Trader Joe’s Charcuterie Board
It’s easier than you think to create a stunning Trader Joe’s charcuterie board! This beginner-friendly guide breaks everything down into manageable steps – complete with my favorite items from TJ’s so you don’t have to spend time thinking about what to include on your board. It’s gorgeous and perfect for easy dinners, potlucks and parties, and holiday appetizers! This spread will make you look like you spent double the money and hours to create it. 😉
Simple dinner, crowd-pleasing appetizer, and everything in between.
One of the reasons I adore charcuterie boards as much as I do is because they can work for so many situations. No-cook dinner? Sure. Party-worthy spread? Absolutely. Thanksgiving day grazing board? Yup.
Use your favorite varieties of meats and cheese, seasonal fruits and veggies, and swap in seasonal specialties like their pumpkin cranberry crisps in fall or everything bagel hummus in summer for fresh variety. This Trader Joe’s party platter is…
😋 Seriously delicious: TJ’s curated selection means every item is already taste-tested and crowd-approved with cult-following TJ classics.
🛒 Made with simple ingredients: One-stop shopping at Trader Joe’s eliminates the guesswork and multiple store visits. You can find everything you need!
💰 Budget-friendly: Create a stunning board that serves 6-8 people generously.
⏰ Quick assembly: No cooking required, just arrange and serve in 15 minutes.
🎉 Perfect for entertaining: Looks expensive and sophisticated without the stress or cost. Great for grazing meals or a starter that doesn’t need much prep.
👨👩👧👦 Family-friendly: Variety ensures there’s something for every palate and dietary preference.
You’ll also want to try my Halloween charcuterie board, Mediterranean charcuterie board, dinner-worthy snack board, Braunschweiger charcuterie board, or breakfast charcuterie board next time.
I had so much fun making this to have out during an afternoon of moms chatting and kids playing. Based on needs of the guest I kept the board veggie and gluten free by omitting the meat (and adding one more cheese), and subbing gluten free crackers. The rosemary marcona almonds were a hit! Could only fine candied pecans and the bag was totally empty after. Celery sticks and everything but the bagel dip was a delicious combo, and had blackberries and apple slices. Thanks for the ideas! –Lena
Ingredient Notes
There are so many ingredient possibilities for a board like this, pick out your favorites. Here are some of my favorite ideas to get you started:
- Cheese: Use a mix of soft cheeses, spreadable cheeses, and hard cheese. Aged cheeses, unexpected cheddar, blue cheese add stronger flavor. Honey or blueberry goat cheese will add a nice sweet touch.
- Meat options: There are lots of options here! Make up some salami roses using thinly sliced hard salami. Many stores also sell variety packs of charcuterie so you can buy one package that has a few varieties. Spanish chorizo is another good option, especially if you’ve got some Manchego cheese on your board.
- Fruit: Fruit is a great addition to cheese platters, and Trader Joe’s has so many fresh – and dried fruit – options for you to choose from. Go beyond grapes with pomegranate seeds, stone fruit, apple slices squeezed with lemon juice, or whatever seasonal fruit looks good. Dried apricots or cranberries are also great additions.
- Nuts/Crackers: You can go in so many options with this section. Try the truffle marcona almonds (SO good) and in addition to water crackers, put out baguette slices, brioche toasts, cheese sticks, or any other cracker that looks good.
- Honey or jam: If you don’t have any fruit, add a little bowl of honey, fig butter, pumpkin butter, sweet pepper jelly, or apricot jam. The sweet components pair so well with cheese and meats. And slivers of dark chocolate always go over well.
- Olives/Pickles: Pickles and olives are a great addition to cheese platters. Put them in a small bowl. Don’t forget to include an additional little dish if the olives contain pits. (They are a must in my greek mezze platter!)
Charcuterie Board Items by Budget
- For a $50 board: A $50 board gives us some more wiggle room and opportunities to add in variety. My suggestions: aged gouda, brie, and a cheddar or havarti, two or three charcuterie meats (or buy the package like we’ve done here!), three crackers (water crackers, fruit and nut crackers, and a flatbread type), two nuts (candied walnuts or marcona almonds), and a few fresh items (cucumber, grapes, apple slices, etc).
