If you’ve ever wandered Trader Joe’s wondering which meats and cheeses are worth grabbing for your charcuterie board, you’re in the right place. I shop there several times a week, always testing new finds and revisiting longtime favorites. After countless taste tests, party trays, and family nights, I’ve learned which Trader Joe’s staples are worth every bite—and which to skip. This post is your inside scoop for building the perfect Trader Joe’s Charcuterie Board, no trial and error required.
Let me first throw out there I've also got a great Dessert Charcuterie Board and will be publishing an Easy Fruit Charcuterie Board soon too. They are so fun and easy to make, we love them.
Making a Meat and Cheese board is simple when choosing your favorite ingredients. They are often called Charcuterie Boards, or Meat and Cheese Boards and they are delicious filled with cured meats, smoked cheeses, and even dried fruit and delicious crackers.
Trader Joe's
I love Trader Joe's, it's a grocery store that stocks their brand of items and includes items and flavors from around the world which makes it ideal. Their produce is organic, the selection of meats and cheeses is spectacular not to mention the variety of crackers, jams, dried fruit, and even small candies if you like to add those too are fantastic.
Sadly, I no longer live close to a Trader Joes but you can bet every time I get a chance, 3-4 times a year, I stop by and load up on my favorites. Find a store location near you on their site.
Ingredient Roll Call for Trader Joe's Charcuterie
Let's go shopping and I'll help you around the store finding some fun ideas for your easy charcuterie board and I'll even include the best cheese for charcuterie boards or trays too. Of course that is purely subjective as it's a personal preference.
Here is a Charcuterie Board Shopping List of items you will want to consider when building a meat and cheese tray.
- Cured Meats. Pepperoni, Salami, Prosciutto and Capocollo. Trader Joes sells a trio in a combination package for around $6
- Cheese. Smoked Gouda, Parmesan, Cheddar, Provolone. You can also purchase a Tapas Spanish Cheese Sampler of 3 cheeses that is the Best Trader Joes Cheese for the price.
- Soft Cheeses and Semi Soft Cheeses. Goat Cheese, Cheese Brie, Blue Cheese are all great options too
- Bread and Crackers. We loved Garlic Naan Crackers along with the Pumpkin Cranberry Crisps. Also a Sliced baguette is also wonderful too.
- Dried Fruit. Trader Joes Mangos are a favorite. They sell a variety of dried fruits. Choose your favorite.
- Misc. The Greek Olive Medley in Brine is wonderful if you have a liking for Olives.
- Trader Joes Jams and Spreads. Trader Joes makes a delicious Fig Jam. Trust me here. We also love it on Hamburger too. It's a great addition to a Trader Joes Cheese Board. Also pick up a Mustard spread too.
- Fruit. Adding Berries, Oranges, and thinly sliced apples is a welcome addition to any large or small charcuterie board.
Choosing a Cutting Board or Tray
When choosing a cutting board or tray for your meat and cheese board I recommend a board that is the size of 8x11inches for a small group of 4-6 people. The tray I have shown in these photos is a bit larger and will feed 8-10 people.
It doesn't matter the shape, but I do like to line the tray with parchment paper. Use a round board or a tray with sides. It makes no difference. In a pinch without a size tray you need? Use a cookie sheet or baking dish! They work perfectly too.
How to Cut Cheese for Charcuterie Board
I find Charcuterie Boards are most fun with a variety of shapes, sizes and textures. So when I cut cheese I will cube some cheeses like a smoked gouda, then crumble Parmesan or Blue Cheese. Slicing Cheese thinly in triangles means you can layer them like a fan, or stack them on their side in alternating ways for visual appeal.
Cheese lovers enjoy a variety of cheese from hard cheese to soft cheeses so don't hesitate to add come goat cheese which Trader Joes also sells. Or even a more family favorite idea of cream cheese!
How to make a Salami Flower
Salami Flowers are so quick to make and the visual appeal is through the roof! Grab a drinking glass or wine glass. I find a smaller opening works best and carefully place a slice of salami over the edge of the glass allowing half of the circle of salami to fall inside the glass with the other half on the outside.
Then layer a second slice of salami on top of the first about ½ down and continue this until you have completed the circle. I find it best to add a few extra slices to overlap the beginning where you started.
Flip the cup upside down onto the meat tray and the Salami flower is perfectly placed.
Dips and Spreads
Charcuterie Boards need dips and spreads, think of it as the icing that holds it all together. When building your Meat and Cheese Tray make sure to use a variety of sized bowls to put the dips and spreads into. Using larger and smaller cups works well. Don't forget a knife to spread for the guests.
