WITH KRYSTA PAFFRATH

To balance out the meats, you will want to add some delicious sides. I ended up going with a Sweet N’ Spicy Coleslaw, Mac and Cheese Cups, and Elote Corn Ribs. I was going for easy, snackable options but some other ideas that you could include are potato salad, baked beans, or jalapeno poppers. Grilled vegetables such as zucchini, eggplant, bell peppers, and mushrooms would also make great additions!

Sauces and condiments are a musthave for any BBQ charcuterie board. Just like with your proteins and sides, you will want to offer a range of flavors to pair with the stars of your board. I went with two different kinds of barbeque sauce, a mustard-based one and a hickorysmoked one, but you could also do hot sauce, mustard, or honey. I also wanted to add all of the typical BBQ fixins’ such as pickles, banana peppers, and onions but if you want to add some variation, you can also include dips like hummus and guacamole to add variety to your board.

In this issue from Krysta’s Kitchen, I am putting all of the best things about summer BBQs on a board. Say goodbye to normal charcuterie boards and say hello to BBQ charcuterie boards!

With summer in full swing, I thought what better way to ring in warmer weather than with a BBQ charcuterie board? We’ve all come to know and love the classic meat and cheese board, but I wanted to put a BBQ spin on it.

I hope by now, you’ve come to know that my goal with these features is to create something that anyone can replicate at home with their own twist. This board is a perfect party-pleaser and could easily be the main course for a smaller get-together with some additional sides.

My best recommendation is to start with your proteins. I went with the flat of a brisket, lollipop chicken drumsticks, and St. Louis-style ribs. By providing a variety of proteins, I knew there would be a little something to keep everyone happy. Some other ideas that you could do are pulled meat, chicken wings, sausages, and meat skewers. Be sure to choose a variety of textures and flavors to keep your guests happy.

Now that you have all your ingredients, it’s time to arrange your BBQ board! Start by placing the larger items such as the meats on your board first. Something to note here is that if you plan on using a true charcuterie board, you may want to use a larger one because the meat alone will take up quite a bit of space. I also used some different serving platters to create some height variations, but you could easily create a board without them. Once the meat has been placed, then you could start placing your sides. For items that need a spoon to be served, I recommend serving them off to the side or using a smaller bowl on the board to serve them. Then whatever space you have left over, you can fill it with bread, chips, or fixins’.

Once you’ve arranged your BBQ charcuterie board, it’s time to serve and enjoy! Be sure to provide plenty of napkins and plates for your guests to help themselves. This unique twist on a classic appetizer is sure to be a hit at your next backyard BBQ.