Quick Answer: Our top pick for mortadella on a charcuterie board is Columbus Mortadella (4.5 out of 5). Pre-sliced: Fra' Mani Mortadella. Splurge: Ferrarini Truffle Mortadella. Columbus is also the best value. We ranked 6 widely sold options on how they work on a board, published taste tests and awards, ingredients, value and how easy they are to find.
Mortadella is the silky, pistachio-studded Italian pork sausage that folds into the prettiest ruffles on a board. Few outlets have taste-tested it, so these rankings lean on Sporked's mortadella test, awards, ingredients and how easy each one is to find.
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.
Our picks at a glance
| Pick | Rating |
|---|---|
| Best overall: Columbus Mortadella ($) | ★★★★½ 4.5 |
| Best pre-sliced: Fra' Mani Mortadella ($$) | ★★★★☆ 4.2 |
| Best splurge: Ferrarini Truffle Mortadella ($$$) | ★★★½☆ 3.5 |
The full ranking
| Product | Rating | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Columbus Mortadella ($) | ★★★★½ 4.5 | The classic deli mortadella |
| 2. Fra' Mani Mortadella ($$) | ★★★★☆ 4.2 | A pre-sliced pack |
| 3. Mastro San Daniele Style Mortadella ($$) | ★★★★☆ 4.1 | Big, peppery slices |
| 4. Veroni Italian Mortadella with Pistachio ($$) | ★★★½☆ 3.6 | Grab-and-go pistachio mortadella |
| 5. Ferrarini Truffle Mortadella ($$$) | ★★★½☆ 3.5 | A special-occasion board |
| 6. Olympia Provisions Mortadella ($$$) | ★★★½☆ 3.5 | An American craft mortadella |
1. Columbus Mortadella
★★★★½ 4.5 out of 5 · Best overall · Best for: The classic deli mortadella · $ budget
Sporked named it the best budget mortadella with 9 out of 10: heavier on nutmeg and baking spices, with squares of fat, a "pure, classic deli meat". Columbus is also on Tasting Table's short list of deli meat brands to buy.
- Why we like it: Great flavor at a low price, and you can have it sliced thin to order.
- Keep in mind: The texture isn't completely smooth.
- Where to buy: Deli counters and Costco (sold by the pound).
2. Fra' Mani Mortadella
★★★★☆ 4.2 out of 5 · Best pre-sliced · Best for: A pre-sliced pack · $$ mid-range
Made in the San Francisco Bay Area from pork shoulder, leg and belly, slow-roasted and finished with a little fruitwood smoke. It was a Good Food Awards finalist. (Source: Zingerman's Deli.) Costco has carried a 16 oz sliced pack. (Source: Warehouse Runner.)
- Why we like it: Craft mortadella that's already sliced.
- Keep in mind: Sold sliced at Costco and specialty shops more than at regular grocers.
- Where to buy: Costco and specialty grocers.
3. Mastro San Daniele Style Mortadella
★★★★☆ 4.1 out of 5 · Best for: Big, peppery slices · $$ mid-range
Sporked's best of the best, with 10 out of 10: very large slices with whole peppercorns, each one "savory, meaty, piquant, and fatty."
- Why we like it: The top score in Sporked's test.
- Keep in mind: Easiest to find in Canada. In the US, look in Italian delis.
- Where to buy: Italian delis and specialty stores.
4. Veroni Italian Mortadella with Pistachio
★★★½☆ 3.6 out of 5 · Best for: Grab-and-go pistachio mortadella · $$ mid-range
An imported Italian mortadella with pistachios in a 4 oz pre-sliced pack. Sporked tried Veroni but didn't score it. (Source: Kroger.)
- Why we like it: Imported, with pistachios, and easy to find in the packaged deli case.
- Keep in mind: Pricey per ounce, and 4 oz only covers a small board.
- Where to buy: Kroger, Stop & Shop, ShopRite and other grocers.
5. Ferrarini Truffle Mortadella
★★★½☆ 3.5 out of 5 · Best splurge · Best for: A special-occasion board · $$$ premium
Studded with slivers of black truffle. Sporked gave it 9 out of 10, called it "special occasion mortadella" and said the truffle complements the fatty meat without overwhelming it.
- Why we like it: A real showpiece for a luxury board.
- Keep in mind: Hard to find and expensive.
- Where to buy: Italian delis and specialty shops.
6. Olympia Provisions Mortadella
★★★½☆ 3.5 out of 5 · Best for: An American craft mortadella · $$$ premium
From the Portland salumeria that Tasting Table lists as a deli meat brand to buy, with a range "from salami cotto to mortadella."
- Why we like it: Careful craft production. A pistachio version is available.
- Keep in mind: Mostly sold whole or online, at a premium.
- Where to buy: Olympia Provisions online, Murray's and specialty shops.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbus Mortadella | 5 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 4.5 |
| Fra' Mani Mortadella | 5 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 4.2 |
| Mastro San Daniele Style Mortadella | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 4.1 |
| Veroni Italian Mortadella with Pistachio | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3.6 |
| Ferrarini Truffle Mortadella | 4 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 3.5 |
| Olympia Provisions Mortadella | 4 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 3.5 |
What to look for on the label
Label check: Look for "Mortadella Bologna IGP" on imported mortadella, and visible white cubes of fat in a fine pink paste. The list should start with pork. Pistachios are traditional but optional.
Skip: Bologna as a stand-in. It comes from the same family of sausages, but it's finely blended with no fat cubes, and it reads as lunch meat on a board.
Serving it: have it sliced very thin, then fold each slice into quarters or ruffle it into a loose rose. Take it out of the fridge about 20 minutes before serving. Meat in total: 2 oz per guest before a meal, 3 oz when the board is the party food, 4 oz when it's dinner. For pregnant guests, the CDC advises heating deli meats until steaming hot, so set some aside for them.
For what mortadella pairs with and how to serve it, see the mortadella guide. To see every ranked guide, visit our charcuterie buying guides.
Mortadella questions
What is the best mortadella brand?
Columbus for most boards: Sporked gave it 9 out of 10, and it's sold at deli counters and Costco. Mastro scored a perfect 10 but is hard to find in the US.
Is mortadella the same as bologna?
No. Bologna descends from mortadella, but mortadella has visible cubes of fat and often pistachios, and a silkier texture.
How do you put mortadella on a charcuterie board?
Have it sliced very thin, then fold slices into quarters or ruffle them into roses. Thick slices are chewy.
How much mortadella per person?
Meat in total: 2 oz per guest before a meal, 3 oz when the board is the party food, 4 oz when it's dinner. Mortadella is usually one of two or three meats in that total.
Sources
- Sporked: Best Mortadella for Sandwiches, Charcuterie Boards, and Snacking
- Tasting Table: 3 Deli Meat Brands To Buy, And 4 To Avoid
- Zingerman's Deli: Mortadella from Fra' Mani
- Warehouse Runner: Fra' Mani Sliced Mortadella at Costco
- Kroger: Veroni Italian Mortadella with Pistachio Nuts
Get one board idea a week, plus the free charcuterie cheat sheet, when you join the Charcuterie Lab newsletter.
