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I’ve wanted to make a Costco charcuterie board for a while, so when I finally sat down to think about it, I realized that a simple cheese board just wasn’t big enough! Costco is beloved for its premium bulk items, so why not make a premium bulk-size grazing table?

What is a grazing table, you ask? It’s basically just a table-sized cheese and charcuterie board, so it’s ideal for hosting pretty much any kind of large event. Corporate happy hours, baby showers, engagement parties, rehearsal dinners, you name it. Just like my other budget-focused posts, this post will help you make a beautiful and delicious spread while keeping to a budget. 

Remember that you’re feeding a lot of people and buying high-quality gourmet cheeses, cured meats, and charcuterie staples in bulk, so this grazing table will cost a bit more than you’re used to, but purchasing from Costco does help to keep the cost down. I spent about $250 and it will feed 25 to 40 people, depending on the amount of other food provided.

For smaller crowds, be sure to check out my other grocery store boards, including $35 Trader Joe’s Board, $70 Trader Joe’s Board, Trader Joe’s One-Stop Shipping Guide, Aldi Cheese Board Under $50, and Whole Foods Cheese Board.

Grazing Table Occasions

In reality, as long as you have a guest list that’s on the bigger side, this grazing table will work for pretty much any occasion. Like with all of my boards, I encourage you to customize it, especially if you’re gathering has a theme and/or color scheme. Most importantly, have fun with it! 

• Engagement and wedding parties: Be sure to incorporate the wedding’s colors, any thematic accents, and lots of flowers. You can even make this Cheese Wheel Cake for the centerpiece.
• Kids’ birthday parties: Still include all the cheese board staples, and add goodies for the kids and the parents alike–string cheese, turkey roll-ups, salty snacks, and some sweet treats (like cupcakes!). Keep it colorful with confetti and streamers!
• Holiday parties: I have no shortage of holiday-inspired boards–the key is to lean into the seasonal fruits, color combos, and decor. For Christmas, add lots of bows, red & green foods, and Christmas cookies. For Hanukkah, add latkes, gelt, lots of blue, and a menorah!
• Brunch party: Lean into the breakfast of it all! Sure charcuterie meats and cheeses still apply, but be sure to have lots of fruit, breakfast pastries, smoked salmon, and whatever else makes your morning better! Plus serve it with a Bloody Mary Bar (just be sure to increase the portions accordingly).

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Costco Grazing Table Shopping List

Here’s a list of everything I bought for a grazing table that will serve 25 to 40 guests and exactly how much it cost me in Los Angeles (prices may be different in your area):

Cheese

• The Kirkland Signature Manchego, sliced – $19.90 
• The Dutch Tradition Gouda, cubed – $13.84
• Kerrygold Dubliner Cheese, cubed – $12.23
• Kirkland Signature French Brie, cut into wedges – $9.99
• Kirkland Sartori Bellavitano Cabernet Sauvignon, crumbled – $9.59
• Kirkland Signature Goat Cheese Logs, whole – $8.29

Meat

• 1 Columbus Salami (2 pack), folded – $13.99
• 1 Citterio Prosciutto Di Parma (2 pack), cut in half lengthwise – $12.39

Carbs

• Kirkland Signature Baguette (2 pack) – $4.99
• 1 (28-ounce) box Crunch Master Multi-grain Baked Crackers – $10.99

Produce

• 3 pounds red grapes – $5.99
• 3 pounds green grapes – $7.99
• 18 ounces organic blueberries – $9.99
• 32 ounces organic strawberries – $6.99
• 5 pounds Cuties Mandarins, halved – $8.99 (I used about 4 of them)
• 3 pounds kiwis, halved on a zig-zag – $8.99 (I used about 4 of them)

Accoutrements

• 1 (30-ounce) can Savanna Orchards Honey roasted nut mix – $14.69
• 1 (35.27-ounce) jar Garlic & Jalapeño Tassos Double Stuffed Olives – $7.99
• 1 (36-ounce) container Sander’s Dark Chocolate Sea Salt Caramels – $12.49
• 1 (40-ounce) bag Nature’s Garden Probiotic Dried Apricots – $9.79
• 1 (5-pound) bottle Kirkland Signature Wild Flower Honey – $12.99

How to Cut Costco Cheeses for a Grazing Table

In this section, I will show you how I cut all 5 cheeses! Each cut is both beautiful and functional.

