The Most Essential Costco Item I Always Grab For a Charcuterie Board

While you may head to Costco for the fixings of a giant holiday feast, it may not be your first stop when shopping for a charcuterie board. There’s no need to buy a wheel of Parmigiano Reggiano or 10 pounds of prosciutto, to assemble a bountiful — and affordable — charcuterie board from items you can buy at Costco.

There is no season that makes having a Costco membership more valuable than the holidays. With over a decade of bulk shopping and holiday hosting experience I’ve figured out how to fill my cart strategically so that I’m not hit with sticker shock at the register or too many leftovers once the party is over. I’m convinced that there is no better place to shop than Costco for your holiday charcuterie board. Here’s how to do it.

The selection of gourmet cheeses and charcuterie at Costco remains awe-inspiring, even to longtime members. The warehouse wonder has found the sweet spot of cost and quality, but it usually entails purchasing oversized cheese wedges or poster-size packages of salami. When variety, not quantity, is the main objective, look for multipacks. Although you won’t have as much control over every meat and cheese you serve, your platter will be full and you may discover a new favorite.

Use the same strategy when it comes to nuts and dried fruit. You’ll save some money by buying a mixture rather than individual nuts, dried fruits, and seeds. That said, you’re sure to have some leftovers from a Costco charcuterie board, so make sure to choose foods you won’t mind snacking on in the coming days.

Here’s what I picked to serve a party of 12 and why.

Total: $68.83; $5.74 per person

Unless you’re hosting the party of the decade with a guest list to match (and in that case, I expect an invitation), you’ll probably be snacking on the leftovers in the days to come. Thankfully, all of the elements of this charcuterie board can be enjoyed throughout the holiday season, so there’ll be no holiday Miss Havisham vibes here. Plus, you’ll always have something to offer unexpected guests that happen to drop in.

What are your favorite Costco charcuterie board additions? Tell us in the comments below.