Quick Answer: Our top pick for pickles on a charcuterie board is Mt. Olive Kosher Baby Dills (4.5 out of 5). Refrigerated: Claussen Kosher Dill Spears. Cornichons: Maille Cornichons Original. 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.
Something sour and crunchy cuts through rich salami and cheese, which is why every good board has pickles. Small pickles work best: baby dills, cornichons or bite-size chips, not giant spears. These rankings lean on three published pickle taste tests, then size, crunch, ingredients and how easy each jar 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: Mt. Olive Kosher Baby Dills ($) | ★★★★½ 4.5 |
| Best refrigerated: Claussen Kosher Dill Spears ($) | ★★★★☆ 4.2 |
| Best cornichons: Maille Cornichons Original ($$) | ★★★★☆ 3.9 |
The full ranking
| Product | Rating | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Mt. Olive Kosher Baby Dills ($) | ★★★★½ 4.5 | Bite-size pickles on any board |
| 2. Claussen Kosher Dill Spears ($) | ★★★★☆ 4.2 | The crunchiest classic |
| 3. Grillo's Pickles Classic Dill Spears ($$) | ★★★★☆ 4.0 | Fresh, sour pickles |
| 4. OH Snap! Pickle Bites ($$) | ★★★★☆ 3.9 | No-mess picnics and travel boards |
| 5. Maille Cornichons Original ($$) | ★★★★☆ 3.9 | The French classic for pâté and salami |
| 6. Vlasic Kosher Dill Spears ($) | ★★★½☆ 3.5 | A budget backup |
1. Mt. Olive Kosher Baby Dills
★★★★½ 4.5 out of 5 · Best overall · Best for: Bite-size pickles on any board · $ budget
Tasting Table's editors unanimously picked these as the best grocery pickle for their tender crunch and mild acidity. Their small size suits a board, where a full spear is too big to grab.
- Why we like it: Board-size pickles, cheap and in nearly every store.
- Keep in mind: That test dates from 2017, and shelf-stable jars are never as crisp as refrigerated pickles.
- Where to buy: Nearly every grocery store.
2. Claussen Kosher Dill Spears
★★★★☆ 4.2 out of 5 · Best refrigerated · Best for: The crunchiest classic · $ budget
Sold in the refrigerated case. Chowhound ranked them 1st of 12 for a snappy crunch and a classic dill and vinegar flavor.
- Why we like it: Real crunch, because they're never cooked.
- Keep in mind: Spears are big for a board. Cut them in half or into coins.
- Where to buy: The refrigerated case at most grocery stores.
3. Grillo's Pickles Classic Dill Spears
★★★★☆ 4.0 out of 5 · Best for: Fresh, sour pickles · $$ mid-range
Refrigerated pickles with a short ingredient list. Chowhound ranked them 2nd of 12 as crunchy, very sour and among the freshest-tasting, and The Daily Meal put them 5th of 14.
- Why we like it: A clean label and a bright, fresh sourness.
- Keep in mind: Pricier, with a shorter shelf life.
- Where to buy: The refrigerated case at Target, Whole Foods and many grocery stores.
4. OH Snap! Pickle Bites
★★★★☆ 3.9 out of 5 · Best for: No-mess picnics and travel boards · $$ mid-range
Pickle bites sold in a pouch without loose brine. Chowhound ranked them 4th of 12 for a good crunch and a sweet flavor with a little kick.
- Why we like it: No dripping brine on the board, and already bite-size.
- Keep in mind: Sweeter than a classic dill, and a pricier way to buy pickles.
- Where to buy: Walmart, Target and many grocery stores.
5. Maille Cornichons Original
★★★★☆ 3.9 out of 5 · Best cornichons · Best for: The French classic for pâté and salami · $$ mid-range
Tiny, tart French gherkins, the traditional partner for pâté, saucisson and Gruyère. We couldn't find a published US taste test of cornichon brands, so this score leans on board fit, ingredients and how widely Maille is sold.
- Why we like it: The right size and tartness for a classic board.
- Keep in mind: No taste test to back it up, and a small jar for the price.
- Where to buy: Most grocery stores, near the mustards or pickles.
6. Vlasic Kosher Dill Spears
★★★½☆ 3.5 out of 5 · Best for: A budget backup · $ budget
The tests disagree. The Daily Meal ranked these 1st of 14 for a strong dill aroma and a balance of crisp and chewy. Chowhound ranked them 9th of 12 as soft and soggy, with turmeric coloring and polysorbate 80.
- Why we like it: Cheap and easy to find.
- Keep in mind: Softer than the refrigerated pickles, with more additives.
- Where to buy: Nearly every grocery store.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mt. Olive Kosher Baby Dills | 5 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 4.5 |
| Claussen Kosher Dill Spears | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 4.2 |
| Grillo's Pickles Classic Dill Spears | 4 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 4.0 |
| OH Snap! Pickle Bites | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3.9 |
| Maille Cornichons Original | 5 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3.9 |
| Vlasic Kosher Dill Spears | 3 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 3.5 |
What to look for on the label
Label check: Small pickles: baby dills, cornichons or chips. Refrigerated pickles stay crunchier. A short ingredient list of cucumbers, water, vinegar, salt, garlic and dill is best.
Skip: Whole full-size pickles and long spears for the board. They're awkward to grab and drip brine everywhere. Cut them into coins if they're all you have.
Serving it: drain the pickles and pat them dry, then put them in a small bowl so the brine doesn't run into the crackers. Put them next to the salami, pâté or a rich cheese, where the sourness helps most.
For what pickles pairs with and how to serve it, see the cornichon guide and dill pickle guide. To see every ranked guide, visit our charcuterie buying guides.
Pickle questions
What are the best pickles for a charcuterie board?
Small, crunchy ones. Mt. Olive Kosher Baby Dills were Tasting Table's top grocery pickle, Claussen won Chowhound's test, and Maille Cornichons are the French classic.
What's the difference between cornichons and pickles?
Cornichons are tiny French gherkins picked very young. They're tarter and crunchier than most dill pickles and the traditional partner for pâté.
Should pickles go on the board or in a bowl?
In a small bowl. Even drained pickles leak brine, which makes crackers soggy.
Are refrigerated pickles better?
For crunch, yes. Refrigerated pickles like Claussen and Grillo's aren't heat-processed, so they stay crisper.
Sources
- The Daily Meal: 14 Store-Bought Dill Pickles, Ranked
- Chowhound: Store-Bought Pickles, Ranked From Worst To Best
- Tasting Table: Grocery Store Pickle Brands, Ranked
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