Thanksgiving is all about the feast, but during the afternoon, I like to serve some appetizers to snack on. This Thanksgiving cheese board is the perfect grazing board for guests to snack on while cooking the traditional turkey feast!
Believe it or not, dinner isn’t my favorite part of Thanksgiving. I actually love gathering the family in the morning, watching the Thanksgiving parade, playing football outside, cooking, and drinking wine, all while family members and guests graze on delicious Thanksgiving appetizers.
My Thanksgiving cheese and appetizer board is full of our favorite fall flavors! If you’re looking for an easy Thanksgiving appetizer, this is perfect to serve! It’s also great to bring for a Friendsgiving or host a wine and cheese party!
I love how this fall charcuterie board has all of the traditional Thanksgiving flavors, but it’s easy to make and even better to eat!
Also check out our fruit and cheese platter, how to make a cheese board and how to make a fruit platter.
Pair this easy appetizer board with one of our signature Thanksgiving cocktails like Algonquin Bar Punch, Apple Pie Sangria, Easy Apple and Ginger Wine Spritzer, or Spiced Apple Sparkling Punch.
Also, check out our easy and helpful tips for serving wine and our modern, charming rustic Thanksgiving table setting to make your holiday even more charming!
How to Make a Thanksgiving Appetizer Platter
Supplies
- Large Round Cheese Board – We used this one!
- Small Marble Bowls – These are my go-to for all of my cheeseboards
- Small Serving Spoons
- Cheese Knives – We use these copper cheese knives.
Ingredients Notes
These are ideas of what you can add to your festive Thanksgiving cheese board. When shopping, use seasonal produce and choose a good selection of cheeses. If you don’t have a local cheese shop nearby, then try Trader Joe’s or Whole Foods. Your local grocery should have an area for high-end cheese as well.
Vegetables
- Roasted Brussel Sprouts
- Roasted Green beans
Fresh Fruit
- Cranberry Sauce (or jam)
- Pears
- Apples
- Pomegranates
- Grapes
- Fresh Figs
- Persimmons
Meat and Cheese
- Cheese (soft, medium, and hard)
- Charcuterie
Extras
- Olives
- Crackers
- Crusty bread
- Walnuts
- Apple Butter
- Fig Jam
- Marcona almonds
Choosing Cheese for your Board
When making a cheese platter it’s important to have different types of cheeses. Pick out different textures, flavors, and cheese made from different animals. Choose a soft cheese, medium cheese, and hard cheese to put on the board.
Soft Cheese
Types of soft cheese:
- Creamy Brie
- Mozzarella
- Gorgonzola
- Feta
- Goat Cheese
- Ricotta
- Blue Cheese
- Camembert
Medium Cheese
Types of semi-soft cheese:
- Gouda
- Edam
- Jarlsberg
- Cheddar
Hard Cheese
Types of hard cheese:
- Parmigiano
- Gouda
- Gruyere
- Manchego
- Provolone
- Jack
- Cheddar
- Monterey Jack
Assembling
Roast the green beans and brussels sprouts on a baking sheet, drizzled with olive oil and a pinch of salt, in a 350-degree oven for 15 minutes.
Start assembling the Charcutier on a large round board.
Arrange the different cheeses on the board. Try to select a soft cheese like goat or brie, medium cheddar cheese and a harder cheese like aged gouda.
Also, use different shapes of cheese too. You can also slice it differently so each variety stands out on the appetizer platter.
Next, add small bowls of olives and cranberry sauce with small serving spoons.
Place the brussels sprout and green beans on the board.
Fill in the empty spaces with grapes, sliced fruit, and crackers.
Tips for Making a Thanksgiving Cheese Board
- Always serve cheese room temperature.
- Try to have different colors, shapes, and sizes when selecting cheese.
- Place cheese knives next to each cheese so your guests know what to use.
- Add a few sweet and savory toppings to the board like cranberry sauce, fig jam, and apple butter.
