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• Why You’ll Love This Thanksgiving Charcuterie Board
• What To Put On A Thanksgiving Charcuterie Board
• How To Make A Charcuterie Board For Thanksgiving
• More Thanksgiving Charcuterie Board Ideas
• Storage Instructions
• What To Serve With A Turkey Charcuterie Board
• More Easy Thanksgiving Appetizer Recipes
• Recommended Tools
• Thanksgiving Charcuterie Board Recipe card
• Recipe Reviews

As I gear up for Friendsgiving (it’s our tradition every year), I couldn’t resist sharing my latest creation — a Thanksgiving charcuterie board that will add something special to any holiday. This easy appetizer has a blend of flavors and textures like my Christmas and Halloween charcuterie board , but with the added bonus of a fun turkey shape. Add this to your list of Thanksgiving charcuterie board ideas to impress your guests!

Why You’ll Love This Thanksgiving Charcuterie Board

• Festive turkey shape
• Meaty, cheesy flavors
• Crunchy and chewy textures
• Easy to make in just 15 minutes
• Customize with your favorite finger foods
• Perfect make-ahead charcuterie board for Thanksgiving

What To Put On A Thanksgiving Charcuterie Board

Here I explain the best ingredients for a charcuterie board for Thanksgiving, what each one does in the recipe, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card .

• Turkey Body – For the turkey body, I used a pear cut in half, but feel free to get creative with other fruits like apples, or even a large grapefruit. For the eyes, I used 2 sugar free chocolate chips , but you could also use raisins or small pieces of dark chocolate.
• Cured Meats – For the Thanksgiving turkey feathers, I used salami and prosciutto. You can try adding turkey slices, ham, or pepperoni as well. Alternatively, for a vegetarian option, skip the meats and make it a cheese board by fanning out the cheeses for the feathers.
• Cheeses – Try different types of cheese. I used brie, cheddar, and white cheddar, but you can pick others like goat cheese, gouda, mozzarella, blue cheese, or any mix of hard and soft cheeses you like.
• Fresh Fruits – I included apples, pears, and pomegranate seeds for a burst of seasonal flavors and colors. You can also use dried fruits, grapes, oranges, apricots, berries, or even folded fruit leather for variety.
• Olives – I chose Pimento stuffed olives for a pop of color, but you can use regular green olives, black olives, or Kalamata olives, too.
• Pickles – I included mini pickles (gherkins) on this board, but use any pickles you like.
• Cranberry Sauce – I made sugar free cranberry sauce , but any kind works. It goes well with the crackers and cheeses.
• Fresh Veggies – This board has cucumbers and carrots. Bell pepper strips, celery sticks, or cherry tomatoes would also work.
• Crackers – Use any crackers you like. If you have time, homemade flax seed crackers or crispy cheese crackers are delicious and easy.
• Nuts – Use almonds, walnuts, pecans, or any nuts you prefer. You can also use sunflower seeds or pepitas to make this Thanksgiving charcuterie board nut-free.

How To Make A Charcuterie Board For Thanksgiving

This section shows how to make a turkey charcuterie board, with step-by-step photos and details about the technique, to help you visualize it. For full instructions with amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card .

1. Make the turkey body. Cut a pear in half lengthwise for the turkey body. Create eyes with two mini chocolate chips, and use cheddar cheese for the nose and legs. Position the turkey’s body lower on a large board .
2. Create the feathers. Place rolled or folded charcuterie meat around the pear in layers.

1. Place the anchors. Put pimento stuffed olives, pickles, and cranberry sauce in ramekins and arrange throughout the board.
2. Add cheese. Place sliced cheeses throughout the board.
3. Fill in gaps. Place the sliced fruits and vegetables throughout the board to fill in some of the larger gaps.
4. Finish. Add the crackers and nuts to the board to fill in any remaining empty spaces.

TIP: Assemble your board where it will be served.

If you can, avoid spills by building your Thanksgiving charcuterie board right where you plan to share it with your guests.

