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Take all the pain out of prep with these ready-to-serve (and eat!) charcuterie gift basket sets.
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There’s a reason meat and cheese platters remain an enduring gift option for anyone who enjoys a savory snack. After all, what says “party” louder than charcuterie?
Whether it’s for an event, to give as a gift or to simply satisfy a snack craving, securing a charcuterie gift basket is easier than ever thanks to online ordering. While these charcuterie boxes and gift baskets arrive right on the recipient’s doorstep, any perishables are safe to eat thanks to insulated mailing methods and clever packaging.
Even better? No trip to the store is necessary for these tasty care packages. Plus, many of the selections on this list of editor favorites include meats, cheeses and accoutrements that you can’t find in your local grocery aisles.
These gift baskets and boxes are so much more thoughtful (and far more delicious) than sending a gift card. Springing for one of these fun food gifts may also cost less than curating your own board from scratch. Some of the picks on this list even arrive fully assembled, so there’s no need to waste valuable time slicing, dicing and arranging. Now that’s a lazy kitchen hack we can get behind!
For the lovebirds
Lover's Medium Cheese & Charcuterie Board
Whether they are hosting an engagement or anniversary party or they’re just enjoying a date night at home, the lovebirds in your life will love this charcuterie platter from Boarderie. It features black truffle salami, peppered salami, eight cheeses and nearly a dozen accompaniments, including crackers, nuts, figs and chocolate. The best part? It also comes personalized with their initials in cheese. It all comes fully arranged and ready to devour.
For the francophile
Tour de France Gift Crate
Gift them the flavors of France with this expert-curated box from Williams Sonoma. Selections include fruitwood-smoked salmon, triple-crème cheese, pork pâté, blinis and trout roe. All these goodies arrive in the company’s signature wooden crate, ready to be transformed into a beautiful charcuterie board.
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For the one with Mardi Gras spirit
Cochon Butcher Charcuterie Box
New Orleans’ Cochon Butcher is known for its house-made sandwiches and charcuterie, and now you can ship some of that Crescent City goodness anywhere in the country with Goldbelly. This charcuterie board features mortadella, cotto salami, soppressata, hog head cheese and coppa. It comes with a jar of Abita Amber mustard for added flavor. You can even add on Cochon Butcher merch, including a cutting board and bandana.
For the sports fans
Pre-Game Gathering Charcuterie Gift Basket
Whether it’s the Super Bowl or any given game day, this is the way to kick off a watch party. This charcuterie board is a mix of sweet and savory snacks, featuring salami, cheese, olives, popcorn, pretzels and cookies. It also comes with cans of beer and cocktails, making this a a fully stocked game day box.
For half-time dessert
Game Day Dessert Board
We interrupt this parade of meat and cheese to bring you an all-dessert charcuterie board. While it’s not technically charcuterie, we don’t think anyone will mince words when faced with this charming football-themed spread of fresh and chocolate-dipped fruit and chocolate chip cookies. The small board serves two to four people while the medium board serves up to 10; you can even upgrade and add some brownies for the win.
For the easygoing host
Ready to Serve Charcuterie Board
It can take a bit of time to assemble a charcuterie platter, which is why we love it when there are gorgeous, ready-to-serve options like this one from Harry & David. Whether you’re hosting a get-together or are taking some of the load off a friend or family member who’s doing the honors, you’ll make it easy for everyone to just unwrap this beautiful board and serve. It comes in four sizes, serving 4 to 14 people, and features a selection of meats, cheeses, fruit and nuts.
For the birthday celebration
Birthday Cheese & Charcuterie Board
If you think the cake is the highlight of a birthday party, this charcuterie board would like a word. For starters, it features the birthday person’s age in cheese. And secondly, in addition to that charming custom touch, it also features nearly 40 types of cheese, meats, olives, dried fruit, nuts, chocolates and spreads, plus three boxes of crackers. It all comes arranged on an acacia board; choose from three sizes, serving from two to 10 people.
