Easy Smoked Salmon Brunch Board for Weekend Entertaining

A smoked salmon brunch is the ultimate no-stress way to feed a crowd—colorful, fresh, and ready in minutes. Whether you're hosting Easter morning, Mother’s Day, or a cozy holiday brunch, this beautiful board is a sure hit. No cooking required, just a bit of slicing, layering, and styling.

This smoked salmon brunch board is our go-to for weekend entertaining. It’s a crowd-pleasing combination of silky smoked salmon, crunchy vegetables, creamy spreads, and toasted bagels—all beautifully arranged on a board for guests to help themselves.

It’s perfect for:

• Slow weekend brunches
• Holiday mornings
• Casual gatherings with friends

The best part? It’s a no-cook breakfast recipe that comes together in under 20 minutes and feels just as impressive as a hot brunch spread. We tested this recipe with our Lemon Dill Whipped Cottage Cheese and Quick Pickled Red Onions—easy upgrades that bring tons of flavor and color to your board.

👉 Scroll down for expert tips, wine pairings, and ideas for customizing your board.

Jump to:

• Why You’ll Love This Brunch Platter
• Ingredients You’ll Need
• Lemon Dill Whipped Cottage Cheese
• How to Assemble a Smoked Salmon Breakfast Platter
• How Much Smoked Salmon Do I Need Per Person?
• Cold Smoked Salmon vs. Hot Smoked Salmon
• How to Make a Mediterranean-Inspired Smoked Salmon Brunch Platter
• How to Cater for Guests with Dietary Needs
• What to Serve with a Smoked Salmon Brunch Platter
• Smoked Salmon Brunch Wine Pairings and Cocktails
• Make Ahead & Storage Tips
• FAQ's
• More Breakfast & Brunch Ideas
• Easy Smoked Salmon Brunch Board for Weekend Entertaining

Why You’ll Love This Brunch Platter

• No cooking required
• Ready in 15–20 minutes
• Beautiful and customizable
• Perfect for sharing and easy entertaining
• Packed with healthy fats, protein, and fresh produce—it’s a healthy brunch platter that still feels indulgent.

Ingredients You’ll Need

• Smoked salmon – Choose high-quality slices with good marbling for flavor and texture. 

Chef’s Note: Look for smoked salmon labeled wild-caught or sustainably sourced if possible—quality makes all the difference here.

• Bagels – Toasted plain or sesame work best. Serve halved for easy grabbing.
• Cottage cheese or cream cheese – Our Lemon Dill Whipped Cottage Cheese adds a zesty twist.
• Pickled red onions – Make your own with our easy red onion pickle recipe, or use store-bought.
• Avocados – Ripe and thinly sliced.
• Cucumber – Thin rounds for crunch.
• Cherry tomatoes – Halved for juicy sweetness.
• Capers – Salty and briny, they complement the salmon beautifully.
• Lemon wedges & fresh dill – Brightness and herby aroma.
• Optional: Mini dill pickles, wholegrain mustard, boil eggs and baby herb salad leaves for color and crunch.

Chef’s Tip: Alternatively you can swap the smoked salmon with smoked trout, it works beautifully as well.

How to Assemble a Smoked Salmon Breakfast Platter

Tested in our kitchen and loved by our readers—this recipe is fast, flexible, and foolproof.

• Start with the base: Lay baking paper on a wooden board or serving platter. Position your halved bagels and small bowls for dips (cottage cheese, onions, capers, etc.).
  
• Add the stars: Fold or roll smoked salmon into loose ribbons and place them around the dips. Fan out avocado slices, cucumber, and cherry tomatoes.
  

• Scatter and style: Tuck in greens and place lemon wedges in clusters. Sprinkle with fresh dill.
  
• Final touches: Season with salt and pepper where needed. Let everyone build their own bagel with a mix of spreads, toppings, and fresh veggies.

How Much Smoked Salmon Do I Need Per Person?

As a general rule, allow 50–75g (1.75–2.5 oz) of smoked salmon per person if it’s part of a larger brunch board. If it’s the main event (like bagels and salmon for everyone), aim closer to 100g (3.5 oz) per person.

Cold Smoked Salmon vs. Hot Smoked Salmon

• Cold Smoked Salmon is cured and smoked at a low temperature. It’s silky, smooth, and typically served thinly sliced—perfect for brunch boards.
• Hot Smoked Salmon is smoked at a higher temperature, giving it a flakier, cooked texture. It’s great flaked over frittatas or grain bowls, and salads, and can work for bagels, but for this recipe we prefer using cold smoked salmon.

Here’s a helpful guide from Bon Appétit to learn more about Cold Smoked Salmon vs. Hot Smoked Salmon.

