It’s party time, friends! We don’t know about you, but nothing says “party” to us more than an abundance of delicious, beautiful, and satisfying snacks — and nothing says “snacks” better than a charcuterie board!
When crafting this delectable display, we made sure to hit all the marks (salty, sweet, savory, and spicy!) while keeping it super versatile and approachable. It’s the MB way! This charcuterie board is plant-based but is sure to stun (and stuff) any eater you might invite. Just a few simple steps required to make this board of gastronomic goodness. Let us show you how it’s done!
What is a Charcuterie Board?
The word “charcuterie” is French and translates to meat (chair) and cooked (cuit). In France, a deli is called a charcuterie! While the process of curing meats like salami has existed for thousands of years, the charcuterie board as we know it today became popular in more recent decades for its snack-ability and snazzy style!
Because the word “charcuterie” literally refers to cured meats, a plant-based version might sound like a bit of an oxymoron, but trust us! This vegan version delivers the same satisfaction as any classic board!
How to Make a Vegan Charcuterie Board
So, how does one take a meat and cheese charcuterie and give it the plant-based spin? Well, friends, we discovered there are a few key flavors needed to get the perfect plate: salty, sweet, savory, and spicy (plus something for dipping)!
When combined, these elements make an irresistible and flavor-packed board! So we’ve compiled a guide to help you assemble all your flavor components with store-bought and homemade options included.
A good rule of thumb is to include at least one item from each category:
Salty – olives, pickles, tapenade, or quick pickled veggiesSweet – chocolate, candied nuts, fresh fruit, dates, or jamSavory – vegan cheese, hummus, or roasted chickpeasSpicy – vegan pepperoni, escabeche, or a spicy dipFor Dipping – crackers, bread, or veggies
Organizing your board in this way will give you an abundance of options and endless possibilities for flavor combinations. Once you know what you need it becomes super approachable and exciting. It’s a party for all your favorite goodies!
How to Arrange a Charcuterie Board
Once the snacks have been gathered, it’s time to make them pretty! The classic look involves a wooden tray or cutting board, but a baking sheet with parchment paper will also work! It’s also important that your board isn’t too big; you want all your snacks to look abundant, not sparse!
Once you’ve got your board, place your snacks on the board in order from largest to smallest. Start with any bowls or dishes (for snacks like olives and hummus), and space them out on the board so you can place smaller snacks in between!
Next, place your vegan cheese on the board before filling in the extra space with “loose” snacks, like veggies and crackers. Our favorite trick is to place stackable snacks (like cucumbers and pepperoni) in curves around the dishes!
Once assembled, all that’s left is to get your snack on!
We hope you LOVE this Vegan “Charcuterie” Board! It’s:
Salty & sweet
Savory & spicy
Super snack-able
Party approved
& SO gorgeous!
This board would be perfect as the centerpiece at your next party, as an appetizer before a holiday meal, or any time you’re in a snack-y mood!
More Appetizer Recipes
Cheesy Vegan Spinach and Artichoke Dip5-Minute Macadamia Cheese + Vegan CruditéVegan Parmesan and Herb Polenta Fries5-Minute Vegan Cashew Queso
If you try this recipe, let us know! Leave a comment, rate it, and don’t forget to tag a photo #minimalistbaker on Instagram. Cheers, friends!
How to Make a Vegan “Charcuterie” Board
A gorgeous vegan charcuterie board that’s salty, sweet, savory, and spicy! 100% plant-based and the perfect addition to your party table! Print SAVE SAVED
from votes Prep Time 30 minutes Total Time 30 minutes Servings 8 (People)Course AppetizerCuisine Gluten-Free (optional), VeganFreezer Friendly NoDoes it keep? 1-2 Days
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Ingredients
SALTY (choose 2-3)
OlivesOlive Tapenade (or store-bought)Salted roasted nuts (cashews, pistachios, almonds, pecans)Quick Pickled Veggies (or store-bought pickles or cornichons)
SWEET (choose 2-3)
Candied NutsOrange Thyme Jam (or store-bought)DatesFresh fruit of choice (strawberries, blackberries, green apple, peaches)Truffles or Chocolate (or store-bought dark chocolate)
SAVORY (choose 1-2)
Easy Garlic & Herb Vegan Cheese (we like Treeline for store-bought)Spicy Vegan Pimento Cheese BallHummus (or store-bought)Crispy Baked Chickpeas (or store-bought)
SPICY (choose 1-2)
Vegan PepperoniSpicy Pickled CauliflowerCharred Serrano White Bean Dip
FOR DIPPING (choose 2-3)
1-Bowl Vegan Gluten-Free Crackers (or store-bought)Bread of choiceFresh veggies of choice (carrots, radishes, green beans/peas, cucumber)
Instructions
Start by making your selections from each section (salty, sweet, savory, spicy, and for dipping). We chose the following for our board pictured above: Salty: olives and cornichons; Sweet: candied nuts, dates, and fresh fruit; Savory: spicy vegan pimento cheese ball and Treeline’s herb garlic soft cheese; Spicy: vegan pepperoni and charred serrano white bean dip; and For Dipping: Simple Mills almond flour crackers, Whole Foods gluten-free oat and seed crispbreads, rustic French bread, and fresh veggies! To make the homemade components of the charcuterie board pictured above, we started by making our spicy vegan pimento cheese ball in advance and letting it chill for the minimum time suggested in the recipe (6 hours). Next we made vegan pepperoni and set it aside when it was done. Then we made charred serrano white bean dip and placed it in the refrigerator to chill. Lastly we made candied nuts and cut up the fresh fruits and veggies! Once you’ve gathered and prepared your components, it’s time to assemble! Grab a wooden tray or cutting board (or a parchment-lined baking sheet). You want it to be big enough to fit everything but small enough that your snacks look abundant, not sparse.Place your snacks on the board in order from largest to smallest. Start with any bowls or dishes for snacks (like olives and hummus) and space them out on the board so you can place smaller snacks in between. Then fill in the extra space with “loose” snacks, like veggies and crackers. Our favorite trick is to place stackable snacks (like cucumbers and vegan pepperoni) in curves or around the dishes. All that’s left is to get your snack on!Best when fresh. Store leftover components in the refrigerator covered on the board or separately for up to 1-2 days.
Notes
*Prep time is for assembling the board only. It assumes all components are either store-bought or prepared in advance.
*Nutrition information is a rough estimate calculated for 8 people with the approximate ingredients and quantities included on the board pictured.
Nutrition (1 of 8 servings)
Serving: 1 serving Calories: 433 Carbohydrates: 40.7 g Protein: 14.4 g Fat: 30 g Saturated Fat: 4.7 g Polyunsaturated Fat: 3.4 g Monounsaturated Fat: 7.7 g Trans Fat: 0 g Cholesterol: 0 mg Sodium: 692 mg Potassium: 403 mg Fiber: 6.7 g Sugar: 15.7 g Vitamin A: 86 IU Vitamin C: 8.4 mg Calcium: 143 mg Iron: 4.3 mg