How To Make a Spectacular Fourth of July Charcuterie Board

July Fourth weekend is a time to celebrate all things freedom. From fireworks and sparklers, to beers and barbecues, there is no better time to celebrate independence. For most, this holiday is all about spending time with family and friends. Whether that includes taking a beach trip or sitting poolside, one thing is for sure: the appetizers and alcohol are always flowing.

In the spirit of patriotism, there are so many ways you can incorporate the red, white, and blue onto your table spread. Our favorite option is to create a Fourth of July charcuterie board. As there are endless options to include, all you need is a little inspiration and you’ll have an American board crafted in minutes!

Board Shape Options

Depending on how you want your board to look, there are many different routes you can take. If you have some festive baskets or a Fourth of July platter, this is an easy way to start. We used a star basket for one of our boards which allowed for easy travel and storage. The baskets can also be re-used for decor or other appetizers as well. The star shape helps categorize and divide your charcuterie items so you can have a nice clean look.

In addition to the star, we also picked up a crab basket. Boards with more circular areas give you more room for bigger cheeses like brie. If you do decide to use a basket, it helps to line the bottom with paper towels or parchment paper.

If you don’t have a patriotic board though, the parade does not end here! Square boards or even sheet pans will work fine to build your board. We made an American flag charcuterie using fruits, veggies, and meat for the red and nuts and cheese for the white. As most meat and cheese items follow along the white or red category, it makes board construction a bit easier. The only item that may be needed is a star cookie cutter. For other colorful board options, check out our ideas below.

The Red

Like we mentioned, there are a ton of red items in each board category that you can use. Red will make your board pop so don’t be shy to color your board crimson.

Meats

• Salami
• Pepperoni
• Prosciutto

Cheeses

• Red Dragon Cheese (has a red wax lining)
• Unwrapped Babybel cheese

Fruit

• Strawberries
• Raspberries
• Red apple slices
• Cherries
• Grapes
• Watermelon (balled, shaped, or cubed)

Other items

• candy (red licorice, m&ms, starburst, wrapped chocolate)
• Sliced red bell peppers
• Cherry tomatoes
• Strawberry or raspberry jam

The White

White is important if you’re trying to make stars or to spread out in between the reds. Due to the lack of white meats, the color will have to mainly come from cheeses and miscellaneous items.

Cheeses

• Brie
• White Cheddar
• Mozzarella
• Feta or goat crumbles
• Burrata
• Blue Cheese

Other Items

• White chocolate pretzels or strawberries
• White m&ms
• Nuts
• Light colored dip
• Marshmallows

The Blue

Finally, we have the blue. Personally, this seems like the hardest color to incorporate as there aren’t many blue meats or cheeses. The best way to add blue is through fruits or candy.

Cheeses

• Blueberry goat

Fruit

• Blueberries
• Blackberries

Other Items

• Blue candy
• Blue corn chips

As you can see, there are many ways to put a little patriotism into your charcuterie board. So long as you have the creativity, your board has the potential for a perfect Fourth of July appetizer. Let us know how your board came out!

Are you in need of a summer cocktail for your weekend celebration? Check out our favorites below!

Arnold Palmer Malibu Margarita

Sweet Spring Sangria

Raspberry Lemonade Frozen Margarita