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Take the pressure out of date night or time with friends with this Easy Cheese Board for Two. The tips in this guide will teach you how to make a casual and stress-free snack plate that’s always well-balanced and eye-catching!
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A simple cheese board for get-togethers and date nights
There is a time and place for a large, extravagant cheese board with carefully chosen seasonal ingredients. My Fall Meat and Cheese Board is the best party appetizer for Thanksgiving and post-pumpkin patch trips. And when the farmer’s market is abundant with fresh produce, celebrate with a Summer Meat and Cheese Board!
But when you need an easy recipe for a date night in or when your BFF is coming over, stick to this Easy Cheese Board for Two. It’s an easy-to-assemble, flexible, and casual snack that has all of the goodness of a fancy charcuterie board but without the extra work.
I’ve included just enough cheeses, meats, crackers, and briny bites on this board to feed two people. Use all of the recommendations I’ve given you or get creative! A charcuterie board for two is the ultimate snack to customize to fit you and your friends’ taste buds, make festive for the holidays, or romanticize for your Valentine (or Galentine).
Tools you need
First, choose the vessel to hold this snack platter. Because of the casual nature of this grazing plate, use something simple, like a dinner plate, cutting board, or even a baking sheet. Save the marble slate or wood board for a more elaborate Winter Meat and Cheese Board.
Next, you need:
- Small bowls: To hold the small snacks and spreads, like olives, nuts, yogurt dip, or jam.
- Spoons: To easily scoop up those spreads and dips.
- Cheese knife: Place it next to any soft cheeses for easy slicing.
What to put on an easy cheese board
All of the recommendations below are just that - recommendations! Follow them to a T or use them for inspiration before you go shopping for your favorites. Here’s what I like to put on a small cheese plate:
The cheese
A small date night cheese board would benefit from 1 or 2 types of cheese. For this board, I chose an aged cheese (Cabot seriously sharp) and a bloomy cheese (Marin French Cheese Company Petite Creme). Feel free to use any type of cheese you like, whether it’s aged, bloomy, blue, or fresh. Check out Murray’s online cheese shop for more unique and high-quality options!
Pro tip: Taste as you shop to make sure the flavors blend well with your other elements. Feel free to splurge a little or try something new!
Serving size: You only need 4 to 6 ounces of cheese if you’re serving this board for dinner. Use less if it’s a pre-dinner snack.
The meat
Cured and salty meats (AKA charcuterie) are the best choice because they’re delicious, easy to eat, and go well with creamy cheeses. Use cured sausage (pepperoni or salami), salted cured meats (prosciutto or bresaola), or a spreadable pate (smoked salmon or chicken liver).
Serving size: You only need 1 charcuterie option and just a small portion, about 3 or 4 ounces total.
Crackers and bread
You need something to act as a plate for your meat and cheese, which is where the crackers and bread come in. Use a firm cracker, homemade crostini, or a sliced baguette to support layers of cheese, meat, and spreads.
No need to get fancy when it comes to the crackers. Just use your favorites or finally open that week-old box in your cupboard.
The extras
Any extra elements will help fill in the blank space and add pops of color. Place a small bowl or jar on the board for briny olives or pickles, condiments like honey or mustard, or spreads like jam, hummus, or creamy shallot dip.
If you still have space to fill, add a small grapevine, roasted vine tomatoes, fresh herbs, or sliced apples or cucumber.
How to make an easy cheese board for two
Once you have all of your cheeses, meats, and accompaniments, this easy snack only takes 10 minutes to assemble. Use these tips for the best presentation:
Step 1: Place the cheeses on either side or in the corners of the platter.
Step 2: Add some extras, like honey and olives, to small bowls.
Step 3: Place meat and crackers on the edges of the platter.
Step 4: To finish, fill empty spaces with more extras, such as nuts and fruit. These will fill out the platter and compliment the flavors.
Serving sizes
How much meat and cheese you put on your snack board will depend on three things:
- The size of your serving platter;
- The quality of your ingredients; and
- How many guests are coming over.
The general rule of thumb for a snack board for two is to include 2 to 3 ounces of cheese per person and 1 to 2 ounces of meat per person. Cut it down from there if you plan on serving more appetizers and snacks.
Helpful tips
Keep these tips in mind before starting this small spread:
Customize for the occasion
Play around with the ingredients depending on the event, occasion, holiday, time of year, etc. Use these ideas for inspiration:
- Valentine’s Day: Include pieces of dark or milk chocolate, fresh berries, meringue heat cookies, chocolate covered strawberries, pomegranate seeds, and/or brie cheese. A Kirsch Rose Cocktail or Rose Water Gin and Tonic would be two very romantic cocktails to serve on the side.
- Game Day: Indulge in a cheese plate assembled with baked chicken wings, potato chips, sour cream and chive dip, and celery and carrot sticks.
- Holidays: Stick to the seasonal suggestions I included in my winter and fall cheese board recipes. You can make the evening extra festive with cranberry shortbread cookies and Cranberry Orange Prosecco Punch on the side.
- Birthdays: Use the birthday person’s favorite ingredients and stick some candles in the soft cheeses for extra festive fun!
Assemble it ahead of time
Your hot date is coming over and the last thing you want to do is get stressed out! Thankfully, putting this small cheese board together can easily be done the night before. To do so:
- Assemble everything but the crackers and bread on the plate. Cover it with plastic wrap and keep it in the fridge overnight.
- Take the plate out of the fridge the next day and set it on the kitchen counter 30 minutes before serving. This gives the cheese time to come back down to room temperature, making it easier to slice.
- Finish by adding crackers, bread, and garnishes, then serve.
It's time to put together your cheese board!
Okay, friend! Now it's your turn to make an awesome spread for your next party of two!
When you do put it together, make sure to leave a comment below letting me know how you liked it!
Recipe
Easy Cheese Board for Two
Ingredients
Cheese
- 4 ounces brie
- 2 ounces sharp cheddar
Meat
- 2 ounces salami
Other
- 20 crackers or more as needed
- ½ cup olives
- ¼ cup honey
- ¼ cup marcona almonds
- 1 small apple, sliced
Instructions
- Cut the brie into wedges and the sharp cheddar into chunks (or cut up whatever other cheese you're using into appropriate sizes!). Place the cheese on the serving platter.
- Transfer any items you want, like olives and honey, into small bowls and place on the platter.
- Plae the meat and crackers next to the cheeses and items in bowls.
- Fill any empty spaces with sliced apples and marcona almonds.
Notes
- This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
- The ingredients listed are recommendations based on what I like to serve when assembling this two serving cheese board. Feel free to change up the suggested ingredients to anything else you enjoy!
Nutrition
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Ben Grounds says
Great article