The Best Charcuterie Boards for Serving All Your Favorite Meats, Cheeses, and Snacks (2024)

It’s hard to beat the hand-crafted design and quality of Verve Culture’s Italian Olivewood Charcuterie Board. The rich olivewood grain unique to each piece and its natural live edge with make a rustic and elegant backdrop to your next charcuterie spread. During our testing, this board managed to hold a large wedge of Brie, one row of crackers, a salami rose, one bunch of grapes, and a small bowl of fig jam. We found it well-balanced and sturdy, which made it easy to carry even without handles. And we love that it has a convenient hole so you can have something to grab onto, or you can even use it to hang the board up for storage when you’re finished.

More than just aesthetically pleasing, the olivewood material is also good for helping maintain the sharpness of your knife blade, so you can cut directly on the board without fear of it dulling your favorite cutting utensils. But keep in mind that this board will require some occasional maintenance and care to keep it looking its best. It’s recommended to occasionally coat it with olive or mineral oil to maintain the wood’s pristine finish.

• Material: Italian olivewood
• Dimensions: 14 x 6 x .75 inches
• Care: Hand wash

If you frequently host large gatherings, then you’re probably looking for a board that can corral a veritable smorgasbord of snacks and hors d’oeuvres. With its large surface area, this Tondo Natural Wood Serving Board from Crate & Barrel can handle that and more. While it isn’t one of the boards we tested, we love its convenient handle, which will make it a bit easier to transport your (likely weighty) charcuterie assortment and can also be great for hanging it during storage. It comes in four attractive finishes, including a natural wood grain that would look great in any kitchen. However, some have noted that the finish looks slightly different in person than in the pictures.

• Material: Wood
• Dimensions: 28 x 16 x .75 inches
• Care: Hand wash

This part marble, part Acadia wood board is the perfect monogram-inscribed host gift. Each board is entirely unique — not only because of the custom inscription but also due to the natural variations in the marble and wood that make each piece one-of-a-kind. We think it would make a great charcuterie board for a date night or a small spread for one. And when you’re done, simply wipe it with a damp cloth to keep it clean. However, it is important to note that marble can be difficult to care for, and one finish could deteriorate faster than the other with two different materials.

• Material: White marble and acacia wood
• Dimensions: 15 x 7 x 0.5 inches
• Care: Hand wash

This Marble and Brass Charcuterie Board from West Elm is a stunning marble slab with practical brass handles for serving. It makes the perfect platter for meats and cheeses and is even versatile enough to carry out co*cktails. During our testing, we filled it with two large wedges of cheese, prosciutto, a salami rose, two rows of crackers, a bowl of nuts, and some grapes, so it can hold quite a bit. However, we did find it quite heavy to move around and carry, even without our delicious spread on top. The brass handles do make it a bit easier and more comfortable to hold, but it could stil be an issue if you don’t have much upper body strength.

We love its high-end aesthetic, which instantly elevates even the lowest-fuss board of a few types of meat, cheeses, and fresh fruit. And you could even double it as a display tray on a bar cart or kitchen island if you prefer not to move it around too much. The manufacturer recommends washing this board by hand, so be sure to handle it with care as marble can stain and scratch easily.

• Material: Marble
• Dimensions: 14 x 4 inches
• Care: Hand Wash

The brilliant design of this Compact Swivel Cheese Board makes it a great option for taking on the go for your next picnic or even for serving a versatile charcuterie spread at home. While we haven’t tested it out, we love its round, tiered construction that allows it to collapse into a wedge — designed with a wheel of cheese in mind. And what makes it even better is that this board comes with a built-in drawer of utensils for cutting all your favorite cheeses, so you don’t have to worry about packing them separately. It is recommended that you hand-wash this board, so its tiered design could also make it a bit more difficult to clean. But its overall portability and small footprint make this a great option for people with limited space.

