Easy Breezy Summer Party Charcuterie Board
Effortlessly capture summer’s laid-back charm with our vibrant summer charcuterie board – your step-by-step guide to easy, breezy entertaining.
The Perfect Appetizer for Summer Entertaining
This easy breezy summer party charcuterie board is the perfect appetizer for your summer gatherings!
But if you find the idea of arranging a charcuterie board for a crowd intimidating, fear not! Our simple step-by-step guide will not only show you how to expertly assemble the board with finesse but also provide you with pro tips on selecting the best ingredients to truly make it shine.
With a tasty combination of classic cured meats, artisanal cheeses, and an assortment of the best seasonal fruits and veggies, this colorful spread perfectly embodies the laid-back charm of summer.
Whether you’re hosting a backyard barbecue, a festive dinner on the deck, or simply indulging in a lazy summer evening, this delightful charcuterie board is sure to please.
For more on how to assemble and style your charcuterie board, don’t forget to check out our guide on how to make a beautiful yet simple charcuterie board! It covers all of our best tips for arranging a winning charcuterie board every time!
And for more festive themed boards, check out our cozy fall charcuterie board, our quick and easy seafood charcuterie board, and our DIY charcuterie bouquet with meat and cheese roses.
What Makes it a Summer Charcuterie Board?
The perfect charcuterie board for summer is different from your typical charcuterie board because it is all about those seasonal vibes. We’re talking the best of summer produce like juicy fresh berries, sweet melon slices, and tangy stone fruit like nectarines, peaches or plums straight from your local farmers market.
And let’s not forget about the veggies – think sun-ripened tomatoes, sweet peppers, cool cucumber, and zesty zucchini! These beauties not only bring a pop of freshness but also make the whole board look like a work of art. It’s the perfect way to celebrate those happy, sunshiny days!
You can also jazz up your summer board by garnishing it with some vibrant flowers or greens. How about tossing in some fancy edible flowers like pansies or nasturtiums? If that’s not your jam, you can go for some cool edible greens like microgreens or fresh herbs like basil, mint, or dill. These will add a splash of green and a touch of aromatic goodness.
Ingredients for Making this Summertime Spread
- Prosciutto, Italian Dry Salami, and Black Pepper Coated Salami
- Triple Crème Brie, Aged Cheddar, and Dill Havarti Cheeses
- Fresh Nectarines, Strawberries, Blackberries, and Blueberries
- Sweet Mini Peppers, Heirloom Cherry Tomatoes, and English Cucumber
- Toasted Baguette, Rosemary Herb Crackers, and Flatbread (Croccantini) Crackers
- Whipped Ricotta Cheese Dip, Sour Cherry Jam, Mike’s Hot Honey, and Peppadew Peppers
- Fresh Flowers (for garnish)
Pro Tip: To make your charcuterie board for a party more budget friendly – check out the selections at Costco. They have some great options for party-sized portioned charcuterie meats and cheese combos that will hopefully make less of a dent in your wallet. As long as you stay away from all the other tempting products they have. 😉
Recipe Roadmap with Images
**See the photos throughout this post for 3 different ideas for putting together this board. For the board shown with these instructions we are using 1) an extra large rectangular wooden board. For the other two arrangement variations we used 2) a circular rimmed tray (great for when you need to transport) and 3) a combo of two smaller boards with a bread basket.
Time needed: 20 minutes
- Select your charcuterie board
Choose your board (or boards) depending on how many you plan to serve.
- Add the small condiment bowls
Add your sauces, spreads, and pickled items to the board.
- Arrange the cheeses
Next add the cheeses to the board.
- Add the charcuterie
Fold and style the meats and arrange on the board. *See this video for instructions on how to make salami roses and check out our related post on how to make a charcuterie bouquet.
- Add the crackers
Fan and layer the crackers as you place them on the board.
- Add the fruits, veggies, and the flowers
Arrange the fruits and veggies to fill in the gaps and then add the flowers for garnish.
So there you have it! A gorgeous summer charcuterie board that not only looks beautiful but also captures the essence of the season with its delightful combination of fresh fruits, vibrant vegetables, and decorative accents.
*Find the full printable recipe with specific measurements below.
Did you make this recipe? Please leave a rating in the comments below and let us know how it turned out. Your feedback is important to us. Thank you for visiting Maplevine Kitchen!
Variations and Substitutions
Feel free to mix up your ingredients! There are so many options available especially in summer.
Summer fruits: in addition to strawberries, blackberries, blueberries, and nectarines you could include peaches, plums, apricots, cherries, raspberries, figs, grapes, kiwi, mango, orange, and melon.
Summer veggies: in addition to tomatoes, cucumber, and sweet peppers, how about some zucchini, tomatillos, radishes, or snap/snow peas?
Garnishes and accents: besides fresh flowers you can also use fresh herbs like mint, basil, and dill or fresh greens like arugula and spring mix to add more color and contrast to your board.
For more ideas for choosing your charcuterie meats, cheeses, and spreads check out our guide on how to make a simple charcuterie board.
For tips on choosing your meats, crackers, jams, and pickled items check out our guides for the best meats for charcuterie boards, best charcuterie crackers, the best jams for charcuterie board, and best pickles for your charcuterie board.
Wine Pairing Suggestions
- Sauvignon Blanc: Its lively acidity and citrusy notes will cut through the richness of the meats and cheeses, while also complementing the fresh vegetables and fruit.
- Riesling: Opt for a slightly off-dry Riesling to play up to the sweet fruits and the hot honey. Its bright acidity will also work well with the richness of the brie and salami.
