DIY Trader Joe’s Charcuterie Board

If there were ever a hostess hack everyone should know, it’s how to create an epic charcuterie board. Let’s take a deep dive into my DIY Trader Joe’s Charcuterie board, and hopefully after reading you’ll feel confident to create your own.

Personally I think Charcuterie boards should be their own food group… but I digress. Not only are charcuterie boards delicious, but they definitely can have that wow-factor for family or friends!

Although it’s a matter of opinion, I personally think the ratio of meat-cheese-fillers on a charcuterie board can definitely make or break the board. I’ve had a few charcuteries in my day who try to get fancy with unique meats or spreads, but honestly I like a charcuterie board that sticks with the classics and keeps it simple.

HOW TO CREATE A DIY TRADER JOE’S CHARCUTERIE BOARD

Choose your board 

The ultimate vessel for your charcuterie board, you can use a rectangle, or any other shape. They trick is to make sure there’s enough room for your cheeses and meats. I personally like my charcuterie board to be tight with few gaps, but to each their own!

Meat & cheese options 

A good ratio is 3:3 – three types of meats and three cheese options. I’m a huge prosciutto fan, so you’ll never find one of my charcuterie boards without San Daniele Prosciutto (if you know, you know). Then it’s usually a toss up, but more often than not I opt for a Salami like Sopressata and/or Genoa. If I’m creating a larger charcuterie board I’ll usually add in another traditional Italian meat like Mortadella.

When it comes to cheeses, truly the sky is the limit. I love shopping at Trader Joe’s for my DIY Charcuterie board because their cheese options are great and priced right, too. For my DIY Trader Joe’s Charcuterie board I lean towards one soft, one medium and one hard cheese.

For soft options you can reach for a Blue Cheese or Brie. Trader Joe’s Cave Aged Blue is one of my favorite blue cheeses ever. It’s made from raw milk and has a creamy paste consistency, which spreads well on crackers. As for semi soft cheese, try a Port Salut. Look for the orange rind, it’s a mild tasting cheese. And for a hard option try Trader Joe’s Unexpected cheddar or a simple Parmigiano Reggiano – both are crowd pleasers.

Choose your accompaniments 

No charcuterie board is complete without some crackers or toasts that serve as the vessels for pieces of meat and cheese. I personally love the Bite Size Everything crackers from Trader Joe’s along with the Fig & Olive Crisps.

Add a little variety of color and crunch with some freshly cut apples or pears, depending what’s in season. The combination of sweet and salty is one of my favorite things. Other fruits you can use on charcuterie boards include Pomegranate seeds, Blackberries, Blueberries, Figs and grapes.

Nuts are a common staple on my DIY Trader Joe’s Charcuterie Board. I love to grab unsalted Almonds or Cashews. Often if I have them on hand I’ll include some Mediterranean olives and roasted Red Bell peppers.

One thing I didn’t include on this board, but have included on others in the past are spreads. I love tapenade spreads or jellies to add with your bite of cheese and meats. Another spread to think about is mustard, although sometimes coarse ground mustard is an acquired taste.

And if you’re hosting and need a few easy to create cocktail ideas, check out my recipe for refreshing Basil Lemon Smash cocktail or my easy to make skinny margaritas.