Use some shortcuts from the grocery store to put together everything on this Thanksgiving Charcuterie Board in 30 minutes or less, with the beautiful colors and flavors of autumn.

A Thanksgiving charcuterie board, including cured meats, cheeses, nuts, olives, fruit and crackers, arranged on a large wooden cutting board.

Thanksgiving Charcuterie Board Ideas for your holiday spread

Coming up with fun charcuterie board ideas is something about my job that I simply never tire of. I’ve already done everything from a Halloween charcuterie board to an Easter charcuterie board to a huge platter of Valentine’s snacks, but I’m not nearly out of new boards to create.

While many of my existing ideas, including jarcuterie and the wine and cheese board (and even my butter board) are already quite perfect for Thanksgiving appetizers, I wanted to create a fall charcuterie board that was truly specific to this holiday.

Below, I’ll walk you through how I shop for and build this lovely Thanksgiving charcuterie board. I guarantee you it’s easier than it looks!

A fall charcuterie board featuring salami, olives, cheese and persimmons.

Thanksgiving Board shopping tips

My favorite way to shop for a charcuterie board or even a brunch buffet is to go to a well-stocked (maybe upscale) grocery store and simply look around. I don’t make much of a list or a plan before I get there!

But, I do try to keep in mind the theme for that board. In this case, Thanksgiving (or just autumn in general is fine). To me, that mainly means focusing on fall colors, like oranges, reds, yellows and browns for this fall charcuterie board.

Luckily, lots of things that are in season right now, like persimmons and pomegranates, fit the color scheme for this Thanksgiving charcuterie board perfectly.

Most crackers and cheeses and meats blend right in here, too. And then I keep my eye out for any little special touches I can add that reinforce the theme, like maybe something shaped like a pumpkin or turkey or leaf?

Thanksgiving Charcuterie Board ingredients

  • Sopressata salami – made with pepper and garlic, it’s so savory with just a little heat.
  • Calabrese salami – this one is for the spice lovers!
  • Genoa salami – this mild salami is loved by all ages.
  • Parmesan cheese – sharp and crumbly, a perfecting pairing for the rich salamis (and shredding on top of chicken parm soup).
  • Cheddar cheese – this farmhouse cheese will definitely be a crowd pleaser on this fall charcuterie board.
  • cheese curds – here in the Midwest, nobody is saying no to a Cheddar cheese curd!
  • pickled cornichons and onions – I have to have something pickled on all my charcuterie boards, and this combo can’t be beat. Love these on a football charcuterie board.
  • Castelvetrano olives – these bright green beauties are mild and easy to enjoy.
A fall charcuterie board with salami, nuts, pomegranate seeds, pickles and maple leaf cookies.

More items for your Charcuterie Board for Thanksgiving

I also added some small seasonal touches in the spaces between the meats and cheeses on my Thanksgiving charcuterie board:

  • dried apricots – their bright orange color is perfect, but the flavor is what draws me to these.
  • dried candied orange slices – a fun, sweet little pop of orange.
  • persimmons – whole and sliced persimmons are seasonal and special.
  • mandarin oranges – I peeled them and placed them on the board whole, and I kind of thought they resembled pumpkins. Wouldn’t you agree?
  • apple slices – it wouldn’t be autumn here in Michigan without some apples! Keep my apple mug cake in mind for an easy dessert this fall.
  • pomegranate seeds – my special weapon for making any fall or winter dish just a touch more beautiful, including my Thanksgiving green salad, lamb lollipop recipe and vegan lentil curry.
  • pecans – these add great crunch, but any type of nut you prefer is perfect.
  • maple leaf cookies – I love to add a sweet nibble to my charcuterie boards, and maple leaf cookies couldn’t be more perfect. Buy them or make your own.
  • honey – so good for drizzling over any of the cheeses!
  • Thanksgiving pie truffles – I couldn’t resist this adorable addition.
  • crackers – always great on a fall charcuterie board, or toasted bread works too!
An appetizer tray with salami, cheese, nuts, dried fruit and pickles.

