Quick Answer: The best cheese at Costco for a charcuterie board is Kirkland Signature Manchego (4.5 out of 5). Best meat: Columbus Salame. Best crackers: Crunchmaster Multi-Seed (4.7), which also covers gluten-free guests. Splurge: the 10 to 12 month Comté.
Costco is the cheapest way to feed a crowd from a board, as long as you buy the right packs. These are the cheeses, meats, crackers and extras that hold up best, ranked, with the ones to leave on the shelf at the end.
How we ranked these: these are researched picks, not a side-by-side tasting. We scored each product on published taste tests, awards and shopper ratings, its ingredients, price and how easy it is to find, plus how it behaves on a board. Store stock changes, especially for seasonal items, so check your local store. Sources are listed at the end, and the full method is on our buying guides hub. Prices and stock last checked October 2026.
Our picks at a glance
| Pick | Rating |
|---|---|
| Best cheese: Kirkland Signature Manchego DOP (6 months) ($) | ★★★★½ 4.5 |
| Best meat: Columbus Salame ($) | ★★★★☆ 4.2 |
| Best crackers: Crunchmaster Multi-Seed Crackers ($) | ★★★★½ 4.7 |
| Splurge: Comté, aged 10 to 12 months ($$$) | ★★★½☆ 3.6 |
The full ranking
| Product | Rating | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Crunchmaster Multi-Seed Crackers ($) | ★★★★½ 4.7 | Gluten-free guests |
| 2. Carr's Table Water Crackers Variety Pack ($) | ★★★★½ 4.5 | Letting the cheese lead |
| 3. Kirkland Signature Manchego DOP (6 months) ($) | ★★★★½ 4.5 | The main cheese |
| 4. Kirkland Signature Coastal English Cheddar ($) | ★★★★½ 4.5 | A sharp, crunchy cheddar |
| 5. Boursin Garlic & Fine Herbs, 3-pack ($) | ★★★★½ 4.3 | A spreadable cheese |
| 6. Columbus Salame ($) | ★★★★☆ 4.2 | The main meat |
| 7. Kirkland Signature Fresh Goat Cheese ($) | ★★★★☆ 4.2 | A tangy spread |
| 8. Kirkland Signature Parmigiano-Reggiano ($) | ★★★★☆ 4.2 | Breaking into chunks |
| 9. Kirkland Signature Reduced Sodium Dry Salame ($) | ★★★★☆ 4.0 | A second salami |
| 10. Comté, aged 10 to 12 months ($$$) | ★★★½☆ 3.6 | A big holiday board |
| 11. Sunny Fruit Organic Dried Figs ($) | ★★★½☆ 3.5 | The sweet element |
| 12. Citterio Prosciutto di Parma, 18 Month ($) | ★★★½☆ 3.3 | Real Parma ham in bulk |
1. Crunchmaster Multi-Seed Crackers
★★★★½ 4.7 out of 5 · Best crackers · Best for: Gluten-free guests · $ budget
A crunchy seeded rice cracker that's gluten-free and vegan, and our top-rated cracker for a board. Tasting Table picked the Costco box for its six-seed crunch and how many diets it covers.
- Why we like it: One cracker that works for nearly every guest.
- Keep in mind: Plain flavor. Add a baguette for guests who want bread.
- Where to find it: Costco snack aisle, about $10.99 for 28 oz.
2. Carr's Table Water Crackers Variety Pack
★★★★½ 4.5 out of 5 · Best for: Letting the cheese lead · $ budget
Three flavors of the classic thin water cracker in a 25.5 oz box, made in England. Chowhound lists it at about $9.
- Why we like it: Plain and crisp, so it never fights the cheese.
- Keep in mind: Breaks under very firm cheese. Pair it with a sturdier cracker.
- Where to find it: Costco snack aisle.
3. Kirkland Signature Manchego DOP (6 months)
★★★★½ 4.5 out of 5 · Best cheese · Best for: The main cheese · $ budget
A six-month Spanish sheep's milk Manchego with a protected designation of origin (DOP). It's our top pick in the Manchego ranking for its price and texture.
- Why we like it: Real DOP Manchego at a bulk price.
- Keep in mind: Mild for an aged cheese. Daily Meal found it pleasant but not exciting.
- Where to find it: Costco cheese case, about $20 to $23 a pack.
4. Kirkland Signature Coastal English Cheddar
★★★★½ 4.5 out of 5 · Best for: A sharp, crunchy cheddar · $ budget
An English cheddar aged about 15 months. It came first of nine Kirkland cheeses in Daily Meal's test for its nutty, creamy flavor and texture.
- Why we like it: The best-reviewed Kirkland cheese.
- Keep in mind: Stock varies by warehouse.
- Where to find it: Costco cheese case.
5. Boursin Garlic & Fine Herbs, 3-pack
★★★★½ 4.3 out of 5 · Best for: A spreadable cheese · $ budget
The familiar herbed spreadable cheese, three wheels to a pack for about $11, per Chowhound.
- Why we like it: Guests always finish it.
- Keep in mind: Crumbly and soft, so give it its own small plate or a knife.
- Where to find it: Costco cheese case.
6. Columbus Salame
★★★★☆ 4.2 out of 5 · Best meat · Best for: The main meat · $ budget
A classic Italian-style dry salame from a California maker founded in San Francisco, sold in a twin pack at Costco. It scored well in our salami ranking for flavor and value.
- Why we like it: Easy to slice or fold, and a crowd-pleaser.
- Keep in mind: Pre-sliced packs dry out fast once opened. Open them on the day.
- Where to find it: Costco deli case, about $13 to $14 a pack.
7. Kirkland Signature Fresh Goat Cheese
★★★★☆ 4.2 out of 5 · Best for: A tangy spread · $ budget
Two logs of soft, mild goat cheese. Daily Meal called it a surprisingly good, versatile choice.
- Why we like it: Cheap, and two logs cover a big board.
- Keep in mind: Mild. Roll a log in herbs or cracked pepper for more flavor.
- Where to find it: Costco cheese case, about $8 to $9 for two logs.
8. Kirkland Signature Parmigiano-Reggiano
★★★★☆ 4.2 out of 5 · Best for: Breaking into chunks · $ budget
Parmigiano-Reggiano aged 24 months, our best-value pick in the Parmesan ranking. Daily Meal found it less intense than expected.
- Why we like it: Real Parmigiano-Reggiano for much less than a cheese counter.
- Keep in mind: Break it into rough chunks with a knife tip. Slices are too hard.
- Where to find it: Costco cheese case.
9. Kirkland Signature Reduced Sodium Dry Salame
★★★★☆ 4.0 out of 5 · Best for: A second salami · $ budget
Italian-style dry salame with less salt. It was the reviewer's personal favorite in The Takeout's test of Costco deli meats: salty, meaty and oily, with a hint of vinegar.
- Why we like it: Strong review for a store brand.
- Keep in mind: Milder than a full-salt salame.
- Where to find it: Costco deli case, about $13.
10. Comté, aged 10 to 12 months
★★★½☆ 3.6 out of 5 · Splurge · Best for: A big holiday board · $$$ premium
A French mountain cheese with a nutty, brothy flavor. Chowhound lists it at about $80 for a large piece.
- Why we like it: A cheese-shop cheese for a large crowd.
- Keep in mind: Expensive up front, and not every warehouse carries it.
- Where to find it: Some Costco warehouses and Costco.com.
11. Sunny Fruit Organic Dried Figs
★★★½☆ 3.5 out of 5 · Best for: The sweet element · $ budget
Organic sun-dried figs in a 40 oz pack, about $14 according to Chowhound.
- Why we like it: Sweet and chewy next to blue cheese and Manchego.
- Keep in mind: A very big bag for one board.
- Where to find it: Costco dried fruit aisle.
12. Citterio Prosciutto di Parma, 18 Month
★★★½☆ 3.3 out of 5 · Best for: Real Parma ham in bulk · $ budget
Prosciutto di Parma aged 18 months, sold in a twin pack. The Takeout found it lightly salty, too chewy and underwhelming.
- Why we like it: Real Parma ham at a low price per ounce.
- Keep in mind: Chewier than deli-sliced prosciutto. Tear it into ribbons.
- Where to find it: Costco deli case, about $12 to $17 a pack.
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, awards and shopper ratings (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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crunchmaster Multi-Seed Crackers | 5 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 4.7 |
| Carr's Table Water Crackers Variety Pack | 5 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 4.5 |
| Kirkland Signature Manchego DOP (6 months) | 5 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 4.5 |
| Kirkland Signature Coastal English Cheddar | 5 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 4.5 |
| Boursin Garlic & Fine Herbs, 3-pack | 5 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 4.3 |
| Columbus Salame | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 4.2 |
| Kirkland Signature Fresh Goat Cheese | 4 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 4.2 |
| Kirkland Signature Parmigiano-Reggiano | 5 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 4.2 |
| Kirkland Signature Reduced Sodium Dry Salame | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4.0 |
| Comté, aged 10 to 12 months | 5 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 3.6 |
| Sunny Fruit Organic Dried Figs | 4 | 2 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 3.5 |
| Citterio Prosciutto di Parma, 18 Month | 3 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 3.3 |
Building a board from these
For a board for 20, Manchego, the Coastal English cheddar and Boursin make a strong cheese trio, with Columbus Salame and the Kirkland reduced-sodium salame for meat. Add both crackers, figs and grapes.
Plan on about 3 oz of cheese and 3 oz of meat per guest when the board is the party food, plus 10% from 20 guests up. Our Costco charcuterie board for 20 has the full cart with ounces, prices and a plan for leftovers.
What to skip
Daily Meal ranked the Kirkland Sartori BellaVitano Cabernet last of nine Kirkland cheeses and found the Kirkland sharp cheddar flat. The Takeout found the Citterio prosciutto chewy, which is why it's last here.
Costco packs are big. Our guide to storing a charcuterie board covers how long each leftover keeps. See every ranked guide on our charcuterie buying guides page.
Costco charcuterie questions
What is the best cheese at Costco for a charcuterie board?
Kirkland Signature Manchego, a six-month Spanish DOP Manchego at a bulk price. The Kirkland Coastal English cheddar was the top Kirkland cheese in Daily Meal's test.
Is Costco cheaper for a charcuterie board?
For 15 or more guests, usually yes, because cheese and salami cost less per ounce. For a small board, the big packs leave a lot left over.
How much should I buy at Costco for a board?
About 3 oz of cheese and 3 oz of meat per guest when the board is the party food, or 2 oz each before a meal, plus 6 to 12 crackers per guest.
Sources
- Daily Meal: We Tried And Ranked 9 Costco Kirkland Cheeses From Worst To Best
- The Takeout: The Best (And Worst) Deli Meat To Buy From Costco
- Chowhound: 21 Costco Finds You Need For The Ultimate Charcuterie Board
- Tasting Table: 9 Things You Can Pick Up At Costco To Build The Perfect Charcuterie Board
Get one board idea a week, plus the free charcuterie cheat sheet, when you join the Charcuterie Lab newsletter.
