11 Best Charcuterie Boards for Every Single One of Your Hosting Needs
Everyone will know you're officially an adult now.
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Ahh, the charcuterie board: Signifier that you are, in fact, a grown-up person with bills to pay (and maybe you just celebrated your 25th birthday in style, tbh). Instead of a dorm party, you're hosting ~fancy~ wine and cheese soirées, with an exceptional serving board to match. And it's a cool platter that you can serve when you wanna impress your dinner guests. It can also just be a fancy cutting board that you're repurposing, tbh. Turns out this household item is rlly versatile—trust me.
Now, these boards don't just have to just be for charcuterie items. As my friend and eating-related ~expert~ Amanda Mitchell once said, "snack boards" can be whatever you want them to be (including, yes, candy and goldfish crackers). But if you're adhering strictly to the rules of this special kitchen item, we're talkin' cheese, cured meats, nuts, and fruits to name a few—or, if it's just cheeses, congrats bc you now have a cheese board. More about all that at the end of this post.
So how do you find one that is cool enough to go with your very adult decor, durable enough for people to cut some hard cheese for their crackers, and inexpensive enough to, you know, not use up your entire paycheck? We gotchu!
Our top picks for the best charcuterie boards in 2022:
So ahead, here are the coolest, most creative charcuterie boards that will absolutely have your guests raving about your taste in decor and food, thank you very much.
Stedware Charcuterie Board
Pros
- works for all kinds of food
Cons
- heavy
Break out this bb when you need the charcuterie board that does it all. You've got the foldaway shelves with slicing tools, the white ceramic bowls for dip, and literal grooves for crackers to fit neatly. Multifunctionality personified.
Glowing Review: "The quality is perfect and it comes with everything needed to put together an amazing charcuterie board —the knives, the little rectangular bowls, as well as the round board which I used for nuts, pretzels and chocolate covered almonds. It's well crafted and the best part is that the side pieces can be tucked away under the main board for easy storage. Clean up was also a breeze!"
GlobeIn Charcuterie Board with Cheese Knives
GlobeIn Charcuterie Board with Cheese Knives
Pros
- sustainable and fair trade
Cons
- not for every event
This lil handmade board has the utensils literally stored inside it. So while it might not fit all the snacks you have prepped for a big party, it's perfect for a picnic or ~small and intimate~ gathering.
Glowing Review: "This is perfect for small get togethers, perfect for cheese and fruit, and I love how the utensils store inside it."
GrandpaKensWorkshop Black Walnut Board With Handles
GrandpaKensWorkshop Black Walnut Board With Handles
Pros
- each one is unique
Cons
- not as easy to store
For something to satisfy larger groups, get this huuuuge board made up of black walnut that literally came from the side of the tree. It's finished with wax and super-durable in addition to just bein' pretty.
Glowing Review: "Absolutely in love with this board! It came in time for a family birthday party so of course we had to put it to use! Beautiful board and plenty of space for everything we wanted. The handles are an amazing finishing touch and make it easy to prep in the kitchen then move to the hosting space. Thrilled with this purchase!!"
Uncommon Goods Recycled Wine Bottle Platter with Spreader
Uncommon Goods Recycled Wine Bottle Platter with Spreader
Pros
- glossy and gorgeous
Cons
- small surface area
I mean, the best way to get the party started is by serving your food on flattened wine bottles so your guests are in the mood before they take their first sip. Oh yes, and these are recycled and come in different colors!
Glowing Review: "Bought two of these for friends as gifts. It was so beautiful[ly] made! The board itself is gorgeous but the cork, which is the spreader, was an exciting hidden feature! The note from the artisan with its story was cool to read."
Mud Pie Ceramic Charcuterie Board
Pros
- fun conversation-starter
Cons
- needs to be hand washed
I mean. How fun is this?? There are a few kinds of labeled charcuterie boards (like the ones that literally tell you where to put certain foods) but this one also has puns. You and your guests will never wonder what's on your magnificent board!
Latitude Run Jalbert Transforming Cheese Board
Latitude Run Jalbert Transforming Cheese Board
Pros
- space-saving
Cons
- doesn't lock in place
This modular cheese tray folds up to the size of a pie slice when you're not using it (particularly useful if you don't have a ton of space). Then it folds out to a circle with two knives for serving when you wanna break it out.
Glowing Review: "This board was better than I expected (so much so that I immediately went back and ordered 2 more)! The quality is good and I love the bamboo."
Uncommon Goods Personalized Record Cutting Board
Uncommon Goods Personalized Record Cutting Board
Pros
- totally unique
Cons
- delicate
This reproduction of an LP record (made up of tempered glass) is also customizable and comes with a stand when you're not using it. It's technically a cutting board, but reviewers say it's utterly perfect for passing out food at parties.
