social feeds as of late. From vision board-making nights to girls’ night celebrations, a charcuterie board is the ideal addition to any celebration.

“The benefits of building a charcuterie board is how comfortable it makes people feel, as in everyone leans in, takes their favorite bite, shares a story,” Sandy Coughlin, founder of Reluctant Entertainer and author of “Big Boards for Families,” told the New York Post. “Boards are definitely community-building and we love being a part of that.”

RELATED: Best cutting boards

So, I decided to take a note of inspiration from Coughlin, aka the “Big Board Blogger,” and put the seven best charcuterie boards to the test. Ahead, you’ll find the boards I reviewed — from big to small and everything in between — along with an in-depth FAQ section highlighting some of Coughlin’s tried-and-true tips on how to arrange the perfect charcuterie board for any occasion.

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best charcuterie board tested

Crate & Barrel Carson Large Sectioned Ash Wood Serving Board

Pros:

  • Compartmentalized to separate flavors of cheeses, fruits, nuts and more
  • The serving handle makes it ultra-portable
  • Well-made wood

Cons:

  • The price point may be unreachable for some

If you’re looking for a charcuterie board that’s likely to garner plenty of compliments, shop the Crate & Barrel Carson Large Sectioned Ash Wood Serving Board. When I displayed this on my dining table, my house guests were not only impressed but also were asking, “where’d you get that?“

The answer: Crate & Barrel. The brand is well-known for its repertoire of must-have kitchen products but, in my opinion, there’s nothing quite like this particular design. What I love most about it is its compartmentalized slots to take out the guesswork of assembling your meats, cheeses and everything else like a pro. It cuts down the prep time, to say the least.

Additionally, the circular compartment at the center is ideal for olives, nuts, or any type of dip you’d like to house atop your board. Its serving handle makes it ultra-portable and it’s also created with some of the most well-made wood. I didn’t want to stop running my fingers over its border.

Pros:

  • Lightweight, portable and adorable
  • Makes a great gift
  • Lovely mix of wood and marble counterparts

Cons:

  • Price point may be unreachable for some, given its size

The Crate & Barrel Monogrammed Serving Board is a hidden gem online, particularly because smaller charcuterie boards are sometimes overlooked. However, if you’re not having a massive dinner party and simply want to whip out the wine and cheese, this one makes a classy presentation.

First off, I love the coupling of marble and wood. It doesn’t take up too much space in my cabinets, thankfully, and Crate & Barrel allows you to order any letter you see fit. For that reason, it’s a wonderful addition to your wedding registry but a just-as-good purchase if you’ve been wanting a charcuterie board “slab” that’s practical yet a bit unique.

Because it’s a little more than 12 inches long, it’s not the *best* value for the money. But, if you don’t want something that looks like a cutting board and something miniature at the same time, this one is it.

Pros:

  • Doubles as a cutting board
  • Large, though not heavy
  • Slightly elevated to make it easier to display for guests

Cons:

  • Doesn’t have a compartmentalized design for different toppings
  • Some leftover food may slip into the creviced border, though not a dealbreaker

The Empune Bamboo Extra Large Board is a worthy charcuterie board that I’ve had for years. If you don’t want to break the bank and are interested in making a less-than-$25 purchase from Amazon, this one right here is your winner.

As you can likely note, this particular option doubles as a cutting board. In fact, it was likely designed with the use case in mind though, for its size, I love presenting it as a charcuterie board. It’s large, though not heavy, and its slightly elevated construction makes it easier to display all of my meats, cheeses and canapés for my guests.

While it doesn’t have the bells and whistles as, say, a compartmentalized charcuterie board may, it’s a well-made option for the price. It’s also easy to clean, which is why its crevice that typically has leftover food remaining after each use doesn’t bother me all too much.

Pros:

  • Well-made wood quality
  • A dark walnut hue helps prevent food residue from appearing
  • Easy to clean

Cons:

  • The price point may be unreachable for some
  • Is prone to some scratches over time, though not a dealbreaker

When I was ranking the best wooden cutting boards, the Our Place Walnut Cutting Board immediately came to mind. Sure, it’s marketed as a cutting board but this is, by far, the best platter for your charcuterie needs if a traditional wooden board is desired.