More Charcuterie Board Ideas for Thanksgiving

You don’t necessarily need to add anything else to your Thanksgiving charcuterie board ideas other than what I’ve listed above. But, if you’re having a large gathering and want to bulk up your spread, I have a few ideas!

Instant Pot apple butter is a sweet addition that pairs wonderfully with charcuterie and cheese. You can offer it in place of the honey, or in addition to!

Phyllo cup appetizers are kind of like a modern take on cheeseball and crackers, and they’d nestle right into this fall charcuterie board perfectly.

Thanksgiving Board: Ideas on how to serve

Serve this Thanksgiving charcuterie board the classic way, on one large cutting board or platter, or use the ingredients listed here and my method for charcuterie cups to make individual servings.

A cutting board spread with fruits, chocolates, crackers and cheese.

Thanksgiving Charcuterie Board FAQs

What not to put on a charcuterie board?

While the options for a charcuterie board are basically endless, there are a few types of things you might want to avoid. For instance, overly pungent cheeses that could overpower the other flavors on the board, ingredients that spoil or melt quickly at room temperature, or really messy items that are difficult to eat without utensils.

What is the 3 3 3 3 rule for charcuterie board?

The 3-3-3-3 rule is a guideline that will help you create a visually beautiful and flavorfully balanced charcuterie board. It suggests three types of meat, three types of cheeses, three types of carbohydrates (breads, crackers, etc.) and three types of accompaniments (mustard, honey, pickles, olives, etc.).
The 3-3-3-3 rule is a helpful starting point to keep in mind but don’t be afraid to customize based on your preferences and the size of your gathering!

How do you fold turkey slices for charcuterie board?

To fold turkey slices for a charcuterie board, considering shaping them into small rosettes. Start by folding each slice into thirds lengthwise, and then rolling it up from one end to the other to form a rosette.

While I’ve skipped the turkey slices for this Thanksgiving charcuterie board (because you’ll be having turkey for dinner!), this is a fun idea to keep in mind for other boards throughout the year.

A Thanksgiving charcuterie board, including cured meats, cheeses, nuts, olives, fruit and crackers, arranged on a large wooden cutting board.

Charcuterie Thanksgiving Board

Yield: 8 servings
Prep Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes

Use some shortcuts from the grocery store to put together everything on this Thanksgiving Charcuterie Board in 30 minutes or less, with the beautiful colors and flavors of autumn.

Ingredients

  • 12 ounces sliced salami (Calabrese, Genoa, Sopressata, etc.)
  • 12 ounces sliced/cubed cheese (Parmesan, Cheddar, cheese curds, etc.)
  • 1 cup pickles (cornichons) and/or pickled onions
  • 1 cup olives (Castelvetrano recommended)
  • 8 maple leaf cookies
  • 8 Thanksgiving pie truffles
  • 3 mandarin oranges, peeled
  • 2 persimmons, sliced
  • 1 apple, sliced
  • 4 ounces crackers
  • 1/2 cup dried apricots
  • 1/2 cup sweetened dried orange slices
  • 1/3 cup honey
  • 1/3 cup pecan halves
  • 1/4 cup pomegranate seeds

Instructions

  1. Arrange all items on a large platter or cutting board and serve immediately.

Recommended Products

Foxes Love Lemons, LLC is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and links to Amazon.com. There is no additional cost to you.

Nutrition Information:
Yield: 8 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 648Total Fat: 34gSaturated Fat: 11gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 20gCholesterol: 49mgSodium: 1176mgCarbohydrates: 77gFiber: 7gSugar: 49gProtein: 15g

This website provides estimated nutrition information as a courtesy only. You should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe using your preferred nutrition calculator.

Did you make this recipe?

Please let me know what you think! Rate the recipe above, leave a comment below, and/or share a photo to Instagram using the tag #foxeslovelemons.