Cheesegiving: The Thanksgiving Charcuterie Meal Board

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Updated 2023.

thanksgiving charcuterie board ideas for thanksgiving

Whether you’re spending Thanksgiving with family or celebrating Turkey Day on your own, this board is the easiest way to enjoy all the flavors of a full feast without all the cooking, hassle, or clean up. For bigger groups, it serve more as a grazing board or appetizer. People love grazing for meals because they can customize their plate, come back for all the different flavor pairings, and it prolongs the duration of the meal.

For more festive fall boards, check out my Thanksgiving Turkey Board, Turkey Shaped Cheese Ball, Thanksgiving Cheese and Dessert BoardThanksgiving Kids Snack BoardFall Dessert BoardFall Harvest BoardElevated Fall Cheese BoardFall Burrata BoardPumpkin Cheese Ball, and Caramel Apple Board.

What’s On My Thanksgiving Charcuterie Board?

To be honest this board is very cheese-centric. What else did you expect from me!? I’ve officially started calling the holiday Cheesegiving! Jokes aside, I made sure this board is full of the flavors and ingredients you’d find on a traditional Thanksgiving spread, just with a cheese board twist on them. Let’s take it section by section below.

easy thanksgiving charcuterie board platter

Start with the Cheese

As you know from my Cheese Board 101, it’s best to choose a mix of hard and soft cheeses. I leave the soft cheeses in tact and pre-cut the hard cheese to make it easier for guests to grab a slice.

  • Mimolette is the bright orange cheese that really pops on the board, giving it an especially autumnal feel. It’s an aged hard cheese with a sharp bold flavor and hints of butterscotch. This is one of my favorite french cheeses, as seen on my French Cheese Board. I tend to use it on many Fall boards because of the pretty color, including my Thanksgiving Cheese & Dessert Board
  • Brie is easily the most popular French Cheese. It’s universally loved and commonly referred to as “The King of Cheeses.” It’s a very soft cheese, spreadable on almost any vessel. It’s creamy texture and mellow flavor will go well paired with almost anything else on the board. If you wanted to do a cut-out with a mini brie wheel (also here), the sky’s the limit!
  • Comte is another hard cheese that is mild but bold in flavor. It has sweet, nutty notes. I added a leaf shape cut-out (with a cookie cutter, same as I have on some kids boards) of the Comte for an extra boost of Fall flair! 
  • Bleu d’Auvergne is a pungent blue that goes really well with fresh fruit and sweet flavors. 

PRO TIP: I use the Cheeses of Europe app to figure out which delicious french cheese will go best with the rest of my ingredients. It helps you focus on 4 different types of cheeses: Mild, Medium, Bold & Blue. Plus has beverage pairings for each and a pronunciation guide so I can feel legit when I talk about cheese.  In fact, it set me straight on Comte (properly pronounced kon-TAY, whereas I was saying kom-TEE).

how to make a thanksgiving charcuterie board

Evoking the Thanksgiving Tastes

The Turkey

  • I love these deli turkey skewers as a replacement for cooking a whole bird. Doing turkey this way creates loads of opportunity for adding your own additives and alternatives.
  • To build these pretty turkey kebobs, peel off the bottom leaves from a rosemary sprig. Then use the twig-like stem to  pop on a cranberry for the beginnings of our cute little meat sticks 😉 From there you want to grab a piece of turkey, fold it in half, then slowly roll in into a pretty cone.
  •  You could substitute turkey meatballs instead of deli turkey. Add prosciutto, or salami to your spread (or both!). Or find a plant-based meat alternative to put out for the veggie-friendly folks. 

The Carbs

  • I added a few baguette slices to the board. While crackers are usually my jam, I figured that toasted french bread would more easily evoke the feelings of the holiday. It’s NO Stuffing, but makes the rest of the meal feel complete. I always have more in a bowl off to the side. Substitute, or add crackers or pretzels to the mix if you prefer. 
  • Maple leaf cookies are a fantastic way to make this board feel like a special Fall treat. Plus they are super yummy and pair well with the fruit and cheese. 
thanksgiving board idea cheese platter

The Produce

  • Add fruit that’s in season—in November grapes, pears, apples, persimmons, pomegranates, cranberries. They will taste better and be more affordable. Fruit is a great way to add more colors to your board. 
  • I love adding dark purple grapes to Fall boards. They are a great seasonal fruit and the rich dark color is a perfect addition to the spread. 
  • In lieu of my typical olives, i made it a mission to find The pickled veggies on this board really kick it up a notch. I have both pickled green beans and pickled brussel sprouts. The pickle flavor adds a tart acidity which breaks up the rich flavors of the meat, cheese, and bread. 
  • Where I would usually put honey, I substituted cranberry jam (so Thanksgiving!) and these adorable sugared cranberries to the board. Alternatives to these include dried cranberries, the classic cranberry jelly from a can, or make a very simple cranberry relish

