Vegan Cheeses for Charcuterie

If you don’t know where to start with putting together a vegan charcuterie board, you’ve come to the right place. In this post we’re highlighting the best vegan cheeses (both purchased and homemade) to highlight on your next vegan charcuterie board. We’re also looking at tips and tricks and everything that goes into making a great vegan charcuterie board beyond the cheese!

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Just because you went vegan doesn’t mean you have to miss out on the charcuterie experience of your dreams!

And in this post, we’re proving that and hoping to help you with everything you need to make your charcuterie board dreams a reality. You will impress everyone at the party!

Vegan charcuterie boards are a great way to create a plant-based party platter everyone will love. It’s an especially great option for groups with many different tastes because they can pick and choose what they want!

There are myriad cheeses on the market these days that are perfectly suited for a charcuterie board. We’ll also talk about homemade cheeses too. 

But cheese alone does not a charcuterie board make. We’ll talk about how to create great pairings for a well-curated charcuterie experience!

What is a charcuterie board?

Charcuterie is a French term that encapsulates the word French word “chair” (meaning “flesh) and “cuit” (meaning “cooked”). And while that term may not sound very vegan (and in its traditional origins it’s not), don’t be fooled. You can definitely make a delicious vegan charcuterie board!

Charcuterie boards have been popular in Europe for centuries but really took off in the US in recent years. Although, I’d wager a guess that millennials brought it back because we grew up with Lunchables!

The idea is to have a board of meats, cheeses, and accompaniments like nuts, seeds, dried or fresh fruits, crackers, and breads that are specifically curated to complement the taste and textures of each other.

Tips and Tricks for Making Your Own Vegan Charcuterie Board

Here are some basic tips and tricks for curating an epic vegan charcuterie board experience – whether it’s for a movie night or any special occasions:

Think beyond the (vegan) meats and cheeses.

You want to make sure you’re adding other components to your charcuterie to complement the flavors and textures of these staples. Dried or fresh fruit, olives, bread, crackers, seeds, nuts, veggies, jams, etc.  Spreads like hummus, agave, etc.

Use the right surface.

A charcuterie board is often either a wooden board or stone in an effort to keep foods cool during the time it’s served.

We’ve even seen boards that come with an external cooling pad that sits under the board. Now that’s going the extra mile! (And vital for serving charcuterie in the warmer months.)

Provide the right utensils.

You’ll also want to include things like cheese knives, spoons, depending on the components of your charcuterie board and what’s needed to serve those things. Serve spreads, jams, and syrups in their own small bowls.

Focus on the right fruits.

Next, you’ll want to avoid overly juicy fruits that may bleed into the other board components. Some of our favorite fruits for charcuterie are red or green grapes, berries like blueberries or cranberries, and dried fruits like banana chips or dried apricot.

Prep slicing in advance.

Give your guests a hand and don’t make them cut the cheese themselves. We all know how awkward that can get! You want your guests to be able to pick things up at ease, so they don’t have to stop their conversation and focus on slicing something.

Shake up your slicing shapes.

Create visual interest by slicing vegan cheeses and meats in various shapes like cubes, rectangles, and triangles. You can also thinly slice something like seitan ham and roll the pieces up for even more fancy.

Start with the bigger objects.

When building your board, start with larger objects and fit the small items around them to create little hubs of flavor! Keep like items grouped together. This will make it easy for guests to know what to eat with what and give them the experience you want them to have.

Make it pretty.

A few sprigs of either fresh herbs, edible flowers, or whole fruits/veg give it a nice fancy feel.

Vegan Cheese Brands for Charcuterie Board

There are so many great vegan cheese options out there these days! Here are some of our favorites for the perfect vegan charcuterie board. You want to make sure you get a cheese that is good eaten out of the fridge rather than a good melting cheese. There’s a big difference between the two!

Miyoko’s Creamery

Miyoko’s is a well-known name in the vegan community. They have a large collection of artisanal dairy-free cheese available that are perfect for cheese boards.

Violife

Violife block cheeses, plus both their feta and grateable parmesan make great vegan charcuterie cheeses. They can be found in most US grocery stores and are in Whole Foods nationwide. This brand can also be found outside the US, especially throughout Europe.

Field Roast

I normally wouldn’t suggest a sliced cheese for charcuterie, but Field Roast Chao cheese slices are great for this type of thing! We like the Cayenne flavored ones for a little kick. Plus, you’ll likely find it in your local grocery store refrigerated section.

Daiya (their vegan cheese blocks)

These are fairly easily found and a great hard cheese option for slicing. They come in a variety of flavors including classic cheddar, smoked gouda, and jalapeno havarti. 

Rind Cheeses

We had the opportunity to try these cheeses at Expo East, and they are truly amazing! They are available wholesale only through select stores.

You can find their availability and store locator here. Rind cheeses are also featured as part of the vegan charcuterie board options available from Harry & David. We have more information on those below.

Reine

Reine Vegan Cuisine offers a great selection of vegan cheese available for delivery and in some stores. You can shop Reine’s online selection here.

Nuts for Cheese

Another company we got to try at Expo East, this is a Canadian-based women-owned company who makes awesome soft vegan cheeses for charcuterie. They even come out with some great seasonal flavors (like a cranberry variety!) that are perfect for holiday parties!

Bandit

A local Philly-based vegan cheese company making cave-aged cheeses that are a hit on any charcuterie board! Their vegan version of blue cheese variety is top-notch!

