How To Turn A Cheese Board Into A Meal
Turn a cheese board into dinner with these 10 ingredients and pretty presentation. Whether it’s “girl dinner” or a cheese platter for a party, you can make it a meal just by adding a few items to round out the menu. Just follow my tips, ideas and ingredients list.

Who needs a 3-course dinner when you can nibble on a charcuterie and cheese platter that exceeds expectations? Arranging an abundant board is one of the best ideas for entertaining at home or simply relaxing with a glass of wine.
Perfect Party Cheese Board for Entertaining
There are thousands of examples out there of cheese platters and charcuterie boards, including brunch boards and a chocolate & cheese dessert board. I’ve taken things a step further to turn it into a meal that gives you all the major food groups: protein, vegetables, fruits, and carbs.
This cheese platter presentation is perfect for hosting a ladies night party, a date night for two, or a casual happy hour. It’s also one of our favorite easy appetizers for girls night in!

What to Have On A Cheese Board
A traditional cheese platter will benefit from a few extra components to turn it into a well-rounded meal. But first, here are the 3 main components to start with.
- Cheeses. I think 2 types of cheeses is a good start, and you can up it to 3 if you want more variety. Sartori is a favorite brand of mine, and here I served citrus-ginger BellaVitano, and rosemary & olive oil asiago. The subtle flavors infused in the cheese are fantastic! Additionally you could have a mild blue cheese, aged cheddar, goat cheese, smoked gouda, or brie.
- Charcuterie meat. Add some protein with dried or cured meats like the sliced salami I use here. Prosciutto is a classic favorite, but if you want to step it up a notch go with Iberico ham. It’s leaner and has a firmer texture. Summer sausage is another favorite of ours.
- Vegetables. This is where your cheese board begins to broaden its scope. Include 2 types of green or colorful vegetables. They add healthy fiber and vitamins, and also looks pretty against the other ingredients. Asparagus spears and sugar snap peas, lightly steamed or blanched but still crisp, are good choices. Carrots belong on most any crudites platter so you can include them along with the green veggies. No matter how people feel about vegetables, they always love carrots!

Accompaniments
Continue building your board by adding these ingredients to the platter. They add complementary flavor and texture.
- Nuts. Add in some almonds. They give great crunch and flavor, and come in so many varieties from raw, to smoked, to roasted. Marcona almonds are a delicious and classic pairing. Walnuts and pistachios are a terrific complement to the cheeses, or a nice mixed nut combination. Give a boost of flavor with my sweet & spicy pecans or savory pecans.
- Dried fruit. The great thing about dried fruit is that it keeps well in the pantry until you need it. For this platter I serve dried mango as it goes so well with the citrus-ginger cheese. Other great choices I turn to often are dried apricots, papaya, or dried cherries.
- Fresh fruit. Serving fresh grapes with cheese and wine is as classic as, well, cheese and wine! Sliced apples and pears are also delicious, and fresh figs are great when in season.
- Crackers or bread. When making a meal out of a cheese board I find that starchy carbs like bread or crackers help to cleans the palate as well as provide a vehicle for the cheese. Here I used crunchy pita chips because they’re light, crisp, and the flavor isn’t overpowering.
- Hummus. Yet another source of protein and fiber, hummus is the perfect dip for helping turn a party cheese board into a meal. It can be used to dip the vegetables as well as the pita chips.
- Kettle chips. Kettle or gourmet potato chips are my kryptonite. I love adding them to any party platter or meal so this is a natural fit. You could say they’re kind of my signature item!
- Condiments. There are so many sauces and jams that pair perfectly with cheese. Pick a couple to add like honey (with honeycomb looks so pretty), pepper jelly, fig jam, apricot preserves. And a variety of mustards, olive tapenade, or artichoke bruschetta are good savory choices.

How to Arrange a Cheese Board
- Start with a wood cheese board, platter, or tray with a low rim. Line it with parchment paper if you want to make it easy to clean up afterward.
- Place small bowls that will hold dips, spreads, olives or pickles. Strategically place them in the middle or outer edge, leaving room for the rest of the food.
- Place cheese wedges, rounds, or slices opposite each other or in a triangle pattern.
- Place the meats the same way you placed the cheeses, or pile 1 variety in the center like I did here.
- Add vegetable slices or pieces that are easy-pickup size. Again, distribute the groupings around evenly or opposite one another.
- Nestle in nuts, chips, crackers and fruit where there is room between other groupings.
- Finish off the presentation with a garnish of edible flowers, fresh herbs, dried orange slices, or fresh cherries.

Expert Tips
- Let color, texture, shape and flavor be your guide as you prepare and assemble your party board.
- Distribute colors of food so that everything stands out on its own. Use contrast as your guiding principal when arranging food.
- Place similar items across from each other for visual appeal, and to show that they are different items. For instance, place two green items across from each other rather than next to each other.
- Create a dinner platter with some of your favorite foods for noshing. That way it’s customized to you and your guests taste.
There you have it. What do you think about serving a cheese board as a dinner platter? I could do this at least once a week and finish it up with a pretty fresh fruit board!
More Entertaining Ideas
- Host an appetizers and sangria party.
- Set up a Mexican fiesta margarita party.
- Have a wine and appetizers happy hour.
- Create a crostini and wine party.
- Have a wine and chocolate party for dessert.
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How to Make a Cheese Board for Dinner
Turn a cheese platter into dinner with these ingredients that represent all the food groups you need. Meats, vegetables, fruit, and of course, cheese! Round out with tasty accompaniments.
Ingredients
1 to 3 Cured Meats (2-3-oz. per person)
- Salami medallions or slices
- Prosciutto
- Summer sausage
2 to 3 Cheeses (8-oz. each)
- BellaVitano
- Asiago
- Aged cheddar
- Smoked gouda
- Brie
- Goat cheese
- Mild blue cheese (gorgonzola, Maytag blue, or Danish blue)
2-3 Vegetables (raw or blanched)
- Asparagus
- Pea pods
- Carrots
- Broccoli
- Celery
2-3 Fruit (dried and fresh)
- Dried mango, apricots or papaya
- Dried cherries
- Fresh apples, pears, figs
- Grapes
Nuts
- Almonds - smoked or Marcona
- Walnuts
- Pistachios
Condiments, Dips, Sauce
- Hummus
- 1 jar Olive Tapenade
- 1 jar Artichoke bruschetta
- Honey with honeycomb
- Fig jam
- Pepper jelly
- Apricot preserves
- Course grain mustard, Dijon mustard, or honey mustard
Munchies
- Gourmet potato chips
- French baguette slices
- Water crackers or artisan crackers
Garnishes
- Fresh herbs like rosemary, thyme, basil, or oregano
- Edible flowers
- Fresh cherries
Extras
- Cornichons
- Olives
Instructions
- Start by placing small bowls in the center or outer edge of the platter, board, or tray. Fill bowls with condiments and other wet ingredients.
- Arrange cheeses and meats in a uniform pattern, and across from each other.
- Add vegetables and fruit paying attention to color. Spread out similar hues so they're not right next to each other.
- Fill in the spaces with nuts and extras, and garnish.
- Garnish and provide small knives, spoons and forks for serving.
Another gorgeous spread, my friend! I love each of your grazing boards!
Thanks; I can’t get enough of them, Bird! 😀