Thanksgiving Cheese Board Appetizer

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

Thanksgiving Recipes

Here are more recipes that you can make to go with your Thanksgiving charcuterie board!

The Best Easy Stuffing Recipe

How to Make Cranberry Sauce

Homemade Pumpkin Pie and Crust

Pecan Pumpkin Pie

How to Cook a Turkey

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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