Best Charcuterie Board Toppings for Labor Day

Before the grill takes over for the main event, set out the best charcuterie board toppings and let guests graze while everyone gathers for one last Labor Day cookout. This is the unofficial closing weekend of summer, so lean into the season's last good produce — grilled peaches, charred corn, blistered peppers — to build a board that feels like a proper send-off rather than a leftover cheese plate.

Why Grilled Toppings Belong on Your Labor Day Board

Since the grill is already fired up for burgers and brats, use the last few minutes of heat to char a few extras. Grilling fruit and vegetables concentrates their sugars and adds a smoky note that pairs perfectly with cured meats and creamy cheese, making them some of the best charcuterie board toppings you can offer at a late-summer gathering.

The Best Charcuterie Board Toppings for a Labor Day Spread

Start with your classics — salami, prosciutto, a sharp cheddar, a soft brie — then build out the best charcuterie board toppings with these late-summer additions:

• Grilled peach halves, sliced thin
• Charred corn kernels cut fresh off the cob
• Blistered shishito or mini bell peppers
• Toasted pecans or marcona almonds
• Fresh figs or grapes for contrast

The real standout, though, is a bold pepper jelly spread as your centerpiece condiment. Spooned next to brie or swirled into cream cheese, Peach Habanero Spread mirrors those grilled peach flavors while adding the sweet heat that turns a good board into one of the best charcuterie board toppings guests keep coming back for.

Step-by-Step: Building the Board

1. Set two or three small bowls of spread — like Peach Habanero Spread and a soft cheese — at different corners of the board first.
2. Fold cured meats into ribbons and fan them near the bowls so guests can build bites easily.
3. Add cheese wedges, spacing hard and soft varieties apart from each other.
4. Layer in the grilled fruit and vegetable toppings while they're still warm from the grill.
5. Fill remaining gaps with crackers, nuts, and fresh grapes or figs.
6. Finish with a drizzle of honey over the brie and a final small dish of Jalapeño Apple Spread for guests who want a crisper, tangier bite.

Feeding a Long Weekend Crowd

Labor Day gatherings tend to run bigger than a typical weeknight get-together, so plan for grazing that lasts hours, not minutes. A board built with the best charcuterie board toppings can sit out longer than dips or hot appetizers, making it the easiest thing on your menu to prep ahead. Slice cheeses and grill your fruit and vegetables the morning of, then assemble right before guests arrive so everything looks fresh for the whole afternoon.

Ready to build your own send-off-to-summer spread? Shop the full lineup of pepper jelly spreads at Smoky Mountain Spread and stock up before the long weekend crowd arrives.