For your honey
Beehive Cheese Gift Crate
If you haven’t tried a dab of honey on a slice of salami, you’re missing out. Or, you could just order this savory and sweet charcuterie board and find out what all the fuss is about. In addition to a jar of delicious honey, you’ll also get a delicious cheese plate from Utah’s Beehive Creamery that features two types of cheese, salami, crackers and more.
For the seafood lover
New York City Seafood Spread Bundle
Whether they’re a pescatarian or just really like seafood, they’ll love this seafood spread bundle from Fulton Fish Market. It features king crab legs, blue shrimp, dry sea scallops, cooked lobster and smoked salmon. Now, those first three items do need cooking, but we think it’s worth it to make such an impressive seacuterie board.
For the beginning charcuterie artist
Mini Holiday Charcuterie Board
For someone who’s just starting their charcuterie journey, they might appreciate a bit of guidance on building their first boards. This adorable mini charcuterie board kit walks them through how to make a “Christmas tree” out of delicious meats and cheeses. The set comes with a bamboo cutting board on which they will artfully arrange sausage, two types of cheese and mini chocolate “presents.” They can even cut “snowflakes” out of the cheese using the included cutter.
For Epicureans
Spanish Charcuterie Sampler
If you’ve ever been to Spain, you’re likely familiar with jamon Iberico. The specialty charcuterie meat comes from a rare breed of Iberian pigs that primarily eat acorns, making for an especially rich, nutty flavor. It’s on practically every menu in its home country, but you’ll be hard pressed to find it in your local grocery store. Enter Campo Grande, the meat delivery service bringing you Spain’s finest type of pork in a charcuterie gift basket no matter where you live.
Our Deputy Shopping Editor, Reina Galhea, sampled Campo Grande charcuterie meats and found them exceptionally rich and flavorful. “I’m a charcuterie lover, and I’ve eaten (more than) my fair share of cured meat,” she says. “The Iberico versions of those familiar meats turned my tastebuds up to 11. The salchichon was pepperier than typical salami, the chorizo saltier and more crumbly than grocery store versions and the coppa super rich and funky in a good way, like a French cheese.”
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For the Frequent Snacker
Charcuterie Subscription Box
Whether it’s a date night dinner or a casual snack, charcuterie is easy, elegant and enjoyable for almost any occasion. Frequent snackers can rely on a monthly delivery of meats, cheeses, spreads, crackers and accoutrements with a subscription to Platterful. This editor-loved gift lets you choose from a large box that feeds up to eight, or a standard shipment with enough goodies for up to four folks. In her testing, Reina was particularly impressed with the variety and flavor, especially for the price point.
For the Casual Snacker
Simple Charcuterie Box
For a simple collection of three cheeses and three types of salami, this charcuterie board from Harry & David has a lot to love. The sweet and savory flavors are curated to complement each other—all you need to do is add crackers and wine. Talk about the ultimate cheese board pairing!
For the Meat Lover
Sliced Charcuterie Bundle
Those who are dairy-free or simply prefer salted meats, we hear you. This all meat charcuterie gift features some of the finest meats you’ll see on this list, including wagyu bresaola, duck prosciutto, jambon de Bayonne, Iberico ham and pork saucisson. While you can always bring your own cheese and crackers (BYOC?), we think this board has plenty to offer on its own.
For Any Occasion
Classic Bites & Board Gift Set
This charcuterie assortment comes with delicious sausage, salami, cheeses and hot mustard—all on a mango wood board. It is one of the more budget-friendly selections, and even comes with a cleaver for cutting. Gifting to a loved one? Pair it with these cheese board gift ideas.
For the Vegetarian
Greatest Hits Gift Box
No meat? No problem. This vegetarian-friendly charcuterie kit may be missing meat, but it’s still chock full of tasty goodies. Top the gruyère, manchego, brie and cheddar with a dollop of spiced cherry preserves for a burst of flavor alongside almonds and a stack of sea salt and olive oil crackers. Enjoy more creamy dairy offerings by supplementing this charcuterie gift basket with a cheese subscription.
