When I need a crowd-pleasing snack that looks beautiful without a big grocery bill, I build this simple cheap charcuterie board. It is full of affordable meats, cheeses, fruit, and crunchy bites that feel special with very little effort.
Simple Cheap Charcuterie Board
Equipment
- 1 Large serving board or sheet pan wood board, cutting board, slate, or parchment-lined sheet pan
- 4 Small bowls for dips, olives, honey
- 2 Cheese knives
- 2 Small spoons
- 1 Parchment Paper (optional)
Ingredients
Meats
- 12 oz assorted sliced deli meats smoked turkey, roasted chicken, beef salami, beef pastrami; about 2 oz per person
- 4 oz turkey bacon crisped pieces, optional
Cheeses
- 12 oz assorted block cheeses cheddar, gouda, pepper jack, mozzarella; slice or cube
- 4 oz soft cheese feta or small goat cheese log
Crunch
- 8 oz assorted crackers
- 4 oz pretzels or pita chips or thinly sliced baguette; make quick crostini by brushing with olive oil and toasting
- 1 each baguette thinly sliced; optional
Fresh fruit
- 1 lb grapes washed and dried
- 2 each apples sliced; toss with lemon water to reduce browning
- 1 cup berries any variety
- 2 each clementines or substitute 1 ripe pear
Veggies
- 1 each cucumber sliced into rounds
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes
- 2 each carrots cut into sticks
- 1 cup snap peas
- 1 each bell pepper sliced
Briny bites
- 1 cup olives
- 1 cup mini pickles cornichons
Spreads and dips
- 1 cup hummus
- 2 tbsp whole grain mustard
- 2 tbsp honey
- 0.25 cup jam fig or apricot
Extras
- 1 cup roasted nuts
- 2 tbsp seeds pumpkin or sunflower
- 2 oz dark chocolate squares
- 1 each lemon for lemon water to prevent apple browning; optional
Instructions
- Use a wood board, large cutting board, slate, or even a parchment-lined sheet pan. Add 2 to 4 small bowls for dips and olives.
- Anchor the board by spacing small bowls around the surface. Fill them with hummus, mustard, honey, and olives.
- Cut block cheese into a mix of slices, cubes, and small wedges for texture. Fan them in separate clusters near the bowls.
- Fold or roll sliced smoked turkey, roasted chicken, beef salami, and beef pastrami. Tuck them between cheese clusters. Add crisped turkey bacon pieces if using.
- Fill gaps with crackers, pretzels, or crostini. Keep anything crisp away from juicy fruits and dips.
- Nestle in grapes, apple slices, cucumber rounds, and carrot sticks. Drizzle a few apple slices with lemon water to reduce browning.
- Scatter roasted nuts, a few chocolate squares, and a light herb garnish. Add cheese knives and small spoons.
- Set out small plates and napkins. Refill crackers and fruit as needed.
Notes
Why You’ll Love This Simple Cheap Charcuterie Board
- Eye-catching with everyday ingredients you can find anywhere.
- Simple to scale up or down for any gathering.
- Budget friendly thanks to smart picks like block cheese and seasonal fruit.
- Zero cooking required, just slice, arrange, and serve.
Simple Cheap Charcuterie Board Ingredients & Substitutions
- Meats: sliced smoked turkey, roasted chicken, beef salami, beef pastrami, turkey bacon crisps. Substitute any sliced deli meat you enjoy or skip meat and add extra cheese and nuts.
- Cheeses: cheddar, gouda, pepper jack, mozzarella, feta, or a small goat cheese log. Buying blocks and slicing yourself saves money.
- Crunch: assorted crackers, pretzels, pita chips, or thinly sliced baguette. Make quick crostini by brushing bread with olive oil and toasting.
- Fresh fruit: grapes, apple slices, berries, clementines, or pear. Choose what is in season for the best price.
- Veggies: cucumber rounds, cherry tomatoes, carrot sticks, snap peas, or bell pepper strips.
