When it comes time to host a party or even a casual meal with friends, serving Homemade Meat and Cheese Platters can make the meal so easy! Serve them as an appetizer or pair these cheese and charcuterie boards with crackers, fresh fruits, and wine for a simple Snacky Dinner.
You can certainly order deli trays from your local deli, but arranging your own cured meats and cheeses allows you to customize the options and will save you money.
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This spring we hosted a casual wedding reception at our home. I served a brunch party menu for family in the morning and then pulled out the meat and cheese platters for lunch with friends. It was easy, delicious, budget-friendly, and very make-ahead.
If you’re entertaining guests or simply want an easy, festive meal for those closest to you, assembling some deli trays is definitely the way to go!
Why Do This
It’s easy. Putting together meat and cheese trays is so simple! Buy whatever cured meats and cheeses you enjoy and arrange them on serving trays.
It’s delicious. Everyone loves a meat platter and cheese board. It allows your guests to mix and match their favorite options at will.
It’s budget-friendly. You’ll pay a pretty penny for store-bought party trays. Why not put together your own for less?
It’s make-ahead. You can assemble your meat and cheese platters a day or two in advance and be able to enjoy your party.
Ingredients
Here’s what you’ll need:
A variety of deli cold cuts: Try to mix and match the textures and types of meat you provide. You might choose roast beef, black forest ham, salami, roast turkey, or prosciutto. Ideally, you’ll want three to four different types of meat. You can slice the meat yourself or purchase it already sliced.
A variety of cheeses: Again, mix and match the types and textures of cheese you provide. Consider goat cheese, herbed cream cheese like Boursin, gouda, Emmental, cheddar, Brie, Jarlsberg, Gruyere, Manchego, and Basque. You can purchase the cheese sliced or in wedges.
Optional accompaniments: You may want to offer a few other tidbits in addition to your meat and cheese platters, such as spicy red peppers, olives, nuts, crackers, bread or baguette, fruit tray, veggie tray, and some sweet bits like dark chocolate, candied nuts, or even a Chocolate Dessert Board.
Step-by-Step Instructions
There’s nothing much to do to assemble your deli trays. Choose large serving boards or platters and arrange the meats and cheeses on them.
Consider these strategies for best results:
- Keep meats and cheeses on separate boards to prevent cross-contamination and a transference of odors.
- If the herbed cream cheese doesn’t come in a tub, place the brick in a small ramekin for easier serving.
- If it’s not obvious what’s what, label each cheese on the platter or insert toothpicks with labels to designate what each cheese is.
- When making in advance, wrap each platter well with plastic wrap, in both directions, and store in the refrigerator until ready to serve.
FAQs
You can freeze sliced cold cuts by wrapping them well in plastic wrap and then placing in a ziptop bag. While you can freeze cheese, it’s best to freeze cheese shredded. Block or sliced cheese will crumble upon thawing.
While a regular serving of meat is 2 ounces and cheese is 1 ounce, people tend to enjoy more at a party. Provide about 3 ounces of each per person, provided that there are other dishes and appetizers to enjoy.
Meat and cheese platters can be called charcuterie boards, party platters, cold cut trays, deli trays, cheese boards, and more. It’s really up to you what phrase you’d like to use.
More Party Food
Meat and Cheese Platters
Equipment
Ingredients
- .5 lb deli sliced turkey breast
- .5 lb sliced ham
- .5 lb deli sliced roast beef
- .5 lb salami slices
- 2 lb various cheeses such as Brie, gruyere, Irish cheddar, gouda, etc.
Instructions
- Roll or fold each slice of turkey, ham, and roast beef, choosing one method for each type and alternating the methods for variety.
- Stack or arrange the folded or rolled meats in sections on the serving platter, turkey all together, then ham, then roast beef. Fan out the salami slices.
- On a second platter, lay out the cheeses.
- Wrap securely and refrigerate until serving time.
Notes
- Keep meats and cheeses on separate boards to prevent cross-contamination and a transference of odors.
- If the herbed cream cheese doesn’t come in a tub, place the brick in a small ramekin for easier serving.
- If it’s not obvious what’s what, label each cheese on the platter or insert toothpicks with labels to designate what each cheese is.
- When making in advance, wrap each platter well with plastic wrap, in both directions, and store in the refrigerator until ready to serve.
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