This Breakfast Grazing Board is perfect for Brunch or Breakfast gatherings. It is so easy to assemble and customize with your favorite breakfast foods!
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Breakfast food is some of the best food there is. This breakfast grazing board makes it easy to sample and share all of your favorite breakfast goodies.
This board is perfect for any brunch or breakfast gatherings such as Easter or Mother's Day. It was inspired by my fall charcuterie board and you should definitely check out that post for some great tips and delicious charcuterie inspo!
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How to choose the perfect items
The key to a good grazing or charcuterie board is balance. You want to have a good blend of foods that are umami, sweet, salty, sour/acidic, and spicy. Breakfast boards in particular will generally be heavier on the sweet and salty, but I like to try to throw in a few pops of acidic or spicy items.
In addition to balancing flavor, you will want to make sure that there is also a balance of textures with plenty of crunchy items to go along with the soft meat and cheeses.
With breakfast foods the possibilities are really almost endless so be sure to also consider the temperature of the food. Unless you want to use chafing dishes your the food on a breakfast board will likely not stay piping hot for long so be sure to choose foods that are still good when eaten at room temperature.
Ingredients
Under each category below I have listed what I used to make this board, and also a few alternate ideas. One thing I LOVE about these boards it that it is so easy to customize the offerings to fit dietary or taste preferences and one board can often accommodate a wide variety of both.
Depending upon who you are serving you can easily swap out traditional breakfast foods with vegan, low carb, gluten free etc. Keep in mind that this list is only a suggestion but the possibilities are endless.
Cheeses
Cheese may seem like an unlikely choice for a breakfast board but I think it is a great savory option and it goes really well with the fruit. I stuck with basic cheeses (sharp cheddar, colby jack, and asiago) but you can truly use any kind that you like such as:
- Brie - This would be a particularly great choice if you are also serving apples or grapes on your board.
- Cheddar Cheese - Cheddar is a pretty safe option that will pair well with just about anything.
- Cream cheese or goat cheese - These are particularly good options if you are serving bagels on your board.
Plan on 1-2 ounces of cheese per person.
Meats and Other Proteins
Bacon is an absolute must - I don't care if it regular bacon, turkey bacon, or vegan bacon. Just make sure it is represented. Sausage also makes a great addition and is a great way to add varied flavors (try adding a spicy sausage). Here are my favorite protein options:
- Bacon - As mentioned above.
- Breakfast Sausage - Links or patties will both work well. I prefer to use chicken sausage lings since they are less greasy.
- Ham or Canadian Bacon - Make sure to serve it warm or best, brown it a bit in the oven or skillet!
- Smoked Sausages
- Smoked Salmon - it is required to include bagels, cream cheese, dill, and capers if you choose to add salmon.
- A note about eggs - Eggs are a great breakfast food, but I do not suggest including them on a breakfast board unless they are hardboiled or you are using a chafing dish or some other type of warming tray. Cold eggs are just not good.
Plan on 2-3 ounces of meat per person.
Tip: To save time, bake your bacon in the oven. For easier serving I like to twist the bacon before baking. Find directions here!
Breads, muffins, etc
This is where the possibilities really start to take off. There are almost an infinite number of breakfast breads that can be added to a breakfast grazing board. Here are some great options:
- Biscuits - Biscuits are delicious and versatile making them a must-add
- Pancakes - I used storebought mini pancakes to make things super easy but you can make your own regular pancakes or keto pancakes!
- Muffins - Any variety that you like! I suggest banana bread, lemon blueberry, or orange cherry
- Scones
- Donuts
- Croissants
- Bagels - Bagels are a great alternative to biscuits
- Granola
- Cinnamon Rolls
Plan on 2-3 of the larger items (ex: biscuits and muffins) per person, and 4-5 of the smaller items (ex: mini pancakes) per person
Tip: I prefer to use small bread items. This makes it easier for you and your guests to sample everything without getting too stuffed!
Fruits
You can use any variety of fruit that you like. I usually pick based upon what looks good at the grocery store and also with a consideration for the aesthetic of the board.
I generally plan on about 4 ounces of fruit per person, but usually add more than that since it easily fills in gaps on the board.
Sauces, spreads, and other additions
This is where you can bring together all of the items on the board. I try to make sure that every item on the board has an accompanying sauce or spread. Here is what I used:
- Nutella - I could have left this off but my kids insisted. Nutella goes great with the pancakes or biscuits.
- Maple Syrup - Maple syrup is a breakfast must-have and pairs with the pancakes, bacon, and sausage on my board.
- Jam or Honey goes well with the biscuits or pancakes. Side note: this is the first time I have tried Crofters fruit spread and it is my new all time favorite.
- Yogurt adds some much needed tartness and pairs well with the fruit.
- Butter goes with the biscuits, pancakes, or muffins. Also, this Vermont Cultured Butter is my all time favorite butter for using as a spread. It is seriously delicious!
