One of the best things about creating & serving charcuterie boards is the fun variety they offer. Just like the different kinds of cheeses, fruits, & flavors, offering a variety of crackers is also key. This list reviews the best charcuterie board crackers so your cheese board is fantastic.
Whether you are making small romantic charcuterie board for two or a large one to feed a crowd, having the right crackers is important. I am sharing my favorite tips & tricks on how to pick out the best crackers to pair with cheese.
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My Expertise
For years I ran a personal chef and catering business. During that time cheese boards were a staple at just about every event. No matter what the overall theme or type of cuisine, a beautiful charcuterie board was a must.
During those years, I learned to customize the cheese and cracker pairing perfectly. I have purchased and tried all these crackers personally. I have also taken into account reviews by clients & what crackers they have loved over the years.
Below I am sharing my years of experience so you buy the right crackers. All are reasonably priced, easy for find, & will please even the pickiest eaters.
Charcuterie Board Sets for Home
I admit, charcuterie is a meal for me. The whole family loves eating this way. It is always fresh, exciting, & super tasty. Getting the whole family involved in picking out items & putting it together is wonderful too.
Having a charcuterie board set at home sure makes it easy. They are not expensive. And many, like the one I have by Smirly, are compact & include everything you need.
What to Consider & How I Ranked
Here are the 4 areas of consideration you want to keep in mind before shopping. To ensure your charcuterie board is as pretty, tasty, & flavorful as possible, factor in these things:
Flavor
Offer a variety of flavors so that everyone finds something they love. This is also important because different crackers pair better with different flavored cheeses. Two overpowering flavors for instance don't work out best such as a wedge of gorgonzola on a garlic rye cracker.
Texture
Offer difference choices with levels of crunchy, crispy, or flakiness. Dense rye crackers and buttery Ritz crackers for instance are not similar. Offering only salty flaky crackers like just Ritz & Saltines is redundant and boring. Sturdy crackers are key for cheese spreads so they don't crumble while spreading.
Shape & Size
Placing crackers with different shapes (circles, squares, or sticks) around the charcuterie board is what makes it aesthetically pleasing to the eye. The fun fans & swirls of crackers draws people in. Large crackers are great for holding up well when spreading or stacking hearty slices of meat. Small crackers for small nibbles of intense or fancy flavors like truffle or sharp cheddars.
Theme
This may not come into play for you but just in case it does I thought I would touch on it a bit. If you are hosting a party that focuses on a type of cuisine or holiday for example, use that as your starting point. Italian charcuterie boards with breadsticks, toasted crostini, & garlic crackers is perfect. For an Oktoberfest board go with hearty flavors like rye, wheat, & pretzel thins.
Ranking Factors
I ranked the cracker choices by a number of things. I went for overall appeal of taste & texture that many people would enjoy. I also made sure to include only crackers that were easy to find in stores or online.
Finally, my last bit of criteria for selecting the best ones was only picking crackers that could be eating with anything you place on the board. So feel confident that what I recommend will work for you.
Types of Crackers
Again variety is key. You want to offer different textures, tastes, shapes, & sizes. This way there is something for everyone to love. It also makes it fun to mix & match them with all the charcuterie board has to offer.
Here are the top types of crackers to buy & display. I would aim for at minimum two types and up to 6 types for large boards. (see FAQ section about gluten-free offerings)
- Butter - flaky, crisp, & rich.
- Flavored - garlic, onion, cheese, etc.
- Herbed - colorful flakes of herbs like rosemary, parsley, basil etc.
- Multi-Grain - good texture & deep flavors.
- Nuts/Seeds - for color, texture, flavors, & fun variety like poppyseed, sesame seed, almond, etc.
- Rice - typically gluten-free with a touch of sweetness.
- Rye - firm & hearty cracker with bold strong flavors.
- Salty - a classic pairing that everyone loves.
- Water - though plain to some, this is the ideal cracker to accompany but not take away from other flavors.
- Whole Wheat - nutty flavor which stands up well even with hard cheeses.
- OTHER - pretzel crisps, flatbreads, pita chips, cheese crisps, cornbread, sourdough, vegetable, etc.
Cracker, Meat, & Cheese Pairings
Below are my favorites and the most common brands/types of crackers for cheese boards. Along with why they are best to buy, I will include what cheese, meats, & accoutrements pair well wit them. This will help anyone build a better charcuterie board.
