How to Put Together an Adorable Charcuterie Board for Less Than $30

Making a charcuterie board is sort of like conquering the world's tastiest puzzle. All it takes is breaking up the board's elements into categories and choosing complementary ingredients for each. Soft, easy-to-grab meats are arguably most important. They can be rolled, fanned, laid flat or even turned into roses, depending on how you want to organize your board. Don't forget to have tongs or toothpicks nearby for easy lifting. Deli salami or jamón Ibérico work with a wide range of cheeses, but prosciutto is no doubt a crowd favorite. If you're looking for quality, be prepared to pay a bit more per ounce for prosciutto di Parma (aka buttery, top-tier prosciutto that's made in Parma and aged twice as long). To save, buy any sliced prosciutto from a brand you trust. (P.S.: Odds are you'll find the best deals and lowest prices in person at the grocery store, not online.)

Our Pick: Great Value Dry-Cured Sliced Prosciutto

It's a lot easier to choose the cheeses once you've already chosen the meats, since they narrow down your pairing options. Think of the meat's most prominent notes and what sort of flavor profile would complement it best. For instance, if you choose to use sweet-and-spicy salami, gouda would be a solid pairing option, since it's creamy, nutty and smooth. If you went with buttery prosciutto, you might opt for an aged, salty cheese like Parmesan or pecorino Romano instead. Soppressata or pepperoni, which are bursting with notes of herbs and spices, would pair great with buttery, rich, fatty cheeses like cheddar or Havarti. You can also play with flavored cheeses, like those infused with wine or truffles, if they fit the rest of the spread or an overall theme.

Soft cheeses are also popular to include in charcuterie boards. They tend to pair best with fresh fruits and vegetables, dried fruits, jams and nuts, as well as crackers and bread. Velvety soft cheeses like Brie go beautifully with sweet or acidic sides, like honeycomb, green apple slices, onion jam or grapes, while mild soft cheeses like fresh mozzarella pair best with fresh produce, herbs and tangy dressings or dips, like balsamic glaze. For salty, soft cheeses like feta or chèvre, add mild or sweet ingredients like roasted almonds or pine nuts, figs, sliced melon or dried apricots to the board. Sweet soft cheeses, like mascarpone, shine brightest alongside berries, cherries or chocolate.

Our Pick: Spring Koe Red Wax Creamy Gouda

There's really no wrong choice when it comes to bread, crackers and carbs in general. On a charcuterie board, their main purpose is typically to be a crispy vehicle for cheese, meat and spreads. All you really need to consider is how their flavor will pair with the cheese and meat; it shouldn't be too tough, considering bread and crackers are pretty neutral tasting. For that reason, this section of your charcuterie board doubles can be an opportunity to play with visuals. Instead of rectangular crackers, why not go for long, thin breadsticks that you can arrange vertically in a jar? If you're including cheese crackers on the board, wouldn't Goldfish be a fun twist instead of standard square crackers? Then again, you truly can't go wrong with whole wheat crackers—they taste good with *everything* and are a bargain buy.

Our Pick: Back to Nature Organic Stoneground Wheat Crackers

Here's the part where you can show off your vast snacking experience. From your favorite roasted nuts to that special jar of olives you've been sitting on, every crudité and munchie can find a home on a charcuterie board. Here are a few boxes to check when you're planning your selections:

Something Fresh

When it comes to the price tag, apples are an easy win. You can lean tart or sweet depending on the other ingredients, and they're super cheap compared to some other popular charcuterie fruits, like berries. Oranges or clementines are also an affordable route, as well as celery, carrots, broccoli or radishes.

Our Pick: Organic Granny Smith Apple

Whether you want a pot of fig jam to pair with cheese and crackers or a bowl of tzatziki for dipping cucumber sticks and pita points in, dips and spreads are the final piece that pulls a charcuterie board together. Whole grain mustard is versatile and works with everything from sharp cheddar to smoked meats to pumpernickel bread. But most fruit jams are just as flexible and will add a pop of sweetness to soft and hard cheeses alike. Fancier options include pepper jelly (which tastes divine with buttery Havarti or white cheddar), onion jam and hummus. You can even include Nutella or nut butter if your board is mostly fruit (or better yet, pancakes), or ranch dressing for raw vegetables. Just let your common sense and cravings lead the way.

Our Pick: Domaine Des Vignes Whole Grain Mustard