Food & Nutrition Meal Ideas Breakfast Charcuterie Boards Will Make Brunch at Home Feel Special Again Built with mini versions of morning staples — all neatly arranged on chic platters — breakfast charcuterie boards are taking the most important meal of the day to the next level. By Megan Falk Megan Falk Instagram Megan Falk joined the Shape.com team in 2019 and serves as the editorial assistant, covering food trends and nutrition, sustainability, health, fitness, and more. Before joining the Shape Squad, Megan worked as an editorial intern at DoctorOz.com and graduated with a bachelor's degree in magazine journalism and a minor in food studies from the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University. Her writing has also appeared in Health, SAVEUR, and her hometown's magazine, Hour Detroit. When she's not writing, you can find her taking road trips across the country, taste-testing every ice cream spot in sight, and lounging at home with her cat, Molly, in North Carolina. Shape's editorial guidelines Published on January 8, 2021 Share Tweet Pin Email We independently research, test, review, and recommend the best products—learn more about our process. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission. Photo: Adobe Stock The early bird may get the worm, but that doesn't mean it's easy to pop out of bed the second your alarm clock starts blaring. Unless you're Leslie Knope, your mornings likely involve some version of pressing the snooze button three times, scrolling on Instagram for 20 minutes, and finally moseying out of bed just because you need a cup of coffee. But here's a solution! Waking up to the thought of noshing on a breakfast charcuterie board will have you slipping out of the sheets in minutes. Covered in morning munchie staples including mini waffles, fresh berries, slices of bacon, and chunky jams, these boards make your homemade brekkie feel like the brunch you'd grab with your BFFs — and look so much more appealing than the bowl of instant oatmeal you'd usually scarf down. OK, these beautifully plated meals aren't technically charcuterie boards, which are traditionally centered around cured meats and products, such as salumi, pâté, jamón, and prosciutto, and are often prepared with cheeses, nuts, fruits, crackers, and jams. But since this appetizer arrangement has recently evolved to involve desserts and loads of veggies, no one's going to call you out for giving your breakfast the same lavish treatment! Plus, if artfully arranging your food on a wooden platter (Buy It, $44, amazon.com) is what finally gets you to eat in the mornings (you know if you're that person) or turn your usual granola bar into a more substantial morning meal — which research shows boosts your energy levels and provides essential nutrients — so be it. While any breakfast charcuterie board you create is sure to be tasty, certain fare works better than others depending on your morning plans. If you're going to be grazing between episodes of The Queen's Gambit, craft a continental-style breakfast charcuterie board featuring room-temp items that won't give you food poisoning if they sit out 'til noon. Try topping your board with blueberry muffins, mini bagels, or English muffins, sliced-up bananas, strawberries, and avocados, and homemade granola bars, all accompanied by small bowls (Buy It, $20, amazon.com) of various nut butter, Greek yogurt, and cream cheese (keep that last ingredient in the fridge after you snag that IG photo). During the mornings you're going to finish your meal in 10 minutes flat or hosting friends, go for a piping-hot breakfast charcuterie board. Load it with fluffy silver dollar pancakes, adorable baby waffles (i.e. those you can make with this tiny waffle iron, Buy It, $24, amazon.com), slices of bacon, sausage links, and halved hard-boiled eggs or bite-sized frittatas. Then fill in any gaps with fresh berries and small cups of honey, syrup, butter, and — for those with a sweet tooth — chocolate chips. BTW, you don't need to reserve the breakfast charcuterie boards solely for home brunches with the gals or a romantic breakfast in bed. Spending your Sunday morning assembling a beautiful board of your favorite breakfast items — and then taking your time to enjoy them — can be just the act of self-care you need. The only rule? It's gotta be delicious. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit