Quick Answer: Our top pick is the Harry & David Ultimate Meat and Cheese Gift Box (4.6 out of 5): about 5.5 lb of sausage, salami, cheese and crackers for about $110. For a board that arrives already arranged, buy Boarderie. Budget: The Swiss Colony Sausage and Cheese Bars. Splurge: Zingerman's. We ranked 10 widely sold boxes on what's inside, how easy they are to serve, editor and buyer reviews, value and how easy they are to order.
A meat and cheese box is one of the safest food gifts there is: almost everyone eats it, and it arrives ready to put out. The hard part is that dozens of companies sell one, at prices from $25 to $300. These are the boxes that come out best in editors' picks and buyer reviews, ranked on what's inside, how easy it is to serve, value and how reliably it ships.
How we ranked these: these are researched picks, not a side-by-side tasting. We scored each product on published taste tests and awards, its ingredient list, price and where you can buy it, plus how that style of product behaves on a board. Sources are listed at the end, and the full method is on our buying guides hub. Prices and stock last checked October 2026, with prices as reported by the sources (they rise before the holidays, so check the seller).
Our picks at a glance
| Pick | Rating |
|---|---|
| Best overall: Harry & David Ultimate Meat and Cheese Gift Box ($$) | ★★★★½ 4.6 |
| Ready to serve: Boarderie Classic Cheese & Charcuterie Board ($$$) | ★★★★½ 4.4 |
| For cured-meat lovers: Olympia Provisions European Charcuterie Box ($$$) | ★★★★½ 4.3 |
| Budget: The Swiss Colony Sausage and Cheese Bars ($) | ★★★½☆ 3.6 |
| Splurge: Zingerman's Charcuterie and Cheese Gift Box ($$$) | ★★★★☆ 4.1 |
The full ranking
| Product | Rating | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Harry & David Ultimate Meat and Cheese Gift Box ($$) | ★★★★½ 4.6 | Feeding a family |
| 2. Boarderie Classic Cheese & Charcuterie Board ($$$) | ★★★★½ 4.4 | A board that arrives assembled |
| 3. Olympia Provisions European Charcuterie Box ($$$) | ★★★★½ 4.3 | Cured-meat lovers |
| 4. Murray's Cheese MVP Platter ($$$) | ★★★★½ 4.3 | Cheese lovers |
| 5. Zingerman's Charcuterie and Cheese Gift Box ($$$) | ★★★★☆ 4.1 | A food lover who has everything |
| 6. Di Bruno Bros. Abbondanza Gift Box ($$) | ★★★★☆ 3.9 | A Philadelphia classic |
| 7. Tapas the José Andrés Way ($$$) | ★★★★☆ 3.9 | A Spanish-food fan |
| 8. Wisconsin Cheese Company Ultimate Man Cave ($$) | ★★★½☆ 3.7 | A lot of summer sausage |
| 9. The Swiss Colony Sausage and Cheese Bars ($) | ★★★½☆ 3.6 | A small, cheap gift |
| 10. Hickory Farms Farmhouse Sausage and Cheese Gift Box ($) | ★★★½☆ 3.3 | A last-minute gift |
1. Harry & David Ultimate Meat and Cheese Gift Box
★★★★½ 4.6 out of 5 · Best overall · Best for: Feeding a family · $$ mid-range
About 5.5 lb of food: four sausages, dried salami, 2 lb of cheese, crackers and condiments, for about $110 (Tasting Table). Mashed named Harry & David's similar Supreme box its best overall, and a Forbes editor who has tried the brand's meat and cheese basket called its baskets consistently delicious.
- Why we like it: A lot of food for the price, from a brand people recognize.
- Keep in mind: You arrange it yourself, and the cheeses are crowd-pleasers rather than rare finds.
- Where to buy: Harry & David online, Amazon.
