How To Make A Meat And Cheese Tray
This is a sponsored post and I have been compensated. However, all opinions are all mine. I know I say how much I love the holidays A Lot. But I truly do. It is the one of the few times a year all my babies are together.
Fun Party Without Skimping?
And I love a fun holiday party! There is holiday music, laughter, goofy photos and great food. But the cost of these parties can wreck my budget. And I am not skimping on the kids gifts to make a fancy smancy menu.
Planning A Perfect Party
Over the years, I have discovered a lot of great ways to have a party without spending a fortune. Here is one of my most popular posts, Tips For Planning The Perfect Holiday Party.
One of my favorite appetizers to serve is a spread of yummy fruits, nuts, meats, cheese and other goodies.
But, that can get expensive mighty quick! So, if you want to create a similar spread for your next party, here is how to make a meat and cheese tray on a budget!
Check Your Inventory: I stock up on certain foods the family eats regularly. This includes pickles, peppers, crackers and nuts.
Before I make my shopping list for party foods, I always check the pantry for items I can use. This saves me time and money!
Wholesale Clubs: We shop at our wholesale club at least once a week. During the holidays, they often have savings on party staples I need.
This includes food and beverages, like cheap, but tasty wine and crackers, bread and nuts. I also get my disposable serving and dining goods at my wholesale club.
Grocery Salad Bar: When I think of how to make a meat and cheese tray on a budget, I think of my grocery store salad bar. Does yours have one of these gold mines?
You can get smaller portions of marinated mushrooms, trendy peppers and olives and freshly made mozzarella.
Serving Tray: I like to have an elegant serving platter for my meat and cheese trays. To make sure I have plenty of room for all of my goodies, I want something that is large enough.
I also want something that will look amazing in the middle of my table. My favorite, hands down is my gorgeous wooden cutting board from Labell Boards.
Meats: When choosing meats, stick with a variety your crowd will eat! I have served some pricey meats that were super hipster and no one touched them.
When I serve up salami, prosciutto, roast beef or ham and turkey. This ensures even the kids will find something they like!
Cheese: When buying cheese, choose those without rind or wax, especially if you are paying by the pound. Also, check if your grocery has an end piece section.
You can save a bundle by serving a variety of smaller pieces of cheese. I love to serve Asiago, mozzarella, a cheddar and a brie. That way, I have a mix of hard and soft cheeses.
Seasonal Fruits: When you choose fruits and other foods in season, you save. I love to serve grapes, apples, and figs. All of these go perfectly with many cheeses, nuts and meats.
I don’t know about you, but my husband is not one to notice a lot of what goes on in the kitchen. He loves the end result, but otherwise, he leaves me to do my thing.
A Beautiful Cutting Board Is Key
When my new cutting board from Labell Boards, he was at home. I opened the box and he said, “Wow! That is really nice…right?!” I assured him it was VERY NICE!
I knew immediately I would be serving this years meat and cheese tray on it! How could I resist serving my awesome food on this gorgeous tray! Now that is how to make a meat and cheese tray look tempting!
Now, of course I had to do a trial run for my meat and cheese tray before our party…right?! I had just about everything at the house to make a good go of it.
We ended up having this for dinner. It was a feast to behold. And when all the food was gone, my gorgeous baby was there in all her glory! I cannot tell you how much I love my cutting board from Labell Boards.
I honestly have had a hundred cutting boards in my life and this is by far the best I have ever had! I cannot resist a product that is as beautiful as it is functional!
The boards from Labell Boards are made from premium Canadian recovered/recycled hardwoods. They are made with the highest production standards.
I love that Labell can take these raw materials that would have otherwise been disposed of, and turn them into culinary works of art.
You can choose from over 90 styles, including Serving Platters, Paddle Boards, Utility Boards and Butcher Blocks. You can purchase them online from the Planches Labell website.
Follow Labell Boards on Facebook and Twitter.
Do you love to throw a killer holiday party? What is your favorite appetizer to serve that your guests love?

I don’t throw parties. But I do take cheese puffs to the gatherings I go to.
We love good food at our get togethers. We like meat and cheese trays as appetizers. Yours looks yummy.
This meat and cheese tray looks yummy! I am so hungry as it is and now need some olives, nuts, and cheese!
These are all great tips! I love being around people but I never host parties because of the fear of what it would cost. This post taught me that it can be done on a budget!
Thanks so much for sharing these tips! I love serving meat and cheese trays, but they can get pricey.
This tray will be perfect for my next get together. I will have to get the ingredients I need to make.one. They are always a hit at parties.
I like all of these ideas. I think putting together an impressive cheese tray could be fun. I like the board you used!
I happen to need a new cutting board because my husband accidentally split our down the middle. I need to replace this since it is right before all the holiday cooking is going to happen.
Yikes! Was he working on his martial arts moves?
Please excuse me while I drool all over myself. I would make this just for ME. I’m not even joking. I love meat. I love cheese. I love bread. Maybe I’d share with my family 😉
We try to have healthy appetizers. We do a Knorr’s spinach dip with yogurt and cream cheese. We never have any leftover.
Oh my goodness, this is right up my street, I am a sucker for cheese and yes this platter I would absolutely love.
These are always such a hit at parties. I love that you have shown how to make one incredibly on a budget as well.
This is a perfect idea for Thanksgiving appetizers! I will be doing this for my Thanksgiving party that we are having at the house! YUM!
With the holiday parties just around the corner I will be making meat and cheese trays. Thank you for the great tips. They can get quite pricey to make.
This looks amazing! I can’t wait to try it out!
I do throw pretty awesome parties:). We always have a veggie tray, spinach dip, and a meat and cheese tray..yum!
We don’t throw very many parties but we have had a few Christmas parties with a group from church. We like making the meat/cheese roll ups. Everyone seems to enjoy those. I do love me a good meat and cheese tray. Thanks for the chance to win!!
I haven’t thrown any parties yet. I always make buffalo chicken dip in the crock pot for holidays.
I love these types of trays for a quick appetizer before a meal! I definitely hit up my fancy grocery stores for some of the olive varieties and I stock up on nuts from Costco!
My favorite appetizer to make is a spinach dip. I just add bagel or pita chips.
Those are great ways to save. I had no idea that you could get discounts at delis by buying the ends of the cheeses. Great tip!
These are really awesome tips! I love a good spread of cheese and meat! This is a great idea!
ONly family and its a big one. I make a cheese ball with crackers
I hate prepping for big parties that I’m hosting, but I love it once all the work’s over and everyone’s at the house having a good time. My favorite appetizer to make is toasted french bread with olive tapanade and brie cheese.
Yay! Good to know I’m doing all the right things. I love putting together meat and cheese plates during the holiday!
I love to throw a killer party. I am not good at it. I usually use nuts and snacks and veggies for my snack trays
This looks like a great idea… I am not a meat eater but my friends would love it 😀
I like simple and relaxing parties. We usually have a cheese tray with assorted fruits and a lot of good conversation. Thank you for sharing.
This is going to come in super handy whenever we start having Thanksgiving parties! Great idea!
I appreciate these tips. My Mom always went WAY above and beyond when it came to party food. I’ve been following in her footsteps. These tips will really help me. Thanks!
Thank you for sharing this! I always though having a meat and cheese tray is so luxurious!
We don’t throw as many parties as we use to. My husband always wants the rye bread boat with dill dip.. My daughter in law makes these appetizers with won ton wrappers, cream cheese and sausage! So good!
We love throwing holiday get together a. Everyone loves my broccoli salad
This is a great party platter idea! Love to see frugality while keeping it classy!
Sondra xx
prettyfitfoodie.com
I just had a party and didn’t know what to do for appetizers, and I put together a cheese board. It was a hit!
Yes, I love throwing parties and I know my guests love when I make wonton wrapper appetizers with shrimp or meat inside. So delicious!
I love making meat and cheese trays! Yes, having the right cutting board makes all the difference. I like this one.
I can’t say that I love throwing parties, but an appetizer that people seem to love is meatballs in bbq sauce.
I love to throw a killer party. The food is vital. And from experience I can tell you that you’re right about people loving the classics like salamis and not loving the more expensive and exotic items. I served pate and almost no one ate it. Having wonderful display trays is important.
I don’t throw parties. I am more of a family gathering type of host.
