Southern Charcuterie Board with Pimento Cheese & Deviled Eggs

Summer entertaining often demands a pivot away from formal, heavy dining in favor of a more relaxed, continuous rhythm. When the afternoon heat reaches its peak and friends drop in to escape the sun, a beautifully composed grazing board becomes the ultimate expression of effortless hospitality.

Arranging the board is half the fun. Start with your anchor items — a generous bowl of pimento cheese and the deviled eggs — then fill in around them with clusters of pickled vegetables, sliced country ham, artisanal crackers, and fresh seasonal fruit. Variety of color, texture, and flavor is what makes a board truly irresistible.

The Building Blocks

Pimento cheese is the undisputed star of the spread. Pulsing sharp cheddar with cream cheese, mayonnaise, and drained pimentos in a food processor creates a thick, creamy dip that holds its shape beautifully on the board. A touch of smoked paprika and cayenne add a gentle warmth.

The Fuchsia Anchor

Set the board out at room temperature about twenty minutes before guests arrive, add a few spreading knives, and let everyone help themselves. It is relaxed, communal, and endlessly customizable — the very essence of Southern hospitality, gathered on a single beautiful board.

Jorj Morgan

Southern Charcuterie Board with Pimento Cheese & Deviled Eggs

A symphony of Southern hospitality unfolds with this elegant charcuterie board, presenting creamy pimento cheese, classic deviled eggs, and candied Millionaire's Bacon alongside zesty Cilantro Shrimp. Each delightful bite is perfectly paired with a vibrant Prickled Pink Cocktail, evoking Palm Beach grace.

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Prep Time 45 minutes mins

Cook Time 30 minutes mins

Total Time 1 hour hr 15 minutes mins

Servings: 8 servings

Course: Snack, Drinks, Dinner Party, Appetizer

Ingredients Method

Ingredients

  

Turkey Roll-Ups

• 1 pound deli roasted turkey breast medium sliced
• 8 ounces goat cheese softened
• ¼ cup red pepper jelly

Ham Roll-Ups

• 1 pound deli ham medium sliced
• 8 ounces cream cheese softened
• ½ cup spicy dill pickles drained and finely chopped

Deviled Eggs

• 6 hard-boiled eggs sliced in half
• 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
• 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
• 1 teaspoon chopped fresh dill
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• ½ teaspoon coarse black pepper

Millionaire’s Bacon

• 1 pound center-cut bacon
• 1 cup brown sugar

Seasoned Crackers

• 1 sleeve soda crackers
• ½ cup butter 1 stick, melted
• ½ packet dry ranch dressing mix

Pimento Cheese

• 3 ounces cream cheese softened
• 4 ounces grated sharp cheddar cheese about 1 cup
• 4 ounces grated Monterey Jack cheese about 1 cup
• ½ cup mayonnaise homemade or high-quality prepared
• 1 4-ounce jar diced pimentos, drained
• 2 to 3 green onions sliced (about 2 tablespoons)
• ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
• ¼ teaspoon paprika
• Kosher salt and black pepper to taste

Cilantro Shrimp

• 1 pound cooked shrimp
• ⅓ cup olive oil
• Juice of 1 lime about 2 tablespoons
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
• ½ teaspoon onion powder
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder
• ½ teaspoon chili powder
• Kosher salt and black pepper to taste

The Prickled Pink Cocktail (Per Drink)

• 1 shot premium tequila
• 2 tablespoons grenadine
• Juice of 4 prickly pears blended and strained to remove seeds
• 1 teaspoon agave nectar or honey
• Pineapple juice to top
• 1 twist of fresh lime
• 1 whole cinnamon stick for stirring

Method

 

Turkey & Ham Roll-Ups

1. For the Turkey Roll-Ups, stir together the softened goat cheese and red pepper jelly in a small bowl.
2. Spread about 1 tablespoon of the mixture evenly over a slice of turkey, roll it up tightly, and slice it into ¼-inch pinwheels.
3. For the Ham Roll-Ups, mix the softened cream cheese and chopped spicy dill pickles.
4. Spread about 1 tablespoon over a slice of ham, roll tightly, and slice into ¼-inch pinwheels.

Deviled Eggs

1. Remove the yolks from the halved hard-boiled eggs and place them into a small mixing bowl.
2. Use a fork to mash the yolks completely smooth.
3. Stir in the mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, and fresh dill.
4. Season the mixture with the kosher salt and coarse black pepper.
5. Spoon or pipe the filling neatly back into the hollowed egg whites.

Millionaire’s Bacon

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
2. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
3. Dredge each slice of bacon through the brown sugar, ensuring both sides are heavily coated.
4. Lay the coated bacon flat onto the parchment paper.
5. Bake until the bacon is fully cooked and the sugar is deeply caramelized, about 20 to 30 minutes.
6. Allow the bacon to cool and crisp up directly on the baking sheet before serving.

Seasoned Crackers

1. Maintain the oven at 350°F.
2. In a small bowl, whisk together the melted butter and the dry ranch dressing mix.
3. Lay the soda crackers flat onto a baking sheet.
4. Brush the top side of each cracker generously with the seasoned butter.
5. Bake until the crackers are golden brown and fragrant, about 5 to 8 minutes.

Pimento Cheese

1. In a medium bowl, combine the softened cream cheese, sharp cheddar, Monterey Jack, and mayonnaise.
2. Stir vigorously until the mixture is cohesive and creamy.
3. Fold in the drained pimentos, sliced green onions, garlic powder, and paprika.
4. Season to taste with salt and pepper, mixing thoroughly.

Cilantro Shrimp

1. In a large bowl, whisk together the olive oil, fresh lime juice, chopped cilantro, onion powder, garlic powder, and chili powder.
2. Add the cooked shrimp to the bowl.
3. Season with salt and pepper, and toss until the shrimp are completely coated in the marinade.

Mix The Prickled Pink Cocktail

1. Carefully peel the prickly pears, blend the flesh in a food processor, and pass the puree through a fine-mesh strainer to extract the smooth juice and remove all seeds.
2. In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, combine 1 shot of tequila, 2 tablespoons of grenadine, the strained prickly pear juice, and the agave nectar.
3. Shake vigorously until the outside of the shaker is frosty.
4. Strain the cocktail into an ice-filled glass.
5. Top off the glass with a splash of pineapple juice.
6. Garnish with a fresh twist of lime and insert a whole cinnamon stick to use as a stirrer.

Board Assembly

1. Arrange the Millionaire's Bacon, Turkey and Ham Roll-Ups, and Deviled Eggs across a large, rustic wooden grazing board.
2. Place the Pimento Cheese and the Cilantro Shrimp into small ceramic bowls and nestle them onto the board.
3. Fill in the empty spaces with the warm Seasoned Crackers and serve alongside the freshly poured Prickled Pink cocktails.