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How To Make a Costco Grazing Table

My ultimate pro tip is to prep the table the night before! If you have access to the space, set the table with the table coverings, vessels, and vases, but even if you don’t: pre-cut the cheeses, pre-fold salami, and wash and thoroughly dry the produce (don’t cut any fruit until just before serving!). 

Then, on the day of, gather a couple of extra hands and give yourself approximately 2 hours for set up. Cheese is best served at room temperature, so by the time guests are ready to dig in, the cheese will be at the ideal temp. 

Note that charcuterie (i.e. cured meat) should not be left out in the heat, so serve it in a temperature-controlled environment–it will be okay for up to 4 hours. This is also a reason why I wait to put the meat on towards the end. Moral of the story: don’t set up your table in the heat!

• Cover the table with a tablecloth. If desired, add a runner down the center of the table for a more elevated look. Lay parchment paper down the middle of the table over the runner.
• Divide the nuts, honey, and olives between 9 separate bowls (3 bowls of each) and evenly space them out on the parchment serving area to anchor it. Arrange bud vases on the serving area among the bowls, if using. 
• Arrange the cheeses throughout the parchment serving area being sure to separate similarly textured cheese (see more on how to cut the different cheeses above!). 
• Fan about half of the crackers and bread around different bowls. Serve the remaining crackers and bread at one end of the table for easy serving. (Pro tip: start small with the crackers so you don’t take up too much room! You can always go back and add more.)
• Add the prepared produce between bowls, cheese, and crackers to fill in any empty space, being sure to separate similar colors.
• Arrange the folded meats around the cheeses. 
• Add small piles of dried apricots and chocolate throughout the serving area.
• Fill in any empty space with any leftover products.

Serving tools

• Bamboo tongs: They are small and perfect for serving most things on this table (olives, hard cheese, meats, etc.)
• Cheese knives: the cheese should mostly be pre-cut to avoid people spending too much time stressing about how to cut the cheese, but for softer cheeses (like chevre), a soft cheese knife is essential
• Honey dipper: For every bowl of honey, you have to add a serving tool! The honey dipper is my favorite because it allows you to drizzle the honey over anything on your plate

How Much to Buy for a Regular Cheese & Charcuterie Board

If you’re serving the cheese as an appetizer, plan on 1 to 2 ounces of each cheese per person (1 ounce of cheese is equivalent to a pair of dice). If it’s your main course, you’ll need about 3 ounces of each cheese per person. But, I’ve known groups to eat way more than that!

Because a grazing table is a different beast, I take different numbers into consideration in the next section below. It gets a bit into the nitty gritty, but I am leaving it here in case you like to see detailed numbers.

How Much Cheese & Charcuterie to Buy for a Grazing Table

Since there are usually more cheeses on a grazing table, you don’t necessarily have to calculate 5x servings of each cheese. But you should account for approximately 5 ounces of cheese per person. Here’s the breakdown of serving guidelines I recommend:

• Cheese: 5 ounces per person
• Meat: 3 ounces per person; however, there might be non-meat eaters in the crowd! Since only about half my guests are meat-eaters, I accounted for 1.5 ounces per person. If you have a crowd of meat lovers, add another package of salami in the mix!
• Fruit: 3 ounces per person
• Carbs: 1.5 ounces per person 

You should also consider the size of the table you’ll be using. My grazing table is 70 x 14 inches. If your table is larger than this, consider using more filler food, like more of the cut kiwis and clementines. You can always add more grapes and bread to make the table look abundant! 

On this table:

• Cheese: 146 ounces across 5 cheeses; feeds 29 people
• Meat: 44 ounces across 2 to 3 types; feeds 15 to 30 people
• Fruit: 169 ounces of fruit (note that 22 oz of it is decoration!); feeds 46 people
• Carbs: 52 ounces;  feeds 34 people

You’ll see that the amount it serves varies. I personally take an average, focusing mostly on the cheese amounts.