- Rosé: A classic choice for summer, a dry Rosé brings a touch of elegance with its fresh fruit-forward profile complements all of the different flavors on the board.
- Grenache: This versatile red wine is known for its soft tannins and red fruit flavors.
- Prosecco: If you’re looking for some bubbly, Prosecco is a good choice. Its effervescence can contrast the richness of the brie and salami, and its fruity notes can complement the strawberries and cucumbers.
Remember, the best wine is the one you enjoy most, so don’t hesitate to explore and find the perfect pairing for your palate!
More Summer Party Appetizers
- Burrata Bruschetta with Peaches and Tomatoes
- Goat Cheese Crostini with Rainier Cherries
- Prosciutto-Wrapped Apricots with Honey and Brie
- Fresh Mango Corn Salsa
- Creamy Whipped Ricotta Dip with Garlic and Herbs
- Quick and Easy Seafood Charcuterie Board
- Goat Cheese Phyllo Cups with Balsamic Strawberries
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Easy Breezy Summer Party Charcuterie Board
Ingredients
- 8 ounces prosciutto
- 4 ounces Italian dry salami
- 4 ounces black pepper coated salami
- 8 ounce mini wheel of brie cheese
- 8 ounces aged cheddar cheese
- 8 ounces dill Havarti cheese cut into bite-sized cubes
- 1 small baguette sliced and toasted
- 6 ounces rosemary herb crackers
- 6 ounces artisan flatbread (Croccantini)
- ⅓ cup sour cherry jam
- ⅓ cup Mike's hot honey
- ⅓ cup peppadew peppers
- 1 to 2 cups whipped ricotta dip or other spreadable cheese dip like Boursin
- 2 to 3 cups mini peppers, cherry tomatoes, and cucumber slices
- 2 to 3 cups sliced nectarines, strawberries, blackberries, and blueberries
- 1 handful small fresh flower crowns/buds (remove the flowers from the stems)
Instructions
- The first step is to select your charcuterie board (or boards). Choose the size of your board depending on how many people you are planning on serving. For larger parties choose a large board or use 2 to 3 smaller ones.
- Spoon the whipped ricotta, hot honey, sour cherry jam, and the pickled peppadew peppers into small bowls or ramekins. Then place the dishes evenly spaced across the board.
- Cut the dill Havarti into bite-sized cubes and slice some of the brie cheese into wedges if desired. Then distribute and place all of the cheeses onto the board.
- Style the charcuterie meats by folding the prosciutto into ribbons and the salami into "roses". You can also just fan the slices of salami or fold them into halves or quarters. (For instructions on how to fold and style your charcuterie click here and here. Then place the meats onto the board so they are distributed throughout.
- Arrange the toasted baguette slices and crackers on the board by fanning or layering them together where there is space. Placing some of them around the edges works well and/or you can also try fanning them into a S-shape in the middle of the board. If you find yourself running out of space, you can put some of them in a separate dish or basket on the side.
- Distribute and arrange the fruits and veggies to fill in the gaps and any empty space on your board. Lastly, add the small flower crowns for garnish throughout the board. Try to provide color contrasts by putting a purple flower next to orange fruit/vegetable or a yellow flower next to red fruit for example.
- Provide small plates, napkins, cheese knife, tongs, and spoons for easy serving. Encourage your guests to explore the different combinations of cheeses, meats, crackers, and accompaniments.
Recipe Notes
Variations and Substitutions
The listed ingredients and portions are just guidelines – there is no wrong way to do it. Feel free to scale up or down and to mix up your ingredients! There are so many options available especially in summer. Summer fruits: in addition to strawberries, blackberries, blueberries, and nectarines you could include peaches, plums, apricots, cherries, raspberries, figs, grapes, kiwi, mango, orange, and melon. Summer veggies: in addition to tomatoes, cucumber, and sweet peppers, how about some zucchini, tomatillos, radishes, or snap/snow peas? Garnishes and accents: besides fresh flowers you can also use fresh herbs like mint, basil, and dill or fresh greens like arugula and spring mix are a great addition for providing more color and contrast to your board.Leftovers and storage
Wrap your cheeses in wax paper and then plastic wrap, sealing in their goodness. For the meats, tuck them into an airtight container, and the same goes for any fruits or veggies. Put the toasted baguette and crackers into airtight sealed containers or Ziploc bags to retain their crunch. And hey, if there’s any dip left, transfer it to a small container with a tight lid. When you’re ready for round two, you’ll have a fresh assortment waiting for you!Nutrition
*Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy only and should be construed as an estimate rather than a guarantee. Ingredients can vary and Maplevine Kitchen makes no guarantees to the accuracy of this information.
Frequently Asked Questions
On a hot day, you’ll want to keep a watchful eye on your charcuterie. Generally, it’s safe to leave it out for about 2 hours at room temperature, but when the temperature rises, that time shrinks. To play it safe, try not to let it linger for more than an hour. If the sun’s really blazing, consider placing the board on a chilled platter or using ice packs to keep things cool and fresh. It’s all about savoring those delicious bites without compromising on safety.
Do charcuterie boards travel well?
A large fully assembled charcuterie board can certainly be a challenge to transport. We find that the best boards for travel feature some sort of rimmed edge to help keep all of the ingredients contained and stable. Wrapping the board thoroughly with plastic wrap is also a great way to keep your assembled charcuterie in place during transport. If you don’t have a rimmed board or tray or the board is just too large to wrap securely, we recommend that you pack all of your ingredients separately and then assemble the board once you reach your destination.
