Hy-Vee Recipes and Ideas

Select a cheese or cutting board, tray, platter, or pizza stone to plate foods on and small bowls and cheese knives from Hy-Vee. Opt for a foundation sized to accommodate the foods it will hold. If needed, line it with parchment paper for food safety or to protect the tray. 

Cured and other meat products add additional savory choices. Meats may include smoked ham, prosciutto, salami, and spreads. Your Hy-Vee butcher will be able to help you decide how much of each one to buy. As a general rule of thumb, plan on 2 to 3 ounces of meat per person for an appetizer party.

See 6 Italian Meats That Aren't Pepperoni for ideas.

Choose cheeses for diversity of flavor and texture. A good mix is three to five cheeses, at least one from each of the following categories: hard (Manchego, Parmigiano-Reggiano); soft (Brie, Chevre), Blue (Gorgonzola, Roquefort); and Aged (Cheddar and Gouda). If you’re not sure, your Hy-Vee cheesemonger will be able to guide you through the selection process (and offer tasty samples). Or you can sort through different cheese families by exploring our Cheese Guide. Also, check out the Best Picks for a Cheese Board.

Bases, such as crackers, breads, and toasts, provide surfaces for guests to build a small appetizer on, and spreads, the yummy glue to hold it all together! Provide at least two bases or bread options. Bases may include: plain or toasted baguette slices, breadsticks, little biscuits, crackers, and gluten-free options. Spread choices at Hy-Vee include several types of honey, jellies, jams, and mustards.

Master the art of designing a winning cheese board by including the extras. Sweet additions include fruit salsas, dried or fresh fruit, candied nuts, and chocolate. Savory choices are olives, pickles, salty nuts, roasted peppers, tapenade, and hummus. 

Round out your board with nuts, olives, whole grain mustard, or pickled vegetables. Remember, it’s your board, so get as creative as you like. Just be sure to leave room in between items so guests can easily dig in as the cravings strike.

Light and fruity blush or white wines and even Proseccos are best paired with antipastos like charcuterie, but just remember one simple rule: When it comes to wine, if you don’t like it, don’t drink it. Always select a wine you enjoy—even if it isn’t the classic pairing.

Check out 10 Go-To Table Wines Under $20.

If you're short on time or just not up for building your own charcuterie board, you can always order one of our pre-made charcuterie or cheese boards.