Italian Charcuterie Board

Build the ultimate Italian charcuterie board with prosciutto, salami, fresh mozzarella, and classic Mediterranean additions. We are sharing our top tips for selecting meats, cheeses, and pairings for the best appetizer spread.

about this Italian charcuterie board

Skip the cooking and create a gorgeous Italian charcuterie board that’ll transport your guests straight to a Roman wine bar. Loaded with cured meats, regional cheeses, olives, and marinated vegetables, this board brings together Italy’s most celebrated flavors.

The key to an amazing Italian board? Quality ingredients and smart pairing. It’s all about getting the right mix of sweet and savory, soft and crunchy, spicy and fresh. The more variety, the more fun your guests will have creating their own custom bites.

This board works perfectly for both intimate wine nights and bigger gatherings during the holiday season. Set it out before dinner or make it the star of your aperitivo hour. The best part? No cooking required (unless you want to!) – just thoughtful assembly and a little bit of prep.

what is an Italian charcuterie board?

The word “charcuterie” comes from French cuisine’s tradition of serving cured and cooked meats. While it traditionally refers to meat preparation, modern charcuterie boards have evolved to include Italian cheeses, olives, fruits, and dips alongside classic cured meats like prosciutto and salami.

These Italian-style boards work perfectly as pre-dinner appetizers or as the centerpiece of any gathering. They bring together Italy’s best flavors in a way that lets guests graze and enjoy throughout the event.

types of cheese for an italian charcuterie board

Hard cheese. High quality aged parmesan (Parmigiano-Reggiano) brings a nutty, salty punch to your board. Aged manchego is another excellent choice that pairs perfectly with honey and marcona almonds.

Fresh cheese. Creamy burrata or marinated mozzarella balls add that classic Italian touch. Drizzle burrata with olive oil and cracked pepper, or choose herb-marinated mozzarella for extra flavor.

Soft cheese. Taleggio is a must-try soft Italian cheese with a buttery texture and mild flavor. Whipped ricotta drizzled with honey makes an unexpected and delicious addition. You could also use brie (even though it’s technically French), if that’s the cheese you prefer. It’s all about making a board you will enjoy!

Funky cheese. Italian gorgonzola adds the perfect amount of bold, tangy flavor without overwhelming the board. It pairs beautifully with figs and honey.

here’s what you’ll need

Cheeses. Select 3 to 4 Italian cheeses for the perfect mix: burrata or mozzarella for fresh, parmesan or manchego for hard aged, taleggio or ricotta for soft, and gorgonzola for bold.

Meats. Mix up textures with thinly sliced prosciutto, spicy salami, and soppressata. Add crispy prosciutto chips for crunch. For variety, include mortadella, speck, calabrese, or coppa.

Crackers. Offer 2 to 3 options like crusty Italian bread, crostini, grissini breadsticks, sliced baguette, prosciutto cheese twists, or crispy crackers. Add taralli or focaccia crisps for authentic Italian crunch.

Fresh Elements. Include seasonal fruits like figs, grapes, and pears. Add fresh cherry tomatoes for a pop of color and flavor. Incorporate marinated vegetables like artichoke hearts, roasted red peppers, and green olives for classic Italian flavor.

Extras. Finish with fig jam, honey, marcona almonds, and fresh basil/sage/rosemary leaves. Add extras and condiments like sun-dried tomatoes, honeycomb, bruschetta mixture, basil pesto sauce, and/or your favorite nut mix.

this recipe’s must haves

Grab a large board – a wooden cutting board works perfectly. Before assembling, slice your meats and cheeses on a separate cutting board with a sharp chef’s knife.

here’s how to assemble an Italian charcuterie board board

add bowls

Start with your small bowls – they anchor the board and it’s easier to add things in and around them. Place them across the serving board, filling each with items like jams, honey, or olives. Space them evenly to create zones for building your layout. Don’t forget small spoons for serving!

add meats

Next add the meats, arranged in sections. Fold prosciutto into loose ribbons, fan out salami slices, or create a salami rose for some flair. Space different types evenly across the board to build texture. This is the key to making a gorgeous spread!

add cheeses

Before arranging cheese on the board, prep each variety. Slice hard cheeses, crumble blues, and cut soft cheeses into manageable pieces. If using a wedge, pre-cut a few slices and provide a cheese knife for guests to use.

add fresh elements

Time to add the fresh elements with an assortment fruits and veggies! Layer sliced apples, pears, and more fit between your meats and cheeses. Create neat rows of thinly sliced fruit that fit nicely on crackers, or pile fresh produce in any empty spaces.

add extras

Finally, fill in all the extras like nuts and anything else you want to put on the antipasto platter that doesn’t fit into the categories above.

More easy board ideas to try: Fall Charcuterie Board | Fruit Charcuterie Board | Breakfast Charcuterie Board | Summer Charcuterie Board

how long can this board sit out?

The best way to serve a charcuterie board is to make sure the meats and cheeses are at room temperature. This doesn’t mean that it can sit out for a very long time. Do not let your charcuterie board sit out for more than 2 hours in total.

If it’s been more than two hours, wrap up the remaining items separately, then store them back in the refrigerator.

how do I decorate an Italian charcuterie board?

Use fresh herbs! This is the easiest way to decorate the board, tucking in fresh herbs like basil, oregano, thyme, rosemary, and/or sage into any empty holes after you’ve added everything to the board.

how much should I plan on per person?

The rule of thumb for figuring out how much food to have for each person attending your gathering is 3 ounces of meat and cheese per person. This is specifically for serving this board as an appetizer or a snack.

If you are serving the grazing board as a main dish, be sure to have 6 ounces of meat and cheese per person.

Note that these numbers do not include the extras on the board. You can simply eyeball the amount of extras you want to have based on the amount of meat and cheese you plan to purchase.

Need more inspiration for appetizers? Check out my appetizer recipes page!

what to serve with an Italian charcuterie board

An Italian charcuterie board as an appetizer is all you need. With the variety of cheeses, meats, crackers, and other snacks, you don’t need to pair this with another recipe for a party.

If you want to know what cocktail to serve with this charcuterie board, definitely go for something with an Italian twist. Our preference is an aperitif, specifically Aperol. You can make an Aperol spritz, Aperol soda, Aperol sour, or Aperol negroni, depending on your favorite type of cocktail.

Don’t like Aperol? Try a limoncello cocktail, like a limoncello spritz or limoncello martini.

more Italian-themed appetizers

Caprese bruschetta is made with juicy tomatoes, creamy mozzarella, and fresh basil for an easy appetizer when tomatoes are in season.

Spicy lasagna dip is hearty and warm, perfect for dipping toasted slices of bread and crackers.

Love garlic bread? This air fryer roasted garlic bread is ready in minutes!

Finally, if you make this Italian charcuterie board, please be sure to give this recipe a rating and/or leave a comment! I love to hear when you all make recipes, and I do take the time to respond to every single comment.

Feel free to drop questions below too, if you have them!

Oh and be sure to tag me on Instagram, Facebook, or Pinterest if you make the recipe! I love being able to see these recipes come to life in your homes – it’s my favorite thing to look through those photos. It really means the world to me!