How to Build a Thanksgiving Charcuterie Board - College Edition

HOW TO BUILD A THANKSGIVING
CHARCUTERIE BOARD - COLLEGE EDITION

written by Olivia Wettengel

November 1, 2024

Charcuterie boards are the GOAT when it comes to holiday season dishes. Bring one to your Thanksgiving potluck, and you’ll become the most popular partygoer in the crowd. While charcuterie is beautiful, tasty, and fun to make, it can cost a fortune. Especially when you’ve looked everywhere for that herb-crusted, goji berry-infused sheep cheese and can only find it at Whole Foods. Hundreds of dollars later, you arrive at your apartment only to spend hours piecing together the expensive parts of your boujee charcuterie puzzle.

Believe it or not, charcuterie boards don’t have to don that fancy sheep cheese to be a fan favorite. There are affordable yet unique charcuterie options at your disposal to make this Thanksgiving dinner your best one yet. Read on for the college goer’s guide to making a Thanksgiving charcuterie board that slays, but doesn’t break the bank.

Portions

To make a charcuterie board for about 8-10 people, you’ll need:

1 pound of meat (totaled from about 3 different types)
About 3 medium-sized wedges of cheese
1 loaf of bread
2 sleeves of crackers
Any extras you desire!

Meats

A traditional charcuterie board features cured meats as the main event. Think salami, prosciutto, etc. For a college student, we’d recommend going the salami route, varying the types of salami across your board. Genoa and sopressata are safe bets, and typically much cheaper than prosciutto and other cured meat options. Buy 2 different 8-ounce packages of salami, and you’re set.

Cheeses

Stinky, creamy, crumbly – what’s not to love about cheese? Shouldering with the meats, they pair perfectly to create a dreamy concoction in those Thanksgiving feasters’ mouths. Here are the types of cheeses that will get you the most bang for your buck:

Brie
Asiago
Cheddar
Gouda
Muenster

Go for the cheeses made from cow’s milk, rather than from sheep or goat. (Your guests won’t be able to tell the difference anyway. 🤫) Pre-sliced cheeses tend to be a bit higher in price because they’ve done some of the work for you. Buy a block of cheese instead and slice it at home to save.

Of the three* wedges you purchase, be sure to vary the texture. Go with one soft, one firm, and one hard cheese to give your feasters the full charcuterie experience.

Pro tip: Savory cheddars bring a perfect fall flavor and are an apt cheese choice for your Thanksgiving board.

*Two wedges is plenty if you need to save a little extra moola.

Breads

Baguette. Period. Buy one, slice it up, and you’re done. Charcuterie can’t get more French than that!

Ok, maybe a baguette alone won’t cut it. Throw some crackers in the mix! They can even be Ritz if you want to go the easy route. If you really want to get into the Thanksgiving spirit, find crackers with seeds or dried fruit, or even dusted in pumpkin spice. Layer a sleeve or two of crackers across your board and it’ll look more chic than Meryl Streep in The Devil Wears Prada.

Pumpkin sourdough loaf, anyone?

Fruits & Vegetables

Gather a collection of fruits and veggies to spread across your board. Some lower-priced autumnal options include:

Grapes
Sliced cucumbers
Fig halves
Sliced apples
Blueberries
Rainbow baby carrots
Sugar snap peas

Pickled

Including pickled vegetables like olives or red peppers offers a zingy twist to the other flavors on your board. For college students, a simple can of green or black olives will do the trick!

Nuts/Dried

Another easily snackable part of your board is the nuts and dried fruit. You could even pour some trail mix on your spread if you want it really easy! Or, get some candied pecans (it’s giving fall), salted cashews, and some dried apricots to mix into the empty spots.

Spreads

A good spread is the cherry on top of your charcuterie board. Include both savory and sweet for guests to mix and match with their meats, cheeses, and crackers. To avoid spending a fortune, look for:

Jam
Honey
Hummus
Mustard

Make it *fig* jam and *pumpkin* hummus for that Thanksgiving flavor. Choose a few of these options and pour them into small bowls with a mini spoon or butter knife. They’ll adorn your board with enticing looks.

Make it Festive

Add any other festive Thanksgiving treats or garnishes to your board! Cinnamon sticks, sprigs of rosemary, pomegranate seeds, candy corn, mini pumpkins, maple leaf cookies, chocolate turkeys – the options are endless.

Build Your Board

Start with the meats – they’re like a charcuterie’s main course. Fold your salami to look pretty, and layer them in various rows throughout your board.
Next, place the cheeses. Find them their well-deserved thrones next to a cheese knife to be devoured.
The spreads will probably be held in relatively large containers, compared to the rest of the charcuterie components. It’s best to place them early-on in the building process to ensure they have enough room on the board. Scatter your two to three spreads and their serving utensils on the board in aesthetically pleasing places.
Lay the bread slices and crackers in the remaining empty spaces. You may have very little open space on your board after this. If so, you’re doing it right!
Finally, the fruit, vegetables, pickled foods, nuts, dried snacks, and festive additions are meant to fill in any holes in your board. They’re small enough to take this job, and they look like beautiful toppings!

Using these smart but simple money-saving hacks when creating your charcuterie masterpiece will be a lifesaver. Remember, money doesn’t buy happiness – food does! And it doesn’t have to be expensive. Happy Thanksgiving!

Olivia Wettengel

Olivia is a current Journalism major at Brigham Young University. She has contributed to her school's various publications since high school, and currently works as a Marketing Intern at Book & Ladder, Inc. With a first-hand view of college life, Olivia brings experience and passion to the content she creates for The Open Book.