Treeline

Easily found in Whole Foods and other American grocery stores. Along with all of their classic French-style soft cheeses, you have to try either the regular or blueberry vegan goat cheese for your next charcuterie!

Vegan Cheese Recipes for Charcuterie Board

If homemade is more your style, these are some of our best vegan cheese recipes you can make for your vegan cheese board. These cheeses all do best in a very cool room. If serving in the summer at room temperature, make sure you use a cooling board or don’t display for more than an hour. Never display outside and keep them far away from the sun! 

Vegan Goat Cheese

This vegan goat cheese recipe is made in your food processor and tastes as legit as the real thing! This dairy free goat’s cheese uses extra firm tofu and refined coconut oil for the smooth and creamy base that’s also somehow crumbly. 

Vegan Feta Cheese 

This tofu feta is an awesome option for homemade vegan cubed cheese! Serve with kalamata olives, cucumbers, and crisp crackers for a truly delightful experience.

Whipped Vegan Feta Dip

If you want a spreadable vegan feta, this vegan whipped feta is your recipe! This vegan whipped feta dip recipe with tahini is quick, uncomplicated, and incredibly flavorful, and the perfect plant based party appetizer.

Vegan Pub Cheese Spread

This thick and creamy vegan pub cheese spread has that classic tangy flavor you know and love! Serve it hot or cold alongside some mini pretzels! 

Classic Vegan Cheese Ball

You will not believe how easy this vegan cheese ball recipe is! It’s a veganized version of my Nana’s classic cheese ball. I’ve tested it with countless family members (including Nana!) all with enthusiastically positive results. Nana even said it tasted just like hers! 

Homemade Vegan Veggie Cream Cheese

This tofu-based vegan Garden Veggie Cream Cheese recipe will have your guests doing a happy dance! Bursting with flavor and a thick creamy texture, serve with crunchy veggies like carrot sticks and sesame crackers. 

Herbed Cashew Cheese 

Rich, herbed cashew cheese has a creamy texture that is sheer decadence which makes it perfect for a charcuterie board! Serve with strawberries and a dash of agave for a truly enticing experience! 

Vegan Clotted Cream

Looking for a dessert version of the classic vegan snack board? You’ve gotta try our vegan clotted cream recipe! Serve with mini vegan scones, blueberries, and jam for a deconstructed afternoon tea vibe!

More Vegan Charcuterie Board Ideas

Beyond meats and cheeses, here’s a list some pairing ideas for your vegan charcuterie board. When pairing, think about how to complement the flavor and texture of the meats and cheeses you’re servingon the board. You want ot create these little flavor hubs.

• Fresh fruit
• Vegan meats – See below for ideas!
• Crispy crackers
• Finger foods
• Raw veggies
• Grapes
• Strawberries 
• Roasted red peppers 
• Sun dried tomatoes
• Black olives or green olives
• Sliced baguette
• ​Fig jam
• Bell peppers
• ​Sunflower seeds
• Cherry tomatoes
• Apple slices
• Other fresh vegetables
• ​Dry fruit

Vegan Meats for Charcuterie

Here’s a mix of store-bought and homemade vegan meats that are perfect for charcuterie!

• Spicy Italian Seitan Sausages
• Field Roast sausages
• Pineapple Mustard Glazed Vegan Ham
• Pepper-Crusted Vegan Corned Beef
• Pan-Seared Soy Curls – Serve with a toothpick.
• Beyond Sausages or Brats
• Rolled-up vegan deli meats like Prime Roots, Tofurky, or Litelife
• Prime Roots vegan pate
• Sweet Earth Italian Style Pepperoni

Vegan Charcuterie Board Delivery

There are a few options I found for vegan charcuterie board delivery service when I searched online. One turned out to be a vegan deli very local to us in Philadelphia we’d never heard of! 

Ladybug Vegan Deli – This vegan deli is located in the Globe Dye Works in the Port Richmond section of Philadelphia. They make all their own products and deliver everywhere in the US. You can check the Ladybug website here for more information about their products and delivery options.

Harry & David – Harry & David are well-known for their wide range of deliverable gifts and gift baskets from fruit to flowers to wine and more! What wasn’t well-known to me is that they also offer a selection of vegan charcuterie boards including the Classic and the Deluxe. Their charcuterie options feature Rind cheeses and Renegade Foods vegan meats. 

FAQs About Vegan and Vegetarian Charcuterie Board

Lastly, we’re going to answer some common vegan grazing board questions. If you have a question we didn’t answer here, please leave it in the comments so we can make this a more complete resource for future readers!

What to put on a charcuterie board vegan? 

The best place to start with a vegan charcuterie board is with vegan meats and cheeses. Luckily, there are lots of store-bought options out there from brands like Miyoko’s, Daiya, Violife, Field Roast, Tofurky, and Prime Roots. There are also a host of homemade vegan meats and cheese recipes you can make at home!

Is there such a thing as a vegan charcuterie board? 

Yes, there is definitely such a thing as a vegan charcuterie board. The only difference is the meats and cheeses on a vegan charcuterie board are not animal-based!

What can I put on a charcuterie board besides meat and cheese? 

Grapes, roasted red peppers, sun dried tomatoes, black and green olives, fresh and dried fruits, etc. can all be added to a charcuterie board.

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I hope this post helps you build the charcuterie board of your dreams! Or, at least get the confidence up enough to try making your first vegan charcuterie board for your next party!

We’d love for you to leave a comment below with how your vegan board turned out or if you have any questions.

Happy charcuterie-ing!