More Thanksgiving Charcuterie Board Ideas

You can customize your snack board with ingredients you like and have on hand, but here are some other Thanksgiving charcuterie board ideas for shaping and decorating:

• Larger turkey shape – Instead of only using the meats for the feathers, arrange all your ingredients (except the ones in bowls) in a half circle around the body to make a larger array of feathers.
• Veggie board – Make a Thanksgiving veggie tray by fanning out carrot sticks, cucumbers, celery, broccoli, and cherry tomatoes around a bowl of ranch dressing or hummus.
• Maple shape – Use a maple cookie cutter to cut a maple leaf in the brie, then fill that with pomegranate seeds.
• Thanksgiving decorations – To elevate its festive appeal, add decorative elements like mini pumpkins, colorful autumn leaves, fresh herbs, and decorative gourds.

Storage Instructions

Keep all the foods, except crunchy ones like nuts and crackers, safe in the fridge for 3-4 days. You can also slice everything a few hours ahead before eating.

What To Serve With A Turkey Charcuterie Board

You can’t have a charcuterie board for Thanksgiving without a feast! Here’s what I serve at my annual Friendsgiving:

• Turkey – For a small gathering, a Crock Pot turkey breast or air fryer turkey breast is plenty, but if you’re having a larger gathering, make a whole roasted turkey . I like to serve my turkey with homemade sugar-free cranberry sauce .
• Thanksgiving Sides – Make creamy mashed sweet potatoes and classic creamed spinach . You can also opt for lighter options, like cauliflower stuffing , my favorite cauliflower mashed potatoes , and simple roasted green beans .
• Salads – Balance out those heavy side dishes on your Thanksgiving table with a Thanksgiving salad or butternut squash salad .
• More Appetizers – Add more to your board such as some hard boiled eggs (or deviled eggs ), chicken liver pate , or for a sweet kick, chocolate hummus .
• Desserts – You can’t forget dessert! Try a healthy crustless pumpkin pie .

More Easy Thanksgiving Appetizer Recipes

Looking for more appetizers? Try some of my other favorites:

Bacon Wrapped Dates

Spinach Dip Recipe

Bacon Deviled Eggs

Easy Cheese Ball

Recommended Tools

• Charcuterie Board – This board is the ideal size, easy to clean, and adds a cozy touch to my Friendsgiving celebrations.
• Ramekins – These are perfect for holding dips, olives, and other small treats, making this board both functional and stylish.
• Toothpick Labels – Make your Thanksgiving board even cuter with these charming labels on the meats and cheeses.

Ingredients

Tap underlined ingredients to see the ones I use.

• 1/2 medium Pear ▢
• 16 oz Cheese (I used brie, cheddar cheese, and white cheddar cheese) ▢
• 2 medium Chocolate chips (or sugar free chocolate chips ; for the eyes of the turkey only) ▢
• 1 cup Fall fruits (I used apples, pears, and pomegranate seeds) ▢
• 8 oz Charcuterie meats (I used salami and prosciutto) ▢
• 1 cup Pimento stuffed olives ▢
• 1 cup Pickles ▢
• 1 cup Cranberry sauce (I used homemade sugar free cranberry sauce ) ▢
• 1 cup Fresh vegetables (I used cucumbers and carrots) ▢
• 1 1/2 cups Gluten free crackers (buy any kind you like, or make homemade flax seed crackers ) ▢
• 1 cup Mixed nuts (I used almonds, walnuts, and pecans) ▢

Instructions

Tap on the times in the instructions to start a kitchen timer.

1. Using a knife , cut a pear in half lengthwise. This is going to be the body of the turkey. Using cheddar cheese, cut out a nose and two legs for the turkey. Use two mini chocolate chips to create the eyes. Place the turkey’s body lower on the board ( I use this one ).
2. To create the “feathers” of the turkey, place rolled/folded charcuterie meat around the pear in layers.
3. Place the pimento stuffed olives, pickles, and cranberry sauce in small bowls and arrange throughout the board.
4. Place the remaining cheeses throughout the board.
5. Place the fall fruits and vegetables throughout the board to fill in some of the larger gaps.
6. Add the crackers and nuts to the board to fill in any remaining empty spaces.

LAST STEP: Leave a rating to help other readers, or tag me @wholesomeyum on Instagram. I’d love to hear from you!

Maya’s Recipe Notes

Serving size: 1/12 of the large board

Nutrition info does not include chocolate chips.

I provide nutrition facts as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see my nutrition policy .