- Briny bites: olives and mini pickles. Even a small jar goes a long way.
- Spreads and dips: hummus, whole grain mustard, honey, and jam like fig or apricot.
- Extras: roasted nuts, seeds, and a few small dark chocolate squares.
Step-by-Step Instructions to Make Simple Cheap Charcuterie Board
Step 1: Choose your board
Use a wood board, large cutting board, slate, or even a parchment-lined sheet pan. Add 2 to 4 small bowls for dips and olives.
Step 2: Place the bowls first
Anchor the board by spacing small bowls around the surface. Fill them with hummus, mustard, honey, and olives.
Step 3: Slice cheeses
Cut block cheese into a mix of slices, cubes, and small wedges for texture. Fan them in separate clusters near the bowls.
Step 4: Add meats
Fold or roll sliced smoked turkey, roasted chicken, beef salami, and beef pastrami. Tuck them between cheese clusters. Add crisped turkey bacon pieces if using.
Step 5: Pile on the crunch
Fill gaps with crackers, pretzels, or crostini. Keep anything crisp away from juicy fruits and dips.
Step 6: Fresh fruit and veggies
Nestle in grapes, apple slices, cucumber rounds, and carrot sticks. Drizzle a few apple slices with lemon water to reduce browning.
Step 7: Finish with extras
Scatter roasted nuts, a few chocolate squares, and a light herb garnish. Add cheese knives and small spoons.
Step 8: Serve
Set out small plates and napkins. Refill crackers and fruit as needed.
Tips for Success
- Shop the sales and use store brands for cheeses and crackers.
- Slice your own cheese from blocks to save more.
- Build with color in mind by alternating light and dark ingredients.
- Keep wet items in bowls so crackers stay crisp.
- Pre-wash grapes and veggies, then dry well before arranging.
- Add height with rolled meats and stacked cubes for a fuller look.
- A drizzle of honey over soft cheese is a quick flavor boost.
Variations of Simple Cheap Charcuterie Board
- Mediterranean: hummus, olives, cucumber, cherry tomatoes, feta, pita chips.
- Sweet and savory: cheddar, goat cheese, berries, apples, honey, fig jam, roasted nuts.
- Protein-packed: smoked turkey, roasted chicken, beef salami, cheddar, mozzarella, nuts.
- Summer garden: cucumbers, peppers, tomatoes, corn chips, herbed yogurt dip.
Serving Suggestions: What to Pair with Simple Cheap Charcuterie Board
- Crisp salads like chopped greens with lemon dressing.
- Warm sides such as tomato soup or baked potatoes for a heartier spread.
- Simple drinks like iced tea, sparkling water, or chilled sparkling grape juice.
Storage & Reheating Instructions
- Refrigerate leftovers in airtight containers within 2 hours.
- Store meats up to 3 to 4 days, cheeses 5 to 7 days, and cut fruit or veggies 1 to 2 days.
- Keep crackers separate at room temperature to preserve crunch.
- No reheating needed. To refresh crostini, warm in a 300°F oven for 3 to 5 minutes.
Memories Made Around the Table
I love setting this out before dinner and watching everyone gather, nibble, and chat. It turns a simple evening into a little occasion, and the board always disappears faster than I expect.
FAQs
How much should I buy per person? Plan about 2 ounces meat, 2 ounces cheese, a handful of crackers, and a handful of fruit or veggies per guest for snacking.
Can I make the board ahead? Yes. Slice cheese and veggies, wash grapes, and mix dips up to 24 hours ahead. Assemble the board 30 minutes before serving and add crackers last.
What if I do not have a wooden board? A parchment-lined sheet pan or large platter works perfectly. The parchment makes cleanup easy and keeps everything in place.
How do I keep apple slices from browning? Toss slices in cold water with a little lemon juice, then pat dry before adding to the board.
Final Thoughts
This simple cheap charcuterie board proves that great gatherings do not need fancy ingredients. With smart shopping and a little arranging, you can create a generous, photo-worthy spread any night of the week.