Easy Mexican Nacho "Charcuterie" Board

Give your next charcuterie board some Mexican-inspired flair with the ultimate nacho board. This charcuterie-style platter includes fresh veggies, guacamole, shrimp, steak, tortilla chips, and salsa. Serve it as a main dish or appetizer and watch your guests rave about this fun spread!

Looking for another charcuterie board idea? Try this Holiday Charcuterie Board next!

Charcuterie boards have been around forever but gained popularity on TikTok in recent years and so many variations have emerged. The Mexican charcuterie board is one of my favorites! It has all the staples of Mexican cuisine, with plenty of flavors and textures, each complementing the next.

Assemble this board and get to grazing with friends and family at your next get-together because this spicy, savory Mexican-themed charcuterie board is the best!

Jump to:

• Why You'll Love This Mexican Charcuterie Board
• Nacho Board Ingredients
• How to Make a Mexican Charcuterie Board
• Tips and Tricks
• How to Store Leftovers
• What to Serve with a Mexican Charcuterie Board
• FAQ
• Mexican Nacho Board

Why You'll Love This Mexican Charcuterie Board

Easy! Once you master the basics of creating a charcuterie board, it's so fun to assemble them.

Versatile! The best part of a charcuterie board is the variety. There's something on this board to suit every taste bud and diet.

Great for Parties! It's definitely a fiesta when this Mexican-inspired charcuterie board comes out! Whether it's Cinco de Mayo or the Super Bowl, serve this at your next gathering and watch how quickly it disappears.

Nacho Board Ingredients

As I decided on the items I'd add to this Mexican-style charcuterie board, I knew it was important to include fresh ingredients. As a result, this is not your typical style nachos; guests can grab and munch, plate their selections and some will devour directly from the board!

Nacho Board Ingredients

1. Tortilla Chips. Every grazing board needs dippers and this is my top choice. They're crispy, salty, and sturdy enough to hold thick sauces without falling apart.
2. Salsa. You can't have a Mexican charcuterie board without salsa! It adds fresh flavor to the board and the natural sweetness of the tomatoes adds a light quality to the board, that's filled with savory ingredients. I have three salsa recipes of my own that you can draw inspiration from: Chipotle Copycat Corn Salsa, Fresh Peach Salsa with Shrimp, and Roasted Corn & Black Bean Salsa.
3. Frozen Corn. Grilled corn adds a pop of color.
4. Cilantro. This is perfect for garnish.
5. Radish. This veggie is crunchy and juicy with a slight peppery tang.
6. Refried Beans. Refried beans are a versatile accompaniment to many Mexican and Tex-Mex dishes, especially nachos.
7. Queso Dip. This melted cheese dip is perfect for a grazing board.
8. Jalapenos. Add this for a pop of heat.
9. Sweet Mini Peppers. They add color and texture to the board.
10. Carne Asada. It's not a charcuterie board without meat! And grilled, marinated beef is the best kind. It has a bold, savory taste that complements all the other ingredients on the board.
11. Fresh Shrimp. Add this as another protein. It pairs well with the fresh elements on the board.
12. Cotija Cheese. This crumbly, salty cheese adds a savory quality.
13. Limes. Add this for a bright citrus taste. Cut them into wedges.

Guacamole

1. Avocados. Use ripe avocados that are firm with a slight give.
2. Lime. This enhances the mild and creamy taste of avocados.
3. Cilantro. This herb adds a pop of freshness.
4. Season All. For seasoning.

How to Make a Mexican Charcuterie Board

Prepare Ingredients

Prepping all of the ingredients is key for this recipe. Prepare your proteins, dips, and veggies ahead of time before assembly. This way, you save time prepping, cooking, and selecting once it's time to design and assemble your board!

Prepare the guacamole, carne asada, grilled shrimp, grilled corn, refried beans, and warm the queso.

First, start with the center of the board and work your way out. Then add chips and fresh veggies filling in spaces for plated or bowled ingredients such as guacamole and beans.

Coupled with garnish such as fresh cilantro and green onion, this board turns into a colorful and appetizing dish!

Tips and Tricks

• Utilizing the warm setting in the oven will help to keep the hot foods warm while you assemble the rest of the board.
• Mix and match homemade and store-bought elements. Safeway has a variety of ready-set items, so I was able to grab salsa as well as carne asada seasoned beef in the meat and deli departments. This cut preparation time in half and left me with less prep than making every item from scratch.
• If you're entertaining, make sure you have enough to replenish the board. Monitor it to see how quickly things go so you can add more as needed.
• Use this recipe as an example for your own creation. The best part of charcuterie is making it your own!

How to Store Leftovers

You can either store each element separately or remove anything that doesn't need to be refrigerated (i.e., chips) and put the whole platter in the fridge, covered with aluminum foil. I'd go with the latter only if you plan to eat leftovers within 1 day.

What to Serve with a Mexican Charcuterie Board

This nacho board is very filling and if your guests devour it as mine did, there won't be room for much more other than a cold brew or these spicy pineapple margaritas! You can certainly serve items such as these too:

• Blackened Fish Tacos
• Roasted Corn & Black Bean Salsa
• Mexican Street Corn
• Slow Cooker Shredded Mexican Chicken

FAQ

What do you put on a Mexican board?

There are very few rules when it comes to charcuterie but it's important to include certain staples on your Mexican charcuterie board. Remember the "essentials" like salsa, queso dip, tortilla chips, guacamole, refried beans, and grilled corn. You also need a meat element. This recipe uses carne asada, but chorizo or serrano ham would be good options too.

What is the 3 3 3 3 rule for charcuterie board?

The 3 3 3 3 rule is the concept that a charcuterie board should include 3 cheeses, 3 meats, 3 starches, and 3 accoutrements (i.e., crackers, jams, sauces, garnishes, etc.). This board doesn't follow that rule because it's themed but it's a good rule of thumb for traditional charcuterie boards to maintain balance and a nice presentation.

What not to put on a charcuterie board?

Avoid produce that browns quickly like bananas, or foods that get messy easily like juicy pineapples. Anything that has a strong flavor or odor that can impact the other ingredients should also be avoided.

What does charcuterie mean literally?

Charcuterie derives from two French words: "chair" which means flesh and "cuit" which means cooked. The direct translation is "cooked flesh," which references prepared meats.

I HOPE YOU ENJOY THIS EASY MEXICAN CHARCUTERIE BOARD RECIPE!

If you try this recipe, I'd love to see it! Share it with me on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest.