This Parmesan Cheese Charcuterie Board features one type of cheese to show off its delicious versatility. Known as Parmesan-Reggiano this popular cheese pairs well with meats, fruits, and nuts to offer lots of tastes and textures to nibble on.
This page may contain affiliate links, please see my full DISCLOSURE policy details.
Charcuteries and cheeseboards are so much fun to make and can be made really fancy or super simple. Just turn on your creativity, and make sure you have an assortment of items for color, shape, taste, and texture.
Serving cheese and meat boards at parties is so impressive and perfect for entertaining as they have a variety of foods to enjoy. Guests often like to nibble on small bites at parties and not sit down to big plates of food. Even if you are not having a party make a smaller board for a simple meal.
Jump to:
💛Why we love cheese boards
I love serving these cheese and meat platters when we have guests over, I can put them on the table with all the plates and drinks, and then I don't have to get up again. No going back and forth to the kitchen to grab more food. Instead, everyone can just sit back and leisurely enjoy a variety of meats and cheese, and good company.
🧀Cheese
For this cheese board, I thought it would be fun to use just one cheese in various ways since I have these beautiful wedges of Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese. It's not every day I have such a wonderful ingredient and it should be the star of this board.
Good parmesan cheese has a hard, dense texture and the flavor can be described as nutty, and fruity with savory undertones.
Most people don't think of eating parmesan by itself, but when you have a quality cheese like this Parmigiano-Reggiano you will understand why it's so good. The cheese is so versatile and can be used in soups, grated over pasta, stirred into risotto, and shaved over a salad. And don't forget to save the rind to flavor your broths.
If you love burrata make this Burrata Charcuterie board. Again using one cheese makes such a statement on your cheeseboard.
Parmigiano-Reggiano has been called one of the world's greatest cheeses
About parmesan
- A true Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese comes from the Parma-Reggio region of Italy and it has a rich history that dates back centuries.
- Parmigiano-Reggiano is made with only three ingredients, milk that is produced in the Parma/Reggio region, salt, and rennet which is a natural enzyme. I love the fact this cheese doesn't contain any additives or artificial ingredients. This is pride in cheesemaking.
- This cream-colored cheese is called one of the world's greatest cheeses and is aged at least two years to develop a delicious and complex flavor that is described as rich, fruity, and nutty.
- Even though this is considered a hard cheese, it cuts and breaks off nicely to reveal its grainy, bumpy texture and the cheese crystals inside.
- When buying Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, look for the stamped pin dots on the rind that says "Parmigiano-Reggiano" so you know you are buying the real deal.
Use a variety of boards and plates
Just be creative and find objects around your house, such as -
Cutting boards
Large platters
Chargers
Pieces of slate
Wood slabs
Marble slabs
Be creative with your cheeseboard
Need some ingredient inspiration ~ try these items for a cheeseboard
- Cheese - Here are the best cheeses for charcuterie
- Use just one type of cheese in various ways such as this parmesan cheese platter, or even the many types of cheddar cheeses.
- Use soft cheese like brie, feta, camembert, gorgonzola, or chevre
- Use crumbly cheese like blue cheese, cotija, or asiago
- Use hard cheese- like parmesan-reggiano, gruyere, or manchego
- Mix flavors of cheeses - like smoked cheeses, peppery cheeses, goat cheese, or wine-flavored cheeses.
- Charcuterie - Salami, prosciutto, roast beef, sausages
- Crackers - add a variety for taste and texture like thick and buttery, thin and crispy, and something with grain.
- Breads - think of different types and slice into small bites
- Ciabatta
- Pumpernickle
- Sourdough
- Fruit bread
- Breadsticks
- Olives and Pickles - add some great salty flavors
- Spreads, preserves, jams, and olive oils- for savory, fruity and sweet flavors
- Nuts - are good for some crunch and they add great texture to the board like almonds, cashews, or pistachios
- Fruits - fresh and dried are great. Clusters of grapes are a favorite, and dried apricots, cherries, and cranberries pair well with cheeses and add great color
- Sweets - chocolates, cookies, cheesecake bites, a honeycomb
- Something pretty - flowers and fresh herbs to decorate the board
Cheeseboards are perfect to serve any time of the year, and this Christmas Charcuterie Board is fun to serve for holiday parties.
How to serve parmesan cheese
Keeping the cheeses in wedges makes for a rustic look on the board. Just be sure to have some cheese knives for everyone to use. It's actually kind of fun to cut cheese from wedges.
Since I am a baker, I just had to bake these bite-sized Apricot Parmesan Puff Pastry Pinwheels to add to the board. You can find similar pinwheels in the freezer section at your store if you don't want to bake.
A creamy cheese dip like this Baked Ricotta with Parmesan is full of herbs that adds a savory taste. A good alternative is a warm baked brie.
How to set up a cheese and cracker platter
- Select a board or platter large enough to fit all your items
- Add the biggest items first, the cheese wedge and the baked ricotta bowl
- Add a small bowl of the Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese with a splash of balsamic and the bowl of pistachios
- Place the meats around the cheeses - Prosciutto, Capocollo, Salame, Sopressata
- Layer the Apricot-Parmesan Pinewheels around the board
- Add deviled eggs
- Next place crackers around the board
- Place grapes throughout the board
- Add a bit of whimsy with the white button mums and rosemary
Keep adding all your ingredients until your cheese and meat board is full of your ingredients.
Now step back and see what you created. No matter how you arranged the board, I bet it looks perfect because there really is no right or wrong way to do this.
Set your table with plates, napkins, wine or drink glasses, and maybe some candles or a pretty centerpiece. Now you are ready for Happy Hour.
We also, like to take this cheeseboard to potlucks and picnics, but the other day I just made this cheeseboard, wrapped it in plastic wrap, and took it on our boat for a sunset cruise around the lake. It was awesome! And, I found some tasty drinks from this list of 15 Boating Drinks and Cocktails To Try This Summer, for cocktail hour.
Pro tips for making your cheeseboard attractive
- Start with a board or platter that is big enough to hold all the food and think how much cheese is needed per person.
- Choose a theme and work around that, for example, a holiday, football, Italian, or a birthday.
- For the cheeses you want different textures and sizes for a prettier presentation, add whole wedges, cubes, and slices of cheese. If you have a wheel of cheese, slice it but keep the slices together in the wheel shape.
- Add color to the board with foods that go with the season or event, berries in the summer, and apples in the fall. A bowl of colorful candies or jam adds some extra bling.
- When styling the board, keep the cheese apart, then add the other foods in between.
- For the charcuterie, try folding or rolling the meats for a fun presentation
- Don't forget all the fun garnishes you can add.
FAQ's
Ideally, a meat and cheese board should only be left out for two hours. And, it is best to serve cheese at room temperature, so that time is included in the two hours.
Yes, you can. Everything can be put on a cheese board except a few items. Breads, crackers, and nuts will get stale or soften so add these items at the last minute.
Really juicy fruits or veggies should also be added at the last minute.
Parmagiano-Reggiano Cheese is an Italian designation for this dry-aged granular cheese. This is a regulated cheese that can only be produced in specific areas of Italy, and you will see the name stamped on the cheese rind.
Parmesan Cheese is the American version of Parmagiano-Reggiano Cheese but this is not regulated. The American version is usually aged for 10 months but you can still get a tasty cheese with nice complex flavors.
Because of the granular crystalline texture of parmesan cheese, it is best to use a parmesan cheese knife or chisel knife to cut a wedge of cheese into flakes or shards.
Try Asiago, Pecorino Romano or Dry Jack.
More favorite recipes
Parmesan Cheese Charcuterie
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Ingredients
- 1 wedge Parmigiano-Reggiano Cheese
- 1 bowl Baked Ricotta with Parmesean Cheese Dip
- 1 bowl Parmesan-Reggiano Cheese with Balsamic Vinegar
- Prosicutto, Capocollo, Salame, Sopressata
- Apricot Parmesan Pinwheels
- Deviled eggs
- French baguette, sliced
- Sourdough crackers
- 1 bowl Pistachios
- 1 bunch Red Grapes
- White button mums and rosemary sprigs
Instructions
- Select a board or platter large enough to hold all the food
- Start with the largest items. For this board add the large wedge of Parmesan-Reggiano and the dish of baked ricotta.
- Place a bowl of Parmesan-Reggiano cheese nuggets topped with a splash of balsamic vinegar, and a small bowl of pistachios
- Add the meats, deviled eggs, pinwheels, bread, and crackers
- Tuck in the grapes, flowers, and rosemary
Serving
- It is best to serve cheese at room temperature for the best flavor
- A cheeseboard should only be left out for two hours.
Notes
- Be creative, there is no right or wrong way to make a cheese board
- Use some small bowls to hold smaller items and spreads
- Don't forget a cheese knife
- Serve your cheese a room temperature for the best flavor
First published: Oct. 21, 2018, Last updated: May 6, 2022, for better readability.
About Jere'
From learning to cook on a farm in Indiana to culinary school in California, my passion for food is never-ending. Turning on my oven to bake something for friends and family is my happy place, and I am glad to be here at One Hot Oven sharing both sweet and savory family-friendly recipes for your cooking and baking inspiration.
Deborah
You've provided some great ideas and tips for making a cheese board. Love the idea of using one type of cheese in various ways.