Add Your NotesYour Notes

© Copyright Maya Krampf for Wholesome Yum. Please DO NOT SCREENSHOT OR COPY/PASTE recipes to social media or websites. We’d LOVE for you to share a link with photo instead.

Thanksgiving Charcuterie Board

Free Printable: Low Carb & Keto Food List

• Want The Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF System?
• The Basic Keto Meal Formula
• Understanding Macros
• Keto Food Swaps
• Keto Food List
• Electrolyte Basics
• Keto Diet Types
• Want The Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF System?
• Recipe Reviews

Even though I have a great guide to starting a keto diet , people often ask me for a quick keto cheat sheet they can use. That’s why I created this simple keto diet cheat sheet , so that you can have all the info you need handy. We’ll cover the basic keto formula for building meals, foods to eat and to avoid, delicious keto swaps for high-carb foods, electrolyte basics, and 4 ways to follow the keto lifestyle.

You can keep reading to view this info, or download my keto cheat sheet printable pdf to print out or save ad-free on any device (plus the pdf has more details!).

Want The Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF System?

Get all this information and MORE in convenient printer-friendly format – 13 cheat sheet pages you can take with you anywhere or keep in your kitchen, plus 4 recipe cookbooks! Includes:

1. Keto food list (230+ foods) – Super detailed & color-coded, with net carb counts, so you’ll know exactly what to eat.
2. Foods to avoid on keto – Detailed and specific list so that you know exactly what to watch out for.
3. Macros cheat sheet – Explains everything you need to know about macros to succeed on keto.
4. Keto food swaps (60+ foods) – Covers virtually every food you love, so you don’t have to miss out!
5. Keto meal formula – With specific food ideas, so it’s easy to mix-and-match.
6. Keto flu guide – Understand what it is and exactly how to avoid it.
7. Electrolyte cheat sheet – With whole food ideas + bonus keto tips.
8. Keto Diet Types – Summary of 4 ways to do keto, so you can choose what fits you best.
9. FOUR (4!) Keto Swaps Recipe EBooks – Dozens of recipes to replace bread, rice, potatoes, pasta, desserts, and other carbs you’d otherwise miss.

Get The Printable Keto Cheat Sheet System + EBooks (Only $37)

The Basic Keto Meal Formula

Eating keto doesn’t have to be complicated! While there are plenty of delicious easy keto recipes to choose from, you don’t even have to cook from a recipe to get started.

Simply follow the keto cheat sheet formula of protein + veggie + fat for your meals.

Be sure to choose a moderate amount of protein, only low carb vegetables (mostly ones that grow above ground), and generous fat to attain an optimal macro ratio. That’s approximately 60-75% of calories from fat, 20-25% protein, and 5-10% from carbohydrates. The table below will give you ideas for what to choose.

Understanding Macros

Macros are macronutrients for short. They include fat, protein, and carbohydrates.

You can calculate your own macros using the macro calculator , but the macro keto cheat sheet below will explain how to look at macros when following a keto lifestyle.

Carbs Are A Limit.

Keeping carbs low is what gets you into ketosis and keeps you there. Ketosis means that you’re using fat as your primary energy source instead of sugar, and requires keeping carbs very low.

A good starting point is 20-25 grams net carbs per day, but you can experiment after a few weeks to see if your body stays in ketosis at higher levels. People who are very active may be able to do more and stay in ketosis, up to around 50 grams per day.

“Carbs are a limit” means that you set a limit for how many carbs to eat per day and don’t exceed it. You don’t have to hit that limit, so if you’re under that’s okay, just don’t go over. Ideally most of your carbs would come from low carb vegetables, and if you’re eating enough veggies, you’ll usually get close to the limit naturally.

A common misconception is that reaching ketosis requires a certain macro ratio, but it’s really only restricting your carb intake that gets you there [ * ]. In the absence of sufficient carbs to use as energy, the body will switch to using fat as fuel. This is called the metabolic state of ketosis.

Protein Is A Goal.

Protein is made up of amino acids, the building blocks of all our cells. It’s a crucial for keeping our muscles strong and for many cellular functions [ * ].

“Protein is a goal” means that you always want to eat enough protein to reach the goal each day, but not exceed it too much. You want enough for your needs, but excess protein can trigger gluconeogenesis, which is protein being converted to sugar [ * ] and can kick you out of ketosis.