Glowing Review: "Friends loved this gift! On display as art and to serve cheese and crackers."
West Elm Preston Marble & Wood Cheese Boards
Pros
- can hang it up
Cons
- delicate material
Marble can stain easily and be tricky to clean, which is why it's nice to get a hybrid version: The crackers and other dry, non-acidic goods can be laid on the white part, then the wet and acidic food can go on the wood. Or, just keep the white bare as an accent.
Our Place Walnut Cutting Board
Pros
- multifunctional
Cons
- needs to be very carefully cleaned
This is technically a cutting board/charcuterie board hybrid with a juice trench that pulls away stray liquid from the food you're working with. Basically, you can cut up your goodies, then carry it out and serve it immediately to guests.
Glowing Review: "I am obsessed with this cutting board. I love using it as a serving board as well for charcuterie. It's beautiful and sturdy."
DoneGood Jude Cheese Board
Pros
- ethically made
Cons
- small
This is simple and rustic, but the beauty's in the story here: Artisans in Haiti make these boards by hand, making a living wage in a safe working environment. Each one is unique-looking, and the board's still affordable!
Home Essentials Agate Cheeseboard
Pros
- eye-catching
Cons
- need to be careful when cleaning
Agate's a pretty durable stone, and this one is a gorgeous gray with gilded edges. So your food will pop against the sparkly, sparkly material (and if this doesn't work with your vibe, it comes in other colors like white and blue).
What wood is best for a charcuterie board?
If you're picking a charcuterie board that's wood, you'll wanna go with a harder, non-porous option: pine, cedar, teak, cherry, hard maple, and even olive wood (which looks natural and super-pretty), to name a few. You can also use bamboo, marble, and slate (which is black and a v specific aesthetic) or a more standard "dish" material like glass or ceramic. Think sturdy, aesthetically pleasing, and easy enough to clean—more on that in a second.
What is usually on a charcuterie board?
It's totally up to you: If you want to go fun and surprising, pick snack foods that go together, but you might not normally find matched up—from seaweed snacks and rice crackers to gummy bears and starbursts. But if you want the *authentic experience*, it's usually some combo of cheeses (usually separating out the hard. semi-hard, and soft), cured meats, pickled veggies, olives, nuts, crackers or bread or other starch, jelly or jam or some kind of preserve, and dried and/or fresh fruits.
Pick foods that look good together and taste good together—in which case it might be helpful to go to a cheese shop and butcher, or the cheese and meat sections of your organic grocery store, to ask lots of questions.
How do you keep a charcuterie board clean?
It depends on the material. If you're using wood, check to see if the material is "sealed" with wax, otherwise, you might want to apply some to make it more durable. Don't soak the boards in water (because they might crack) and instead use salt and lemon juice or white vinegar and baking soda to remove bacteria and leftover smells.
Do you oil wooden charcuterie boards? Depending on the material, you can, but don't worry, bb: It's less complicated than it sounds. Wipe oil (mineral, hemp, flaxseed) on a dry, clean board, wait 24 hours, then wipe off any excess oil. You can also add some food-grade wax each time you do that if you want to keep things *super* pristine.
If you're gonna go full marble, know that acid can stain it (and it might pick up some discoloration over time) that might require either a household detergent or hydrogen peroxide and ammonia. Use a neutral cleaner or buy a stone cleaner, and pay attention to the food that's on it. For slate, use a gentle washcloth or sponge (nothing with bristles) and warm water. For bamboo, you can clean it in a similar way to wooden boards. For glass or ceramic, clean like a regular plate—but maybe handwash it, since it's a prized possession, k?
Here's how we chose all these cute selects.
Cosmo's team is constantly curating the internet to bring you the best, most relevant options like it's our job (because it is, heh).
We have pretty high standards when it comes to recommendations. Each of our shopping articles adheres to the 15 Percent Pledge. And you better believe we read those product reviews (and test many of the brands IRL) so you don't have to. You're welcome!
Katherine J Igoe (she/her) was a contributing editor for Cosmopolitan and is a freelancer covering style, lifestyle, culture, and beauty (she's obsessed with gift guides, best-of movie lists, and beauty products). She's been a freelance writer and editor for over a decade, previously working for Marie Claire (2018 to 2021) and Bustle (2021), with bylines in the The New York Times, Parents magazine, and elsewhere. She lives in Boston with her family, and you can follow her on Instagram or Twitte. It's "I go to dinner," not "Her huge ego," but she responds to both.
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