Holidays Fourth of July
July 4, 2027
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Go red, white and blue: strawberries and blueberries, white cheeses, salami and pepperoni, laid out as a flag. Plan about 3 oz each of cheese and meat per guest as party food, and keep it out of the sun, no more than an hour above 90°F.
Backyard party · 15 guests
Blueberries in the corner, then stripes of strawberries, pepperoni and salami against fresh mozzarella and white cheddar. Plain crackers around the edge and honey on the side.
Berries · Fresh Mozzarella · Monterey Jack · Pepperoni · Genoa Salami · Water Crackers · Honey
Get the shopping list for 15 →
Watching the show · 8 guests
Everything travels: summer sausage, aged cheddar, meat sticks, pretzel crisps, cherries, pickles and mixed nuts, packed in containers and built on a cutting board on the blanket.
Summer Sausage · Aged Cheddar · Meat Sticks (Beef Sticks) · Pretzel Crisps · Cherries · Dill Pickles · Mixed Nuts
See the full board → Get the shopping list for 8 →On the move · 24 cups
A cheese stick, a folded slice of salami, a pretzel rod, a skewer of berries and a few nuts in a clear cup. Everyone gets their own, and nothing sits out.
Colby Jack · Genoa Salami · Mini Pretzels · Berries · Honey Roasted Peanuts
How to make charcuterie cups → Get the shopping list for 24 →Each one has what to buy, why it works and a timeline.
Seasonal & Holiday
Summer Backyard Charcuterie Board
Serves 8–12 · $45–$70
Full plan · $3Beginner
Seasonal & Holiday
Beach Picnic Charcuterie Board
Serves 6–10 · $35–$55
Plan in the bookBeginner
Boards for Two
Summer Picnic Board for Two
Serves 2 · $29–$41
Plan in the bookBeginner
Occasions & Parties
No-Fridge Camping Charcuterie Board
Serves 4–8 · $30–$50
Plan in the bookBeginner
Served as an appetizer before a meal, plan about 2 oz of cheese, 2 oz of meat and 6–8 crackers per guest. If the board is the party food, plan 3 oz of each; if it's dinner, 4 oz. From 20 guests, add 10% (included below).
| Guests | Cheese | Meat | Crackers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | 12 oz | 12 oz | 36–48 | Full list |
| 12 | 1½ lb | 1½ lb | 72–96 | Full list |
| 20 | 2¾ lb | 2¾ lb | 120–160 | Full list |
Plan every board this season
Exact shopping lists, prep timelines, placement steps and pairing science for 50 boards, including Thanksgiving, Holiday Entertaining, New Year's Eve and Game Day, in Charcuterie Lab: 50 Boards Built by Science.
Red, white and blue food: strawberries, cherries and blueberries, fresh mozzarella and white cheddar, salami and pepperoni, plus crackers, pretzels and a little honey. Firm cheese and dry sausage handle the heat best.
On a rectangle, fill the top-left corner with blueberries, then lay alternating red stripes (strawberries, salami, pepperoni) and white stripes (mozzarella, white cheddar) across the rest. Edge it with crackers.
No more than 2 hours out, or 1 hour when it's above 90°F, per USDA guidance. Outdoors, set the board in the shade, keep a second tray in the cooler and swap it in halfway.
As an appetizer before a meal, plan about 2 oz of cheese and 2 oz of meat per guest, plus 6 to 8 crackers. If the board is the party food, plan 3 oz of each and 10 to 12 crackers; if it's dinner, 4 oz of each. From 20 guests, add 10%.
As party food, plan about $4 to $6 per guest on a budget and $6 to $10 for a standard board, so roughly $60 to $90 or $90 to $150 for 15 guests. Berries in season keep it cheaper. Store and region change the total.
One that travels: summer sausage, aged cheddar, meat sticks, pretzel crisps, cherries and nuts, packed in containers in a cooler and built on a cutting board when you arrive. Or make charcuterie cups so nothing sits out.
Cut, cube and pack everything the morning of and keep it chilled. Build the board in the last 30 minutes, add crackers last, and keep half the food in the cooler for a refill.
Read more: Summer Charcuterie Board Ideas · Charcuterie Cups: How to Make Them for a Party (12, 24 or 50 Cups) · Summer Charcuterie Board Ideas · How Long Does a Charcuterie Board Last? (By Ingredient) · How to Transport a Charcuterie Board (Without It Sliding Apart)
Other holidays: Halloween · Thanksgiving · Christmas · Hanukkah · New Year's Eve · Super Bowl · Valentine's Day · St. Patrick's Day · Easter · Mother's Day · Memorial Day & Graduation · All holidays
Free printable
How much to buy for any guest count, the build order, fridge timing and pairing rules on two printable pages. Plus the Lab Report: one pairing that works and why, and new printables the day they land.