- Other ideas include apple or pumpkin butter, Spicy Honey, or breakfast gravy.
Instructions
Assembling the board is the most fun and sometimes intimidating part! I like to start by placing a layer of wax paper over the board, then trimming away the edges. This just protects the wood and makes cleaning up SO much easier.
Once the board is ready, I add the sauces and spreads to the board. For this board, I used 3 bowls (one each for the yogurt, jam, and nutella), a small creamer for the syrup, and a butter dish.
After the bowls are placed I add the breads (biscuits, pancakes, and muffins), then the meats, followed by the cheeses, and then the fruit. Feel free to adjust the items on the board until you are satisfied, that is half of the fun!
Tip: Try to keep in mind which items are natural pairs and place them close together. For example, I made sure that the biscuits were close to the butter and jam.
When everything has been added, and I am satisfied with the placement, I use the loose berries or grapes to fill in any gaps.
Equipment, tools, and accessories
First and foremost you will need some type of serving board. This can be a tray, a wooden cutting board, a large sheet pan, or really anything that is large enough to accommodate your offerings. You can even arrange your items over several smaller boards.
I got my board at Homegoods which is a great place to find affordable accessories and even some unique food additions. I love this board! Not only is it beautiful and huge (almost 24 inches in diameter!!) but it's also on a lazy susan, which is really handy for serving.
Find a similar board to the one I used here!
You will also need some small bowls or ramekins, a syrup dispenser, spoons, and several cheese knives and forks. It's also nice to have some flag labels so that you can let your guests know what everything is. This is especially helpful for identifying spicy or unusual ingredients!
I also suggest putting a layer of way paper on top of the board. This helps to protect your board from any oils that come from the meat and cheese and it also makes cleaning up SO easy!
FAQ's
Sick with breakfast meats, breads, fruit, cheese, and sauces and spreads. For all of my suggestions check out the post above.
You can safely leave your board out for about 2 hours at room temperature. If it is really hot, or if you want to leave your board out for more than 2 hours try this trick:
- Place a layer of kitchen towels on your board, top with thin ice packs like these.
- Add another layer of towels, then top with wax paper (the towels help absorb moisture from the ice packs)
- Place the cold items over the ice packs.
- For the hot items, use a chafing dish or heat a stoneware dish in the oven and keep the hot food on top of it.
Charcuterie refers to preserved meats (usually things like salami, pepperoni, ect.) Cahrcuterie boards typically focus on these meats and things that will pair well with them.
Grazing boards feature a wide variety of foods that are meant to be snacked on.
Top Tip
Almost all of the items on this board can be purchased precooked or made from scratch. If you don't have time (or the desire) to make everything yourself, there is no shame in purchasing the items premade!
📖 Recipe
Breakfast Grazing Board
Equipment
- Large Serving Board
- Wax Paper
- Small Bowls
- Spoons
- Forks
- Syrup Dispenser
Ingredients
Cheeses:
- Sharp Cheddar Cheese Slices
- Pepperjack Cheese Slices
- Colby Jack Cheese Slices
Meats:
- Bacon
- Chicken Sausage Links
Breads:
- Mini Biscuits
- Mini Pancakes
- Mini Muffins
Fruits:
- Grapes
- Blackberries
- Cantaloupe peeled and sliced
- Strawberries
Sauces or Spreads:
- Jam or Honey
- Nutella
- Butter
- Honey Yogurt
- Maple Syrup
Instructions
- Start by placing a layer of wax paper over the board, then trimming away the edges.
- Place the jam, Nutella, butter, syrup, and yogurt into a bowl or other appropriate dish. Then, place them around the board.Jam or Honey, Butter, Honey Yogurt, Maple Syrup, Nutella
- Next place the bread items on the board. Keep them together, stacking them if necessary, and try to place them near a sauce or spread that they will pair well with. (example: place the pancakes near the syrup)Mini Pancakes, Mini Muffins, Mini Biscuits
- Add the meat and sliced cheese to the board. stacking them if necessary.Pepperjack Cheese Slices, Colby Jack Cheese Slices, Bacon, Chicken Sausage Links, Sharp Cheddar Cheese Slices
- Next, add the fruit being careful that wet fruits (like the cantaloupe) are not directly touching any of the breads.Grapes, Cantaloupe, Strawberries, Blackberries
- Once everything is arranged to your liking, fill in any gaps with loose berries or grapes. Add spoons, forks, and/or knives where needed for serving and enjoy!
Notes
Be sure to read the entire post for tips, tricks, and help troubleshooting.
The nutrition information listed here is only an estimate and is simply provided as a courtesy. It nor any other information within this post should constitute medical or nutritional advice. Be sure to read all packaging and ingredient labels for potential allergens. Optional ingredients are not included unless otherwise specified.
Nutrition
Amanda says
Looks wonderful! I will be making this exact recipe for a little get together this weekend. Exactly what I was looking for.