Quick Answer: The best Kroger cheese for a charcuterie board is Murray's Cave Aged Stockinghall Cheddar (4.2 out of 5), an award-winning clothbound cheddar from the Murray's counter. Best soft cheese: Murray's Brie. Best everyday extras: Private Selection smoked salmon and mixed nuts. Kroger's weak spot is store-brand salami, so buy meat sliced at the deli counter.
Kroger has one of the best supermarket cheese counters in the country, thanks to the Murray's Cheese shops inside more than 1,000 Kroger-family stores (Kroger's banners include Ralphs, King Soopers, Mariano's and Pick 'n Save). Cheese importer Adam Jay Moskowitz told Food & Wine the best supermarket selection is "Murray's Cheese at Kroger, hands down," and The Takeout ranked Kroger 3rd of 13 chains for cheese. These are the cheeses and extras worth buying, ranked.
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 overall: Murray's Cave Aged Stockinghall Cheddar ($$$) | ★★★★☆ 4.2 |
| Best soft cheese: Murray's Brie ($$) | ★★★★☆ 4.0 |
| Best smoked salmon: Private Selection Cold Smoked Norwegian Atlantic Salmon ($$) | ★★★★☆ 4.2 |
| Best crackers: Private Selection Classic Water Crisp Crackers ($) | ★★★½☆ 3.6 |
The full ranking
| Product | Rating | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Murray's Cave Aged Stockinghall Cheddar ($$$) | ★★★★☆ 4.2 | The showpiece cheese |
| 2. Private Selection Cold Smoked Norwegian Atlantic Salmon ($$) | ★★★★☆ 4.2 | A brunch or holiday board |
| 3. Private Selection Select Blend Mixed Nuts with Sea Salt ($$) | ★★★★☆ 4.0 | A bowl of nuts |
| 4. Murray's Brie ($$) | ★★★★☆ 4.0 | The soft cheese |
| 5. Murray's Estate Gouda ($$) | ★★★★☆ 4.0 | Sweet pairings |
| 6. Murray's Parmigiano Reggiano ($$) | ★★★★☆ 4.0 | Breaking into chunks |
| 7. Ciresa Taleggio ($$) | ★★★½☆ 3.7 | A bold, washed-rind cheese |
| 8. Private Selection Classic Water Crisp Crackers ($) | ★★★½☆ 3.6 | Letting the cheese lead |
| 9. Murray's Dill Havarti ($) | ★★★½☆ 3.5 | A mild, creamy cheese |
| 10. Private Selection Genoa Salami Cracker Cut ($) | ★★★☆☆ 3.2 | Quick sliced salami |
| 11. Private Selection Charcuterie Tasting Board ($$) | ★★★☆☆ 3.0 | Skip it |
1. Murray's Cave Aged Stockinghall Cheddar
★★★★☆ 4.2 out of 5 · Best overall · Best for: The showpiece cheese · $$$ premium
A clothbound cheddar aged in Murray's caves. It won first place for clothbound cheddar and made the top 10 overall at the 2024 American Cheese Society awards, per Kroger, and Kroger says it was named Best Cheddar at the World Cheese Awards (Kroger, Dec 2025).
- Why we like it: A cheese-shop cheddar in a supermarket.
- Keep in mind: Expensive, about $24.99 a pound, and only at stores with a Murray's counter.
- Where to find it: Murray's counter at select Kroger stores, about $24.99 a pound.
2. Private Selection Cold Smoked Norwegian Atlantic Salmon
★★★★☆ 4.2 out of 5 · Best smoked salmon · Best for: A brunch or holiday board · $$ mid-range
Silky cold-smoked salmon that scored well in our smoked salmon ranking.
- Why we like it: Drapes well on crackers with cream cheese.
- Keep in mind: Keep it cold until serving. For pregnant guests, refrigerated smoked fish should be cooked first.
- Where to find it: Kroger seafood or deli case.
3. Private Selection Select Blend Mixed Nuts with Sea Salt
★★★★☆ 4.0 out of 5 · Best for: A bowl of nuts · $$ mid-range
A premium mixed-nut blend that scored well in our mixed nuts ranking.
- Why we like it: Mostly cashews, almonds and pecans, with few peanuts.
- Keep in mind: Pricier than the standard Kroger nuts.
- Where to find it: Kroger snack aisle.
4. Murray's Brie
★★★★☆ 4.0 out of 5 · Best soft cheese · Best for: The soft cheese · $$ mid-range
A classic double-crème brie that Kroger calls a crowd-pleaser for entertaining (Kroger, Dec 2024).
- Why we like it: Creamy and mild, and easy to bake.
- Keep in mind: Cut wedges vary in ripeness; ask the counter for one that gives when pressed.
- Where to find it: Murray's counter, about $13.99 a pound.
5. Murray's Estate Gouda
★★★★☆ 4.0 out of 5 · Best for: Sweet pairings · $$ mid-range
A nutty Gouda that Kroger suggests pairing with chocolate, caramels and peanuts (Kroger, Dec 2024).
- Why we like it: The caramel notes make it the best cheese for a dessert board.
- Keep in mind: Pricier than a grocery Gouda.
- Where to find it: Murray's counter, about $18.99 a pound.
6. Murray's Parmigiano Reggiano
★★★★☆ 4.0 out of 5 · Best for: Breaking into chunks · $$ mid-range
Real Parmigiano Reggiano, cut at the Murray's counter. Cheese writer Erika Kubick told Food & Wine shoppers can find Italian Parmigiano-Reggiano, Swiss Gruyère and French brie styles there.
- Why we like it: Real Parmigiano, cut fresh.
- Keep in mind: Break it into rough chunks with a knife tip; slices are too hard.
- Where to find it: Murray's counter, about $23.99 a pound.