Fat Is A Lever.

Fat is the primary macronutrient in a keto lifestyle, because being in ketosis means that fat is your primary fuel source. Fat as a fuel source will come from your food, and if you are losing weight, from your body.

A big advantage of a keto lifestyle is the high fat intake. It keeps you full and satisfied, making it easier to stick to, and using it as the primary fuel source makes it easier on your body to burn body fat, with a lower chance of breaking down your muscle (provided you get enough protein).

Aside from reaching your protein goal and limiting your carbs, the remainder of your calories on a keto diet comes from fat.

Don’t fear fat – it’s your main energy source on keto, and getting enough of it trains your body to use fat for fuel instead of sugar. That means that as long as you are not overdoing your overall calorie intake, you’ll efficiently burn your body fat for fuel as well.

“Fat is a lever” means that you can increase or decrease your fat intake depending on your goals and hunger levels. Increase it (along with exercise) to gain muscle, or decrease it to lose weight.

Keto Food Swaps

One of my favorite challenges is creating recipes, or just discovering, keto food swaps. These are delicious keto replacements for traditionally high-carb or high-sugar foods.

So, I created this keto diet cheat sheet with all the swaps in one place! I also have more keto food swaps in my Easy Keto Cookbook .

Keto Swaps For Breakfast

Keto Swaps For Bread

Keto Swaps For Meals & Side Dishes

Keto Swaps For Snacks & Sauces

Keto Swaps For Cooking & Baking

Keto Swaps For Drinks

If you’re looking specifically for keto alcohol options, browse the full keto alcohol guide .

Keto Food List

When looking for a keto cheat sheet printable, the most-requested information is a keto food list.

The great thing is that keto doesn’t have to feel restrictive. It’s incredibly satisfying and there’s such a wide variety of foods you can eat!

Foods To Eat On Keto

• Leafy greens – Such as spinach, chard, and lettuce.
• Above-ground veggies – Such as peppers, zucchini, and cauliflower.
• Full-fat cream & cheese – Such as heavy cream, sour cream, and full-fat hard cheeses.
• Natural meats – Such as beef, lamb, and pork.
• Berries – Such as raspberries, blackberries, and strawberries.
• Avocados
• Unsweetened nut milks – Such as almond milk and coconut milk.
• Almond flour and coconut flour
• Eggs
• Healthy fats – Such as coconut oil, avocado oil, olive oil and butter.

Foods To Avoid On Keto

• White flour & sugar
• Rice & grains – Such as barley, wheat, and corn.
• Milk & yogurt – Such as fruit on the bottom yogurt, sweetened Greek yogurt, and all milk.
• Cereal
• Processed food – Such as granola bars, candy
• Most fruit – Such as apples, bananas, and grapes
• Hydrogenated fats – Such as vegetable oil, soybean oil, and margarine
• Sweetened beverages & condiments – Such as soda, ketchup, and sweet dressings
• Starchy veggies – Such as peas, carrots, and beets.
• Potatoes – Such as sweet potatoes and white potatoes.

That’s the short keto diet cheat sheet version of all the keto food categories, but I recommend downloading the full Keto Cheat Sheet System. It includes a super detailed printable keto food list with over 100 items, including 2 color-coded pages with net carb counts, along with 6 more pages of keto cheat sheets:

Get The Keto Cheat Sheet System PDF (Only $37)

Electrolyte Basics

Getting enough electrolytes is crucial for anyone, but especially so on a keto diet. The reason is that ketosis has a diuretic effect, which increases excretion of water and electrolytes, especially sodium [ * ]. This is often the cause of the keto flu.

For more details on electrolytes and avoiding keto flu, check out the full keto flu guide here .

The important thing to know about electrolytes is that replenishing them will keep keto flu away and keep your body functioning well. I always recommend an electrolyte drink and whole food sources of anything your body needs before resorting to supplements, so I made a list of what to eat to get each of the 3 major electrolytes – sodium, magnesium and potassium.

Here’s your keto diet cheat sheet for getting electrolytes from food:

Keto Diet Types

People follow a keto lifestyle for different reasons. Some do it just to lose weight, others are after better overall health, increased energy, and reduced inflammation.

