Holidays Thanksgiving
November 26, 2026
A Thanksgiving charcuterie board should hold guests over, not fill them up: keep it light before dinner, lean on fall flavors (sharp cheddar, apple, pear, cranberry, pecans, maple) and serve it about an hour before the turkey. For a crowd, build the turkey-shaped board; for a small table, an easy board for under $40 does the job.
The showstopper · 12 guests
A fan of crackers, salami and sliced cheese makes the tail; a round of Brie or a pear makes the body; a candied pecan and a pretzel make the face. Kids love it and it photographs well.
Brie · Aged Cheddar · Genoa Salami · Prosciutto di Parma · Pears · Apples · Candied Pecans · Water Crackers · Pretzel Crisps · Cranberry Sauce
Get the shopping list for 12 →Small table · 6 guests
One sharp cheddar, one soft cheese, one salami, apples and grapes, a sleeve of crackers and a jar of fig jam. Five minutes to build.
Aged Cheddar · Brie · Genoa Salami · Apples · Grapes · Butter Crackers · Fig Jam · Pecans
Get the shopping list for 6 →Friendsgiving · 16 guests
A big board that goes on the table first so guests have something while the dishes arrive: two cheeses, two meats, roasted nuts, apple butter and plenty of crackers.
Smoked Gouda · Cranberry Goat Cheese · Prosciutto di Parma · Soppressata · Apple Butter · Spiced Nut Mix · Dried Cranberries · Pears · Rosemary Crackers · Baguette
Get the shopping list for 16 →Each one has what to buy, why it works and a timeline.
Seasonal & Holiday
Thanksgiving Charcuterie Board
Serves 10–15 · $70–$110
Intermediate
Seasonal & Holiday
Fall Harvest Charcuterie Board
Serves 8–12 · $50–$75
Beginner
Plant-Based
Plant-Based Fall Harvest Board
Serves 6–8 · $35–$50
Plant-basedIntermediate
Classic, Budget & Luxury
$25 Budget Charcuterie Board
Serves 6–8 · $20–$25
Beginner
Served as an appetizer, plan about 2 oz of cheese, 2 oz of meat and 6 crackers per guest. If the board is the meal, double it.
| Guests | Cheese | Meat | Crackers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | 12 oz | 12 oz | 36 | Full list |
| 12 | 1½ lb | 1½ lb | 72 | Full list |
| 20 | 2½ lb | 2½ lb | 120 | Full list |
No alcohol? See zero-proof pairings. More in the Pairings Hub.
Yes, but keep it small: about 1 oz of cheese and 1 oz of meat per guest, set out an hour before dinner, so it holds people over without spoiling the meal.
Place a round of Brie or a pear low in the center as the body, fan crackers, salami and cheese above it as the tail, and use a pecan and two pretzels for the face.
A sharp aged cheddar, a creamy Brie and one wildcard like smoked Gouda or a cranberry goat cheese. They all pair with apples, pears and cranberry.
Prep the day before, build on the day. Slice hard cheeses and fold meats the night before, keep them covered in the fridge, and assemble on the board the day of.
Two cheeses, two meats, roasted nuts, apple butter or fig jam, fruit and lots of crackers. Make it big enough for 16 so it feeds people while the potluck dishes arrive.
Read more: Thanksgiving Charcuterie Board: Quantities, Fall Flavors, and Build Guide · Fall Charcuterie Board: The Seasonal Ingredients and Why They Work Together
Other holidays: Halloween · Christmas · 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.