I love a charcuterie board anytime of the year, but my favorite times to make one are Summer and Fall because there are so many interesting elements to add! Up your cheese board game and make a show stopping board that’s pretty and tasty AND… you might even consider serving it for dinner, because, who wants to cook when it’s 90 degrees outside!

The best cheese boards include a variety of elements that compliment each other such as nuts, berries, fruits, olives, and of course a variety of cheeses along with meats and don’t forget the olives! Look around at antique and consignment stores for interesting boards and containers to hold condiments to give your board more personality! Etsy also has lots of options for different boards so be sure to check their website!

If you’re hosting an event, large or small, consider making a picture perfect charcuterie board! It’ll make your life easier and make a beautiful presentation at the same time!

Keep reading for some inspiration and tips on how to up level your charcuterie game for easy summer entertaining!

When making a summer charcuterie board, make sure to include your favorite cheeses plus seasonal fruits and veggies if you like. I prefer to serve fruit with my cheese, so I used cherries, kiwi, strawberries and added fresh herbs. Dried mango is one of my favorite things for a cheese board, so I usually include it in every season! Nuts, and cured meats such as salami and/or prosciutto are a must. Green olives lighten things up even more and you can easily corral them in an olive dish! I love adding condiments such as honey or pepper jelly in pretty little bowls…I used peach preserves and honey on this board. Don’t forget to add salted nuts and a variety of interesting crackers or bread slices. I also added some mint and a hydrangea flower to bring a little more seasonality.

When you’re beginning to create your board, place the largest items on the board first including any empty bowls (to be filled later), and that will give you a visual of how much room you have left for everything else. Fan meats around the cheese and add smaller more delicate ingredients strategically to create an interesting and visually appealing board!

Feel free to cut some of your cheese into slices to serve. This is nice for using leftover cheese that doesn’t look good whole anymore, but is still fresh and delicious. It also adds a nice balance to the board. Your guests can create a masterpiece on a cracker or simply pop a piece of cheese into their mouths.

You all know how much I love creating and eating Charcuterie boards and I’ve made quite a few so be sure to check out the food section of Crazy Blonde Life for more ideas and as always…I love your comments!

The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale is now public for everyone to shop so I’m including a few more items below that you may want to grab while they’re on sale!