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The Best Costco Charcuterie Products

Costco has a huge variety of charcuterie staples. You may not find local cheeses from small producers, but you will find a shockingly good array of premium, cheese-shop-worthy goodies in party-size quantities at great prices–perfect for this grazing table! 

*Indicates items I used in my grazing table!

Cheese

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For every board I make, I have the same approach to picking cheeses. In general, you want a mix of hard and soft cheeses and a variety of types of milk (cow, goat, sheep). When it comes to grazing tables, you want to make it as easy as possible for your guests to serve themselves, so focus on the cheeses you can serve pre-cut (see above).

• Kirkland Signature Manchego*- semi-hard, sheep’s milk cheese known for its sharp, nutty flavor
• Dutch Tradition Imported Gouda* – semi-soft, cow’s milk cheese (often referred to as red wax gouda or young gouda) known for its creamy texture and nutty flavor
• Kirkland Signature Sartori Cabernet Sauvignon BellaVitano*– semi-hard, cow’s milk cheese (similar to the Trader Joe’s syrah-soaked cheese) has a full-bodied flavor and crunchy calcium crystals 
• Kerrygold Dubliner* – hard, cow’s milk cheese is crumbly with a sharp, Parmesan-like flavor 
• Kirkland Signature Isigny Ste Mere Imported French Brie* – soft-ripened, cow’s milk cheese beloved for its mild, versatile flavor and creamy texture. (learn more about brie here!)
• Kirkland Signature Goat Cheese Logs* – fresh, goat’s milk cheese known for its creamy, spreadable texture and tangy flavor
• Parmigiano Reggiano – hard, cow’s milk cheese that is beloved around the world for its sharp, savory, and nutty flavor and crumbly texture. 
• Emmi Le Gruyere – semi-hard, cow’s milk cheese with a delicately briney bite and notes of dried fruit and spice
• Castello Creamy Havarti- semi-soft, cow’s milk cheese known for its buttery texture and slightly sweet flavor
• Boursin (Gournay cheese) – a fresh, cow’s milk cheese known for its soft texture and creamy, herbaceous flavor  
• Aged Gouda – semi-hard, cow’s milk cheese with a crumbly texture and nutty flavor with notes of caramel
• Kirkland Signature Cheese Flight – This selection of five cheeses is a Costco favorite! It includes a whopping 29 ounces of goodness, which is good for about 4 to 10 guests: Zanetti Dop Provolone, Torero Matador 10-Month Aged Manchego, El Pastor Valencia Orange Chevre, Beecher’s Flagship Handmade Cheddar, and Cello Creamy Hand-Rubbed Fontal. 

Meats

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Charcuterie wouldn’t be charcuterie without the meat! I like to fold my salami or turn it into salami rosettes! 

• Columbus Italian Dry Salame (2 pack)*- Columbus Italian Dry Salame is my go-to on all boards–it’s a total crowd-pleaser, and this Costco 2 pick is an awesome deal. I like folding each piece in half to serve, you can also fold it into quarters or make those rosettes! 
• Prosciutto di Parma (2 pack)*– Prosciutto is a classic charcuterie meat! It’s buttery, salty, and super versatile flavor-wise. I recommend cutting each piece in half lengthwise so you can spread the prosciutto out more and make it a better serving size. 
• Antipasto Italiano Variety Pack – This variety pack has four incredible options that make for a versatile board (or grazing table): Speck, Coppa Italiana, Salame di Parma, and Salame Calabrese. 

Crackers

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Generally speaking, I always recommend two types of cheese vehicles: one that’s more plain and one that’s more robust. It’s also important to select different textures to give your guests options! 

• Baguette* – This is one of my favorite Costco buys. To keep the baguette as fresh as possible, avoid slicing it until just before serving! 
• Crunchmaster Multi-Grain Crackers* – If the baguette offers a softer texture, these super crispy, savory crackers offer a super satisfying crunch. Plus, they’re gluten free!
• The Kellogs Cracker Collection – A variety pack is always a good plan when you’re serving a lot of people! That way there are more options for folks to choose from. This variety pack has all the Kellogg’s classics: Club Original, Toasteds Buttercrisp & Harvest Wheat, and Town House Original. 

