Here’s everything you need to know about creating an ALDI cheese board that’s perfect for entertaining (and affordable too!).
Thank you to ALDI for sponsoring this post!
Cheese boards and charcuterie boards are all over Pinterest right now, each one more elaborate than the next.
As opposed to some Pinterest trends (I’m looking at you, sweet potato toast), I’m totally sold on this one.
These boards are genius for entertaining because they’re prepped in advance—no fussing around in the kitchen when you’ve got guests—and there’s something on them for everyone.
But I get it. Attempting a Pinterest-worthy cheese board can seem intimidating—and expensive. All those fancy cheeses, specialty meats, and froufrou cracker. Cha-ching, right?
I’m happy to report that I assembled my first-ever cheese board and it wasn’t expensive. I bought everything at ALDI (except for some pesto I had in the fridge—but you can get that at ALDI too), it was very affordable, and I had plenty of extra food left for refilling it mid-party.
And it wasn’t hard either. It was actually fun, like putting together a big delicious puzzle.
How to make an ALDI cheese board
Supplies you need for an ALDI cheese board
- Board or tray: I used a large cutting board like this one, but you can also use a baking sheet or large serving tray for your ALDI charcuterie board.
- Small dishes: Ramekins and small bowls contain dips and spreads and contain juices from items like olives.
- Cheese knives: This will help guests slice and spread cheese like brie.
- Spreader or small knife: Put these alongside spreads like pesto and jam.
- Small spoons: Use these to scoop things like nuts and olives.
- Tongs: Use for cheese, fruit, meat, crackers and other finger foods.
- Toothpicks: If you’re serving cubed cheeses or melon, this can make it easy for guests to serve themselves.
- Cheese markers: Optional but fun way to label different kinds of cheeses.
8 key elements for your ALDI cheese board
(Keep in mind that some products may be seasonal or not available at all stores, but with new products showing up all the time, including nearly 100 new ALDI Finds each week, there will always be fun options there to include.)
1. Variety of cheeses
- Something soft and spreadable, like the Happy Farms Preferred Goat Cheese Logs
- Something hard and sliceable, like Specially Selected Aged Reserve White Cheddar
- Something festive. like a wheel of Specially Selected Normandy Baking Brie)
- A mix of mild cheeses (like Specially Selected Smoked Gouda) and stronger flavors (like Happy Farms Preferred Blue Cheese wedge) is ideal too
2. Specialty Meats
For my ALDI charcuterie board, I picked up Appleton Farms Prosciutto and an assortment of Appleton Farms gourmet deli meats that included pepper salami, hot capocollo, and hot calabrese. You can lay the slices on top of each other, roll them up, or fold them into a neat row or pile.
3. Crackers in different textures
- For gluten-free guests, their liveGfree Multi Seed Crackers are delicious (fyi: their whole line of liveGfree line recently earned the Good Housekeeping Seal, which is considered the gold standard guide for shoppers).
- The Savoritz Woven Wheats have long been a favorite of mine (they contain just three ingredients and can stand up to a generous smear of cheese).
- Include slices of baguette too so partygoers can spread brie or jam on them or build mini sandwiches.
4. Sliced apples, pears, or fresh berries
These add pops of color and are perfectly paired with cheese (and if you’re looking for organic fruit, ALDI has that too). Dried fruit also pretty on a cheese board.
5. Nuts
ALDI carries a wide variety, so look for their Southern Grove and Specially Selected nuts. Be sure you’re aware of any allergies.
| You might also like: 20 Last-Minute ALDI Dinner Ideas |
6. Olives
ALDI has a few different varieties, including the Specialty Selected Stuffed Queen Olives, stuffed with feta, cheddar, or jalapeno jack cheese. (Though there are products all over ALDI that would be great for a holiday board, their Specially Selected line is made with foodies—and parties—in mind!) Put these in little dishes so the juices are contained.
7. Spreads
I included a little dish of ALDI Specially Selected Raspberry Fruit Spread (for spreading on a baguette with a hunk of brie) plus a pesto.
8. Sweets
I snagged these Winternacht star-shaped cookies (I’m a sucker for all the German specialty foods at ALDI) to garnish my holiday board plus another of my personal faves, their cocoa-flavored almonds. I also bought two kinds of Moser Roth chocolate but didn’t have room. (My kids loved the Milk Toffee Crunch one so much, I’m going to include them in their stockings this year.)
Secrets to a stunning ALDI charcuterie board
- Vary colors and textures: Put crusty bread next to a smooth cheese or seedy, brown crackers by bright red apple slices.
- Keep everything dry: Dry fruit well with a paper towel after rinsing to avoid damp spots on your board.
- Think “bounty”: Food is most attractive when it looks plentiful, so a great-looking charcuterie board will look brimming, not bare.
- Arrange food in different shapes: Fan baguette slices around a dish of jam, heap grapes into a pile, and line up salami slices in a pattern.
- Fill in blank spaces: Use berries, nuts, dried fruit, or pieces of chocolate to close up any bare spots on your board.
Get the free ALDI cheese board shopping list
Want to make an ALDI charcuterie board? Get a free shopping list so you can head to the store with confidence. Tap the link in the box below.
More ideas for ALDI shoppers
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