18 Valentine’s Charcuterie Boards Better Than Fancy Dinner Reservations (2024)

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Do you believe the way to the heart is through the stomach? We totally agree. Mostly because it’s way less awkward to ask for ice cream than a foot massage when on a first date. So for the most romantic holiday, try a Valentine’s charcuterie board to drum up the love.

A Valentine’s Day food platter is an automatic crowd pleaser at any kind of gathering, whether it’s with your long-time partner, best girlfriends, or your mailman who has inadvertently become your dream therapist.

Here are our favorite V-Day meat and cheese boards, plus a few that feature candies and chocolates.
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Valentine’s Day Charcuterie Boards You’ll Love

1. Sweet Mini Hearts

These charcuterie cups may be the only time when you want something mini on Valentine’s Day. They’re definitely not for the bedroom.

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2. Pretty in Pink

Monochrome is so in style this year. And not only because we stress out over making too many decisions.

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3. Savory Meets Sweet

They say that opposites attract, and there’s no better example of this than a sweet and savory Valentine’s Day charcuterie board. And a pickle-eater for every pickle-hater. Just don’t touch those heart-shaped macarons, ok?

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4. Classic Candies

Your inner 90s child will love this candy mix featuring old-school faves. Didn’t you miss having Airheads permanently lodged in your teeth?

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5. Bring the Bubbly

The only thing that would make this heart-shaped Valentine’s Day platter is a real bottle of bubbly. Our coworker said that wouldn’t be appropriate for a work meeting, but Boris Johnson disagrees.

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6. Vegan Love

Nothing says “I love you” like being mindful of dietary preferences. This vegan Valentine’s Day charcuterie board features wine brined ”cheez,” a veggeroni rose, and plenty of fruit. We hear that’s usually vegan-friendly.

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7. Dark Chocolate Romance

If you want a love like Gomez and Morticia, serve up this deep, rich, dessert board, with an abundance of dark chocolate and enchanting berries. Pair it with some lovely thorns and singing vultures, and you’re set!

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8. A Tasty Bouquet

If you don’t have a great track record for keeping flowers alive, try these salami roses. They work way better than real roses on a Valentine’s Day charcuterie board. Those thorns are just so hard to eat.

9. Queen of Hearts

Here’s a Valentine’s Day charcuterie board fit for the king or queen of your heart. And since it’s a holiday, everyone gets to keep their head.

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10. Hearts Aglow

Featuring a mix of heart-shaped sweets and savory snacks, you’ll want to put this lovely thing together for an evening of Netflix and chill. And by chill, we mean chilled wine. Did you bring a bottle for yourself?

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11. The Way to Their Heart

Take your gal pals on a lunch date, and give them these tiny picnic boxes as a little token of your affection. If you’re lucky, the ants will perform their rendition of Love on Top. They’ve really improved their choreography!

12. Candy Darling

This beautiful little board of pink candies, roses, and berries will satisfy the sweetest of sweet-tooths. Who would have thought that would be your dentist!

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13. I Love You Berry Much

This V-Day snack board has it all: meats, cheeses, fruits, and flowers. The only thing missing? Someone to make it for us. We haven’t had a steady enough hand for something this delicate since we started drinking coffee in high school.

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14. Candy Girl

Is your lover a tad oblivious? Spell things out for them with this cheese, chocolate, and cookies charcuterie box. And for good measure, maybe add “trip to Paris” in writing on the side.

15. Love is in the Air

If food is your love language, then show your devotion with this simple and stunning Valentine’s Day cheese and meat plate. It had chocolate on it too, but it must have…melted…

18. Candy and Cheese Valentine’s Day Charcuterie Board

This sweet and salty board features strawberries, prosciutto, yogurt-covered pretzels and everything else you need for V-Day grazing. Try not to eat the roses this time, ok?

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  • These Valentine’s Charcuterie Boards Are Way Better Than Fancy Dinner Reservations - February 2, 2022
18 Valentine’s Charcuterie Boards Better Than Fancy Dinner Reservations (2024)

FAQs

How many people does an 18 inch charcuterie board feed? ›

Sure to bring the music to the party, this 18" round charcuterie board starts with 5 cheeses and 2 types of meats. It also includes other accompaniments such as cornichons, garlic stuffed olives, grapes, berries, nuts, honey, bacon jam and more. Feeds 15-22 as an appetizer.

What size charcuterie board do I need for 20 guests? ›

A large board is generally suitable for serving about 10-20 people, although this can vary based on the quantity and type of food items you plan to display. A larger board provides ample space for a diverse range of meats, cheeses, fruits, and other accompaniments, allowing for an impressive presentation.

