How to Build a Red, White & Blue Summer Charcuterie Board

Looking for the perfect summer appetizer or side dish? Get the details on how to make the most Patriotic Red, White and Blue Summer Charcuterie Board. This make ahead summer recipe will be the hit of your next BBQ or celebration!

I can hardly believe that Memorial Day weekend is finally here. Even though the kids will have school for another week after the holiday, it still feels like the kick off to summer! The weather is not looking so great for this year’s Memorial celebrations, but we will still push on with some BBQs and outdoor fun! Maybe we will have better weather for the 4th of July!

This year, I have been having a lot of fun making holiday themed charcuterie boards! It is the perfect appetizer to feed a crowd or even to make for easy family dinner. When you throw a platter together of everyone’s favorite finger foods, you are sure to please even the pickiest eaters. It is an even better idea for summer when you don’t want to turn on the oven! Make up a big platter and serve it to your family for dinner (that is what we did!)

Charcuterie boards have always seemed a little intimidating to make–between the cost of all the ingredients and just the assembly of all the items to make it look nice! But, I think I’m getting the charcuterie board formula figured out. I try to keep it as easy as possible.

I’ve got a few tips and tricks to share for making your own Charcuterie appetizer and I’ll share my Red, White & Blue themed appetizer platter!!

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How to Assemble a Charcuterie Board

First, you need to decide what type of platter or tray you will be using for your Charcuterie board. I have used many different sizes and types of serving pieces. It really depends on how big of a crowd you will be feeding and how many different items you want to have on your appetizer board.

For this most recent summer Charcuterie board, I decided to look for a new serving piece. I have a lot of oval and round platters, but I wanted a rectangle shape (to mimic a flag). You can easily find a lot of options at  stores like Marshalls and Homegoods.

I stopped at Marshalls last week and there were a TON of options to choose from.

Loved this round cheese board but it was a little smaller than what I was looking for.

This very large cutting board was only $12.99! Very similar option available HERE.

Besides cutting boards, platters and trays, you could even use a large sheet pan! It can be nice to have a platter that has a rim around it so things do not fall off.

What to Include on a Charcuterie Board

Once you have decided on a serving piece, it is time to brainstorm what kinds of items you want to include on your cheese board! If you are going for a theme (like a fun movie night or party) or with a holiday twist, then you will want to consider foods that fit that category.

Think about themed foods that fit in these categories:

• Crackers
• Cheeses
• Bread (Pita or Baguettes are good options!)
• Meats
• Fruit (Fresh or Dried)
• Veggies
• Nuts & Seeds
• Chocolate or Other Candy
• Dips or Hummus

Arranging the Cheese Board

Once you have gathered all of your ingredients it is time to assemble the appetizer! I like to set some of the items on the platter to get an idea of where to I’ll put everything. Sometimes it helps to see everything all together so you can realize if you are missing any ingredients.

Once you are ready to do the assembling,  just starting putting items on the board and adjust as you see necessary. It is an art not a science, so you can not go wrong! The best kind of “recipe” is one that you can not mess up!

Red, White and Blue Summer Charcuterie Appetizer

To make this appetizer Memorial Day and 4th of July themed, I looked for red, white and blue foods! It is not too hard to get a mix of snacks and treats that fits this theme.

Some fun red, white and blue appetizer ideas include:

Blue corn chips and red salsa

Fresh fruit including strawberries, raspberries and blueberries

Red and blue candy like M & Ms and licorice

Fruit filled cheeses

Dried Fruit (Strawberries or Cranberries)

Jelly or Marmalade

White marshmallows

Beef Jerky

In order to add variety to your summer charcuterie board, you can certainly include items that are not red, white or blue.You can add in crackers, nuts and cheeses. I used an apricot preserve since we had on hand, and it was a perfect summer flavor!

For most charcuterie boards I add in meats like prosciutto or pepperoni, but in thinking about summer time appetizers (that hold up well in heat), I limited the meats and cheeses too.

Think about what type of crowd you are serving. Is it just for your family or guests? Are you serving kids or just adults? Since, I was serving this to my family, I leaned towards more kid friendly options. Honestly, the possibilities are endless.

While my family was enjoying this snack platter for dinner, we came up with even more fun and festive ideas. My Red, White and Blue appetizer board is just an inspiration as I am sure you can come up with even bigger and better ideas!

More Charcuterie Board Ideas

In case you want to see more charcuterie board inspiration, you can check out my other themed platters!

Easter Theme

Winter/Super Bowl Party 

Valentine’s Date Night In Cheese Board

I’ve got more ideas for  Memorial Day/4th of July themed including recipes, decor and activities over on Pinterest! 

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What are your plans for Memorial Day weekend? Perhaps you can bring this easy, make ahead appetizer to your Memorial Day, 4th of July or any summer gathering!