- Butter - go with just about anything; spreads, soft cheese, hard cheese, salami, ham, any cured meat, honey, fruit, olives, etc.
- Herbs & Flavors - rosemary, garlic, tomato, or olive crackers are good with soft mild cheeses like brie, goat cheese, or cream cheese based spreads & winter fruits like pear & apple.
- Flatbreads - long flat crackers typically have Italian flavors & pair well with prosciutto, salami, & mortadella plus cheeses like provolone, fontina, & mozzarella.
- Multi-Grain - the deep flavor & texture goes well with hard salty cheeses like parmesan, pecorino, & manchego plus sweet items like honeycomb, jams, & grapes.
- Nuts/Seeds - the crunchy cracker with tiny chunks pairs well with strong spreadable or soft cheeses like pub cheddar, blue cheese, & boursin.
- Pretzels - crunchy & hearty for dipping or use the thin crackers to pair with mustards, honey, swiss, cheddars, & herbed cheeses.
- Rice - the sweet flavor is great with savory bold choices like cheddar, cambozola, gruyere plus hummus/bean dips.
- Rye - firm & pungent crackers are great with mustards & pates, plus semi-soft classics like cheddar, swiss/emmental, smoked gouda, & edam.
- Salty - great with sweet offerings like preserves or honey along with just about any kind of cheese (except spreads since the cracker will crumble) from semi-soft to hard.
- Sourdough - the pungent yet mild flavor is great with almost any cheese, meat, sweet, or savory item especially Italian items like spicy soppresetta, pepperoni, pancetta, or cheeses like spreadable burrata & ricotta or semi-firm taleggio.
- Water - the ideal cracker to pair with just about everything.
- Whole Wheat - goes best with mild cheeses like goat cheese, havarti, or jack & pairs with salty items like tapenade and smoked meats/fish.
Top 10 Crackers for Charcuterie Boards
Here is the list of recommended brands & flavored crackers. Choose a variety & you will have the most delicious, crunchy, & pretty display.
1 - Water Crackers
These thin crispy classic Carr's Water Crackers are my favorite pick for charcuterie boards. Trust me, they may seem boring but they are not. This large round flaky cracker is the perfect mild-flavored cracker to go with anything & everything on a charcuterie board.
They are tough enough to withstand spreading on light dips & cheeses. But also tender & crunchy enough to pair with any semi-soft to hard cheese. Plus any sweet, spicy, savory, or salty items goes so well with them. I love a water cracker with some gorgonzola, thin prosciutto, slice of pear, & a drizzle of hot honey - OMG!
2 - Ritz Crackers
These buttery round Ritz Crackers compliment just about any item you place on your charcuterie board. They are easy to find in most stores and everyone will recognize them. Any buttery cracker such as Keebler Club Crackers or Trader Joe's, or Townhouse brands.
The flaky crackers may not hold up well to thick spreads so be careful. The buttery flavor is good with any cured meat, sweet or spicy item, & fabulous with any sliced cheese. Ritz topped with cheddar, ham, & apricot jam is my jam!
3 - Saltines
The classic flaky square Nabisco Premium Saltine Cracker is a favorite. It not only is popular & easily recognizable but it goes with literally just about anything you offer on your cheese board. If you have leftovers, crush them up to make the yummy crust for North Carolina Lemon Pie.
The classic cracker is good with any cured meats, smoked cheese or fish, & any fruit. Sliced cheeses, soft spreadable cheeses, & semi-soft cheeses work best. The savory cracker is so good with spreadable pub cheddar cheese, minced ham, or pates.
4 - Sourdough Flatbread Artisan Crackers
These crackers are often sold in long strips with pretty edges and may come plain or flavored. Rustic Bakery Sourdough Flatbread is great to offer as a large and different shaped item. They are good for dipping in things as well as topping with long strips of meat like prosciutto.
Place these along the cheese board next to thinly sliced long strips of cheeses like munster or gruyere. Drizzles like honey, pepper jelly, & fruit preserves pair well. I love dipping these into ricotta & sprinkle on some seasoned salt.
5 - Pretzel Crisps
These fun flat Pretzel Crisp crackers are great for many reasons. They have a different shape & size than other traditional crackers. The unique taste offers something new compared to the other choices.
