Quick Answer: Our top pick for crackers on a charcuterie board is Carr's Table Water Crackers (4.5 out of 5). Best value: Milton's Craft Bakers Original Multi-Grain. Splurge: Lesley Stowe Raincoast Crisps. We ranked 7 widely sold options on how they work on a board, published taste tests and awards, ingredients, value and how easy they are to find.
Most boards need two crackers: one plain base that lets the cheese lead, and one with character. These are the brands that do each job best.
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 September 2026.
Our picks at a glance
| Pick | Rating |
|---|---|
| Best overall: Carr's Table Water Crackers ($$) | ★★★★½ 4.5 |
| Best value: Milton's Craft Bakers Original Multi-Grain ($) | ★★★★☆ 4.2 |
| Best splurge: Lesley Stowe Raincoast Crisps ($$$) | ★★★½☆ 3.7 |
The full ranking
| Product | Rating | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Carr's Table Water Crackers ($$) | ★★★★½ 4.5 | The neutral base |
| 2. Milton's Craft Bakers Original Multi-Grain ($) | ★★★★☆ 4.2 | Hearty cheeses on a budget |
| 3. La Panzanella Croccantini ($$) | ★★★★☆ 4.1 | Soft cheese and cured meat |
| 4. Lesley Stowe Raincoast Crisps ($$$) | ★★★½☆ 3.7 | The show-off cracker |
| 5. Firehook Mediterranean Sea Salt Crackers ($$) | ★★★½☆ 3.5 | Dips and spreads |
| 6. Breton Original ($) | ★★★½☆ 3.4 | Budget all-rounder |
| 7. Rustic Bakery Flatbread Bites ($$$) | ★★★☆☆ 3.1 | A special occasion |
1. Carr's Table Water Crackers
★★★★½ 4.5 out of 5 · Best overall · Best for: The neutral base · $$ mid-range
The benchmark plain cracker. It lets a delicate cheese taste like itself and appears on nearly every expert list of crackers for cheese. (Source: Carr's Table Water Crackers ingredient label (Kellogg SmartLabel), Cheapism, Striped Spatula.)
- Why we like it: Neutral. Everywhere.
- Keep in mind: Thin, so not for thick dips.
- Where to buy: Most grocery stores.
2. Milton's Craft Bakers Original Multi-Grain
★★★★☆ 4.2 out of 5 · Best value · Best for: Hearty cheeses on a budget · $ budget
A sturdy multigrain cracker with a toasty, seedy flavor. Cheapism picked it to stand up to cheddar and smoked gouda.
- Why we like it: Great value. Sturdy enough for dips.
- Keep in mind: Stronger flavor than a base cracker.
- Where to buy: Kroger, Walmart, most grocery.
3. La Panzanella Croccantini
★★★★☆ 4.1 out of 5 · Best for: Soft cheese and cured meat · $$ mid-range
Crisp, thin Italian-style flatbread crackers. Both Cheapism and Striped Spatula include them for their light crunch under soft cheese and cured meat.
- Why we like it: Thin and crisp. Looks elegant fanned on a board.
- Keep in mind: Larger pieces need breaking.
- Where to buy: Grocery deli and cheese sections.
4. Lesley Stowe Raincoast Crisps
★★★½☆ 3.7 out of 5 · Best splurge · Best for: The show-off cracker · $$$ premium
Thin crisps packed with dried fruit, nuts and seeds. They turn a plain wedge of goat cheese or blue into a complete bite. (Source: Striped Spatula.)
- Why we like it: Real fruit and nuts. Beautiful on a board.
- Keep in mind: Expensive. Contains nuts.
- Where to buy: Costco, Whole Foods, specialty grocers.
5. Firehook Mediterranean Sea Salt Crackers
★★★½☆ 3.5 out of 5 · Best for: Dips and spreads · $$ mid-range
Sturdy flatbread-style strips topped with flaky sea salt. They hold up to whipped feta and thick spreads without snapping. (Source: Striped Spatula.)
- Why we like it: Very sturdy. Flaky salt top.
- Keep in mind: Harder to find.
- Where to buy: Whole Foods, specialty grocers.
6. Breton Original
★★★½☆ 3.4 out of 5 · Best for: Budget all-rounder · $ budget
Thin, flaky whole-wheat rounds with a mild, nutty flavor. A dependable everyday cracker. (Source: Striped Spatula.)
- Why we like it: Cheap and everywhere.
- Keep in mind: Not as neutral as a water cracker.
- Where to buy: Most grocery stores.
7. Rustic Bakery Flatbread Bites
★★★☆☆ 3.1 out of 5 · Best for: A special occasion · $$$ premium
Handmade sourdough flatbreads in flavors like sweet onion with crème fraîche. Excellent, but priced and stocked like a treat. (Source: Striped Spatula.)
- Why we like it: Handmade. Interesting flavors.
- Keep in mind: Expensive. Hard to find.
- Where to buy: Cheese shops, Whole Foods.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carr's Table Water Crackers | 5 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 4.5 |
| Milton's Craft Bakers Original Multi-Grain | 4 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 4.2 |
| La Panzanella Croccantini | 5 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4.1 |
| Lesley Stowe Raincoast Crisps | 4 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 3.7 |
| Firehook Mediterranean Sea Salt Crackers | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3.5 |
| Breton Original | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 3.4 |
| Rustic Bakery Flatbread Bites | 4 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 3.1 |
What to look for on the label
Label check: For a base cracker, flour and salt should lead the list. For a character cracker, you want to see the seeds, fruit or herbs rather than read them ninth on the list.
Skip: Heavily seasoned snack crackers (ranch, cheese dust, everything-bagel heavy) as the only cracker. They fight the cheese.
For what crackers pairs with and how to serve it, see the water crackers guide. To see every ranked guide, visit our charcuterie buying guides.
Crackers questions
What crackers are best for a charcuterie board?
Use two: a plain base like Carr's Table Water Crackers and one with character, such as La Panzanella Croccantini or Raincoast Crisps.
What is the best budget cracker for a board?
Milton's Craft Bakers Original Multi-Grain. It is sturdy, flavorful and inexpensive for the size.
How many kinds of crackers should a board have?
Two or three. More than that crowds the board without adding much.
Sources
- Carr's Table Water Crackers ingredient label (Kellogg SmartLabel)
- Cheapism: The 15 Best Crackers for a Charcuterie Board (Dec 2023)
- Striped Spatula: Best Crackers for Cheese (updated Dec 2021)
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