Easy Keto Charcuterie Board
Learn to make the most amazing Keto and Low Carb friendly charcuterie board, the perfect appetizer or party spread! Create your own by combining elements from this list of low carb and low sugar cured meats, cheeses, spreads, nuts, fruit, and more!
Why We Love It
Charcuterie is always a crowd pleaser, whether you’re having a holiday gathering, date night, or friendly get together.
There’s no cooking involved, so it can be assembled in just a few moments, and there’s very little clean up after. It’s an all around win-win!
But if you’re following a Keto or Low Carb way of eating, you might be wondering exactly what you should and shouldn’t have.
Well, I’m showing you how to build a perfect Keto friendly charcuterie board with the most delicious meats, cheeses, and more, all deliciously low in sugar and carbs!
FAQ
Charcuterie is a French term referring to preparing cured smoked meats. We use this term to refer to a sampling of different meats, cheeses, and other elements, like fruits, spreads, nuts, and crackers or bread. It’s often served as an appetizer or during cocktail parties.
Charcuterie is a wonderful option for those following Keto. The key is to stick to high protein, high fat, and high fiber ingredients and to limit any elements higher in carbs and sugars, like bread and crackers.
Charcuterie can be served on large plates, cutting boards, or pastry boards, or in individual servings in small jars.
As a rule of thumb, make 4-5 ounces of combined or meat and cheese per person, when served during the appetizer course or at a cocktail party.
Yes! Slice the vegetables, cheeses, and meats, and store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 1-2 days, until you’re ready to assemble the elements.
It is pronounced shar-KOO-tuh-ree.
Keto Friendly Ingredients
Charcuterie is typically heavy on cured and smoked meats and cheeses. But feel free to add other elements that add balance and excitement to the board, like nuts, seeds, olives, spreads, vegetables, and fruit!
Learn about what makes a Cheese Board vs. Charcuterie Board!
Proteins
👉 Most cured and smoked meats are low in sugars and carbs, and so they work great with the Keto way of eating. Here are some of my personal favorites:
- Salami
- Prosciutto
- Pepperoni
- Pancetta
- Soppressata
- Biltong
- Sliced boiled eggs. Cook by either boiling or air frying your eggs, up to a week in advance!
- Capocollo
- Bacon
Cheeses
👉 Choose full fat cheeses. Because pre-cut or shredded cheeses sometimes come coated in anti-caking agents, I recommend whole blocks of cheese that you cut yourself.
- Mozzarella
- Brie
- Gouda
- Manchego
- Cheddar
- Blue cheese
- Goat cheese
Nuts & Seeds
👉 Some roasted nuts and seeds have seasonings or sugars added to them. Just check the nutrition label to be sure! Here are some ideas:
- Almonds
- Walnuts
- Pecans
- Cashews
- Sunflower seeds
- Pumpkin seeds (pepitas)
- Pickled Mustard Seeds
Spreads & Dips
👉 A lot of dips are loaded with sugar (especially fruit spreads), but spreads and dips with oil, cheese, and/or vegetables as the base ingredients usually work much better for Keto, like:
- Pesto: An Italian spread made with olive oil, parmesan cheese, and basil. It goes great with sliced mozzarella!
- Tapenade: A French spread made with olives, olive oil, anchovies, and garlic.
- Baba Ganoush: A Middle Eastern dip with eggplant, tahini, oil and garlic as its main ingredients.
- Romesco. An Italian dish featuring roasted red bell peppers, garlic, oil, and nuts.
- Pâté or foie gras. A French paste made of meat, often goose liver.
Vegetables
👉 Choose raw, pickled, or marinated vegetables that are lower in carbs and higher in fiber, like:
- Pickles
- Olives
- Cornichons
- Marinated artichokes
- Sliced cucumbers
- Sliced bell peppers
- Asparagus
- Celery
- Pepperoncini (or banana peppers)
- Cherry tomatoes
- Avocado. Wait until just before serving to slice avocado, to keep it from browning.
Keto Friendly Fruits
👉 Choose fruits lower in sugar and higher in fiber, and enjoy in moderation. Don’t be afraid of adding some fruit to your charcuterie. The sweetness helps balance the rich, salty flavors in the other elements!
- Blueberries
- Strawberries
- Blackberries
- Raspberries
- Pomegranate seeds
- Plum
- Kiwi
Other Elements
- Cheese crisps. Buy store-bought cheese crisps or follow my recipe to make your own pepperoni & cheese crisps!
- Keto friendly chocolate. Lily’s is a great option!
- Almond flour crackers. I really enjoy Fat Snax crackers.
- Pork Rinds
- Fresh Herbs. Herbs like fresh rosemary, sage, and thyme add visual and fragrant appeal.
- Crostini. Serving these little slices of toasted bread with toppings is a great addition to a charcuterie board. This bruschetta al pomodoro would be perfect.
Simply arrange the elements on a large cutting board or tray and serve. Guests can make their own plates and enjoy casually while they have a drink, like a cranberry aperol spritz, hold conversations, and mingle.
❗Important Note: For safety, food should not be left at room temperature for more than 2 hours, per USDA. If the temperature is over 90°F (32°C), it should not be left out for more than 1 hour. After that time, cover the charcuterie and return it to the refrigerator to chill it.
Things to Avoid
- Dried fruits like figs or dates.
- Sugary fruit spreads.
- Sweetened roasted nuts.
- Higher carb root vegetables like carrot sticks.
- Potato chips
- Crackers, toasts, and bread, unless they’re made with Keto friendly ingredients like almond flour or cauliflower.
- Packaged products marketed as “Keto friendly” or “sugar free,” unless you check the nutrition information to confirm carb count. They can be deceiving and can contain a surprisingly high number of carbs.
Related Recipes
- Keto Nutella Fat Bombs
- Strawberry Cheesecake Fat Bombs
- Everything Bagel Deviled Eggs
- Keto Ground Beef Recipes
What are you favorite Keto-friendly charcuterie elements?
Let me know in the comments, or tag me on Instagram if you make it @cookathomemom!
Keto Charcuterie Board
Ingredients
- 12 oz. cheese of choice like cheddar, brie, gouda, goat, mozzarella, blue, or manchego.
- 12 oz. meats like pepperoni, salami, boiled eggs, prosciutto, pancetta, bacon, soppressata, or biltong.
- 6 oz. nuts or seeds like almonds, walnuts, pecans, cashews, sunflower seeds, or pipitas.
- 6 oz. vegetables like olives, pickles, cornichons, cucumbers, bell peppers, cherry tomatoes, avocado, or marinated artichokes.
- 4 oz. fresh berries like raspberries, blueberries, strawberries, or blackberries
- 4 oz. spreads like romesco, pesto, baba ganoush, or tapenade.
- 4 oz. cheese crisps, pork rinds, or keto friendly crackers.
Instructions
- Wash the fruit. Slice the meats, cheeses and vegetables into bite sized pieces. Transfer any spreads or dips into small dishes.
- Assemble all the elements on a large tray or board. Serve immediately. Note: For safety, after two hours at room temperature or 1 hour at temperatures over 90°F, food should be returned to refrigerator to chill, per USDA.
