Want to steal the show at your next gathering?  Impress all your friends & family with an epic cheese board featuring all the best cheese Trader Joe’s has to offer! While my ideal cheese board is a collection of all my favorites, no matter where they’re from, but sometimes you just don’t have the time!  So, in the interest of being efficient and budget-friendly, I’ve made a one-stop shopping list of tried and true cheese board must-haves all from Trader Joe’s.

And if you’re looking for a list based on budget, try my $65 Trader Joe’s Board, $35 Trader Joe’s Board, and $50 Aldi Cheese Board. For other epic cheese boards, check out my Baked Brie Cheese Board, Antipasto Board, Whole Foods Board, English Cheese Board, French Cheese Board, Cheese Tasting Board, and, for a plant-based twist, Vegan Cheese Board.

The Best Trader Joe’s Cheese

Cheese boards should ideally have 3-4 cheeses–a mix of hard and soft.

Unexpected Cheddar

The best Cheddar at TJ’s. Sharp, while still being buttery and sweet. Crumble it up and people will go wild over this.  An alternative is Kerrygold Dubliner Cheddar, however, it’s not been as fresh the last few times I’ve been to Trader Joes.

Brie

A cheese board staple. Double or Triple cream…the creamier the better. Try to pick one of the more symmetrical slices (for looks) and garnish with a sprig of rosemary on top. The French Brie (two photos down) is my favorite; it can get a little messy and less pretty on the board, but it tastes amazing.

Aged Gouda

My favorites are the TJ’s 1000 Day Gouda and Old Amsterdam. Smoky, sweet, and a great compliment to beer. Make sure you cut off the hard rind (it’s thicker than most), then cut into chunks and make “rustic crumbles” from that. 

Boursin

This is hands-down the best bang for your buck. Put it in a ramekin with a rosemary garnish.

The Best Trader Joe’s Charcuterie Options

Thin-cut Salami

These are perfect for creating salami rosettes on your platter. 

Salame Seche

If rosettes sound like too much work, grab these guys and cut them into slices. They look particularly pretty and rustic on a board.

Trader Joe’s Fruit & Veggie Recommendations

Grapes

A cheese board staple!  The best are the Thomcord variety, but are only really in season from summer until end of fall, so pick whatever batch looks best.  Green, Red, or the multi-pack from TJ’s.

Raspberries

A nice addition for color and texture.  Blackberries can work too, but give them a “taste test” to ensure they’re not bitter before you buy them (TJ’s blackberries are hit or miss). NOTE: blueberries are pretty small and don’t have the same impact on the plate so skip those.

Cucumbers

Get the Persian variety and slice uniformly.

Les Petits Carrots

These look much fancier than baby carrots.  They’re colorful (purple, yellow, white & orange) and people love them. Some of the carrots in this pack can be thick, so feel free to slice in half length-wise, so you can more servings out of each package. If you don’t have access to these, simply cut some regular carrots in thin slices.

The Best Trader Joe’s Crackers

Fig & Olive Crisps

These are simply the best.  For a seasonal twist, they have a pumpkin version in fall and a cranberry version in winter.

Savory Thins

Good gluten-free option for guests.

Don’t Forget the Accoutrements

Olives

I prefer Castelvetrano olives, but sadly those are not available at Trader Joes. These Greek Olives are a great option.

Marcona Almonds with Rosemary

I guarantee at least one guest will spend the rest of the evening raving about these delicious Spanish-style almonds. TJ’s has both the rosemary and truffle variety; guests generally prefer the rosemary, but it varies.  NOTE: Pistachios, Candied Pecans or Walnuts are also a great additions.

Rosemary

No platter is complete without some greenery for garnish. 

Honey

The perfect sweet compliment to cheese and crackers.  Get this awesome honey dipper from Sur La Table!

Dried Persimmons

Great for colorful garnish with a unique look and sweet taste. Unfortunately, they are only in stock only half the year in Trader Joe’s, so snag them before July comes around.

Dried Orange Slices

Use these as an alternative to the Persimmons (when they go out of stock). Truth be told, I personally don’t think they taste as great, but I’ve heard that many of you LOVE them.

Dried Berry Medley

A sweet treat to sprinkle on the cheese board. The dried strawberries in this package are the crowd favorite!!

Show Me Your Boards

I hope this post inspires you to make an epic cheese board. Nothing makes me happier than seeing the beautiful 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.

Now what?

Lastly, if you’re just starting out with Cheese Boarding and looking for the best type of beginner boards and utensils, look no further than my BEGINNERS KIT. Choose one of the wood boards and then gather accessories like a set of cheese knives, wooden spoons & cheese bags. You can also in the SHOP THIS POST below.