Allow me to paint the picture for you: because of its dark walnut makeup, any “drippings” from meats, cheeses, spreads and oils won’t be an eyesore. So, it always upholds a photogenic look even hours into my dinner party or get-together.

I’ve had this board for three years and, while it’s prone to some scratches over time, it’s not a dealbreaker for me. It’s beyond simple to clean and wholly worth the investment.

Pros:

  • Unique and space-saving swivel design
  • Includes cheese knives and is a great value
  • Photogenic when on the table

Cons:

  • More difficult to clean, given its three-tiered layers

New York Post readers loved shopping the Uncommon Goods Compact Swivel Cheese Board with Knives so much that I had to order one myself to try out its wickedly good design. Yes, it swivels, so it (1) saves space when storing and (2) offers a unique presentation and food-displaying experience.

As you can imagine, it’s certainly photogenic when on your table. It’s the quintessential size, too, and I love it for when I have about three cheeses, two packs of crackers and maybe some berries or two.

Because it includes cheese knives and is well-made, it’s an exceptional round charcuterie board option that’s well under $100. It also makes a lovely gift from Uncommon Goods.

Pros:

  • Well-made wood with quality engraving
  • Crevice dips at either side make it simple to transport, carry and serve
  • Easy to wipe clean when finished

Cons:

  • Not the most perfect option for your dishwasher, though not a dealbreaker

Last year, I ordered the Personalization Mall Seasonally Script Personalized Oversized Hardwood Charcuterie Board for a loved one who was about to get married. She loved that it had her new last name and we whipped it out for a Friendsgiving celebration in November.

It looked excellent when it was first displayed on her countertop but was also the perfect personalized board to enjoy around the table. The script detailing makes it feel incredibly luxe and it’s one of the most popular options at Personalization Mall, too.

It’s also simple to clean, though I’d advise hand washing it instead of popping it in the dishwasher to help the engraving hold its staying power. Additionally, its dipped crevices at each side make it a bit more ergonomic to carry from your kitchen island to your table, making it a prized charcuterie board option for anyone.

Pros:

  • Ships fresh and includes a premium assortment of meats, cheeses, and other toppers
  • Various sizes to accommodate preferred price points
  • Comes with crackers and is pre-assembled (and delicious!)

Cons:

  • The price point may be too expensive for some

I’m just going to give it to you straight: nothing compares to Boarderie. I ordered the Boarderie Classic Cheese & Charcuterie Board for last year’s holiday party with my girlfriends and it was truly the star of the evening.

Everything was delivered fresh and leftover foods and spreads lasted in my refrigerator for a little more than a week. I still can’t stop thinking about the Blueberry Wensleydale cheese, in particular, and the delicious crackers that are shipped individually in boxes. This was the only addition that wasn’t already pre-arranged.

No wonder why the company is one of Oprah’s Favorite Things (and, anything Oprah loves, we here at the New York Post love, too). It’s a splurge but it is surely evident that everything on this board is a premium option. Even the nuts are well-seasoned and uniquely flavored, making me think it would cost about $20 for a container of them at my local homemade kitchen store.

Boarderie offers various sizes to accommodate preferred price points. In all honesty, it’s probably best for an occasion where you’ll be hosting anywhere from eight to 20 people. Plus, you’ll want to have leftovers just for yourself.

How we tested

While testing charcuterie boards for as many as three times each and as long as three years in total, here are the criteria I kept in mind for each particular board:

  • Quality: Some charcuterie boards are wooden while others are marble. Some are round while others are rectangular. As a whole, however, I assessed each one’s quality and how simple each was to clean.
  • Practicality: This is largely based on size and use case. While I reviewed a variety of charcuterie boards, I assessed the ones I reached for the most, along with the ones that are better equipped for larger parties.
  • Design: Some charcuterie boards have a neat swivel-and-store-away design while others feature compartments. These features were taken into account.
  • Value: Price is a personal preference, though I tried to review charcuterie board options at various price points and assessed their overall quality in comparison to value.

An FAQ on Charcuterie Boards

Ahead, take some notes from Coughlin, our seasoned charcuterie board expert, for how to properly craft the board of your dreams.

