How To Make A Charcuterie Board For 50 Guests- Step-by-Step Process

Are you planning a party for 50 guests and will like to prepare a charcuterie board for them? Then this is for you.

The idea of preparing a Charcuterie board for 50 guests, can be overwhelming and discouraging, but you do not have to worry about that. We’ve got you covered! Before we talk about that, let's talk about some equipment you'll definitely need:

1. Cheese and Meats (buy it online and shipped directly to you here)

2. Large Wood Board big enough for the job

3. Optional - set the table with this cute charcuterie paper table runner

In this article, we will be walking you through the step-by-step process for preparing an impressive charcuterie board for such a large number of people.

Let’s get straight to business.

How to prepare a charcuterie board for a large group?

The major difference in the making of a charcuterie board for a large group and a small group is in the number of items used.

Also, you should remember that your guest list is made up of people with preferences. So try to create something that everyone will enjoy.

Now, let’s talk about the steps.

• Get Brown Wrapping Paper or Butcher Paper: To prepare your board for a large group, the everyday cheese board may not cut it.

You need something big enough. This is where the butcher paper/ brown parchment paper comes in. Get your butcher paper and cut it to fit your dining table or the preferred location.

• Start with the meat: It is best to have at least 3 different options of meat. On average, 2 ounces of meat per person will be needed, so put this in mind when shopping. Always get extra meat so that you can refill as time goes on.

An extra piece of advice- buy sliced meat, this makes things easier for you.

• Cheese: The usual practice is to allow your guests to slice their cheese but when you are having a large group of people that isn’t advisable. In this case, all you need to do is get your cheese and place it at the center of your board as a whole (just the way it is).

There are a lot of cheese options to choose from but the simple trick is to get two types of cheese- one soft cheese and one hard cheese. You can also get an extra one- something just in between (see full article on Best Cheese for Charcuterie)

• Crackers: This shouldn't be much of an issue, any kind of crackers will do. There are a plethora of crackers at grocery stores to choose from. If you are not sure of what to do, get two types of crackers- a plain and a funky type.

 Related article: 5 Best Crackers for Charcuterie

• Spread: The right condiment pairing will add to the flavor of your cheese, by giving a contrast to its saltiness. For your charcuterie spread, you can go with jam, mustard, fig spreads, or anything that suits you.

 Related article: Dips, Spreads, and Sauces for Charcuterie

• Spice it Up: If you want something extra, you can add apples, bunches of grapes, chocolates, and anything nice you have in your fridge. A sprig of rosemary would also work.

What should be on a charcuterie board?

The number of items on your Charcuterie board depends on how stylish you want to be. The grazing table should allow people to explore different kinds of foods.

However, some things are typically expected to be found on every grazing board. Before heading to the grocery store, here are some food products you should add to your shopping list. Don't feel like going to the grocery store? Get deli meats and charcuterie items shipped to you from D'artagnan.

• Cured Meats
• Cheeses
• Veggies
• Fruits
• Nuts and Olives
• Crackers and Slices of bread
• Fresh Herbs
• Sweet spreads ( Jam, Jellies, Fig spread, etc.)
• Extras- Edible flowers, Cornichon Pickles, Summer Sausages, etc. (Not compulsory)

How Much Cheese is Need For 50 People

The quantity of cheese you need depends on if the charcuterie will be an entire meal or not. About 2-3 ounces per person will be enough if the charcuterie isn't an entire meal. So you will need about 100-150 ounces in total.

On the other hand, if the charcuterie will be an entire meal, then you will need about 5 ounces per person, which brings it to 250 ounces in total.

Best Meat to Use for Charcuterie

Although the word “best” can be relative and subject to personal preference. However, after putting texture and flavor into consideration, here are our top five picks:

• Prosciutto
• Soppressata
• Mortadella
• Bresaola
• Dry Salami

Related article: Best Meats for Charcuterie

How do you lay out a charcuterie board?

