Quick Answer: Our top pick for summer sausage on a charcuterie board is Cloverdale Original Tangy Summer Sausage (4.4 out of 5). Best value: Trader Joe's Natural Turkey Summer Sausage. We ranked 5 widely sold options on how they work on a board, published taste tests and awards, ingredients, value and how easy they are to find.
Summer sausage is the tangy, shelf-stable sausage behind many holiday gift boxes. Thick-sliced on a board, it's a hearty, budget-friendly meat that holds up well.
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: Cloverdale Original Tangy Summer Sausage ($) | ★★★★½ 4.4 |
| Best value: Trader Joe's Natural Turkey Summer Sausage ($) | ★★★★☆ 4.2 |
The full ranking
| Product | Rating | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Cloverdale Original Tangy Summer Sausage ($) | ★★★★½ 4.4 | Classic tangy flavor |
| 2. Old Wisconsin Premium Summer Sausage ($) | ★★★★½ 4.3 | Thick slices |
| 3. Trader Joe's Natural Turkey Summer Sausage ($) | ★★★★☆ 4.2 | Leaner option |
| 4. Johnsonville Jalapeño Cheddar Summer Sausage ($) | ★★★★☆ 4.0 | Fun and spicy |
| 5. Thousand Hills Hickory Smoked Summer Sausage ($$) | ★★★½☆ 3.7 | Grass-fed beef |
1. Cloverdale Original Tangy Summer Sausage
★★★★½ 4.4 out of 5 · Best overall · Best for: Classic tangy flavor · $ budget
Tied for first in Sporked's test with 10 out of 10: very savory, very fatty and with the classic summer sausage tang.
- Why we like it: Top-ranked. Classic tang.
- Keep in mind: Easier to find in the Midwest.
- Where to buy: Midwest grocery, online.
2. Old Wisconsin Premium Summer Sausage
★★★★½ 4.3 out of 5 · Best for: Thick slices · $ budget
A beef and pork blend that Sporked scored 9 out of 10 and called ideal for thick slicing on charcuterie.
- Why we like it: Great on a board. Widely stocked.
- Keep in mind: Classic, not adventurous.
- Where to buy: Most grocery stores.
3. Trader Joe's Natural Turkey Summer Sausage
★★★★☆ 4.2 out of 5 · Best value · Best for: Leaner option · $ budget
Also 10 out of 10 at Sporked, with a distinctive pickling-spice flavor and a leaner profile.
- Why we like it: Top score. Leaner.
- Keep in mind: Only at Trader Joe's.
- Where to buy: Trader Joe's.
4. Johnsonville Jalapeño Cheddar Summer Sausage
★★★★☆ 4.0 out of 5 · Best for: Fun and spicy · $ budget
Visible chunks of cheese and jalapeño; Sporked scored it 8.5 out of 10.
- Why we like it: Everywhere. Built-in cheese.
- Keep in mind: Less classic.
- Where to buy: Most grocery stores.
5. Thousand Hills Hickory Smoked Summer Sausage
★★★½☆ 3.7 out of 5 · Best for: Grass-fed beef · $$ mid-range
A grass-fed beef summer sausage with balanced smoke, scored 8.5 out of 10 at Sporked.
- Why we like it: Grass-fed.
- Keep in mind: Harder to find.
- Where to buy: Natural grocers, online.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cloverdale Original Tangy Summer Sausage | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4.4 |
| Old Wisconsin Premium Summer Sausage | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4.3 |
| Trader Joe's Natural Turkey Summer Sausage | 4 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4.2 |
| Johnsonville Jalapeño Cheddar Summer Sausage | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 4.0 |
| Thousand Hills Hickory Smoked Summer Sausage | 4 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 3.7 |
What to look for on the label
Label check: The meat listed first, and a mild tang from fermentation. Many are beef, some are beef and pork, and a few are game meats.
Skip: Cutting summer sausage into thin slices. It's better thick-cut into coins or half-moons.
For what summer sausage pairs with and how to serve it, see the summer sausage guide. To see every ranked guide, visit our charcuterie buying guides.
Summer sausage questions
What is the best summer sausage for a charcuterie board?
Old Wisconsin for thick slicing and easy availability, or Cloverdale for the classic tangy flavor that topped Sporked's test.
Does summer sausage need to be refrigerated?
Unopened, many are shelf-stable; once opened, refrigerate it. Follow the label.
How do I cut summer sausage for a board?
Cut it into coins about 1/4 inch thick, or halve the coins into half-moons.
Sources
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