The Accoutrements

  • Place mini pumpkins and gourds on the board or interspersed with your table spread. I love #BoardsWithGourds because they add the perfect Autumnal touch. Make sure to place these on the board first with larger scale items first (like anything in a ramekin and large blocks of cheese). 
  • Nuts! I’ve included candied pecans here. Other nuts that would be great include walnuts, almonds, hazelnuts, or chestnuts. 
  • As always, add a garnish to your board. I chose fresh rosemary sprigs pinned into whole raw cranberries. You could also add pomegranate seeds, or thyme sprigs. 
easy thanksgiving meal charcuterie board

Make This Thanksgiving Platter Extra Festive 

You really can’t go wrong with how you build this meal board. All of the ingredients should pair fairly well together in an updated version of a traditional Thanksgiving meal. 

Choose your items within the Fall color palette: orange, yellow, red, and purple are my favorite this time of year. 

Above all make sure you’ve included the items you really love. Thanksgiving is all about celebrating with the ones you love, whether you’re in the same room or eating cheese boards over a Zoom call. 

If you have young kids to feed too, make them their own kids snack board

Show Me Your Thanksgiving Boards

Every family has special traditions for Thanksgiving, I want to see how you interpret this meal board idea. If you make a Thanksgiving Meal Board please tag me at @ainttoooproudtomeg so I can see and share!

And, If you liked this board recipe, please rate & review.

Thanksgiving charcuterie

Cheesegiving: The Thanksgiving Meal Board

5 from 34 votes

Description

Get all the flavors you love on this Thanksgiving cheese platter. It’s easy entertaining!

Ingredients
  

Cheese

  • Brie
  • Mimolette sliced
  • Comte sliced with one cut into a maple leaf
  • Bleu d'Auvergne sliced

Meat

  • Turkey deli meat "kebabs"

Carbs

  • Baguette sliced

Produce

  • Mini orange pumpkin
  • Grapes
  • Raspberries

Accouterment

  • Cranberry jam
  • Candied pecans (Or roasted chestnuts)
  • Pickled Green beans
  • Pickled Brussels sprouts

Garnish

  • Rosemary sprigs
  • Sugared cranberries
  • Cranberries

Instructions

  • Add the cranberry jam, sugared cranberries, pickled green beans, and pickled Brussels sprouts to separate small bowls. Place the bowls, brie wedge, and mini pumpkin on the board first to anchor it.
  • Fan the Mimolette and baguette around two of the bowls and fan the Bleu d'Auvergne around another bowl. Add the Comte to the board.
  • Peel off the bottom leaves from rosemary sprigs, then use the twig-like stem to kebab a cranberry. Roll or fold the turkey slices and add one to each rosemary kebab. Add to the board.
  • Fill in the board with pecans, grapes, and raspberries. Add maple cookies and garnish with rosemary.
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Recipe Rating




40 Reviews

  1. Brianna wrote:

    5 stars
    Amazing!

    Posted 12.3.20 Reply
  2. ShelbyV wrote:

    5 stars
    Love! Yum. ????????????????⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

    Posted 12.3.20 Reply
  3. rillrobiz wrote:

    5 stars
    Loved the baby pumpkin in the middle–it was such a cute idea, I ended up putting two on one of my fall boards!

    Posted 12.3.20 Reply
  4. Kelly wrote:

    5 stars
    I love entertaining and this blog is my go to first stop for ideas!

    Posted 12.3.20 Reply
  5. Kelly wrote:

    5 stars
    Love love love the symmetry of this one and the sugared cranberries! Such a good idea ???????? And such a unique way to use them!!

    Posted 12.3.20 Reply
  6. Miranda wrote:

    5 stars
    These are so inspirational! Can’t wait to try one out this holiday season! ????????

    Posted 12.3.20 Reply
  7. Rebecca wrote:

    5 stars
    ????????????????????????????????????????

    Posted 12.3.20 Reply
  8. R wrote:

    I made this board for thanksgiving (after watching the chibo class) and was so proud of the way it turned out!! My family DEVOURED it!! Thank you so much for sharing your gift with all of us!

    Posted 12.3.20 Reply
  9. Christiana Mann wrote:

    5 stars
    This looks amazing and I so so want to make this for my family ????????????