What's better than a charcuterie board? ›

Hot Dog Board

You can load the board with delicious sides like fresh fruit and salad but you'll also want to toss in many delicious toppings too. Some great toppings include classics like ketchup, mustard, and relish but you can get creative too by offering toppings like chili, cheese, fried onions, and beyond!

Are charcuterie boards still in style? ›

Charcuterie boards may be hot right now, but they also have staying power. That's partly because the variety of artisanal meats, cheeses and accoutrements available is endless, meaning platters can be switched up frequently so there's always something new for guests to sample.

What is the 3 3 3 3 rule for charcuterie board? ›

What is the 3-3-3-3 Rule for Charcuterie Boards? No matter the style of the wood charcuterie board, you can always follow the 3-3-3-3 rule. Every charcuterie board should have three meats, three cheeses, three starch options, and three accompaniments, such as fruit, nuts, or veggies.

What are 5 things to avoid on a charcuterie board? ›

5 Mistakes You are Making on Your Charcuterie Board
  • Peppers: Whether green, red, or yellow, peppers are best avoided. ...
  • Tricky vegetables: Namely, tomatoes or Asparagus. ...
  • Jalapeno stuffed olives (or anything too spicy): Very hot foods simply don't work well with most wines, and they can overwhelm your taste buds.

What is the most popular charcuterie board size? ›

Ryan Culver, a co-founder of Platterful, a premade charcuterie board business, recommends ​​a board that is 12 x 8 for a more standard charcuterie board. If you are looking for something bigger or to feed a larger crowd, a board around 20 x 12 inches should do the trick.

Does Costco do charcuterie boards? ›

That said, you're sure to have some leftovers from a Costco charcuterie board, so make sure to choose foods you won't mind snacking on in the coming days. Here's what I picked to serve a party of 12 and why.

How many cheeses for charcuterie board for 20 guests? ›

Plan for about 1-2 ounces of cheese per person. As with your meat selections, have your cheese sliced thin (at a 1-2 thickness) to make layering easier. If you'd like to incorporate cheese cubes, or have guests cut their own pieces, have those sliced at an 8-10 thickness.

What is replacing charcuterie boards? ›

In place of the cheese and meats on a charcuterie board, a butter board is softened butter spread out on a wooden board and then covered in herbs to serve over bread.

What are the best 3 cheeses for a charcuterie board? ›

Here's some of the best cheese for charcuterie boards: Hard cheese: chunks of parmesan, aged gouda, asiago. Firm cheese: gruyere, comte, manchego, colby, cheddar. Semi-soft cheese: havarti, butterkäse, muenster.

What is the fancy name for a charcuterie board? ›

No matter what you call it, meat and cheese tray, cheese platter, charcuterie board or even the silly moniker 'shark-cuterie', the fact remains it's a delicious snack, appetizer or gift. These specially curated boards are essentially artwork that you can eat.

What is the latest trend in charcuterie boards? ›

These boards are no longer confined to traditional European flavors. Instead, consumers are embracing global flavors and fusion charcuterie boards that feature diverse ingredients and seasonings. To stay on-trend, it's crucial to explore international spices, herbs, and ingredients.

How do you make a charcuterie board look fancy? ›

Charcuterie Board Styling Tips & Tricks
  1. Consult the guest list. ...
  2. Work with uneven numbers. ...
  3. Keep organized. ...
  4. Start with your bowls or round shapes. ...
  5. Next, move on to your biggest pieces and arrange by category. ...
  6. Avoid same category items touching. ...
  7. Move and adjust as you go. ...
  8. Fill final empty spaces with nuts.
Nov 24, 2021

How do you calculate charcuterie board per person? ›

Plan for about 1-2 ounces of meat per person. At the deli counter, ask for your meat selections to be sliced thin (at a 1-2 thickness) so they're easy to layer.

How much charcuterie do I need for 50 guests? ›

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.

How much charcuterie do I need for 25 guests? ›

Meats: Two to three slices of meat, or approximately 2 to 3 ounces per person should satisfy your guests ahead of the rest of the meal. Per-pound prices might give you sticker shock, but many are best sliced wafer thin, so a few ounces go a long way.

How big of a charcuterie board for 30 people? ›

Here is the estimated amount of an ideal charcuterie per person serving: 2-3 oz meat, 4-5 sliced cheeses, and fewer additional accompaniments while presenting as an appetizer. 5-6 oz meat, 6-7 sliced cheeses, and plenty of additional accompaniments while serving as an entire meal.

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