ingredients
If you need a recipe for a charcuterie board, the following S. Clyde Weaver meats and cheeses are mouthwatering essentials:
- 8 ounces of 5-, 7– or 10-year aged cheddar
- 8 ounces of a flavored cheddar such as Hoppin Hot Habanero Lancaster Cheddar or Garlic & Chives Lancaster Cheddar
- 7-10 pieces of sweet bologna sticks or spicy beef snack sticks
- 8-12 slices of Lebanon or sweet bologna
- 2-3 ounces of Lancaster-style beef jerky
- 1 small bowl of red pepper jelly
- 7-10 sliced pickles
- 7-10 Wilbur Chocolate Buds
directions
Start with your board and bowls: Choose a clean wooden board and small dip bowls to start your arrangement.
Space cheese variations out on the board: Cheeses are often the largest charcuterie board items, and they make excellent focal points. Try to place three to five different types of cheese on the board, including hard and soft cheeses for variation. For visual appeal, you can slice the cheese into small rectangular, triangular or circular shapes and space them out on your board.
Add unique meat arrangements: Arrange sliced Lebanon bologna in a circular or semicircular shape around one of your cheese selections, or place slices in a flowing pattern that weaves around your cheeses. You can also place sweet bologna sticks or spicy beef snack sticks in a semicircular layout resembling a fan. Place Lancaster-style beef jerky in clusters around the board.
Include sliced meat roses: If you want an extra-elegant board, consider folding your thin-sliced meat into small rosettes. You can secure them with toothpicks if needed.
Add the finishing touches: Add jellies, crackers, nuts, pickles, fruits and edible garnishes to your board for extra flavors and variation.
Lancaster County’s traditional meats, cheeses, pickles and jellies are deeply rooted in Pennsylvania Dutch history and make for incredible charcuterie board pairings. Sharp aged cheddar, peppery meats, sweet and spicy jelly and tangy pickles provide unique flavor profiles that complement each other and pair well with a wide range of charcuterie snack items.
Easy Charcuterie Board Recipe
Whether you want to entertain friends, host a family gathering or plan a special meal, a savory smoked meat charcuterie board will delight your guests.
- Prep time: 15 minutes
- Serves: 4-6 people
Serving Tips
Ensure each snack item on your board is easy for guests to grab, and provide serving tools such as spreaders if you are including jellies, dips or soft cheeses. You can also provide small plates, napkins and toothpicks nearby for guests to easily gather their favorite food items from the board.
Best Meat and Cheese Pairings for a Charcuterie Board
Pairing meats and cheeses is about creating balanced flavor experiences. The right charcuterie board pairings complement the taste and enhance the visual appeal of each item.
Delicious Meat and Cheese Pairings
Sharp cheese, such as aged cheddar, pairs well with soft cheeses like brie and goat cheese because they provide a creamy, subtle contrast to cheddar’s firm texture and strong flavor.
Aged cheddar also pairs well with smoky, sweet and peppery meats such as jerky, Lebanon bologna, sweet bologna and spicy snack sticks. The various flavor profiles and soft texture of these meats deliciously complement the tanginess of aged cheddar.
Include flavored cheeses on your board for a unique tasting experience. S. Clyde Weaver’s Garlic & Chives Lancaster Cheddar offers a robust, aromatic flavor, while Hoppin Hot Habanero Lancaster Cheddar packs a spicy punch. You can pair these with a milder meat flavor, such as a sweet bologna, to create variation across your board.
Traditional and Innovative Accompaniments
Adding snacks such as nuts, fruits and crackers to a charcuterie board is a fantastic opportunity to express your creativity and incorporate interesting flavors.
A sweet and spicy jelly, such as red pepper jelly, and bread and butter pickles or candied sweet mixed pickles can create a delicious mix. Lancaster’s famous Wilbur milk chocolate, semi-sweet or dark chocolate buds are also a welcome addition, bringing sweetness and indulgence. Lancaster sand tart cookies can provide a yummy crunch, too!
Consider adding a few of these accompaniments to your board:
- Wheat crackers
- Peanuts
- Almonds
- Cashews
- Pistachios
- Dried fruit
- Fresh berries
- Grapes
- Artisan bread
- Spreads
- Dips
- Fresh vegetables
- Apple slices
- Pretzels
- Olives
Beverage Pairings
Consider serving one or more of these beverages to complement sharp cheddar, soft cheeses and smoky meats:
- Spiced apple cider
- Craft beer
- Cabernet Sauvignon
- Merlot
- Pinot Noir
- Cocktails containing bourbon
A Flavorful Journey Through Lancaster’s Smokehouse Traditions
Lancaster County meats and cheeses are famous for their high quality and traditional Pennsylvania Dutch flavors. Curing, smoking and aging processes date back to Lancaster County’s early history, and local farms and businesses are passionate about maintaining these traditions.
The Art of Aged Cheddar
Cheese offers subtle differences between age profiles. The complex cheese aging process causes a series of changes that transform texture and flavor, making time the best ingredient. Each of the following cheddar age profiles is unique in its own way:
- 5-year: A 5-year-aged cheddar offers a smooth, mildly sharp flavor and might feature a fruity note.
- 7-year: 7-year cheddar is irresistible with a tangy, sharp flavor and crumbly texture.
- 10-year: Cheese develops a more concentrated, rich flavor and a crumblier texture once it reaches 10 years.
- 15-year: 15-year-old cheddar features a complex, intensely sharp flavor and a unique granular texture.
- 20-year: 20-year cheddar is rare because only the highest-quality cheese can withstand this slow, extended aging process, but the taste is worth the wait.
Pennsylvania Dutch Bologna Traditions
Lebanon bologna’s history is rooted in the Pennsylvania Dutch community, dating back to the early 1900s. Local butchers and farmers originally crafted this smoky, seasoned meat and made it a beloved staple throughout the region. Locals and visitors cherish it for its unique flavor and nostalgic appeal.
Farm-style sweet bologna blends smoky, peppery and sweet flavors together for a unique taste of Lancaster County and its surrounding regions. Lebanon bologna, sweet bologna and sweet bologna snack sticks make the perfect charcuterie board additions.
Lancaster-Style Beef Jerky and Spicy Beef Snack Sticks
Beef jerky and beef snack sticks also have rich histories in Pennsylvania Dutch cuisine. Jerky is a popular dehydrated meat snack with high levels of nutrients and protein. Marinades and brines add delicious flavors to jerky variations, so you can choose the perfect option for your charcuterie board. Whether you choose a hot, sweet and spicy, mango habanero, traditional Lancaster-style or maple pepper flavor, you can impress your friends and family with tasty jerky.
Spicy beef snack sticks take up little space but pack big flavors, making them a fantastic addition to a charcuterie board. To maintain Lancaster County traditions, S. Clyde Weaver makes spicy beef snack sticks with natural beef, a special blend of spices and a slow process to ensure quality.
Create a Mouthwatering Charcuterie Board With Meats and Cheeses From S. Clyde Weaver
S. Clyde Weaver has been keeping Lancaster County traditions alive for over a century, offering irresistible aged cheese, bologna, pickles, jelly and jerky flavors.
We use traditional aging, curing and smoking processes to provide the beloved Pennsylvania Dutch flavors people travel from around the world to taste. We also use the same recipes from Lancaster’s early meat and cheese preservation days to help you enjoy a taste of history with every bite. From sharp white cheddar and sour pickles to sweet, peppery bologna, you can create a flavorful charcuterie board with S. Clyde Weaver meats, cheeses and delicious accompaniments.
Purchase high-quality smoked meats and cheeses from S. Clyde Weaver today.
