Quick Answer: At Lidl, buy the Preferred Selection Parmigiano Reggiano aged 24 months, the vintage Irish cheddar and the imported Greek feta, plus blue cheese-stuffed olives (about $3.35), green olive tapenade and a fresh-baked baguette. Lidl's soft and sliced cheeses get mixed reviews, so check dates and look for mold before you buy.
Lidl is one of the cheapest places to build a board in the US, with a small but surprisingly European cheese case and bread baked in the store every day. It isn't strong across the board: reviewers rank its cheese selection near the bottom of the big chains. But a handful of products are real bargains.
How we picked these: no one has published a side-by-side taste test of Lidl charcuterie items yet, so this guide is not scored with stars like our other store guides. Instead it names the Lidl products that reviewers and shoppers rate well, what each is good for and what to skip. Sources are listed at the end, and our method is on the buying guides hub. Store stock changes, so check your local store. Last checked October 2026.
Our picks at a glance
| Pick | Why |
|---|---|
| Best cheese: Preferred Selection Parmigiano Reggiano, aged 24 months ($) | Real 24-month Parmigiano at a low price |
| Best cheddar: Vintage Irish cheddar ($) | A Lidl cheese-case standout |
| Best for a mezze board: Imported Greek feta ($) | Real Greek feta |
| Best extra: Blue cheese-stuffed olives ($) | About $3.35 a jar |
| Best spread: Green olive tapenade ($) | About $2 a jar |
| Best bread: French baguette, baked in store ($) | Baked fresh every day |
Preferred Selection Parmigiano Reggiano, aged 24 months
Best cheese · Best for: Breaking into chunks · $ budget
Lidl's 24-month Parmigiano Reggiano is a shopper favorite for grating over pasta or serving on a cheese board (Food Network), and The Takeout names it among Lidl's best cheeses.
- Why we like it: Real, long-aged Parmigiano for much less than a cheese shop.
- Keep in mind: Hard, so break it into rough chunks with a knife tip.
- Where to buy: Lidl cheese case.
Vintage Irish cheddar
Best cheddar · Best for: A sharp, crumbly cheddar · $ budget
One of the cheeses The Takeout highlights at Lidl.
- Why we like it: Sharp and crumbly, a classic board cheese.
- Keep in mind: Names and packaging change, so look for "vintage" or "aged" Irish cheddar.
- Where to buy: Lidl cheese case.
Imported Greek feta
Best for a mezze board · Best for: Mediterranean boards · $ budget
The Takeout lists Lidl's imported Greek feta among its better cheeses.
- Why we like it: Briny and real.
- Keep in mind: Crumbly, so serve it in a block drizzled with olive oil.
- Where to buy: Lidl cheese case.
Blue cheese-stuffed olives
Best extra · Best for: The olives · $ budget
Tasting Table calls them the true standout of Lidl's pantry: about $3.35 for 7 oz, roughly half what other brands cost.
- Why we like it: A two-in-one board item at a low price.
- Keep in mind: Blue cheese is strong for some guests.
- Where to buy: Lidl pantry aisle.
Green olive tapenade
Best spread · Best for: Spreading on bread · $ budget
Bright, a little briny and herbaceous without being abrasive, for about $2 a jar (Tasting Table).
- Why we like it: Cheap and goes with goat cheese and baguette.
- Keep in mind: Salty, so a little goes a long way.
- Where to buy: Lidl pantry aisle.
French baguette, baked in store
Best bread · Best for: Slicing for the board · $ budget
Lidl bakes its baguettes fresh daily, and shoppers treat them as a staple (Food Network).
- Why we like it: Fresh bread for very little.
- Keep in mind: Buy it the day of the party.
- Where to buy: Lidl bakery.
Building a board from these
- Cheese: the 24-month Parmigiano, the vintage Irish cheddar and the Greek feta.
- Bread and spreads: a fresh baguette, the green olive tapenade and a jam.
- Extras: blue cheese-stuffed olives, grapes and nuts.
- Meat: Lidl's cured-meat selection varies by store, so check the deli case for salami and prosciutto.
Plan on 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.
What to look for on the label
Label check: Check the date and look through the wrapper for mold, especially on soft cheeses and sliced cheese. Shoppers have reported problems (The Takeout).
Skip: Lidl's Camembert and pre-sliced cheese, which some shoppers found moldy before the date (The Takeout), and novelty flavors like the wasabi cheese (Mashed).
For other budget stores, see our guides to Aldi, Walmart and every store on our charcuterie buying guides page.
Lidl charcuterie questions
What is the best cheese at Lidl for a charcuterie board?
The Preferred Selection Parmigiano Reggiano aged 24 months. The vintage Irish cheddar and imported Greek feta are also good buys.
Is Lidl good for a cheap charcuterie board?
Yes, for hard cheeses, olives, tapenade and fresh bread. Be choosier with soft and sliced cheeses, which get mixed reviews.
Is Lidl or Aldi better for charcuterie?
Both are cheap. Aldi has more board-specific products and seasonal charcuterie items; Lidl's strengths are its Parmigiano, olives and fresh-baked bread.
Sources
- The Takeout: 13 Grocery Store Chains, Ranked By Their Cheese Selection (Sep 2026)
- Mashed: The Best And Worst Grocery Store Chains For Buying Cheese (Apr 2025)
- Tasting Table: Never Skip These 11 Affordable Pantry Staples At Lidl (May 2026)
- Food Network: The Best Groceries to Buy at Lidl
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