Skip to Content

What To Serve After Charcuterie: 17 Delicious Ideas

When it comes to the question of what to serve after charcuterie, there are plenty of creative options.

Charcuterie boards make serving meats, cheeses, crackers, and fruits attractive and simple.

Sometimes, these party boards can make vegetarians feel excluded. So make sure to add some of these tasty and innovative vegetarian dishes to please your guests.

What To Serve After Charcuterie featured image | Girl Meets Food

What to serve after charcuterie?

The charcuterie board can be followed by dishes with a wide range of taste qualities. Some of the better choices you can make are below:

  • Roasted veggies

Roasted veggies can complement any meal. They’re simple to prepare and work well both hot and cold.

Roasting vegetables brings forth their natural sweetness, and the smokiness goes great with cured meats.

Eggplant, zucchini, bell peppers, onions, and mushrooms are some of the best options for vegetables. Cut them into bite-sized pieces and roast them in the oven with some olive oil, salt, and pepper.

  • Grilled veggies

When grilled, vegetables take on a smokey sweetness. Choose your preferred asparagus, zucchini, pepper, or onion variety. Grill them over medium heat after seasoning with olive oil, salt, and pepper.

I love grilled vegetables because they provide a very nice charred and tender flavor.

  • Hummus

Chickpeas, tahini, lemon juice, garlic, and olive oil combined make wonderful hummus. It’s super nutritious—high in protein and fiber.

It goes well with pita bread, crackers, or veggies. Add some roasted red peppers, sun-dried tomatoes, or herbs for an extra kick of flavor.

  • Stuffed mushrooms

Stuffed mushrooms are an excellent appetizer. They taste wonderful with the addition of some cheese, spinach, or quinoa.

They’re super easy to make too! Just remove the mushroom stems and fill the caps with your preferred filling before baking.

You can also try various quinoa replacements to fill your mushrooms with true superfoods.

  • Caprese salad

After charcuterie, offer a crisp and colorful Caprese salad. This refreshing summertime snack has fresh mozzarella, tomatoes, basil, and balsamic vinegar. It is as delicious either chilled or at room temperature.

  • Bruschetta

Italian Bruschetta is a traditional starter. Spread some sliced tomatoes, olive oil, garlic, and basil on some toasted garlic bread. It pairs wonderfully with charcuterie because of the variety of tastes and textures present.

  • Spinach-artichoke dip

The spinach-artichoke dip is always a hit at any party. Combine cream cheese, sour cream, artichokes, and spinach in a blender until smooth. Serve with pita chips or fresh vegetables.

  • Ratatouille

Eggplant, zucchini, bell peppers, tomatoes, onions, garlic, and herbs are all components of the Ratatouille dish. It’s nutritious, delicious, and beautiful.

Let’s not forget about all the delicious sides to serve with ratatouille. They can make the dish more exciting!

  • Falafel

Chickpeas, herbs, spices, breadcrumbs, and tahini sauce are the typical ingredients in the Middle Eastern snack known as falafel. Protein and fiber are also included in this tasty vegetarian alternative.

Combine everything in a blender or food processor, roll into balls, and deep-fried until crisp.

  • Cheese & fruit

Serve charcuterie with a fresh fruit and cheese platter. Fruits can highlight both hard and soft cheese. A cheese plate can include aged cheddar, brie, gouda, blue cheese or goat cheese.

Spreadable cheeses can make amazing dips. Goat cheese, cream cheese, fresh ricotta, and Boursin are all flavorful options. Serve these creamy cheeses with crackers, bread sticks or simple sliced bread.

As for fruits, apples, pears, figs, and stone fruits are great choices. Check out my top substitutes for blueberries and alternatives to fresh figs for more ideas!

  • Dessert platter

After serving charcuterie, a dessert plate is a tasty addition to the meal. Fruit, cookies, chocolate, and pastries are all fair game.

