A long-held staple of the appetizer world, charcuterie boards (pronounced “shahr-kyu-tuh-ree”) are a meat-lover’s response to cheese boards. A French term for a meat board, the word has expanded and grown to encompass not just cured meats, but a variety of cheese, breads, nuts, fruits, olives and more!

A charcuterie board may just be what you’ve been looking for to spice up your date night in or the movie on the couch. If you’re interested in some charcuterie board inspo, we’ve got just the tips for you.

Begin with the Board

Your first step is to start with the board; how are you supposed to know what to fill it with if you don’t know how big it is? While there is no board requirement, many charcuterie boards are on a wooden tray. However, anything goes! Use whatever large, flat board, surface, or serving tray that you would like. This is a great area to express yourself by adding your sense of style into your charcuterie, especially since these beautiful boards make such great pictures!

Fill with Finger Food

Above all else, when creating a charcuterie board you want to make sure you have variety. When selecting items, look for choices that will “pop” visually, like colorful fruits that will stand out against your carefully selected meats. You will also want to pick items that will “pop” texturally as well. Crunchy nuts, soft cheeses, smokey meats, and wet jams can help create a more differentiated eating experience so you don’t find yourself bored.

Even within the categories of food, try to create a differing food experience. Many recommend using three cheeses on a charcuterie board: one soft, one hard and one somewhere in the middle. Use a variety of meats, jams, nuts and more so that everyone can have a bit of their favorite based on their preference (or so that you can have a variety all to yourself!).

One hot tip from the pros? Adding a sprig of fresh herbs, like rosemary, can not only add a visual beauty to your board, but a fragrant one.

Date Night Board

Looking for the perfect thing to set the romantic mood and to share over a glass of wine with your partner? It may be time to look towards a charcuterie board. Use a mix of soft, creamy cheeses that pair well with jams and honey as well as some harder, more robust flavors to put on a cracker. Stay away from the stinkier of cheeses, unless your loved one doesn’t mind blue cheese breath! Meats like chorizo can add a bit of spice to your board, bringing a gentle heat. For fruits, lean towards strawberries and pomegranates for a bit of bright red variety that is great to share with your sweetie. Adding a few dark chocolate nuts or candies for dessert is also a great option, so that you can wrap up your charcuterie experience with something sweet yet decadent.

Kid-Friendly Board

While children may still be developing their palettes, that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t get to experience the finger-food fun of a charcuterie board! It’s easy to make a kid-friendly meat board that has all of your family members excited. Instead of meats like prosciutto and capicola, lean towards deli meat cuts. Salami, turkey and even ham can be presented beautifully on a board. Cheeses like mozzarella, cheddar, gouda and havarti are great to use for the little snackers as well. Allow for more space on your kid-friendly board for fresh fruits and veggies, and lean towards sauces like hummus and ranch instead of jams. You can really customize your kid-friendly charcuterie board to your kid’s taste; this is a great time to introduce some new foods while also providing them with some of their favorites in a fun and unique way.

Dessert Board

While it may not be strictly in the definition of charcuterie, a dessert board is a fun way to display a variety of sweets! Find inspiration from the traditional charcuterie board by pulling in sweet jams, chocolate sauces, and a variety of cookies or shortbreads in replacement of crackers. Use dippable fruit like berries or apples to sample a selection of sauces and to add a refreshing palette cleanser. Chocolate covered nuts and other candies can add that crunch you may be looking for. If you’re feeling adventurous, add in a few spicy meats to make the perfect balance of salty and sweet.