Turkey Tail Charcuterie Board (Printable)

A festive turkey tail charcuterie board with meats, cheeses, fruits, and nuts arranged beautifully.

# What You Need:

→ Meats

01 - 3.5 oz smoked turkey breast, thinly sliced
02 - 3.5 oz salami, thinly sliced
03 - 3.5 oz prosciutto, thinly sliced

→ Cheeses

04 - 5.3 oz sharp cheddar cheese, sliced
05 - 3.5 oz Swiss cheese, sliced
06 - 3.5 oz Gouda cheese, sliced

→ Crackers & Bread

07 - 1 cup round butter crackers
08 - 1 cup whole wheat crackers
09 - 1 cup seeded baguette slices

→ Fruits & Nuts

10 - ½ cup dried apricots
11 - ½ cup red grapes
12 - ½ cup pecan halves

→ Garnishes

13 - Fresh rosemary sprigs
14 - Fresh sage leaves

→ Turkey Head & Details

15 - 1 small round cheese ball for the head
16 - 2 whole black peppercorns for eyes
17 - 1 small piece of red bell pepper for wattle
18 - 1 thin carrot slice for beak

# Directions:

01 - Choose a large, round or oval serving board as the base for the arrangement.
02 - Layer the smoked turkey, salami, and prosciutto in overlapping rows across the upper half of the board to form a sweeping semicircle resembling a fanned turkey tail.
03 - Place rows of crackers and sliced cheeses below the meats, curving each row to mirror the tail's shape.
04 - Distribute dried apricots, red grapes, and pecan halves in small clusters around the cheese and crackers for visual contrast and texture variation.
05 - Arrange fresh rosemary sprigs and sage leaves at the base of the turkey tail to provide decorative greenery.
06 - Position the small round cheese ball at one end of the board to serve as the turkey’s head.
07 - Affix black peppercorns as eyes, a small piece of red bell pepper as the wattle, and a thin carrot slice as the beak to the cheese ball.
08 - Present the board immediately, ensuring guests have easy access to all components.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • It's a showstopper that requires zero cooking skills, just thoughtful arrangement and a little creativity
  • Feeds a crowd elegantly without you being stuck in the kitchen while everyone arrives
  • Every guest finds something they love, from the salty meats to the sweet dried fruit and crunchy nuts
02 -
  • Slice your meats just before assembly—they dry out faster than you'd expect, and you want that silky appearance
  • If your board feels crowded, it means you've succeeded—this should feel abundant and generous, not sparse
  • The cheese ball needs to be sturdy enough for peppercorn eyes but soft enough to feel inviting—test it beforehand if you're uncertain
03 -
  • Buy your meats and cheeses from the deli counter and ask them to slice everything thinner than standard—this changes everything about how the board looks and feels
  • Arrange your board on the actual serving board you'll use rather than moving it, and do this as close to serving time as possible
  • Keep a small damp towel nearby while arranging—it helps with sticky fingers and keeps your hands from leaving oils on the visible components
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