7. Ciresa Taleggio
★★★½☆ 3.7 out of 5 · Best for: A bold, washed-rind cheese · $$ mid-range
A soft Italian washed-rind cheese. Importer Adam Jay Moskowitz called Ciresa Taleggio a "workhorse of a cheese" in Food & Wine.
- Why we like it: Funky outside, mild and buttery inside. A good third cheese for adventurous guests.
- Keep in mind: Strong smell. Not every Murray's counter carries it, so ask.
- Where to find it: Murray's counter at select stores.
8. Private Selection Classic Water Crisp Crackers
★★★½☆ 3.6 out of 5 · Best crackers · Best for: Letting the cheese lead · $ budget
Thin, plain water crackers from Kroger's premium store brand, about $3.49 a box on Kroger. Sporked calls Private Selection Kroger's best-quality line for the price.
- Why we like it: A cheap stand-in for Carr's.
- Keep in mind: Few published reviews, so the reviews score is low.
- Where to find it: Kroger cracker aisle, about $3.49 for 4.4 oz.
9. Murray's Dill Havarti
★★★½☆ 3.5 out of 5 · Best for: A mild, creamy cheese · $ budget
Creamy Danish-style Havarti with dill, about $9.99 a pound at the Murray's counter.
- Why we like it: Mild and kid-friendly, and cheap for a Murray's cheese.
- Keep in mind: Few published reviews.
- Where to find it: Murray's counter.
10. Private Selection Genoa Salami Cracker Cut
★★★☆☆ 3.2 out of 5 · Best for: Quick sliced salami · $ budget
Pre-sliced salami rounds sized for crackers, 12 oz for about $7.99 to $8.99. The hard salami version is rated 3.4 out of 5 on Kroger from only a few reviews.
- Why we like it: Ready to fold and use.
- Keep in mind: Thin, so it dries out fast on the board. Deli-sliced salami is better.
- Where to find it: Kroger deli case.
11. Private Selection Charcuterie Tasting Board
★★★☆☆ 3.0 out of 5 · Best for: Skip it · $$ mid-range
A 12 oz tray of prosciutto, Calabrese salami, white cheddar, crackers, Castelvetrano olives and chocolate cashews. It's rated 3.3 out of 5 on Kroger, and at $15.49 it costs more per ounce than building your own.
- Why we like it: Everything in one tray.
- Keep in mind: Poor value and middling reviews. The Murray's counter also sells ready-made boards if you need a shortcut.
- Where to find it: Kroger deli case, about $15.49.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Murray's Cave Aged Stockinghall Cheddar | 5 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 4.2 |
| Private Selection Cold Smoked Norwegian Atlantic Salmon | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4.2 |
| Private Selection Select Blend Mixed Nuts with Sea Salt | 5 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 4.0 |
| Murray's Brie | 5 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4.0 |
| Murray's Estate Gouda | 5 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 4.0 |
| Murray's Parmigiano Reggiano | 5 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 4.0 |
| Ciresa Taleggio | 4 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 3.7 |
| Private Selection Classic Water Crisp Crackers | 4 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 3.6 |
| Murray's Dill Havarti | 4 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3.5 |
| Private Selection Genoa Salami Cracker Cut | 3 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 3.2 |
| Private Selection Charcuterie Tasting Board | 3 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 5 | 3.0 |
Building a board from these
For 12 people with the board as the party food, plan about 2½ pounds of cheese and 2¼ pounds of meat. A strong Kroger trio is the Stockinghall Cheddar, Murray's Brie and the Estate Gouda, with the Parmigiano broken into chunks if you want a fourth. Ask the deli to slice Genoa salami and prosciutto to order. Add the water crackers, the mixed nuts and grapes.
Use our Party Planner for exact amounts for your guest count.
Shopping tips
- Find the Murray's counter. It's usually near the deli, and staff will cut to order and offer tastes. Not every Kroger has one; the Murray's shelf in the dairy case is the fallback.
- Ask for the counter's picks. Food & Wine's experts named La Tur and Chällerhocker as other Murray's finds worth asking for.
- Buy salami at the deli, not in cracker cuts. Freshly sliced meat tastes better and folds better.
See every ranked guide on our charcuterie buying guides page.
Kroger charcuterie questions
What is the best Kroger cheese for a charcuterie board?
Murray's Cave Aged Stockinghall Cheddar, a clothbound cheddar that won first place in its category at the 2024 American Cheese Society awards. For a soft cheese, Murray's Brie.
Does every Kroger have a Murray's Cheese counter?
No. Murray's has shops in more than 1,000 Kroger-family stores, but not all of them. Stores without a counter usually carry a smaller range of Murray's cheeses in the dairy case.
Is the Private Selection Charcuterie Tasting Board worth it?
Usually not. It's rated 3.3 out of 5 on Kroger's site and costs $15.49 for 12 oz. Building your own from the Murray's counter and the deli costs less per ounce and tastes better.
How much should I buy at Kroger 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 10 to 12 crackers per guest.
Sources
- Kroger: Murray's Cheese opens 1,000th shop within Kroger stores (2022)
- Kroger: Murray's Cheese products and prices
- Kroger: Murray's Cave Aged Cheeses Win Seven Awards at American Cheese Society (Jul 2024)
- Kroger: Murray's Cheese Holiday Must-Haves (Dec 2025)
- Kroger: Celebrate the Holidays with Murray's Cheese (Dec 2024)
- Food & Wine via AOL: This Grocery Store Has the Best Cheese Counter, According to Cheesemongers
- The Takeout: 13 Grocery Store Chains, Ranked By Their Cheese Selection
- Sporked: We've Cracked the Code on Kroger's Brands
- Kroger: Private Selection crackers and cracker cuts
- Kroger: Private Selection Charcuterie Tasting Board
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