How to get started building your charcuterie board

Some of Coughlin’s favorite arrangements include her holiday best brunch board, epic summer mini pie board and summer lunch turkey sandwich board — which means that any meal or appetizer you’d throw on a plate can be amped up with a wooden centerpiece if Coughlin has anything to do with it.

But Coughlin insists not to overthink it when it comes to inspiration for a board.

“There’s no hard rule for making a board,” she said. “You can sometimes feel discouraged when you look at a beautiful board and feel like you have to go out and buy all this food; always start by looking in your kitchen pantry and seeing what you have that you can make into a piece of art and creating it the way you want.”

Not to mention, the gigantic board she holds all over her blog, Pinterest and Instagram are from her very own collection, designed with J.K. Adams, an American-made company, to help create more jobs during the pandemic.

Coughlin, who authored the “Big Boards for Families” cookbook, took inspiration from her own techniques while designing the boards.

What should I put on a charcuterie board?

As mentioned, there’s no hard and fast rule when designing your board for family and friends. But, Coughlin shares her tried-and-true tips for beginner board makers and designers of the Instagram-worthy charcuterie alike.

“To make a basic, great board for four to six people, I recommend adding one or two cheeses (one soft — like a brie — and one like a blue cheese), salami, olives, nuts, seasonal fruit and Lesley Stowe crackers,” she said. “And, you want to put a sturdy cracker on your charcuterie because there’s nothing worse than a flimsy cracker you can’t spread cheese on.”

Coughlin tells us that she usually starts with a hero piece of cheese (or three pieces), or a dip or something that is the main star. “Then I build around that, laying down what makes sense (crackers and meat next to the cheese, fruit on the outside). Nuts are always last as you can fill in with open areas. You can always set down small jars of honey or jam.”

She adds the usually cured meat, a variety of cheeses, fruit in season, nuts, jellies and crackers. “Sometimes if it’s hot brie, we add sliced baguette,” she shares. “It’s fun to make boards for the holidays, or any kind of celebration. We love making small boards, too, for inviting neighbors over for a glass of wine. Taco, burger, mac and cheese, clam chowder, hot dogs — and so much more — make great game day or weekend boards!”

Plus, adding fresh, locally grown foods to a board is one of her favorite charcuterie hacks. “I love to add something local to a board because it makes it unique,” Coughlin adds. “If I travel and make a board, I go to the nearest grocery store and add food to make it more special.”

Coughlin has all of her “Big Board” recipes on her blog for you to browse, too.

The best meats to add to your charcuterie board, per an expert

The best meats for a charcuterie are cured meats, per Coughlin. “There are many varieties, and often you can buy in a pack,” she says. “Or, you can always add dried salami and layer it, or make salami roses or fold into fourths. It’s really up to how many you are feeding. We love Delallo brand (Italian) cured meats!”

The best cheeses to add to your charcuterie board, per an expert

“For an epic charcuterie, we like to add three kinds of cheese: a soft cheese, hard cheese, and maybe cheese cubes,” Couhglin notes. “We use goat cheese (delish with honey) or brie (hot or cold), with Rogue Creamery Smoky Blue Cheese, and then our favorite Dubliner cheese (sliced thinly).”

You can also add soft Boursin, which everyone loves. “We also love the new flavors of Tillamook (hard), since I am from Oregon!” Coughlin adds. “Sometimes we add cheese curds; there are so many options.”

The best extras to add to your charcuterie board, per an expert

“We recently discovered Trader Joe’s pita crackers (round) which are nice and salty and sturdy!” Coughlin highlights. “You want a sturdy cracker for a cheese board, to hold the cheese, salami or whatever you are pairing it with.”

As for Coughlin, the best bites are small bites. “We do often add Lesley Stowe crackers (love all the flavors), and then we usually add a gluten-free option. The gluten-free seed crackers from Trader Joe’s are amazing! You break them into small pieces.”

Flatbread crackers are delish, too. “We also like to make a variety of skewers for smaller bites (caprese with a tomato, mozzarella cheese ball, olive, and folded over piece of basil). These are fun to make according to the season or holiday.” Sometimes, she makes up a 26-inch epic board with Strawberry Goat Cheese Bruschetta or Wedge Salad Bites or Steak Crostini.

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