Pretzel crackers often are smaller than other varieties which mixes things up a bit. The pairing is amazing with dips, cheddar cheeses, any kind of mustard, & pairs well with honey. I love these with Trader's Joes Unexpected Cheddar & caramelized onions.
6 - Milton's Variety Pack
When in doubt, this is a 100% foolproof way to finish a charcuterie board. Three kinds of crackers has you covered. Milton's Crackers are sturdy for any spread, meat, or cheese.
Though they are all the same shape and size, the flavors and textures are a bit different. You get something seeded, one classic & salty, and another one that is multi-grain. Load them up with all your favorites.
7 - Fancy Crackers with Nuts & Fruits
Any variety will do but if you want a fancy cracker with tons of flavor, Rustic Bakery Artisan Crisps are the way to go. These fun crackers come in a variety of flavor combos including my favorite: pistachio, apricot, & brandy.
This cracker is amazing on its own with sweet, salty, & savory flavors. It is a great way to showcase a single cheese with this gourmet cracker that elevates any charcuterie board to new levels.
8 - Triscuit Minis
With this one cracker you are hitting several of the factors that make it a good choice. They are small, whole wheat, & offer lots of texture. Bonus: they are vegan too incase you need that offering for guests.
The small but mighty Triscuit Minis are good for piling on slices of cheese, cured meats, & fruits. Soft cheeses also spread easily and just love all the nooks and crannies. I love these with some herb boursin & fresh pear slices.
9 - Pita Crackers
Fun triangle-shaped buttery crackers are another favorite. The unique shape & size adds to the pretty customization to your display. Do not use Pita Chips, crackers will hold up better & the box tends to not be a ton of broken pieces which I find with the chips.
TownHouse Pita Crackers are great for dipping and topping. Pair them with feta, hummus, & other Mediterranean favorites.
10 - Rosemary Thin Crisps
These beautiful thin round crackers have a lovely swirl design & scalloped edges. If you want fancy, this chip is #1 on the list. The savory earthly flavor is subtle & will not overpower any cheese.
34 Degrees Rosemary Crisps are very delicate. They are not made for dipping or spreadables but sure are great for topping. Add slices of havarti & a drizzle of jam.
How to Build the Perfect Charcuterie Board
Once you have all your favorite ingredients ready, time for the fun part. Be creative & think of it as a blank canvas. The food is your paint & start making something beautiful.
Follow these easy steps for making a charcuterie board all your guest will love. It is simple & takes less time than you think. Do not be intimidated, there is no wrong way to do it
FAQ
It will depend on the size of the cheese board and how many people it will feed. Aim for offering the same amount of crackers as you are cheese & meat. Therefore if you are offering 4 kinds of cheese, 4 kinds of crackers is what you want.
Each cracker offering should be 3-4 ounces per person for an appetizer. For a meal, offer 6-8 ounces of crackers per person.
The concept is an easy one to follow & remember. The recommendation is to offer 3 of each thing: 3 crackers/bread, 3 cheese, 3 meats, & 3 accompaniments (dips, fruit, olive, drizzles etc).
For smaller or larger boards follow the same equal ratio just simply multiply it. For two people or a small picnic size, 2 of each works. For a 100 person party, aim more for 8-10 of each.
Any starchy base is a great offering. I also recommend small toasted bread slices (crostini), slices of fresh baguette, breadsticks, pretzels, or try my recipe for homemade Italian savory cookies; black pepper taralli.
Offering a variety is key but remember to consider cross contamination. If you have gluten-free/celiac disease guests, any cheese, fruit, or other items on the charcuterie board that come in contact with regular crackers will not be safe for them to eat.
I recommend making charcuterie cups set aside for anyone with a gluten allergy. Guests will not only love the special attention but they are safe, yummy, & fun! Serve with my favorite gluten-free cracker: Simple Mills Seed Crackers.
Placement is important when creating a cheese board. Try and keep runny, oily, juicy, or moist items away from direct contact with crackers or breads. Arrange olives or fruits next to cheeses for example. Or place some items like honey, jams, & dips in small bowls first.
Final Notes & Cracker Comparison
Now that you know my top 10 recommendations, I hope you found a few you will love too. Remember, there is no wrong way to make a cheese board or charcuterie platter.
Add what you like to eat & consider your guests. Then have fun & enjoy!
Here is a quick price comparison guide for ease in shopping. I hope this was helpful & let me know if you tried any crackers & what you thought.
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