This Delicious & Healthy Charcuterie Board is a great holiday appetizer idea with low-calorie and protein-packed ingredients.
Ingredients and substitutions
- Hard-boiled eggs – use tofu for a vegan option.
- Smoked turkey – swap out for another meat of your choice like prosciutto, chicken and more.
- Salami – see substitution notes above.
- Smoked cheddar cheese – substitute for another cheese like mozzarella, Swiss or Gouda.
- Brie – see substitution notes above.
- Mini bocconcini cheese balls – see substitution notes above.
- Fresh basil – arugula would be good too.
- Cherry tomatoes – plum or grape tomatoes can be used instead.
- Mixed olives – swap out for capers or artichoke hearts instead.
- Pickles – use any kind of pickles you like.
- Persimmon – plums or figs would be yummy too.
- Grapes – try adding some berries like raspberries or strawberries.
- Pomegranate – substitute for dry fruit like dried cranberries or apricots.
- Celery – carrots will provide a similar level of crunch.
- Bell pepper – or another veggie of your choice.
- Zucchini – see substitution notes above.
- Hummus – tahini would also be good.
- Antipasto – use any spread you’d like.
How to make a charcuterie board
- Assemble your meats.
- Prep your cheeses.
- Cut up the fruit.
- Put the olives and pickles in bowls.
- Choose your spreads.
- Serve and enjoy!
What to put on a charcuterie board
You can put pretty much whatever you want on a charcuterie board! The ingredients listed in the recipe card below are all healthy options but feel free to mix and match with whatever you’re craving.
Here are some great ideas on what to add to your charcuterie board:
- Meats: I like to go with a variety of lean proteins like shaved smoked turkey, beef jerky and beef salami.
- Cheeses: Usually a hard cheese alongside a soft cheese is the way to go. Popular options include smoked cheddar, brie, bocconcini, mozzarella, Swiss, goat cheese or gouda.
- Fresh fruits and veggies: Celery, bell peppers and carrots are all good vegetable options while figs, pomegranate and persimmons are tasty fruits.
- Flavour boosters: Pickles, olives, fresh herbs and mixed nuts are all great ways to add different flavour profiles to your board!
- Dips: I LOVE hummus, and with the different flavours available these days you can grab a couple different ones for variety. I also like to get a spicy antipasto but a roasted red pepper dip or even a spinach dip works too.
Frequently Asked Questions
A charcuterie board is a popular appetizer or snack idea. It’s basically a combination of a variety of different cheeses, meats, fruits, veggies and spreads served on a board or a platter for nibbling. You can customize it however you like and it’s a great option for holiday parties!
Prosciutto tends to be one of the most popular meats on a charcuterie board, but it tends to be super salty, so it’s not the healthiest option. I like making my charcuterie board with shaved smoked turkey, beef jerky and beef salami – you’ll still get plenty of protein and flavour but without the high sodium or calorie count.
The total calorie count will vary, but if you use all the ingredients as listed for this recipe, there should be about 304 calories per serving.
Storing components of this recipe
If you’re making this charcuterie board for a holiday party or gathering, you can save time the day-of by prepping a lot of your ingredients beforehand. Cut up the cheeses and meats if necessary, make any spreads and divide everything out into the proper serving sizes. That way, all you have to do the day of is assemble everything on the board and cut up the fresh fruit!
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More healthy appetizer ideas
Meal prep tools for this recipe
- Use these Ziploc bag holders if you’re cutting the vegetables in advance.
- Pick up a charcuterie board if you don't already have one.
Delicious & Healthy Charcuterie Board
Ingredients
- 4 hard-boiled eggs
- 1 package deli-style smoked turkey
- 1 package deli-style salami
- 1 package smoked cheddar cheese
- 1 package brie
- 1 container mini bocconcini cheese balls
- 1 package fresh basil
- 1 container Cherry tomatoes
- 1 cup mixed olives
- 1 jar pickles (cornichons)
- 1 persimmon, sliced
- 1 bunch grapes
- 1 pomegranate, cut open
- 2 celery stalks, julienned
- 1/2 each red and yellow pepper, julienned
- 1 zucchini, sliced on a diagonal
- 2 packages hummus (I got roasted garlic and beet flavours)
- 1 jar antipasto
Instructions
- Assemble all ingredients on a large wood board with small bowls for the ingredients like olives, pickles and dips. Include cutlery for cheeses and arrange in a manner so that guests can pick and choose different snacks from the board. To make caprese bites, add cherry tomatoes, basil and bocconcini cheese on toothpicks and add to board. Serve and enjoy!
Comments & Reviews
Wilma says
Love this to feed to my MEAT eating Protrein friends.
For my other friends wanting to keep their 60,000 miles of blood vessels clear of plaque (.we are each created with that amount of blood circulating blood vessels.- FACT -!!!!! – enough to wrap around the world twice and a bit) – .I prepare a PLANT BASED.Protein charcuterie board.
NO need to say anything – as they spot the difference.
Thank you for the ideas for my MEAT eater friends though.
Merry Christmas and Happy Healthy New Year.
Wilma
M says
I do make this type of board 2 or 3 times a week. I go to the deli and order 2 types of meat but only 2 slices of each. I also order about 2 inches of salami sliced. Usually pick 3 types of cheese in the same proportions as the salami. whatever fruit is fresh and on sale that I can eat for a few days. And I buy the $10 container of peeled and sectioned grapefruit(that lasts me almost 2 weeks) There are a few stores that sell singles of veg so I go there and buy just enough for me of 3 different ones. Pickles. Sometimes Triscuts or Mini Wheats Make a tray in a pyrex dish with a lid. if I dont eat it all I put the lid on(triscuts or wheats out)put it in the fridge and finish tomorrow. I’m single so this way I dont have to cook, I dont over eat and if I come across some cool food I wanna add I can. Like those parmesan crisps at Whole Foods. or kumquats, tamatillos, A little vino on Sundays. And that’s my Charcuterie.
Taylor Stinson says
That sounds like an amazing selection!!! YUM!