Charcuterie boards are a crowd favorite. Here are 100 easy ideas for creating the best breakfast charcuterie board for any occasion.
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FAQ
What does charcuterie mean?
Charcuterie means “cooked meats”, often referring to cured meats such as salami, prosciutto, and pepperoni.
Cured meats along with a variety of hard and soft cheeses are a staple component to the traditional charcuterie board.
What to put on a breakfast grazing board?
Below I have listed 100 ideas for what to put on a breakfast grazing board.
Here is a FREE PRINTABLE I created so you can plan out the best breakfast charcuterie board for any occasion.
What is the 3333 rule?
The 3333 rule refers to 4 different categories to incorporate on traditional charcuterie boards.
3 options for starches, 3 meats, 3 cheeses, and 3 accouterments (sauces, dips, toppings).
This rule gives a nice framework for building out your breakfast spread with just enough variety.
Though I find it depends on the amount of people you are feeding and let’s be honest, sometimes I just want to add more or less because that is what I have or creativity takes over. 😉
What to avoid on a charcuterie board?
- Foods that turn brown when exposed to oxygen such as bananas, avocados, and even apples (unless you dip in lemon juice to prevent the browning).
- Runny foods without a container. If a food is juicy or has some kind of runny component, make sure that it is placed within a container to prevent leaking over other foods.
- Putting greasy or juicy foods next to starches. Most starches will absorb moisture from the foods that touch them. If you have a high moisture component, I recommend placing it away from your starches or placing a garnish in between the components, such as kale, to prevent touching. You can also just leave some space between the two.
- Inedible plants for garnish. There are some beautiful plants and greenery that are actually inedible and even toxic to consume. Things such as eucalyptus, though pretty, is actually not a good garnish to be around food since the plant itself is inedible.
Can I prep a charcuterie board ahead of time?
I like to prep as many components as I can ahead of time.
Anything I am planning to put in small bowls such as jams, jellies, olives, dips, or even some fruits, I like to place in the designated bowl and cover with plastic wrap in the refrigerator until I am ready to place on my breakfast board.
FREE Charcuterie Board Planner
The following elements provide some inspiration for your next easy breakfast charcuterie board along with notes to think about when making the best selections:
Don’t forget to get your Free Planner to building the perfect, easy breakfast charcuterie board.
This planner is designed with a simple format to help you get started on creating a charcuterie board that is sure to be a show-stopper.
100+ Breakfast Charcuterie Board Ideas
Note that any of these ideas are adaptable to how simple or complex you want to make them. Many of these ideas can be purchased at your local grocery store and displayed beautifully on your breakfast board. 🙂
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Starches
Mini pancakes
These are adorable and a wonderful way to incorporate favorite breakfast items.
Mini waffles
These easy fluffy sourdough waffles. Just divide the waffles into quarters for smaller serving sizes easy to serve.
Mini cinnamon rolls
These sourdough brioche cinnamon rolls or sourdough pumpkin cinnamon rolls would be so cute made smaller and baked in a mini muffin tray for smaller servings.
Mini bagels
Mini muffins
Sourdough discard lemon berry muffins baked in a mini muffin pan would be delicious and add pops of color and flavor.
Petite scones
Such as these delicious sourdough discard maple scones.
Mini donuts or donut holes
English muffins
Use a small cookie scoop for miniature serving sizes of homemade english muffins.
Crepes
Danishes
Croissants
Pastry braid
Cut a pastry braid into slices for a fun texture on your breakfast board. Delicious.
Mini French toast sticks
Pigs in a blanket
Pigs in a blanket can be made by pouring pancake batter over slices of breakfast sausage and baking in a muffin tin.
These were a favorite for me growing up!
Mini Dutch baby pancakes
Mini Dutch baby pancakes can be made by pouring Dutch baby batter into a muffin pan and baking.
These are the perfect finger food serving size.
Oatmeal bites
Bowls of granola
Display bowls of granola with a small serving spoon to top yogurt parfaits, smoothie or acai bowls.
Biscotti
Toast and Fresh Bread
Toast is fun to slice different ways or even cut into shapes for a different flare to your spread.
You also can’t go wrong with soft, fresh, bread and butter at the breakfast table.
Fresh fruit
Orange slices
I like to leave the rind on the oranges when slicing for a crowd.
This makes for less messy handling and less juice on my breakfast board.
Fresh berries
Fresh berries are a beautiful garnish and a nice border between foods.
Grapes
My favorite way to display grapes is to cut them into little bunches of 3-4 grapes on the vine.
This prevents the grapes from rolling all over the board and is a nice serving size for a crowd.
Kiwi
Sliced bananas
I know I said bananas are not a good option because they brown, BUT if you cut a banana in half with the peel still intact, you can put the exposed part of the banana face down on your board to prevent browning.
This also creates a nice, sanitary way for serving without touching food with bare hands.
Melon
Melons are another option I would most likely leave the rind on for a pop of color, differing texture, and serving purposes.
Cutting melons into different shapes is a great way to be creative with tying the theme of your event to your breakfast board.