Include a variety of tastes and textures to appeal to the widest possible audience. Use pineapple, apples, oranges, and strawberries as examples of good fruit choices. Also, include sugary treats like brownies, macaroons, or cupcakes.

What main dish goes with charcuterie?

Three charcuterie boards on a white surface. There are some glasses and fruit next to them | Girl Meets Food

Charcuterie—cured meats, cheeses, crackers, and fruits—is a tasty appetizer. There are various major dishes that go with charcuterie if you’re organizing a feast. Some ideas:

  • Pasta

Pasta pairs well with charcuterie and is flexible and satisfying. For a more savory pasta meal, add veggies and herbs to olive oil, garlic, and grated parmesan cheese. Marinara or arrabbiata pasta is another alternative.

  • Quinoa/couscous salad

Charcuterie pairs well with healthful, satisfying couscous or quinoa salads. To make the salad healthier and tastier, add veggies, herbs, and a tasty vinaigrette.

  • Stews or soups

Soups and stews give warmth to charcuterie platters. Pair your favorite meats and cheeses with a hearty vegetable soup or beef stew for a comforting meal.

  • Pizza

Pizza is very popular and customizable. Tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese, mushrooms, peppers, and onions compose a simple vegetarian pizza. But there are so many other options for topping it!

  • BBQ meats

Even though I don’t eat meat, I can attest that everything grilled tastes better.

For a carnivore’s dream meal, throw some chicken, ribs, sausages, or burgers on the grill and serve them alongside some charcuterie.

Grilled or pan-fried salmon or shrimp would also go well with charcuterie.

  • Cheese-and-charcuterie platter

Make a cheese and charcuterie platter for the main meal to continue the charcuterie theme. For a heartier spread, add extra cheeses, meats, nuts, dried fruits, and bread.

Baked brie can make an excellent centerpiece for your platter. Serve it with fresh berries, honey, crackers and other tasty baked brie sides.

Charcuterie pairs well with numerous main dishes. Pasta, salad, pizza, grilled meats, charcuterie, and cheese are all available. Try several tastes to discover your personal favorites!

FAQs

A person is preparing a charcuterie board | Girl Meets Food
Can you eat charcuterie as a meal?

Yes, you can eat charcuterie as a meal. It’s usually served as an appetizer, but a variety of meats, cheeses, and other accompaniments can make for a balanced meal.

What chutney goes with cheese board?

You can’t go wrong with a sweet and sour chutney like mango or cranberry with any cheese tray. Onion chutney and tomato chutney are two savoury alternatives. To complement bolder flavors, choose fig or apricot chutney.

What kind of bread goes with charcuterie?

Baguette and focaccia are excellent options for charcuterie boards. Sourdough and ciabatta are also good choices.

What not to put on a charcuterie board?

Avoid salty or spicy cheeses or cured meats to prevent overloading the palette. Since charcuterie is usually eaten with fingers, don’t use foods that require utensils or heating. Consider your guests’ dietary needs and avoid allergens.

Can you put chocolate on a charcuterie board?

Chocolate is a great addition to a charcuterie board. To complement the savory meats and cheeses, add dark chocolate or milk chocolate.

How to choose a salad to go with charcuterie?

For a light side dish, choose a simple mix of greens, vegetables, and herbs. To keep it interesting, go for a unique combination such as arugula with figs and feta cheese. If you prefer something heartier, top the salad with grilled or roasted proteins.

BOTTOM LINE: There are many tasty and inventive vegetarian charcuterie board ideas. Everyone can enjoy roasted veggies, hummus, stuffed mushrooms, ratatouille and more. These vegetarian alternatives are tasty, healthful, and customizable. Serve these flavor combos after or with charcuterie for a complete meal.

I hope you enjoyed my ideas for serving beautiful charcuterie boards. Share your favorites in the comments below!

Need more party ideas? Check out some of my other articles: side dishes for sliders, Machengo cheese pairings, what to serve with minestrone, what to serve with brie and more!