Charcuterie Cup Ideas

The options are limitless with these Individual Charcuterie Cups. Grab some plastic cups and load them up with meat, cheese, fruit and all sorts of garnishes. Perfect for holidays and game day!

“I made these for a potluck and they were a huge success. I brushed the bottom of the cups with a little fig jam and added touch of high quality mustard on them after they were constructed. Delicious!”

—Diane

DIY Charcuterie Cups: A Single Serve Charcuterie Board

All the way from a Thanksgiving board to a charcuterie chalet and many stops in between, there’s no denying that this time of year is perfect for as many unique charcuterie board ideas as you can dream up.

Whether you’re entertaining a crowd or just having some snacks at home, this type of food is probably at its most popular during the holidays, but is a great idea for a gathering any time of year (bridal and baby showers, in particular).

I’ve made charcuterie cups for a ton of get-togethers, and below I’m sharing all of the tips and tricks I’ve learned along the way, as well as recommendations for the best things to include in your cups.

What you’ll need for Charcuterie Cups (DIY)

This section contains affiliate links.

Charcuterie Cup Supplies

I’ve found that 9 ounce clear plastic cups are really the perfect size for mini charcuterie cups. You can also use regular glasses or glass jars if you don’t want to go the disposable route.

I also like using decorative bamboo skewers to thread some of the ingredients on to, and make for easier eating. It also gives your guests a little “fork” to eat the rest of the ingredients in the cup without digging in with their fingers, if they don’t want to.

For 8 individual charcuterie cups, I’ll use anywhere from 8 to 24 skewers. I kind of just start skewering the ingredients on a whim. There’s no real method to it – just whatever looks cool together!

Charcuterie Cups Ideas: Choosing the meat

• salami or pepperoni – I like the packaged, thinly sliced kind that is small circles (Applegate is my favorite brand for this). I fold each slice into quarters and then skewer them onto fancy toothpicks for my charcuterie board cups, as you can see above.
• honey smoked turkey – no need to buy the fanciest, most expensive charcuterie all the time. Because you know what? Honey smoked turkey from the deli is delicious, and looks pretty cool when you roll it up and stick it in your charcuterie cups!
• prosciutto – also great to roll up and stick in there.

Delicious Cheese for your Charcuterie Cups DIY

• tomato basil havarti – I bought a small chunk of this at my cheese counter and cut it into cubes. You could also do pepper jack for charcuterie in a cup.
• brie – this one can be kind of polarizing, but I LOVE brie. I bought a wheel of it and cut it into slices.
• mozzarella cheese – I like mini mozzarella balls for charcuterie cups, but you can also cut up a larger ball of fresh mozzarella.
• smoked Cheddar – Cheddar is always a crowd pleaser, and this has just a little smoky twist to it.
• aged Gouda – this one is sophisticated yet easy to love.

Individual Charcuterie Cup Ideas: The Garnishes

• crackers, pretzels, pita chips and/or dried breadsticks – no way to go wrong here. Go down the cracker aisle at your store and choose a couple of fun crackers or pretzels!
• grapes – red grapes, green grapes or even both are delicious and pretty. Or heck, even grape tomatoes!
• pickles – tiny little cornichons or any kind of mini pickles are perfect for individual charcuterie cups.
• olives – Kalamata, green or black olives – they’re all great.
• dried fruit – almost any type of dried fruit would be great here, but I like dried apricots for their beautiful orange color, and they’re also large enough that they won’t get lost with everything else.
• blackberries – I love blackberries for the unique look and sweetness they add to charcuterie cups, but any type of berry would be great here. Sliced fresh fruit like apples or pears is nice, as well.
• nuts – I used some almonds and shelled pistachios for this charcuterie cup idea, but cashews, pecans or walnuts would be awesome, too.
• figs – I used these just because they are in season and were calling to me at the store! Not everybody is a fig lover, so your mileage may vary on this one.
• fresh herbs – A little greenery adds visual appeal. I added rosemary sprigs for a pop of green color.
• whole grain Dijon mustard – you can swipe a little into each cup, or offer a small bowl on the side for anybody who would like a little mustard with their charcuterie.
• preserves – same as for the mustard. I love sweet preserves served with charcuterie, so I offer fig jam or strawberry preserves on the side.

Individual Charcuterie Cup Storage

• MAKE AHEAD: Most parts of charcuterie cups can be assembled up to 24 hours in advance, wrapped tightly, and kept in the fridge without compromising their quality. I do recommend on holding off on crunchy things like crackers and dried breadsticks, and adding those at the last minute.
• SERVING TIME: When it comes to serving, charcuterie cups can stay out at room temperature for 2 hours. Any longer than this, and they won’t be food safe.

Charcuterie Cups FAQs