• Material: Bamboo
• Dimensions: 9.75 - 17 x 3.25 inches
• Care: Hand wash

It’s not every day you see a charcuterie board that doubles as a lazy susan, but we love the additional functionality it gives this Mikasa Wood Serve Tray. This board is actually quite large, and we think it would be a great pick for Super Bowl party hosts who fill it to the brim with bite-sized snacks. During our testing, it held three full sections of snacks, including four wedges of cheese, two rows of crackers, and a variety of nuts and fruits. We even think it would be great for holding your favorite chips and dip.

It also has wrought iron handles that make it easy to carry and comes with convenient removable dividers so you can keep your snacks separate if you need to. We loved the natural grain of the mango wood and think it would make a beautiful base for your next charcuterie spread or appetizers for a large gathering. However, it is recommended that you only wipe it to clean, so maybe steer clear of messier foods.

• Material: Mango wood
• Dimensions: 18 x 2.75 inches
• Care: Wipe clean with damp cloth

While slate might be a less common material for charcuterie boards, they are a great way to take the guesswork out of what’s on the plate. This Brooklyn Slate Cheese Board allows you to use soapstone chalk (this version comes with both chalk and a burlap bag) to write directly on the board, identifying the various meats, cheeses, and other goodies. Plus, the unique look is sure to wow the crowd. During our testing, this board held two large wedges of cheese, one row of crackers, one row of salami, a bunch of grapes, and a small bowl of nuts — enough for about one or two people.

We found it to be a substantial material, but it was a bit heavy and cumbersome to move. However, it is easy to wash as long as you handle it with delicate care. Slate boards can often show oil marks from the meat or cheese if they are left on too long, so make sure to clean it thoroughly. While anti-slip cork feet are included, slate can be fragile — one drop, and the board will likely shatter.

• Material: Slate
• Dimensions: 10 x 14 inches
• Care: Dishwasher safe

If you want a lavish spread without all the prep work, then look no further than the Arte Cheese & Charcuterie Board from Boarderie. The reusable acacia wood board comes pre-loaded with a delectable variety of finger foods, including 13 types of cheese, four types of charcuterie, 11 varieties of dried fruits and nuts, and more delicious goodies. It arrives pre-arranged, chilled, and vacuum-sealed for freshness. All you have to do is break the seal, allow it to come to room temperature, and enjoy. Whether you want this for your next gathering or to give as a showstopping gift, it’s sure to be a hit. The only downside is that you can’t hand-pick your favorite snacks and treats to include. But when it looks this good, that probably won’t be too much of a problem.

• Material: Acacia wood
• Dimensions: 17 x 7.5 x 1.5 inches
• Care: Wipe clean with damp cloth

Frequently Asked Questions

• What is a charcuterie board?

  A charcuterie board is a grazing board designed to hold a variety of meats, cheeses, and finger foods for people to snack on. They are typically made of materials like wood, bamboo, marble, or slate, and they are sometimes sold with accessories like cheese knives, little bowls, or small signs to label the cheeses and meats. They are great for serving appetizers and hors d’oeuvres for small or large groups and allow everyone to snack at their leisure.

• What do you put on a charcuterie board?

  A charcuterie board usually has a variety of cheeses, cured meats, and accouterments like olives, dried fruit, or nuts. However, these days, people are getting more and more creative with what they include in their charcuterie spreads. Everything from dessert bites to sweet and savory brunch offerings has become common charcuterie fare, and even condiments such as compound butter can be included.

  If you’re wondering exactly how you make a charcuterie board, it’s as easy as arranging your favorite snacks and finger foods on a serving board. It can be as simple or as artful as you like, and with only your creativity as the limit, really anything goes.

• What is the best material for a charcuterie board?

  Culver prefers wood as it’s the “most traditional but unique material with cool features like live edge or wood grain designs,” he says. Wood charcuterie boards are often filled, which means flavors and oils from the meats and cheeses shouldn’t seep through, and they are also easy to clean. That said, there are many materials to choose from (like slate and marble), so choose one that best reflects your aesthetic preferences.