- Don’t forget the crackers! They’re essential for cheese boards.
- Use a large round board so you have plenty of space to work with.
How to Store a Cheese Board
A cheese board can be stored in the fridge for up to 2 days. Just make sure to wrap it tightly in plastic wrap.
If you’re making the board ahead of time, wait to add any dry ingredients that don’t need to be refrigerated. Ingredients like crackers will get soggy in the refrigerator. It’s also best to wait for the fruit since it can turn brown, so right before serving slice the pears and figs.
Frequently Asked Questions
We like to serve Thanksgiving appetizers, like this board! It’s a great way for people to snack a little without getting too full and it’s easy to make.
There are so many different types of cheese that go well with Thanksgiving! If I had to pick three, I would recommend having a soft cheese like goat cheese, a medium cheese like cheddar cheese, and a hard cheese like aged gouda.
Charcuterie is a type of cured meat and when it’s the main component of the board, it’s considered a charcuterie board. A cheese board is heavy on the cheese. It can have some meat, but the focus is on the cheese. I like to have a mix of both on my cheese boards to create a meat and cheese platter.
Thanksgiving Recipes
Here are more recipes that you can make to go with your Thanksgiving charcuterie board!
Homemade Pumpkin Pie and Crust
For dessert serve an easy dessert charcuterie board!
Now that you know how to make a beautiful board for the holiday season, let us know what you think! It’s the perfect appetizer for a party and goes perfectly with red wine too! Truly it’s one of my favorite things and I can’t wait to hear what you think!
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Thanksgiving Appetizer and Cheese Platter
Ingredients
- 1/2 pound Roasted Brussel Sprouts
- 1/2 pound Roasted Greenbeans
- 1/2 cup Cranberry Sauce
- 2 Pears, 1 sliced and 1 cut in half
- 2 Apples, sliced
- 1/2 cup pomegranates
- 1 pound grapes
- 8 figs , cut in half
- 1/2 cup marinated olives
- assorted charcuterie, cured sausage, soppressata, prosciutto
- 1 box crackers
- assorted cheese, goat cheese, cheddar cheese, brie, gouda
- 1/2 cup walnuts
- 3 persimmons
Instructions
- Roast the green beans and brussels sprouts on a baking sheet, drizzled with olive oil and a pinch of salt, in a 350-degree oven for 15 minutes.
- Roast the green beans and brussels sprouts on a baking sheet, drizzled with olive oil and a pinch of salt, in a 350-degree oven for 15 minutes.
- Assembling the Charcutier on a large round board.
- Arrange the different cheeses on the board. Try to select a soft cheese like goat or brie, medium cheddar cheese and a harder cheese like aged gouda.
- Also, use different shapes of cheese too. You can also slice it differently so each variety stands out on the appetizer platter.
- Next, add small bowls of olives and cranberry sauce with small serving spoons.
- Place the brussels sprout and green beans on the board.
- Fill in the empty spaces with grapes, sliced fruit, and crackers.
Notes
Nutrition
A charcuterie board is one of our family’s favorite treats, sometimes as a meal. Great appetizer for parties. Add good wine and a movie, and it’s the perfect date-night dinner!
This one is particularly lovely, and perfect for a fall evening!
I couldn’t agree more Rhonda! Thank you for the sweet comment!
This is so beautiful. I’ve always wanted to make one. Your step by step directions and ideas make it seem doable. I can’t wait to copy it exactly!!
This would be gone in minutes at our Thanksgiving!! It is so pretty & is full of deliciousness!!
Hahah!! SAME!
This is gorgeous and looks so good! I really love the figs on this to go along with the different types of cheeses too!
Thank you Beth!!
I love everything about this. I can’t wait to make this and impress my family this Thanksgiving. P.S. your pictures are beautiful.
That is so beautiful!! I wouldn’t want anyone to eat it..lol!! Love the variety!
Thank you Natalie!