How to make the Best Charcuterie for Large Groups

I love food, food is my happy place and I think this is true for a lot of people. There is something about enjoying good food that makes everyone loosen up a bit. Whether you’re having people over to watch the big game, hosting thanksgiving this year, or DIY’ing some of your upcoming wedding, charcuterie can be the perfect solution when feeding a crowd. Something about a platter full of different combinations of snacks makes a person feel like they are on an adventure. It fills the room with excitement and, in turn, can give life to any event. This article will be your one stop guide to charcuterie for large groups.

It fills the room with excitement and, in turn, can give life to any event.

What is Charcuterie?

The French word Charcuterie is a term used to describe a type of cooking based on the preparation of cold cooked meats. A Charcuterie can also be a term used to describe a store that sells cold cuts. Unlike a typical butcher, the meats you would get from a charcuterie are ready to eat, making it more comparable to a deli.

But lately when referring to charcuterie, people are usually referring to Charcuterie boards. A Charcuterie board is an appetizer served on a type of board that includes different meats, cheeses, spreads and crackers. In the same family of charcuterie boards are grazing boards, or grazing tables. These have the same spread like appearance as a charcuterie board, but with less strict qualifiers. Grazing tables may include desserts, kid friendly treats, and other unique foods that do not fall into the meat, cheese, bread category. I personally view the two interchangeably when planning events for larger groups, and throughout this article may use the terms interchangeably.

Is it possible to have Charcuterie for Large Groups?

Not only is it possible to have charcuterie for large groups, it is where charcuterie thrives. The reason charcuterie for large groups is so convenient is that it can be an appetizer that is flexible.

It can easily accommodate all dietary restrictions

I have catered a wedding that was completely vegetarian and it was still just as beautiful and, most importantly, delicious. A simple cheese board with fresh fruit is so delicious. In replacement of meat we included bowls of bruschetta with crostini’s, brie with blackberry compote and local honey, and hummus with peppers, carrots and crackers. These three combinations served as the centerpieces of the board, and were surrounded by dried fruit, assorted cheeses and various crackers and pretzels. There are so many hardy and unique types of cheese that you can build a great board around; goat cheese, blue cheese, spreadable cheese, brie cheese.

It is also easy to included just a section with no meat, gluten free crackers and spreads, or a nut free area of the board. Being flexible is key when doing charcuterie for large groups.

It is perfect for personalization.

The fun part about charcuterie boards/grazing tables is that you can easily be creative and make them your own. For example, I created a Father’s Day Grazing box at our bakery. Fathers are not, generally, the key demographic for charcuterie boards, maybe because they are drawn to more filling or hardy food groups. With that in mind I included pigs in a blanket with a spicy mustard, summer sausage with cheese cubes, peanut butter pretzels, full sized chocolate chip cookies, and brie with spicy honey (my favorite part). I also love the idea of including an area for kids with peanut butter sandwiches, colorful fruit snacks and crackers.

It is a great icebreaker

Because this is usually served as an appetizer, it is served at the perfect time to begin bringing people together. Who doesn’t love to talk about food? Questions like, “What are you pairing with this?” or “That looks wonderful, where did you find that?” “Great choice! Interesting combo!” At this point, people are usually pretty hungry, so they are almost giddy to be given so many things to choose from before dinner.

Its almost like being at an art gallery, you have a piece for everyone to discuss. The combination of visual interest, a variety of flavors, a variety of textures is just the perfect way to excite your guests and bring them together.

How many people will my Charcuterie board feed?

The rule of thumb for Charcuterie boards is to allow each person 3 oz. If you are like me, it seems impossible to picture three ounces of food. I simplify this equation by breaking my board into three categories. A typical board would be meat, cheese, extra (fruit, veggies, crackers). Therefore if you have 50 people you would want 50 ounces of meat, 50 ounces of cheese and 50 ounces of extras.

One pound of cheese, one pound of meat, and one pound of a combination of fruit, veggies and crackers= 16 people.
Example: 50 people= 50 oz./ 16 (this is the number of oz. in a lb.)= 3.125
- Round to 3 lb.’s of each category.

How to prepare ahead for a Charcuterie Board?

This is definitely one of the most important things to think about when preparing for a large event. Most of the items on a charcuterie board require refrigeration, so you need to make sure you have room in your refrigerator. I think it helps to store each component separately in the refrigerator and then put it together right before the party. Prep is the most crucial part of charcuterie, but also the most useful. When event time comes around you just set out your spread and relax.

Some tips for easier assembly:

Keep meat products in the refrigerator until the last minute. They should only be out of the fridge for two hours.
Although cheese should not be out for a prolonged amount of time, they are served best room temperature.
Prep everything that can be out of the refrigerator beforehand.
Keep any crackers in their package until last minute.
Have a layout planned for everything. Set your boards or cake stands up beforehand so all you have to do is fill in the gaps.
Any items that go into a bowl, like hummus or a dip, should be in the bowl and in the fridge.
Prep is very important to charcuterie for large groups.

When event time comes, you just set out your spread and relax.

What supplies do I need for Charcuterie for Large Groups?

This is another part about charcuterie that is flexible. You could put a lot of money into your board, or you can accomplish one on a budget.

Board: This could include just a singular wooden board, or several boards of different materials and textures. The two most common kinds of charcuterie boards are wooden and slate. You can work with a larger board, several small boards, large platter, long charcuterie board, you can even use wooden cutting board.
- Here is a nice options for large events with over 20 people. It can comes in a pack of three and would be great in combination with different platters and bowls.

Here is one that is large, and easy to transport. It also can be packed full of food because it does not have a handle.

And this is a good options if you just want to be able to use it over and over again for more intimate dinner parties or gatherings. It also doubles as a cutting board.

Bowls: If you are including dips, marinated mozzarella or anything liquid then you will need a bowl. They also add to the complexity and design of your overall board. I love THESE small bowls from amazon.

Utensils: This is where you can go overboard or keep it simple. When dealing with larger crowds it is best to keep it simple and have plenty. The most important tools to me are tongs, charcuterie knives and charcuterie spreader. For a medium crowd here is a smaller, more quality set. For a very large crowd you may want disposable options, like this for affordability and easy clean up.
Cake Stands: This one is optional and geared more towards grazing tables. When you have a display for over 30 people you want to make sure you bring some varying heights to your display. Cake stands are very helpful to the overall look of your spread. I really love tiered cake stands especially due to their ability to hold a lot and look full.

I love these little cast iron skillets with matching wood stands. They are perfect for baked brie, but are also just a gorgeous addition to the table. I would also use this for dips and spreads.

Some other fun extras you can mix in your board are seasonal items like mini pumpkins or gourds for a pop of color. Glass containers of olive oil are an easy way to add some nice height to a table. Whole fruit is also popular, like a pomegranate. This is a creative choice and these whole fruits are not intended to be eaten. I also love to mix in flowers and fresh herbs. Bonus if they are also fragrant like basil or rosemary.

Best Recipes for Charcuterie

Charcuterie on!

Now you have all the great tips to impress your next crowd with a best charcuterie board display. Whether it is for a group of 10 family members at a dinner party or 50 at a baby shower, you have some key tips to make it easy and beautiful.

I would love to see you in action so please attach any pictures of your charcuterie adventures and let me know how your boards go over!