We The Creators on UnsplashYou’re hosting a party. You’ve cleaned every crevice, set out the drinks, chopped up the veggies, and made yourself look nice. At the center of it all sits the beloved charcuterie board, with crackers, meats, jams, jellies, cheeses, and other goodies ready and waiting to be eaten.

Of course, you’re not going to tell your guests that you paid next to nothing for this delicious setup. You’re smart, you’re good with money, and you don’t need to drop $200 on various meats and cheeses alone. That’s because you followed this article’s helpful advice and were able to create the ultimate snacking board on a budget.

Meats

Meat tends to be one of the most expensive items on a charcuterie board, with folks dropping big dollars at delis for capicola, prosciutto, and Genoa. We promise you, there’s no need for all that! 

Ideally, you’ll have about three meats on any given board, but that number is ultimately up to you. Opt for grocery store staples like salami, summer sausage, or mortadella. You can also make precut deli meats like ham or turkey look just as gorgeous as their more expensive siblings.

Cheeses

The same rule for meats also applies to cheeses, with soft, medium, and hard cheeses available to your guests. Yellow cheddar, provolone, Boursin, Brie, and smoked Gouda are all affordable options. Alternatively, you may be able to find discounted cheeses at places like Costco, so you can go ahead and get that gruyere at a much better rate.

Grains

Two store-bought crackers will be perfect for this plate, and they don’t require much in terms of cash. You can also go for a nut medley, pita bread, baguettes, or breadsticks, which won’t run up your total too high.

Other

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You’ll often find fruits, jams, jellies, olives, pickles, and other items on a charcuterie board. Luckily, you don’t need to go far to get some of these items. Before you even enter a grocery store, you may find that you have an excellent assortment of jams in your own pantry. The same goes for things like olives and pickles, which could be hiding in the back of your fridge.

For fruits, your best bet is to go for in-season items, which will not only taste good but be a little cheaper as well. If you live in a larger city, you can scour fruit stands or markets, which often sell these nutritious goodies at a slightly cheaper price point. 

The Actual Board

You can’t make a charcuterie board without the actual board! Luckily, you don’t have to drop big money on the non-eating items either. Any large serving plate will do—and if you don’t have one of those, you can get one for cheap at a dollar store. 

For the jams or other items that need to be held in containers, you can get crafty. Small mason jars, mugs, or glass food containers will do the trick. No need to overdo it on utensils, either, if you don’t want to. Your guests will be perfectly fine to use dessert spoons and forks. The only thing we’d possibly recommend getting is a cheese knife and some toothpicks.

And there you go, with these tips, your next dinner party will be truly unstoppable. Good luck, and happy crafting.