Best Accoutrements for Charcuterie at Costco

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Look no further, here are the 5 accoutrements that are best to add to your costco charcuterie boards.

• Savanna Orchards Honey roasted nut mix There’s a salted nut mix, but these are superior and look even better on a grazing table. The salty ones appear “dusty,” whereas these have a beautiful brown color and taste great.
• Garlic & Jalapeño Tassos Double Stuffed Olives – OMG! These are soooo good and I would chose them over the double jar of Costco Spanish olives any day.
• Sander’s Dark Chocolate Sea Salt Caramels – These are the BEST. They are very decadent so guests may not have more than 1 or 2, but they are quite a treat.
• Nature’s Garden Probiotic Dried Apricots – I used about half here. Keep the rest in your pantry and use on other cheese plates or add to oatmeal, trail mix, etc for the next couple months.
• Kirkland Signature Wild Flower Honey – You’ll have leftover, but I highly recommend having honey on your grazing table. The sweet honey perfectly compliments the savory items on the table.

Grazing Tables Produce

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Generally speaking, you’ll want to use hardier fruits that will hold up for hours on the table, as there isn’t a great way to keep the table chilled. Grapes and blueberries are ideal here!

To Use

• Green & red grapes: Grapes are a cheese board classic for a reason! Not only do they taste great with cheese, but their thick skin makes them excellent candidates for a long day on a grazing board.
• Blueberries: similar to grapes, blueberries have a tart flavor and firm skin that make them versatile and hardy 
• Strawberries: You want to pick strawberries that are ripe, but avoid the super ripe, soft ones as strawberries will soften as they sit out (those are best for snacking while you put the table together).
• Kiwis: Cut these in half and serve mostly as decoration. If you want to serve slices, put them in a bowl or the juices will wreak havoc on your grazing table. 
• Clementines or oranges: Similar to kiwis, these are more for serving! Halve them and arrange them around the parchment for pops of color.

To Avoid

• Cut Fruits (like melon and pineapple): Any kind of fruit that’s on the juicier side will make your grazing table a wet mess! However, if you are determined to serve these fruits, add them to a bowl to keep them from leaking. If you have room on your table, you can even make small ice baths for each bowl to keep the fruit fresher as pre-cut fruit will get yucky pretty quickly! 
• Raspberries: Sadly raspberries are too fragile and will soften even further as they sit out, causing them to get soggy and make your grazing spread messy.
• Apples & pears: While these fruits are technically “hardy,” they are not a great candidate for sitting out in the oxygen for too long. They will get brown and mealy! 

DIY Grazing Table Flowers 

Flowers are such an important and beautiful part of any tablescape, but I wanted to be sure that the focus of this grazing table (and my budget) was on the charcuterie itself! That’s why I chose to use bud vases–they don’t allow for full bouquets, but still let you add pops of florals to break up all the cheesy goodness. 

When it comes to actually buying flowers, I usually just buy one bouquet and split it up among the vases. As to what kinds of flowers you should buy, that will depend on where you are located and what season it is! 

IMPORTANT NOTE: Do not add flowers directly on the grazing table as not all flowers are edible or food safe! Keep them separate from the food in thoroughly washed vases, unless you want to use edible flowers* (find a list of edible flowers here!). Note that not all edible flowers are food safe, meaning unless it is labeled edible, it may have been treated with pesticides (as in a regular store-bought bouquet), in which case, i suggest you just keep them in vases to remain separate from the food.

*indicates flowers that are safe to eat, so long as you buy them as “edible flowers.”

Winter

• Anemones
• Winter roses
• Ranunculus (aka buttercups)
• Eucalyptus

Spring

• Baby’s breath
• Gerbera daisies 
• Tulips
• Chamomile*

Summer

• Baby’s breath
• Gerbera daisies 
• Peonies
• Lavender*
• Dahlias*

Fall

• Marigolds*
• Pansies*
• Asters

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What To Do With Grazing Board Leftovers

When you are serving a large crowd, it’s always best to have too much rather than too little, but that can often lead to food waste. Follow these tips for any leftovers!

