How to Build a Charcuterie Board with Zephyr Foods

Charcuterie boards are great for feeding a crowd. Since we aren't really gathering together much right now, though, have you thought about building a charcuterie board to bring a little fun to your next family meal? It's an exciting way to get out of the rut you may be feeling from cooking at home all summer. 

One key to building a charcuterie board is making sure you have all the elements you love. For us, we like to have a mix of meats, cheeses, grains, fruits or veggies, and some relishes, dips, spreads or sauces. The best thing about building a charcuterie board for your next family meal is you can customize it to your family's likes. It's a fun way to gather around the table together and still let everyone use their creativity to build a plate full of the goodies they choose! Today we are sharing some of our favorite tips and ideas for building a stellar charcuterie board.

Since it is a charcuterie board, of course we center our builds around quality items from Zephyr Foods. Four flavors of Zephyr Foods all natural, smoked sausages (coming soon!) gives you lots of versatility for building a charcuterie board. Their smoky, spicy flavor profiles are a delicious compliment to sharp, tangy cheeses and sweet dips and spreads. Throw in some pickled vegetables or briny olives to level up your charcuterie board. Round it out with crackers or crusty bread of your choice.

And, of course, we use our flavorful 1 Source ground beef. You might be thinking, how do I make ground beef the star of my charcuterie board? Two of our favorite ways to use 1 Source ground beef as the perfect center – meatballs and sliders! There are so many paths you can take with these two options. Build a charcuterie board around a cuisine or flavor, like Italian, Greek or some southwest flare. Doing a pizza or burger night? Build a charcuterie board that lets your family choose their toppings and trimmings from a super fun presentation. Meat, cheese, fruits or veggies, pickles and sauces – you need them all to build a pizza or burger, why not throw them on a charcuterie board and let your family have at it!

Finally, don't feel limited in when you choose to build a charcuterie board. When you think of building a charcuterie board, you might think of them as more fitting for snack or dinner time. But charcuterie boards are also great for breakfast, brunch and lunch! Can you say, hello pancake charcuterie board? Below are some of our favorite ways to build a charcuterie board at different times of the day

Breakfast/Brunch

• Pancake charcuterie board: slice smoked sausages or sage-spiced meatballs; gruyere and goat cheeses; pancakes or waffles (try different sizes – mini pancakes are a hit with kids!); maple syrup; and sliced fruit. 
• Breakfast sandwich charcuterie board: ground beef sliders and a stack of fried eggs; cheddar and pepper jack cheeses; a mix of biscuits, pancakes and rolls; sliced tomatoes and avocados; and your favorite jam. 

Lunch/Dinner

• Smoked Sausage Charcuterie Board 
• Pizza charcuterie board: ground beef crumbles or meatballs; mozzarella, parmesan and other Italian cheeses, grated or sliced; a mix of sauteed veggies, such as tomatoes, peppers, onions and mushrooms; a variety of olives; fresh torn basil; and tomato and alfredo sauces with some olive oil and vinegar for drizzling. 
• Slider charcuterie board: ground beef sliders; a mix of cheeses your family loves; yeast and Hawaiian rolls; condiments of your choice; caramelized onions and mushrooms; a variety of pickles. 
• Meatball charcuterie board: ground beef meatballs; grilled French bread; pickled onions and asparagus; beer cheese and horseradish sauce; and fig and strawberry jams. 

Let us know when and how you plan to build your next charcuterie board – we can't wait to see your creativity!