The word “charcuterie” is French—it refers to a branch of cooking devoted to prepared meats such as bacon, ham, terrines, and patés. But with a last name like Papaleo, I’m obligated to go full-on Italian when I put mine together! If I didn’t include my favorite Italian meats and cheeses, I might be disowned. Don’t be shy about including your own favorites—add nuts, olives, crackers, spreads, and more for a really impressive tray. It’s all about the options. A good charcuterie board has plenty of choices built in! The more, the merrier, you know—and more is definitely more when I get going.

Don’t worry about replicating this—no two charcuterie boards are exactly alike. When I put one together, selections vary based on my mood and who I am having over. When you do it right, people can’t stop eating! I remember at one gathering, we ate so much charcuterie that we almost forgot the main course. We had to take a long break to digest before we could eat again.

You can use one big board, multiple smaller boards, or a mixture of both depending on the size of your crowd. The board itself doesn’t have to be fancy—it’s going to be loaded with food! You could even use a basic serving tray or a plain old cutting board.

Since our family makes our own giardiniera (you can try Billy’s hot giardiniera here), dilly beans (recipe and canning how-to here), and pickled beets, I make sure to include them on my board. After any homemade goodies, it’s just a mingling of cured meats, lots of cheese, a mix of fresh and dried fruit, nuts, olives, spreads, and pretty much anything else you can think of!

Start by arranging several small bowls on your board (or boards). Fill them generously with jam, preserves, mustards, nuts, or dips. Next, build around the bowl placement. Save a couple chunks of cheese to add height to your designs—like building blocks. Cheeses and meats can be sliced, cubed, or both. Make sure to intersperse some interesting crackers and breads so folks have a landing spot for all those toppings!

I personally like to save the dried and fresh fruits for last. They are fantastic for adding a pop of color and filling in the gaps between the other foods. Finally, don’t be afraid to sprinkle your board with some dried or fresh herbs. And viola! You’re ready to party!

It’s a good idea to have everything prepped before you begin placing items on your board.