For the Wine Drinker
Italian Wines and Antipasto Gift Box
A double decker gift box that’s bursting with wine and meat and cheese? Sounds like a party we’d like to be a part of! This Italian-inspired antipasto charcuterie gift basket includes nearly every flavor profile, from sweet cream-filled puff pastries to creamy fontina cheese, spiced sliced salami and two bottles of red wine. Give this present a pop of color with a custom ribbon for an additional fee.
For the Friend Who Prefers Savory
Not Too Sweet Charcuterie Gift
Between maple-glazed smoked salmon, fig and walnut jelly, smoked dark chocolate and small wheel of brie, this elegant charcuterie gift box is perfect for those that appreciate the savory side of life. Aside from the delightful curated snacks, each keepsake box comes with a pretty paddle board and matte brass spoon for serving.
For the Traveler
International Charcuterie Gift Box
You may not go around the world in 80 days, but your tastebuds sure will with this international charcuterie gift box. With selections like Emmentaler from Switzerland, Irish shortbread and Canadian cranberry chevre with cinnamon, it’s easy to see why the wannabe jetsetter would find this assortment almost as enlightening as hopping on a plane.
For a Little of Everything
Taste of DiBruno Charcuterie Box
Order it for the famous port wine spread and stay for the assortment of snacks. The Taste of DiBruno gift box comes with a diverse spread that has a little something for everyone. Candied nuts, crunchy twice-baked crostini and air-cured Di Bruno Bros salami offer a selection that’ll satisfy any palate.
For the Fruit Fan
Fruit-Based Charcuterie Kit
Cheese, salami, nuts and dried cranberries—there’s a lot to love about this fruity charcuterie assortment! What sets this board apart from others is the added fresh fruit, including Gala and Granny Smith apples and juicy red or green pears.
For the Plant-Based
Classic Vegan Charcuterie and Cheese Assortment
This vegan charcuterie kit is for plant-based individuals and includes an assortment of meats, cheeses and breads made without animal products. If you know someone fully plant-based, they can still enjoy a quality charcuterie plate with this gift basket.
FAQ
What is the 3-3-3-3 rule for charcuterie boards?
More of a loose guideline than a real rule, this suggests that every charcuterie board should feature three meats, cheeses, starches (like breads and crackers) and additional accouterments (like fruits, veggies, nuts, etc.). The intention is to create a balance between all the ingredients.
How long can charcuterie sit out?
The Mayo Clinic suggests that a charcuterie board shouldn’t sit out for longer than two hours, as that’s the amount of time it takes for some dangerous bacteria to potentially propagate in the food. If you’re worried about food waste, we’d recommend making several smaller boards that can be rotated in and out as they expire.
What are things to avoid on a charcuterie board?
While there’s nothing specifically you must avoid, some ingredients are best served cooked and don’t really work in charcuterie—like eggplant, Brussels sprouts, zucchini, mushrooms, etc. There are some alternatives and exceptions (marinated mushrooms, for instance, can be quite delicious on the right charcuterie board), but it’s best to avoid foods that don’t serve well raw.
What does charcuterie mean literally?
Translated from the French, charcuterie means “pork butcher’s shop.” Technically, the word only refers to the cured meats often served on cheese boards, but it has become a more widespread colloquialism referring to the entire board and all its ingredients.
What do you put in a charcuterie basket?
Besides an array of cheeses and dried meats, you can add in dried fruits, nuts, jams, olives and crackers. Oh, and don’t forget the wine!
Why You Should Trust Us
Emily Way is Taste of Home’s shopping editor, covering all things food and lifestyle. She tested hundreds of products from pizza ovens to cheese of the month clubs, all in search of the best, tastiest and most affordable items.
Barbara Bellesi Zito, a Taste of Home contributor, also added to this piece. In her own charcuterie journey, she has developed a passion for prosciutto and prefers hard cheese to soft.
