How To Set Up A Chili Charcuterie Board Like A Boss

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A charcuterie board is a super fun and festive way to celebrate with your food. Whether it is snacks, desserts, or a main course, building a charcuterie board can make you feel like an artist and make a show-stopping table. This board has a hot pot of chili in the center surrounded by groups of breads, vegetables, chips, dips, and cheese.

There are all kinds of charcuterie boards but today I am going to show you how to set up a chili charcuterie board like a boss. It might look like a lot of work and it is a little but it is mostly fun!

Make a list of all your favorite sides and favorite toppings that go with chili (see my list below) and go to the grocery store. Check out my recipe for low-sodium chili here to use as the center of this board. This favorite chili recipe is made with simple ingredients like ground beef, black beans, tomatoes, chili powder, and other spices. It can be made on the stovetop and simmered there or in a slow cooker (crockpot). It is the perfect addition to your chili charcuterie board.

What Is A Charcuterie Board

A charcuterie board is a platter of meats, cheeses, and other accompaniments. It is typically served as an appetizer or light meal. To set up a charcuterie board, you will need a variety of meats, cheeses, and accompaniments. Some popular choices include:

• Meats: cured meats such as salami, prosciutto, and chorizo; smoked meats such as ham and bacon; and fresh meats such as chicken, beef, and pork
• Cheeses: a variety of hard and soft cheeses, such as cheddar, brie, and goat cheese
• Accompaniments: crackers, bread, nuts, dried fruit, and fruit preserves

Once you have your ingredients, you can arrange them on a board or platter in a visually appealing way. Here are a few tips for setting up a successful charcuterie board:

• Choose a board or platter that is the right size for your group.
• Arrange the items in a variety of shapes and sizes.
• Use different colors and textures to create visual interest.
• Include a variety of flavors to appeal to everyone’s taste.
• Serve the board with napkins, cheese knives, and other utensils.

Charcuterie boards are a great idea to entertain guests or enjoy a meal with friends or family. They are versatile options to serve different foods that can be tailored to your preferences.

Check out my full guide to charcuterie boards here.

​What Kind Of Board To Use

First off a charcuterie board is something you can make your own. I have made several and one time I used a large round pizza pan. It all depends on what you are serving and when. Use bold colors or keep it neutral – do it in your style to fit the occasion. 

Here are some suggestions of what to use to create a chili bar:

• Large wooden board
• Cutting board 
• Round pan – either metal or wood
• Serving tray – any shape or size
• Rectangle or slender board
• Serving platter
• Plates
• Cooking sheet

For this chili charcuterie, I thought about doing something rustic and wooden boards were just the thing. The boards we used were special because we collected the driftwood on our up-north vacation. My husband put this big board together with some sanding and a few screws for cross pieces on the back. I needed something big and this turned out perfect.

To keep the food and the wood clean, I added sheets of plastic wrap and taped them on the bottom edge. Poster putty would have worked better than tape but you work with what you have. That is the fun with these types of boards, you can get creative with every aspect.

Foods To Serve On A Charcuterie A Chili Charcuterie Board Like A Boss

There are countless foods and many ways to organize your charcuterie board. Let’s focus on what to serve with chili. There is a rule of 3s when it comes to styling, odd-numbered sections of each type of food work best, different colors and heights, and groups of the same type of food. Such as 3 cheeses, 3 chips, 3 dips…

 Here are some suggestions for chili toppings to make a good charcuterie board:

Breads:

• Cornbread
• No knead dinner rolls
• Sliced bread
• Potato rolls
• Hot dog buns with hotdogs or sausages

Vegetables:

• Sliced jalapenos
• Pickled onions, cucumbers, and jalapenos
• Diced tomato
• Avocado
• Celery sticks
• Carrot sticks
• Green onion
• Chili peppers, diced
• Cooked corn
• Lime wedges
• Bell pepper sticks

Chips:

• Tortilla chips
• Potato chips
• Frito corn chips
• Nacho cheese chips

Dips:

• Sour Cream
• Salsa
• Olive oil
• Ranch
• Maple syrup
• Chili oil
• French onion dip
• Queso fresco

Other:

• Cheese – all kinds (shredded or slices)
• Tater tots
• Hot dogs
• Oyster crackers
• Saltines
• Round crackers
• Parsley
• A little cilantro
• Dried cranberries and raisins
• Fried onions