- For a $25 board: I’m not going to lie. Spending just $25 to make a cheese platter – even one from Trader Joe’s – is not going to go too far. It doesn’t leave a lot in the budget for multiple varieties and extras. BUT, it is doable for an inexpensive charcuterie board for a small crowd. (I just prefer not to have a budget when it comes to cheese. HA!) My suggestions: an aged gouda and a brie cheese, a salami, water crackers and another cracker, and one nut.
Emily’s Charcuterie Board Tips & Tricks
- Cheese: Cut a little of the cheese so that it’s inviting for people to start eating! You can also cut firm cheeses like cheddar, gouda, etc. up completely so that people don’t have to mess with the knives.
- Meat: Fold salami in half, and rip up sheets of prosciutto so that they are small enough for one bite.
- Fresh Items: Use a variety of colors and textures here to add fresh flavor and color to your board.
- Nuts: I like to use a variety, but check to see what you have and use that up first.
- Garnish: Although these aren’t necessary, adding a fresh garnish like rosemary sprigs adds beautiful color and texture to your board.
Trader Joe’s Charcuterie Board
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 4–8 servings 1x
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: No Cook
- Cuisine: American
Description
Create a stunning charcuterie board using ingredients from Trader Joe’s! Ready in 15 minutes with a complete shopping list that outlines exactly what to buy.
Ingredients
Three Cheeses:
- Aged Gouda
- French Brie
- Other: Unexpected cheddar, cheddar, etc.
Meats:
- Charcuterie mix (which has a variety)
- Salami, prosciutto, capocollo, etc.
Crackers:
- Water crackers (ALWAYS a must)
- Fruit and nut crisps
- Flatbread
Nuts/Extras:
- Marcona almonds
- Candied walnuts
- Olives
- Hummus or dip
- Pickled items
Fresh Items:
- Sliced cucumber
- Endive leaves
- Grapes
- Apple/pear slices
Instructions
- Place cheeses (and anything else in a bowl like olives or dips) onto your board first.
- Add meats. Arrange them next to the cheeses and put a little section of each meat (if using more than one) next to the cheeses to add variety.
- Add crackers. Arrange the crackers next to the cheese and meat (because your guests will probably want to eat all three together!). You can fan them out so they look nice or put them in small dishes.
- Add fresh components. Think about how people will eat them, and make sure you’re putting them out ready to eat. Sliced apples, cucumbers, and small clumps of grapes.
- Stop and look. Step back and assess your board. Does it have a good variety? Do any sections need more or less? Now is the time to adjust! Squeeze items in close to each other so the board looks full and abundant.
- Finish with extras. Add and fill in any spaces with nuts and any other extras or garnishes.
Notes
- Storage: Assemble the board just before serving, but prep individual components up to 2 hours ahead and store covered in the refrigerator.
- Ingredient notes: TJ’s seasonal items change frequently, so embrace flexibility and substitute similar items when your favorites aren’t available.
- Prep ahead: Wash grapes and slice fruits the morning of your event, and arrange non-perishable items on the board early.
- Helpful tools: A large wooden cutting board or marble slab works best, with small spoons for spreads and cheese knives for serving.
More Easy Appetizers
If you like this Trader Joe’s cheese board, you may also like some of these other simple appetizer recipes:
About the Author
Emily Dingmann is a recipe developer, nutrition expert, and founder of My Everyday Table. She specializes in creating easy, healthy recipes that help busy parents feed their families well every single day, without the stress. With a degree in Nutrition and over 20 years of experience, Emily shares family-friendly meals that are practical, nourishing, and full of flavor. Learn more about Emily’s approach to everyday cooking and nutrition here.
Food styling and photography by Loren Runion.
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love this post!! so helpful. 🙂 we always do cheese plates for new years but maybe this year i’ll go all out!!
Thanks Sarah! They are so fun, but the bill can rack up quickly, that’s for sure! 🙂
I follow your method and it works every time!
Share a pic one of these times, I’d love to see!
I had so much fun making this to have out during an afternoon of moms chatting and kids playing. Based on needs of the guest I kept the board veggie and gluten free by omitting the meat (and adding one more cheese), and subbing gluten free crackers. The rosemary marcona almonds were a hit! Could only fine candied pecans and the bag was totally empty after. Celery sticks and everything but the bagel dip was a delicious combo, and had blackberries and apple slices. Thanks for the ideas!
What a welcoming spread you put out, it sounds amazing.