Red, White, and Blue Charcuterie Board

Ingredients

• 8 ounces thin salami, folded into ribbons (227 g)
• 6 ounces sliced turkey pepperoni (170 g)
• 8 ounces sharp cheddar, cubed (227 g)
• 6 ounces mozzarella pearls, drained (170 g)
• 10 ounces buttery round crackers (284 g)
• 2 cups red seedless grapes (300 g)
• 1 1/2 cups blueberries (225 g)
• 1 cup raspberries (125 g)
• 1 cup strawberry halves (150 g)
• 1/2 cup red pepper jelly (160 g)
• 1/2 cup ranch dip (120 g)

Instructions

1. Prepare ingredients. Wash grapes, blueberries, raspberries, and strawberries, then dry them thoroughly. Use a clean kitchen towel before assembly. Halve strawberries, cube cheddar, drain mozzarella pearls, and fold salami slices into quarters. Spoon pepper jelly and ranch into separate small bowls.
2. Anchor board. Set the ranch bowl slightly off-center on a large cutting board or rimmed sheet pan. Put pepper jelly opposite it, leaving open space around both bowls for easy scooping.
3. Arrange cheeses. Pile cheddar beside ranch, then place mozzarella in two separate clusters across the board. Keep visible gaps between white ingredients so guests can identify each section easily.
4. Add meats. Overlap folded salami in a curved row near cheddar. Arrange turkey pepperoni in another curved row near jelly. Keep meats contained in distinct sections, using their curves to guide nearby fruit.
5. Fill fruit. Place grapes and strawberry halves beside cheese clusters. Tuck raspberries and blueberries into smaller gaps, repeating red and blue in at least two spots. Keep berries away from crackers to prevent softening.
6. Finish and serve. Fan crackers along two dry outer edges, leaving a few beside each dip. Check from above; shift one small cluster if a color dominates. Cover loosely and refrigerate until serving.

Notes

• For a fuller board without extra meat, add 1 cup grapes and 4 ounces crackers. Scatter them through existing color zones rather than creating new sections, keeping the arrangement balanced and easy to navigate.
• A rimmed half-sheet pan works well for larger groups. Choose stable bowls with flat bases, and place crackers on the driest edge, away from fruit and jelly, so they stay crisp during serving.