How To Set Up A Charcuterie A Chili Charcuterie Board Like A Boss

1. Choose food items that have different colors, textures, and sizes to make the serving board look really awesome. 

2. Chop and Dice all the veggies and anything else that needs to be cut up.

3. Use smaller bowls for sauces and shredded cheeses. (Any bowls will work – get creative and mismatch if you like)

4. Cut up rolls and cornbread.

5. Heat up the chili. Make the macaroni and put it in a large bowl to serve. 

6. Set the bowl of chili (or a prop) in the center of the board and start building from the inside out. 

7. Groups of 3 or 5 look pleasing – make small piles or groups in a circle around the pot of chili. 

8. Build outwards filling in all of the remaining space or any gaps.

9. Set the chili pot that has been heated to medium heat on a hot pad in the center space with a ladle. 

10. Set out dishes, cutlery, and napkins. Enjoy!

​​How To Serve A Charcuterie Board

Serving a chili charcuterie board is the fun part. Make sure all of the sauces and other items have utensils if needed. Set out the bowls, napkins, and utensils. Set the hot pot of chili in the center space with a ladle and ring the dinner bell.

When To Serve A Charcuterie Chili Board

​Setting up a chili charcuterie board like a boss doesn’t require a special occasion, but it is a fun and festive way to feast with others. It is a great way to serve a lot of people or just a few.

Here are some thoughts for serving this delicious spread:

• Game Day – perfect for the big game eaters
• Sunday Dinner
• Any weekend during the colder months!
• Non-traditional Thanksgiving
• Halloween
• Birthdays – (this was actually my birthday dinner)
• Christmas Eve Dinner

Serve this chili charcuterie board alongside other boards such as:

• A Cheese Ball! – Many of the same dippers would work beautifully with this delicious and simple cheese ball.
• Butter board – a board with room temperature butter spread out and topped with a variety of items such as herbs, nuts, and chili oils. This is great to dip pieces of bread in. 
• Cheese boards – a board or platter with a variety of different cuts and types of cheese usually accompanied by fresh and dried fruits and nuts.
• Bread board – all types of bread (maybe a cornbread center) sliced up and ready to grab.
• Fruit board – Different types of fresh and dried fruits.
• Drink board – Set a tray with different beverages, glassware, and napkins.
• Dessert board – choose some of your favorite desserts and arrange them all together.
• Hummus Board – my favorite! See the photo below and here the the recipe for hummus.

Wrapping Up How To Set Up A Chili Charcuterie Board Like A Boss

The best part of making this chili charcuterie board full of great appetizers and side dishes that pair perfectly is EATING. Everyone can make up their own individual bowls any way they like. It is the perfect way to serve a crowd or picky eaters because all the bowls end up differently.

This is a collage photo of my family’s bowls- a big shout-out to all of them for being a part of the photoshoot. This chili board quickly became a family favorite and took my low-sodium chili to the next level. 

I’d love to hear what you put yours together with, let me know in the comment section below.

Cheers,

Sarah

The carnage…

Guide For How To Set Up A Chili Charcuterie Board Like A Boss

Yield: Feeds 10 people

How To Set Up A Chili Charcuterie Board Like A Boss

Print

A charcuterie board is a super fun and festive way to celebrate with your food. This show-stopping board has a hot pot of chili in the center surrounded by groups of breads, vegetables, chips, dips, and cheese.

(Char-cute-airy)

Active Time 30 minutes

Total Time 30 minutes

Materials

• Chili
• Macaroni
• Celery, bell pepper, and carrot sticks
• Lime wedges
• Oyster crackers
• Jalapenos
• Saltines
• Tortilla scoop chips
• Corn Bread
• Slices of wheat bread
• Potato Rolls
• Shredded cheeses
• Sour Cream
• Green onions
• Fried onions
• Corn
• Parsley

Instructions

1. Choose food items that have different colors, textures, and sizes to make the serving board look really awesome. 
2. Chop and Dice all the veggies and anything else that needs to be cut up.
3. Use smaller bowls for sauces and shredded cheeses. (Any bowls will work - get creative and mismatch if you like)
4. Roll any meats into fun shapes, cut up rolls and cornbread.
5. Heat up the chili. Make the macaroni and put it in a large bowl to serve. 
6. Set the bowl of chili (or a prop) in the center of the board and start building from the inside out. 
7. Groups of 3 or 5 look pleasing - make small piles or groups in a circle around the pot of chili. 
8. Build outwards filling in all of the remaining space or any gaps.
9. Set the chili that has been heated to medium heat on a hot pad in the center space with a ladle. 
10. Set out dishes, cutlery, and napkins. Enjoy!

Notes

There are countless foods and many ways to organize your charcuterie board. Most of all have FUN!

There is a rule of 3s when it comes to styling, odd-numbered sections of each type of food work best, different colors and heights, and groups of the same type of food. Such as 3 cheeses, 3 chips, 3 dips...

Here is a link to the chili recipe

https://inspiredhomemaker.com/how-to-make-easy-low-sodium-chili-with-ground-beef-beans/