How to Make a Dairy-Free & Gluten-Free Charcuterie Board (That People Will Actually Like)

As someone who’s been living that gluten-free/dairy-free life for about 3 years now, I’m pretty used to my dietary restrictions. I don’t look at menus and struggle to figure out what to eat anymore, and I don’t have cravings for things I can’t eat. Basically I’m not wishing I could have regular pizza or mac n cheese on a regular basis. But I do have one exception – a good charcuterie board.

Before giving up gluten & dairy for health reasons, I could have LIVED off a cheeseboard. Not only because few things taste better than a cheese-bread combo, but it’s such a social thing. Drinking wine and sharing a charcuterie board with friends? Honestly nothing better.

Which is why I am SO GRATEFUL it’s 2019 and there are awesome companies making gluten-free and dairy-free alternatives that taste just as good as the real thing (okay almost as good). But really, with a cheese board like this, I don’t feel like I’m sacrificing anything, and I don’t have an upset stomach after. Win-win.

Note: I still think of a charcuterie board as a treat – crackers are still processed, the dairy-free cheese can mean a large serving of nuts, basically, not an everyday kinda meal.

What You Need:

Gluten-free / Paleo Crackers

When choosing gluten-free or paleo crackers, always remember that “gluten-free” on the label does not equal “healthy”. Many gluten-free products are highly processed with tons of white flour and weird additives. These brands are my favorite for taste and for their simple ingredients.

• Simple Mills – I LOVE these paleo crackers. They honestly taste better than most normal wheat crackers I’ve had. They are crazy addicting, you’ve been warned. The original, black pepper, and everything flavor are my favs for cheese boards.
• Jilz Crackers – These are probably the healthiest crackers in terms of ingredients and nutrition profile (also the lowest carb for keto friends) and taste great too.
• Mary’s Gone Organic Gluten-Free – These are great for a heartier cracker as they’re made of whole grains like rice and quinoa, and nuts & seeds.

Non-Dairy Cheeses

• Kitehill Almond-Based Cream Cheese – Kitehill “cheese” spreads really knocked it out of the park. Their Chive and Everything flavors are my favorites. Seriously SO GOOD
• Mykonos Vegan Cheese Wheels – These cashew-based “cheeses” are perfect for a cheeseboard because they actually come in wheel shapes!

Real Dairy Cheeses (Optional) 

Now I still think most people would be better off without dairy, but I get it, people love cheese. If you want to include a couple of real-dairy options, look for organic, grass-fed dairy, local if possible. Goats and sheep’s milk cheese also tend to be less mass-produced, and also contain less A1 casein and more A2 casein (the type of protein in dairy that can cause inflammation and digestive issues).

Another easy real of thumb is that the harder the cheese, the longer it has been aged, and the less lactose it contains (the sugar in dairy that causes digestive issues when people don’t have enough of the enzyme lactase to break it down). Some of my favorite hard cheeses are pecorino and parmesan.

Cured Meats

As always with red meat, look for grass-fed options. A local butcher is a great place for high-quality salami or prosciutto.

Fun Extras

Nuts, fresh fruit, and different jams are great cheese board additions to mix up the texture and make your board colorful!

• Nuts – Marcona almonds and roasted walnuts are my go-tos for adding crunch and different textures
• Fresh fruit – You can never go wrong with grapes and figs (especially when they’re in season in the fall!)
• Honey / Jams – Raw local honey or different jams (I love fig jam for cheeseboards) are incredible drizzled on cheese

Make it Pretty

Half the fun of making a charcuterie board is the aesthetic component. I learned all my best tips on assembling a cheeseboard from this Cupcakes & Cashmere article years ago, and it really never fails. Some things to keep in mind:

• Build it in order: Start by places your cheeses first, then add-in meats, fruits, needs, and fill the remaining space with crackers
• Make it overflow! This is critical to get that superabundant look, and also makes it more inviting for guests to dive in
• Mix up textures/colors – No one wants a beige charcuterie board. Different types of fruit and meats are great ways to add color

Cheers!