2. Boarderie Classic Cheese & Charcuterie Board
★★★★½ 4.4 out of 5 · Ready to serve · Best for: A board that arrives assembled · $$$ premium
Arrives arranged on a wooden board: truffle and peppered salami, chorizo, aged Gouda, merlot pecorino, blueberry Wensleydale, crackers and more, from about $139 with free overnight shipping. A Forbes editor brought one to Thanksgiving and called it a work of art, and Tasting Table notes high reviewer marks for quality and variety.
- Why we like it: No assembly. Open it and put it out.
- Keep in mind: Costs more for the amount of food, since you're paying for the board and the arranging.
- Where to buy: Boarderie online.
3. Olympia Provisions European Charcuterie Box
★★★★½ 4.3 out of 5 · For cured-meat lovers · Best for: Cured-meat lovers · $$$ premium
Four specialty salamis, a pâté or summer sausage, a seasonal cheese, honey and pickled vegetables, for about $165. Tasting Table says customers consistently praise its quality, and many order again.
- Why we like it: Craft salami from a respected Portland salumeria.
- Keep in mind: The contents change with what's available, and a board costs extra.
- Where to buy: Olympia Provisions online.
4. Murray's Cheese MVP Platter
★★★★½ 4.3 out of 5 · Best for: Cheese lovers · $$$ premium
About 3 lb of cheese-shop favorites, including aged Gruyère, Humboldt Fog, Grayson and clothbound cheddar, plus prosciutto, wild boar salami, olives and crackers, for $165 (Tasting Table).
- Why we like it: Cheeses you won't find in a supermarket box.
- Keep in mind: Some assembly needed, and the cheeses are perishable, so it must be refrigerated on arrival.
- Where to buy: Murray's Cheese online.
5. Zingerman's Charcuterie and Cheese Gift Box
★★★★☆ 4.1 out of 5 · Splurge · Best for: A food lover who has everything · $$$ premium
Old Kiev salami, 'nduja, young Gouda, Downeast cheddar, flatbreads, cornichons, olives, peanuts and a chocolate bar, serving up to 10, for about $190 with free shipping (Tasting Table).
- Why we like it: Unusual, high-quality picks from a famous Ann Arbor deli.
- Keep in mind: The most expensive box here.
- Where to buy: Zingerman's online.
6. Di Bruno Bros. Abbondanza Gift Box
★★★★☆ 3.9 out of 5 · Best for: A Philadelphia classic · $$ mid-range
Aged cheddar, salami, cheese spread, prosciutto-stuffed peppers, crostini, jam, candied nuts and dark chocolate, for about $100. Tasting Table reports five-star ratings, though some buyers found it pricey for what's inside.
- Why we like it: A good mix of savory and sweet.
- Keep in mind: Smaller than the Harry & David box at a similar price.
- Where to buy: Di Bruno Bros. online.
7. Tapas the José Andrés Way
★★★★☆ 3.9 out of 5 · Best for: A Spanish-food fan · $$$ premium
Jamón ibérico, chorizo, salchichón, Manchego, pan con tomate and croquetas, serving 4 to 6, for just under $200 (Tasting Table). Mashed named it the best Spanish-style box.
- Why we like it: Real ibérico ham, and a full tapas night in a box.
- Keep in mind: The croquetas need cooking, so it's less grab-and-serve.
- Where to buy: Goldbelly.
8. Wisconsin Cheese Company Ultimate Man Cave
★★★½☆ 3.7 out of 5 · Best for: A lot of summer sausage · $$ mid-range
A pound each of cheddar and pepper Jack, 3 lb of summer sausage and a box of water crackers, for about $80. Tasting Table says buyers call it a great value.
- Why we like it: Big portions for the price.
- Keep in mind: Simple: sausage, two cheeses and crackers.
- Where to buy: Wisconsin Cheese Company online.
9. The Swiss Colony Sausage and Cheese Bars
★★★½☆ 3.6 out of 5 · Budget · Best for: A small, cheap gift · $ budget
Three summer sausages (original, garlic and caraway) with Monterey Jack, cheddar, Colby and brick cheese, about $25 to $45 depending on size (Tasting Table).
- Why we like it: Cheap, shelf-stable sausage, and easy to mail.