Strictly speaking, the defining factor of a keto diet is the metabolic state of ketosis, which is achieved by restricting carbs. However, many people (myself included) also reduce or eliminate processed, inflammatory, or low-nutrient foods.

Below is your keto cheat sheet summary of the different ways that people follow keto. You choose what works best for your goals and lifestyle!

• Strict Keto – Up to 20-30g net carbs daily, count all calories and macros, and eat clean, unprocessed foods.
• Lazy Keto – Up to 20-30g net carbs daily, and track only net carbs OR eat keto foods without tracking.
• Dirty Keto – Up to 20-30g net carbs daily, with “if it fits your macros” approach including processed foods.
• Low Carb – Up to 50-100g net carbs daily, less strict.

For a more detailed listing of these different types of keto with pros and cons, grab the Easy Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF below!

Want The Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF System?

Get all this information and MORE in convenient printer-friendly format – 13 cheat sheet pages you can take with you anywhere or keep in your kitchen, plus 4 recipe cookbooks! Includes:

1. Keto food list (230+ foods) – Super detailed & color-coded, with net carb counts, so you’ll know exactly what to eat.
2. Foods to avoid on keto – Detailed and specific list so that you know exactly what to watch out for.
3. Macros cheat sheet – Explains everything you need to know about macros to succeed on keto.
4. Keto food swaps (60+ swaps) – Covers virtually every food you love, so you don’t have to miss out!
5. Keto meal formula – With specific food ideas, so it’s easy to mix-and-match.
6. Keto flu guide – Understand what it is and exactly how to avoid it.
7. Electrolyte cheat sheet – With whole food ideas + bonus keto tips.
8. Keto Diet Types – Summary of 4 ways to do keto, so you can choose what fits you best.
9. FOUR (4!) Keto Swaps Recipe EBooks – Dozens of recipes to replace bread, rice, potatoes, pasta, desserts, and other carbs you’d otherwise miss.

Get The Printable Keto Cheat Sheet System (75 pages, Only $37!)

Thanksgiving Charcuterie Board

Create a cute Thanksgiving charcuterie board in the shape of a turkey with meats, cheeses, meats, veggies, and more. Festive and easy!

Scan this QR code with your phone’s camera for the full recipe, including tips, step-by-step photos, and storage, or to save it to your account. You can also find it at: https://www.wholesomeyum.com/thanksgiving-charcuterie-board/

Ingredients

• 1/2 medium Pear
• 16 oz Cheese (I used brie, cheddar cheese, and white cheddar cheese)
• 2 medium Chocolate chips (or sugar free chocolate chips ; for the eyes of the turkey only)
• 1 cup Fall fruits (I used apples, pears, and pomegranate seeds)
• 8 oz Charcuterie meats (I used salami and prosciutto)
• 1 cup Pimento stuffed olives
• 1 cup Pickles
• 1 cup Cranberry sauce (I used homemade sugar free cranberry sauce )
• 1 cup Fresh vegetables (I used cucumbers and carrots)
• 1 1/2 cups Gluten free crackers (buy any kind you like, or make homemade flax seed crackers )
• 1 cup Mixed nuts (I used almonds, walnuts, and pecans)

Instructions

1. Using a knife , cut a pear in half lengthwise. This is going to be the body of the turkey. Using cheddar cheese, cut out a nose and two legs for the turkey. Use two mini chocolate chips to create the eyes. Place the turkey’s body lower on the board ( I use this one ).
2. To create the “feathers” of the turkey, place rolled/folded charcuterie meat around the pear in layers.
3. Place the pimento stuffed olives, pickles, and cranberry sauce in small bowls and arrange throughout the board.
4. Place the remaining cheeses throughout the board.
5. Place the fall fruits and vegetables throughout the board to fill in some of the larger gaps.
6. Add the crackers and nuts to the board to fill in any remaining empty spaces.

Maya’s Recipe Notes

Serving size: 1/12 of the large board

Nutrition info does not include chocolate chips.

I provide nutrition facts as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see my nutrition policy .

© Copyright Maya Krampf for Wholesome Yum. Please DO NOT SCREENSHOT OR COPY/PASTE recipes to social media or websites. We’d LOVE for you to share a link with photo instead. :)