• Buy cute to-go boxes and have people take home goody bags at the end of the night. 
• Use leftover cheese in mac & cheese, omelets, salads, or grilled cheese sandwiches. 
• Toss extra meat into salads, breakfast scrambles, or pasta. (I turned prosciutto into a crostini appetizer!)
• Crackers will keep for a while if you seal them in air-tight storage bags, but you can also crush them up for breadcrumbs or soup toppings.
• You probably won’t have any leftover bread, but that’s an easy one! Sandwiches, croutons, toast, you name it!
• Make your own trail mix or yogurt topping with any leftover fruits and nuts. 

Costco FAQs

Outside of creating this cost-effective grazing table, Costco is a great place to shop for so many reasons!

How much is a Costco membership

There are two different tiers of Costco membership. There’s the entry-level Gold Star Membership, which costs $65 per year, and there’s the Executive Membership, which costs $130 per year. The difference between the two is that the Executive members receive an annual 2% reward on eligible purchases and discounts on select Costco services.

Personally, I find the Gold Star membership to be the most cost-effective, but if you’re someone who shops at Costco all the time, that 2% reward might be worth it!

To sign up for a membership, visit the membership desk at any Costco, or apply for a membership online.

What are the benefits of a Costco membership?

The whole premise of the store is that because Costco is able to get better bulk deals from suppliers and employs a membership-based business model, shoppers are able to buy name-brand products in bulk for less than if they bought them in regular quantities. If you have a big family, go on a lot of group trips, or shop for an office, buying in bulk will deliver huge cost savings! But I also love Costco because:

• Costco is constantly having sales on their already discounted, high-quality goods–patio furniture, anyone?
• If your local Costco has gas pumps, it’s almost always the cheapest in the area
• Costco Pharmacy has some of the lowest prescription prices out there
• Costco has affordable tire prices and auto services
• Kirkland (Costco’s brand) products, from paper towels to bacon to vodka, have been ranked among some of the best products in the store! 
• You cannot beat a Costco hot dog for $1.50

Behind-the-Scenes Costco Hacks 

1. Shop online and skip the store altogether (not available at all locations)
2. Shop during the week during off times! This will really depend on your area, but no matter where you live, avoid Costco on the weekends!
3. If you’re a gift card shopper, buy bundles at Costco! The bundle usually ends up being lower than the value of the cards. 
4. Costco has a travel department that can help you book discounted cars, hotels, and vacation packages!
5. Costco’s meat section is well-regarded as having high-quality cuts! If you have a freezer or a lot of mouths to feed, it’s a must.
6. According to HubPages, items that end with .99¢ are regularly priced merchandise (you’ll see a lot of 49¢ .79¢, .89¢ too). However, items that end with 97¢ are marked down. Even better, items that end with .88 or .00¢ are marked down even further!
7. Keep a lookout for asterisks on price tags! If you see one, that means the item won’t be restocked, so get it when you can.
8. If you don’t have a lot of mouths to feed but still love Costco and all their incredible prepared foods, bring a friend (or two) and split your bulk purchases! 
9. Costco accepts returns on 98% of their products, which is great, but what’s even greater is that they will make price adjustments on items that are discounted after you purchased it if you are able to prove it (ahem, keep your receipts!)

My Favorite Costco Purchases (Aside From Cheese!)

• Toilet paper and paper towels
• Books
• Summer toys
• Kids’ clothes
• Razors
• Batteries
• Kirkland Signature 100% Italian Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• Kirkland Signature Organic Maple Syrup
• Canned beverages (like seltzer!)
• Jasmine Rice (they have the biggest bag I’ve ever seen)
• Anything from the bakery, including croissants, sheet cake, and pumpkin pie
• Kirkland Signature French Brut Champagne

Show Me Your Grazing Tables

I hope this post inspires you to make this Costco grazing table. Nothing makes me happier than seeing the spreads you create from my tips. If you make something inspired by this post, please tag me at @ainttooproudtomeg so I can see and share! 

And, If you liked this recipe, please rate and review.