How to Make a Mediterranean-Inspired Smoked Salmon Brunch Platter

For a Mediterranean twist, add a few bold and flavorful extras to your board. Think Middle Eastern pickles, marinated olives, or cubes of creamy feta. Swap out traditional bagels for warm pita wedges or seedy crackers, and offer dips like hummus or baba ganoush for a dairy-free option. Finish it off with a generous sprinkle of fresh herbs like parsley, mint, or a touch of za’atar to tie it all together. These bold additions also make it a great option if you’re after a healthy brunch platter with global flavor.

How to Cater for Guests with Dietary Needs

Here are some easy swaps to make your platter more inclusive:

• Gluten-Free: Serve with gluten-free bagels, gluten free seeded crackers, or sliced sweet potato rounds. 

Chef’s Tip: Serve everything in separate bowls and dishes to avoid cross contamination.

• Dairy-Free: Swap cream cheese for hummus, whipped avocado, or cashew cheese.
• Vegetarian: This platter is already mostly vegetarian-friendly—just skip any optional meats, maybe add some boiled eggs for extra protein and serve the smoked salmon on a separate platter or plate.
• Add More Protein: Include hard-boiled eggs, hummus, or a side of smoked mackerel.
• Kid-Friendly: Offer plain bagels or soft bread rolls, soft cheese, sliced boiled eggs, and a fruit side.

What to Serve with a Smoked Salmon Brunch Platter

Round out your table with a mix of sweet, savory, and refreshing sides to keep guests satisfied and inspired:

• Fresh Fruit: Seasonal fruit platter, Berry Fruit Salad, citrus segments, fresh figs, or melon slices, use what is seasonally available.
• Yogurt & Granola: Yogurt panna cotta, yogurt and granola parfait, or a build-your-own yogurt bar
• Pastries & Sweet Baked Treats: Croissants, Scones, Muffins, Banana Bread, Cinnamon Rolls. Try our Blueberry Banana Muffins or Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins
• Spreads & Condiments: Fruit compote, apricot jam, fig preserves, honeycomb, nut butters, or try our Healthy Blueberry Chia Jam or Spiced Christmas Jam
• Breads & Crackers: Crusty bread, toasted seed loaf, rye crackers, sourdough slices, or bagel chips
• Cheese Board: A mix of soft cheeses (goat cheese, brie) and firm cheeses (cheddar, manchego)
• Eggs: Hard or soft-boiled eggs, scrambled eggs, poached eggs, large or mini frittatas, or quiche
• Savory Additions: Crispy bacon, prosciutto, smoked turkey, or maple-glazed ham
• Fresh Veggies: Sliced radishes, sugar snap peas, cucumber ribbons, or roasted asparagus, use what is seasonally available.
• Non-Alcoholic Drinks: Coffee, tea, fruit juice, cucumber mint water, iced tea, infused water (try citrus rosemary!), and mini smoothies like our Mixed Berry Smoothie, Tropical Green Smoothie, or Strawberry Banana Smoothie

Smoked Salmon Brunch Wine Pairings and Cocktails

Wine Pairings

• Dry sparkling rosé or Champagne – bright and festive
• Sauvignon Blanc – crisp and herbal, lovely with dill and capers
• Light Pinot Noir – great with smoked fish if serving a brunch that transitions into lunch

Brunch Cocktails

• Mimosas: A bright blend of orange juice and sparkling wine—classic, refreshing, and so easy to serve in a pitcher.
• Bellinis: A peachy Prosecco cocktail that feels a little extra fancy, perfect for holidays and special brunches.
• Bloody Marys: Savory and bold, these vodka-tomato cocktails pair well with smoked salmon, especially with garnishes like pickles and celery.

Make Ahead & Storage Tips

• Make Ahead: Prep pickled onions, spreads, and sliced veg the day before. Store separately in airtight containers.
• Assemble Fresh: Build your board just before serving so everything stays crisp and fresh.
• Leftovers: Store leftover components individually in airtight in the fridge for up to 2 days.
• Not Freezer-Friendly: Fresh vegetables and the whipped cottage cheese don't freeze well. You can tightly wrap the smoked salmon in cling wrap and freeze it for 1 - 3 months. Defrost overnight in the refrigerator.
  

FAQ's

More Breakfast & Brunch Ideas

Whether you're hosting for the holidays or just love a good weekend brunch, this smoked salmon brunch board brings people together with ease. We hope it inspires your next gathering!
 

Leave a comment below if you try this recipe —and don’t forget to pin it for later!

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The nutrition is an estimate only. It was calculated using Nutrifox, an online nutrition calculator.