Pineapple
I would place sliced pineapple in a bowl since it is a juicier fruit. No one wants pineapple juice-soaked toast.
Grapefruit
Sliced with the rind on.
Figs
Figs are a fun, low moisture fruit that add a nice texture to a charcuterie board and fill in free spaces without ruining other components with juices.
Protein
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, especially for protein!
Here are some great ideas to make sure your breakfast spread has protein-packed, savory items for the whole family.
Egg cups
Hard-boiled eggs
Crispy bacon
Sausage links or patties
Ham steaks
Salami roses
Salami roses are adorable and a very creative way to dress up any cheese board, snack board, or breakfast board and often are the star of the show. See below for instructions on how to make them!
Mini chicken fried steaks
This was my husbands suggestion since chicken fried steaks are his favorite breakfast food. I’m thinking I could make a sort of chicken fried steak nuggets…maybe for his birthday. 😉
Cheeses
Cheddar slices
Cream cheese spread
Brie cheese
Cottage cheese
Cream cheese fruit dip
Goat cheese
Spreads and Dips
Yogurt dip
My favorite yogurt dip is equal parts whole milk organic yogurt, and cream cheese with maple syrup to taste.
Mixed with a hand mixer for best texture.
This dip is delicious to fill crepes or dip fruit into.
Jams
Jellies
Preserves
Fruit butter
Have you ever had homemade apple butter on waffles? It’s one of our family’s breakfast favorites.
Swirled into oatmeal, spread on bread, or topped on pancakes; jams, jellies, preserves, and fruit butter all add a nice sweet accouterment to an easy charcuterie board.
Nut butters
Maple butter
Berry cream cheese spreads
Honey
Fruit butter
Maple syrup
Flavored syrup
Herb butter
Chocolate spread
Butter
Peanut butter
Whipped cream
Clotted cream
Honey butter
Garnishes
Sifted powdered sugar
Fresh herbs (mint, rosemary, thyme, sage, parsley)
Fresh mint, sprigs of rosemary, thyme, fresh sage leaves, and curly parsley are all great options for garnishing any charcuterie board.
Edible flowers (lavender, pansies)
Candied nuts
Roasted Nuts
Chocolate chips
Ornamental kale
Leaving the tops on fresh strawberries
Fancy fruit cuts
Shape the pancakes
Dried fruit
Leave rinds on melons
Sprinkles
Seeds
Savory options
Arugula
Tomato slices
Romaine lettuce
Biscuits and gravy
Pairs well with
- Mimosa bar
- Coffee bar
- Hot chocolate bar
- Tea
Occasions
Christmas morning
What a fun way to serve your family their favorite breakfast foods, by decorating a festive big board this holiday morning.
Mother’s Day Breakfast Platter
Baby shower
Bridal shower
Birthday Breakfast
Easter Brunch Charcuterie Board
Sunday Brunch Board
If we host a gathering on the weekend around the later morning hour, we always opt for weekend brunches. Not many people are opposed to this idea and with the variety of options, everyone can find something to enjoy.
Just because
Tea time
Weddings
Other special occasions
Board to use
- Basic cutting board
- Wooden board
- Baking sheet
- Piece of butcher paper on a countertop or tabletop
- Large platter
- Marble board or slab
Utensils to use
- Toothpicks
- Tongs
- Spoons
- Honey stirrers
- Cheese spreader
- Knives
This set here is a great starter set.
Order of placement
- First place out your board of choice.
- Then, I like to line my board with parchment paper for easy cleanup and protection of the wood if using a wood board.
- Next, I place out my bowls and little pitchers.
- After that, I lay out the starch components. (In my pictured breakfast board, I chose waffles)
- Then I place my proteins, meat, and cheeses.
- Next, I lay out the fruit, nuts and other fillers.
- After all of my components are placed, I fill my bowls and add garnishes where there is empty space or where a separation is needed between foods.
- Finally, place your labels (if hosting) and utensils.
- Enjoy!
Tips for the Best Breakfast Charcuterie Board
How to store what doesn’t get eaten
Whatever ends up as the leftovers, I store them in an air tight container in the refrigerator in a silicone bag or glass food storage container.
I also will store extras in an air tight container in the refrigerator in case I need to refill anything.
If I am hosting a big party, I don’t typically keep food that has been touched with bare hands. This is why it’s important to have appropriate serving utensils for everything!
To make salami roses:
- Get a 2 oz. shot glass.
- Layer a salami slice halfway over the side of the glass rim so that one half is lining the inside and the other half is lining the outside.
- Next, overlap another slice of salami the same way, halfway over the first salami slice.
- Continue with salami slices until the shot glass is surrounded. (This takes about 6-7 slices)
- Finally, take a last salami slice and cup the inside of the other slices, creating a sort of bottom to the rose.
- Very carefully, turn the shot glass over and remove the rose.
Create + have fun!
I hope something sparked inspiration for your next delicious breakfast charcuterie board!
Don’t forget your FREE Printable!
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