    Posted 12.3.20 Reply
  10. Tiffany wrote:

    5 stars
    Lovvveeeee it all✨

    Posted 12.3.20 Reply
  11. Courtney Wells wrote:

    I adore your Instagram and a charcuterie lover! Your stuff is the bomb and Draper Kitty makes my day. I love your wit and charm as well. Congrats on all your meat n’ cheese success!!

    Posted 12.3.20 Reply
  12. Sarah Tessmann wrote:

    5 stars
    I love all your boards but this one is especially beautiful! The sugared cranberries were such a great idea too!

    Posted 12.3.20 Reply
  13. Mika wrote:

    5 stars
    Such great ideas to be incorporated for the holidays!

    Posted 12.3.20 Reply
  14. Emily wrote:

    5 stars
    I love the look of all of your boards. I always wonder how many people get to enjoy them with you.

    Posted 12.3.20 Reply
  15. Rachel victoreen wrote:

    5 stars
    Love this Thanksgiving board! The cookie cutter leaf shaped cheese and turkey “kebabs” are genius. Not to mention that I am obsessed with pickled green beans. Thanks Meg!

    Posted 12.3.20 Reply
  16. Jessica wrote:

    5 stars
    Love this one. Well really all your boards ????????

    Posted 12.3.20 Reply
  17. Samantha wrote:

    5 stars
    I love love love your holiday boards! Always so inspirational! Thank you.

    Posted 12.3.20 Reply
  18. Abby wrote:

    5 stars
    Wish we had been able to do this for thanksgiving!! But a Christmas board may be in my future! Your boards are so beautiful, and you’re very talented!! ????

    Posted 12.3.20 Reply
  19. Lourdes wrote:

    5 stars
    Absolutely stunning!

    Posted 12.3.20 Reply
  20. Jane McGregor wrote:

    5 stars
    Hi Meg, this really hits all the notes of a special shared meal without the hassle of the full meal prep involved with the traditional holiday dinner — especially important this year when many of us are having much pared down celebrations. I’ve been trying to plan some ways to make our Christmas still special this year even tho my husband and I will be alone and knew that you’d have some pretty & tasty ideas! Thankyou!❤️

    Posted 12.3.20 Reply
  21. Dana wrote:

    5 stars
    Just gorgeous!

    Posted 12.3.20 Reply
  22. Greta wrote:

    5 stars
    So cool!

    Posted 12.3.20 Reply
  23. Taylor wrote:

    5 stars
    Love this board! I definitely tried the sugared cranberries in my own Thanksgiving board from your blog/Instagram post! It was a HIT!

    Posted 12.3.20 Reply
  24. Beth wrote:

    5 stars
    Forget the turkey, I’d rather eat this!

    Posted 12.3.20 Reply
  25. ashley marusak wrote:

    5 stars
    the pumpkin is such a cute touch!!!!

    Posted 12.3.20 Reply
  26. Jen wrote:

    5 stars
    This is the perfect board for company and was so easy!

    Posted 12.3.20 Reply
  27. DRN5117 wrote:

    5 stars
    Those sugared cranberries are SO good!

    Posted 12.3.20 Reply
  28. Mary H wrote:

    5 stars
    All your boards are creative. I love your posts On FB as well!

    Posted 12.3.20 Reply
  29. Marin wrote:

    5 stars
    What a helpful, detailed blog post! Thank you can’t wait to make this!

    Posted 12.3.20 Reply
  30. lauren zafris wrote:

    5 stars
    thank you for inspiring so many with your boards and making it easy to bring so much joy and fun to dinner parties and gatherings!

    Posted 12.3.20 Reply
  31. Shannon Moss-Vainer wrote:

    5 stars
    Love your work!

    Posted 12.3.20 Reply
  32. Astha Joshi wrote:

    Obsessed with your page!! Love the work!

    Posted 12.3.20 Reply
  33. Lindsay wrote:

    This is a great inspo! And also so cute the little cheese leaves!

    Posted 12.3.20 Reply
  34. Tina wrote:

    5 stars
    Used ideas from your two Thanksgiving boards. Tried mimolette cheese for the first time. Love the flavor & it’s bright orange color.

    Posted 12.4.20 Reply
  35. Sam wrote:

    5 stars
    Huge hit with the fam!

    Posted 12.21.20 Reply
  36. Jessica wrote:

    5 stars
    I love you so much!! Your boards are gorgeous and I am inspired by you❤️

    Posted 12.21.20 Reply
  37. 5 stars
    It was perfect, and I did not use bay leaves (don’t like them). Still the dish was amazing. And the gremolata….i love raw garlic and had no problem with it. Visit us: https://www.beckandbulow.com

    Posted 11.17.21 Reply
  38. Lynn wrote:

    5 stars
    Very beautiful and tasty looking. Very nice

    Posted 11.17.23 Reply