Quick Answer: A $20 board for four works as an appetizer: 8 oz of cheese (a block of sharp cheddar plus a small soft cheese), 8 oz of salami, one box of crackers, seasonal fruit, a jar of pickles or olives, and a handful of nuts. Buy blocks, not pre-cut, and shop the store brand. Prices vary, so treat our totals as an estimate.
Here is the challenge: build a full-looking board for four for about $20, take a photo and share it with #CharcuterieLab20. Below is how we did it, the rules that keep the cost down, and how to join in.
The rules of the challenge
- $20 total, before tax, from one grocery run.
- Feeds four as an appetizer: 2 oz each of meat and cheese per person.
- Pantry items count as free: salt, honey, herbs from the garden, anything you already have.
- Post a photo with the total and tag it #CharcuterieLab20.
Our $20 shopping list
Prices below are rough estimates for a regular US supermarket in fall 2026. They are not from a real receipt, and your store will differ. Use them as a guide.
| Item | Amount | Estimated cost |
|---|---|---|
| Store-brand sharp cheddar, block | 8 oz | $3 to $4 |
| Small brie or soft cheese wedge | 4 to 8 oz | $4 to $5 |
| Salami, sliced or a small stick | 6 to 8 oz | $4 to $5 |
| Store-brand crackers | 1 box | $2 to $3 |
| Seasonal fruit (grapes, apples or clementines) | About 1 lb | $2 to $3 |
| Pickles or olives | 1 small jar | $2 to $3 |
| Estimated total | About $17 to $23 |
If your total runs high, drop the soft cheese and buy a second block cheese, or swap the olives for a pickle you already have.
Five rules that keep the cost down
1. Buy blocks and cut them yourself. Pre-cut cubes and slices cost more per ounce, and they dry out faster. The budget board guide has more cheap cheese picks.
2. One salami goes a long way. Fold slices into quarters and they cover twice the space of flat slices. A salami river makes one package look like plenty. The best meats guide shows which ones stretch furthest.
3. Buy fruit that is in season. Apples, pears, grapes and clementines are usually cheapest in fall and winter. Berries are usually cheapest in summer.
4. Let the pantry do the work. A drizzle of honey, a few sprigs of rosemary or a sprinkle of flaky salt costs nothing if you already have it and makes the board look finished.
5. Fill space with cheap crunch. Pretzels, popcorn and sliced cucumbers fill gaps for very little. Crackers and fruit should take up more of the board than meat and cheese. A sliced day-old baguette works too; see what bread to use.
How to make $20 look like $50
- Use a smaller board. A full small board looks more generous than a half-empty large one.
- Cut cheese in two or three shapes: wedges, cubes and crumbles.
- Fan crackers in curved lines instead of stacking them.
- Add height with a small bowl of olives or a jar of pickles.
- Finish with something green, like herbs or cucumber slices.
Join the challenge
Post your board with #CharcuterieLab20 and your total, and tag the friend you are challenging next. Favorites may be featured in the newsletter.
Want the list ready to take to the store? The printable shopping lists in the shop make the store run faster, and the Party Planner scales this board for more guests.
Get one board idea a week, plus the free charcuterie cheat sheet, when you join the Charcuterie Lab newsletter.