The fastest answer to this is to start with large items and then work your way toward smaller items.

Food presentation is as important as the preparation of the food itself. Food brands and restaurants spend a whole lot of money on food photography workshops and food styling. And the reason is pretty simple- The more appealing the food is, the more likely people will patronize them.

Although you are not trying to do food styling, it will be great if your charcuterie display is aesthetically appealing. Here are some tips that you will find helpful.

• Beautiful Color Combinations: Ensure you have the right combination. As much as you can, do not place food with similar colors beside themselves- except if you are creating a striped color scheme.

Let your fillers have contrasting colors for ingredients that look similar. As said earlier, this is no food styling but having a beautiful color combination will be a plus.

• Accessibility: Ensure it is easy for your guest to figure out what goes with what. For example, the pairing of brie and cherry tomatoes next to each other will make it easy for your guests to figure out. Another good example is pairing your crackers and cheese together

• Start with the Big Items: place the larger food items first, then work your way to smaller ones. Your food products should be arranged according to their sizes, this will make it easier for you to fit all food items in and create a balanced board. 

• Bite-size Pieces: Let everything you will be serving be in small sizes. Most people will not like to cut anything on a shared plate. This can help you avoid having too many leftovers, and with the present cost of food, no one will like to waste food. I guess you are not an exception.

       Here are simple tricks that work for this- cut your cheese and large veggies         into chunks, let the meat be in individual servings, and go for smaller fruits-         grapes, berries, etc.

Nuts, Dried fruit, and Fresh Fruit

For the nuts, you can go with Pecans, Marcona, Regular almonds, Walnuts, and Hazelnuts. When it comes to adding fruit, go for a mix of fresh and dried fruits( this also adds a pop of color to your board).

Some popular fresh fruit options include Apples, Strawberries, Pears, etc. While for dried fruit you can go with Apricots, Golden berries, Deglet, etc.

Crackers, Jams, and add-ons

Examples include Rosemary crackers, fan out crackers, sesame crackers, almond flour crackers, water crackers, baguette seeded crackers, etc.

What Utensils do you need for a charcuterie board?

You can get as creative as you can but here are some basic things that you will need for your charcuterie board:

• Specialty Knives and Utensils
• Serving Boards-The usual go-to serve boards are wood boards. Wood boards are cheap and easy to get. However, you have to ensure it is food safe. If you do not want wood boards, there are also budget-friendly charcuterie board alternatives you can get.
• Forks, Spoons, and Spreaders.

 Decorate it:

Choose something fun, such as this paper runnerfor your grazing table:

FAQ

What cheeses go on a charcuterie board?

You have a variety of cheese options to select from. You can decide to go with Spreadable Cheese such as Goat Cheese, Blue Cheese such as Gorgonzola, Semi-hard Cheese (crumbly cheese) such as Flagship Cheese, Hard Cheese such as Gouda or Firm cheese such as Cheddar.

Do you use a Toothpick for a charcuterie board?

The answer is Yes. With this, you avoid too many fingers flying around the board.

Conclusion

Be it a holiday party, mini party, or whatever type of party you are having, a charcuterie board is something everyone will appreciate. We hope following the tips in this article will help you achieve that impressive charcuterie board you have always wanted.

 

 YOU MAY ALSO LIKE

Best Meats for Charcuterie

Best Cheese for Charcuterie

Vegan Charcuterie Board Ideas

Butter Board - the New Charcuterie that is taking over TikTok

Choosing the Best Board / Serving Platter for Charcuterie

5 Best Crackers for Charcuterie

View our entire collection of dark wood walnut cheese boards - there are many shapes and sizes to choose from. Find your perfect board for your next charcuterie tray!

You can also buy a selection of delectable charcuterie meats shipped to your door! Check out D'artagnan here and see for yourself. Have the convenience of interesting meats and cheeses delivered right to your door!