- Keep in mind: Mild, familiar flavors, not a gourmet box.
- Where to buy: Swiss Colony online, Amazon.
10. Hickory Farms Farmhouse Sausage and Cheese Gift Box
★★★½☆ 3.3 out of 5 · Best for: A last-minute gift · $ budget
Mashed named it the best budget box at about $30, but Reviewed's testers tried a Hickory Farms summer sausage and cheese box and said skip it: the sausage was dry and the cheeses tasted processed, though they liked the mustards.
- Why we like it: Cheap and in many stores in December.
- Keep in mind: Testers found the quality disappointing.
- Where to buy: Hickory Farms online, Amazon, Walmart and holiday kiosks.
How the scores break down
Each product is scored 1 to 5 on five things, then weighted: how it works on a board (30%), published taste tests and awards (25%), ingredients (15%), value (15%) and how easy it is to find (15%).
| Product | On the board | Reviews and awards | Ingredients | Value | Easy to find | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harry & David Ultimate Meat and Cheese Gift Box | 4 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 4.6 |
| Boarderie Classic Cheese & Charcuterie Board | 5 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4.4 |
| Olympia Provisions European Charcuterie Box | 5 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 4.3 |
| Murray's Cheese MVP Platter | 5 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 4.3 |
| Zingerman's Charcuterie and Cheese Gift Box | 5 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 4.1 |
| Di Bruno Bros. Abbondanza Gift Box | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3.9 |
| Tapas the José Andrés Way | 4 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 3.9 |
| Wisconsin Cheese Company Ultimate Man Cave | 3 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 3.7 |
| The Swiss Colony Sausage and Cheese Bars | 3 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 3.6 |
| Hickory Farms Farmhouse Sausage and Cheese Gift Box | 3 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 3.3 |
What to look for on the label
Label check: How it ships. Boxes with soft cheese or sliced meat need cold packs and fast shipping, so they suit someone who will be home to take delivery. Shelf-stable boxes (whole summer sausage, aged cheese in wax or vacuum packs, crackers) can sit on a porch.
Skip: Boxes where most of the weight is "cheese blends", spreads or processed cheese. Read the contents list: real cheese names (cheddar, Gouda, Manchego) and whole cured salami are the sign of a better box.
Order by: for Christmas, most companies want orders in by mid-December for standard shipping, and perishable boxes often don't ship on weekends. Order in the first week of December to be safe. How much a box feeds: plan on about 3 oz of meat and 3 oz of cheese per person when the box is the main snack. A 3 lb box serves about 8. Rather make one yourself? Our DIY charcuterie gift basket guide has three boxes at $25, $50 and $100 with shopping lists, and how to pack and ship it.
For more food gifts, including our cookbooks and boards, see our charcuterie gift guide. To see every ranked guide, visit our charcuterie buying guides.
Charcuterie gift box questions
What is the best meat and cheese gift box?
Harry & David's Ultimate Meat and Cheese Gift Box: about 5.5 lb of sausage, salami, cheese and crackers for about $110. For a board that arrives already arranged, Boarderie is the best choice.
What is a good cheap charcuterie gift?
The Swiss Colony Sausage and Cheese Bars, at about $25 to $45. Or make your own: our DIY gift basket guide has a $25 version.
Do meat and cheese gift boxes need to be refrigerated?
Boxes with soft cheese or sliced meat do, and arrive with cold packs. Whole summer sausage and waxed or vacuum-packed aged cheese are shelf-stable until opened.
When should I order a charcuterie gift box for Christmas?
In the first week of December. Holiday cut-off dates come early, and perishable boxes often only ship on weekdays.
Sources
- Tasting Table: The Absolute Best Meat And Cheese Gift Boxes Money Can Buy (Apr 2025)
- Mashed: The Best Meat And Cheese Gift Baskets (Mar 2023)
- Forbes: The Best Gift Baskets, According To Our Editors (Sep 2026)
- Reviewed: Gourmet food gifts review (Dec 2020)
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