How to make Trader Joes Charcuterie Board Step by Step
Now that I've helped you find some fantastic ingredients, you've chosen the right cutting board and have your bowls ready, let's begin!
I always start by placing a few bowls on the tray, they are larger and need room for them. You can fill them later, just make sure you have an idea of how many bowls you will need when placing them.
Then add a Salami Flower. These tend to be larger so place one or two on the tray as needed. Now add crackers. Make a snake of crackers that wind around the dipping bowls and salami flower. This will start to give the board shape for other meats and cheeses to be placed.
Fold Pepperoni in quarters is a fun way to nest slices into a space and add them in small groups around the tray. Prosciutto and Capocollo are very thinly sliced so I like to separate the meats and fold in a cute little piece that is easily grabbed.
Adding cheese slices, crumbled cheese, or cubed cheeses can now be placed where you have holes and to fill in gaps. The Trader Joes Charcuterie Board is taking shape and I know you want to dive in but we aren't finished just yet.
Dried Fruits really add to any tray. I've added mangos but choose what you love. Fresh Fruit even works nicely too. And don't forget to add Olives, Pickles or any other garnish you love.
Nuts. Here is a little secret. Use nuts to fill in those small spaces that are left. The color, texture and dimension will add to your overall tray and give your guests something easily to grab and pop into their mouths.
Lastly fill each bowl with a dip, jam or spread. We love the Trader Joe's Fig Jam along with a Mustard Spread. You can't go wrong.
Making a simple Trader Joes Charcuterie Board under 30 dollars is very possible. Take my tips and tricks and you will have a fun appetizer board that everyone will love.
Ideas for Charcuterie Boards
- Dessert Charcuterie Board
- Easter Charcuterie Board
- Fruit Charcuterie Board
- Breakfast Charcuterie Board
- S’more’s Dessert Board
- Halloween Charcuterie Board
More Recipes to make!
- Air Fried Chicken Breast
- Pigs in a Blanket Crescent Rolls
- Huli-Huli Chicken Recipes
- Air Fryer Hot Pockets
- Mango Pineapple Smoothie
- Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting
Charcuterie Trader Joe's Board
Ingredients
Meats
- Salami
- Pepperoni
- Prosciutto
- Capocollo
Cheeses
- Provolone
- Parmesan
- Goat Cheese
- Gouda
- Cheddar
- Brie
Fruit
- Dried Mangos
- Dried Pineapple
- Apples
- Berries - Strawberry, Blueberries, Raspberries
- Oranges
Bread and Crackers
- French Baguette - Sliced
- Crackers - Variety
Spreads, Jams
- Fig Jam
- Mustard
- Cream Cheese Spread
Instructions
- Start by placing a few bowls on the tray, they are larger and need room for them. You can fill them later, just make sure you have an idea of how many bowls you will need when placing them.
- Add a Salami Flower or two (see notes below). Fold Pepperoni in quarters is a fun way to nest slices into a space and add them in small groups around the tray. Prosciutto and Capocollo are very thinly sliced so I like to separate the meats and fold in a cute little piece that is easily grabbed.
- Add Crackers and form a snake wrapping around the bowls as needed. Use multiple types of crackers too.
- Adding cheese slices, crumbled cheese, or cubed cheeses can now be placed where you have holes and to fill in gaps.
- Dried Fruits really add to any tray and Nuts are great to fill in small gaps
- Lastly fill each bowl with a dip, jam or spread. We love the Trader Joe’s Fig Jam along with a Mustard Spread
Notes
How to make a Salami Flower
Salami Flowers are so quick to make and the visual appeal is through the roof! Grab a drinking glass or wine glass. I find a smaller opening works best and carefully place a slice of salami over the edge of the glass allowing half of the circle of salami to fall inside the glass with the other half on the outside. Then layer a second slice of salami on top of the first about ½ down and continue this until you have completed the circle. I find it best to add a few extra slices to overlap the beginning where you started. Flip the cup upside down onto the meat tray and the Salami flower is perfectly placed.Nutrition Disclaimer
All nutrition values are approximate and calculated by a plugin and are provided as a courtesy. Adding or subtracting ingredients will change the nutritional value.
JennaQuinter.com
Thank you so much! Im doing this for my hubbys 39th bday. A friend got me started with everything but now Im here looking at your visuals. Thanks
Devour Dinner
You are welcome, Hope you enjoyed celebrating