Looking for the best crackers for a charcuterie board? Look no further! We’ll help you find just the right crackers to complete your perfect charcuterie board!
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What’s not to love about a charcuterie board?! It’s a simple and easy way to impress guests at your next gathering!
Start with a nice big board….add a few different types of cheese, some salami or other cured meat products, a little fresh fruit…and of course, CRACKERS!!!
But to make your next charcuterie board FANTASTIC, simple saltine crackers just won’t do! Noooo way! STEP AWAY FROM THE SALTINES!!
Here’s a list of the best crackers for a charcuterie board…
THE 10 BEST CRACKERS FOR A CHARCUTERIE BOARD
Water Crackers: Water crackers seem to be the classic cracker on any charcuterie board. While they aren’t my personal favorite, I DO think they are a perfect canvas for rich, pungent cheeses with bold flavors on your board such as blue cheese, sharp cheddar, and other aged cheeses.
Carr’s Table Water Crackers seem to be the go-to water cracker brand.
Multigrain Crackers: Multigrain crackers (like these from Breton) are fantastic on a charcuterie board! They tend to be a bit thicker than water crackers, so they are great for spreads and soft, creamy cheeses.
Buttery Crackers: America’s favorite cracker…otherwise known as Ritz crackers, right?! These crispy crackers pair well with both soft and hard cheeses. Since they have quite a bit of salt on them, I like them best paired with milder cheese like brie, Havarti, cheese spreads (such as Boursin), and even cream cheese.
Crostini: Ok, not technically a CRACKER but crostini is fantastic on a charcuterie board! Rub some baguette slices with olive oil and bake until warm and slightly crisp. This is the perfect pairing for creamy cheeses and the salty cured meats on your board!
Artisan Crackers: Artisan crackers (like these from Firehook) is just a name for “fancy crackers.” They typically come in some fun shapes and sizes and are a great addition to your board. You can find these crackers at your large local grocery store or Trader Joe’s/Whole Foods have an excellent variety.
Herb Crackers or “Flavored” Crackers: I LOVE including these on my board! They are perfect with mild, soft cheeses, but also stand alone for guests to snack on! I used herbed crackers with cranberries on the 4th of July Charcuterie Board below!
You can also get crackers flavored with rosemary, garlic and herbs, and Italian herbs.
Pretzel Crisps/Sticks: Take a break from the square shape of crackers and mix it up with pretzel crisps or sticks! These are always a crowd-pleaser!
Pita Chips: Like water crackers, pita chips are the “perfect canvas” for dips and spreads on your board. They also pair well with softer cheeses like feta.
Kid-Friendly Options: Don’t forget about the kiddos! If you know kids are attending your gathering, have some fun options for them, too! Or make your own Kid-Friendly Charcuterie Board!
My favorite cracker options for kids are:
- Goldfish
- Pretzels/Pretzel Sticks
- Cheese It’s
- Ritz Crackers
- Popcorn (ok, not technically a cracker but looks fun on a kid’s charcuterie board!)
Gluten-Free Options: If you’re going to have g-free guests at your gathering, having a cracker option for them is just being a good host 🙂 And frankly, there are SO many good gluten-free options for crackers now, that even your non-g-free guests will love them!
My favorites are these Simple Mill Almond Flour Crackers, these Grain-Free Flatbreads, and Nut Thins!
HOW TO ARRANGE CRACKERS ON A CHARCUTERIE BOARD
There are a few easy ways to add crackers to you,r charcuterie board:
- After you add the different meats and cheeses to your board, add the crackers. Spread them out over the board so none of the crackers are next to each other. This makes your board more visually appealing 🙂 You can read How to Create a Charcuterie Board Step by Step in this post.
- You can also place crackers in small bowls or plates around the board and keep the meats, cheese, and dips on the board itself.
TIPS FOR THE PERFECT CHARCUTERIE BOARD
- Different Varieties of Crackers: Use 2-4 different types of crackers in different shapes. This will ensure everything is paired with the perfect cracker on your board…not to mention, it just LOOKS pretty to have a variety of different shapes and sizes of crackers on your beautiful board!
- Mix Up the Cheese: Choose several different types of cheeses for your charcuterie board. My rule of thumb is 2-3 varieties of hard cheese (such as parmesan cheese, aged sharp cheddar cheese, gouda, etc.) and 1-2 soft or semi-soft cheeses (such as brie cheese, goat cheese, or blue cheese).
- Freshen It Up: Sprigs of fresh herbs (like in this Christmas Tree Charcuterie Board) will help fill in some gaps on your board and look gorgeous at the same time!
- Fill It Up: Make your board look full! Fill in extra little gaps with fruit, herbs, candy, or nuts!
- No Fancy Board Needed: No need to run out and buy a “real” charcuterie board! A simple wooden cutting board (or a few of them) works perfectly! I love these bamboo ones or this pretty dark-wood one.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Since salami is fairly salty and flavorful, it works best with a more plain-type cracker such as water crackers, multi-grain crackers, crostini or baguette slices.
First, don’t place crackers next to anything on your board that has a high water content…such as olives, tapenades, jams, or spreads.
You can also keep your crackers separate from the actual meat/cheese board by placing them on little plates or dishes around the main board.
Last tip, if you are making your charcuterie board in advance, do not add the crackers until you are ready to serve it. Crackers left overnight in the fridge will collect moisture and be icky the next day.
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