We always have a small party with friends, They always request my tortilla and cream cheese wraps with salsa
Love hosting and attending parties! My favorite appetizer is and always has been deviled eggs. Just can’t get enough of them.
make a great chocolate chip cheese ball and we love to make pinwheels with tortillas and cream cheese and salsa
i throw a kick butt christmas party. My guests love my honey bbq chicken nibblers.
i like meat and cheese trays as appetizers!! and this recipe def would be on my table this weekend
With holiday parties quickly approaching, knowing how to put together a fabulous cheese and meat tray is a great skill. I hadn’t considered purchasing smaller quantities at the deli. Great tip!
I don’t like throwing parties, but I do enjoying having a family (maybe two) over to fellowship with my family. In these cases, we don’t do appetizers, but enjoy a meal together.
These are all great suggestions. I haven’t made a platter for a party before we always go for cooked food but I will think about it for the future.
we don’y have many parties. But we do Thanksgiving at our house. The best part is our spachcocked (what a funny word) turkey, and Aunt Suzie’s rolls.
I love throwing parties at my house. My favorite appetizer to make is gyoza..
I love to have parties and serve food my favorite appetizer is my bacon wrapped scallops according to my friends and family.
When i host parties I love to make a savory dip and a dessert dip! Velveta, Rotel, and sausage in the crockpot is my go-to! I also love funfetti dip with vanilla wafers!
I don’t usually host the big holiday parties… WE usually go potluck-style & then I bring a dish or two! Thanks for all the wonderfully tips!
We throw parties a couple of times per year. Our parties typically have veggie trays, with homemade ranch dressing to dip the veggies in. The ranch dressing is a hit.
nice cutting block
Yes, I like to throw a holiday party. I like to serve a bread bowl with spinach dip.
if i did, i’d try to make a set up that guests would like. but it’s not likely i’d ever throw a holiday party. just want the board.
My family will fall on its’ feet for this! 🙂
In all honesty, I’m not much of a party person. When I do host, I like to have a cheese tray, an olive tray, and chips and dips for starters.
My favorite appitizer to make for my guest is a cheese platter and guacamole dip.
We love having Holiday parties. I always make a cheese ball and crackers.
Everyone loves my cheese ball I make every year. I usuallyhost about 25 people over for the holidays.
The presentation is magnificent! It makes the meats and cheeses look for more high=end than what you’ve spent.
Our place is small. Most of our entertaining is done outside. I love shopping for the perfect cheese board options. Also we whip out whatever we pickled from the garden.
I throw wine parties from time to time. Usually serve a variety of cheeses, olives, fruit and crackers to pair.
I love hosting parties all year! We always have salami & cheese. My Great Grandparents always did, so its a must!
Wonderful tips on creating a meat and cheese board. Theyre one of my fav things to set up at a party. So tasty but easy to do.
I do have holiday parties and love making delicious foods. For appetizers I do make cheese and meats trays, veggies with dips, chicken and ham salad all are very popular.
When I go back home, we always have a massive tray of meat and cheese and it is amazing! I guess it is easier in France and cheaper than in the UK. Thanks for the tips!
I enjoy entertaining during the holidays. I like serving sausage stuffed mushrooms.
Really great suggestion!! Will surely let my mom read about this!!
I have never entertained during the holidays! We’ve never really had space in our previous apartments for guests. Maybe we will in the future-I do love cheese platters.
When I have people over, I make a lot of different stuffed breads. They are always a big hit and there is never any left over.
Great tips for making a nice display for the Holidays and saving money. Every time I make a platter it always cost me a fortune.
Love that cutting board. These are some great tips for someone on a budget. Thank you for sharing them!
I am not a party giver, but I do like to make holiday meals nice with some special goodies. Appetizers can definitely be a part of that.Pigs in a Blanket are a big hit with the grandchildren.
I host Thanksgiving every year & love it. Finances allowing, I always put out a cheese plate, nuts, chips & dip, fresh fruit & something sweet.
I like setting up egg rolls on a nice plate. I’m not much a party person.
We love cheese balls
Years ago, we use to give a Christmas Eve party for those we knew who didn’t have a place to go or relatives in town. On New Year’s Eve we would also have a party. But, with the liquor laws the way they are now and not living in a large home, we do not throw big parties. I guess people loved the desserts (cookies) and the sweet and sour meatballs along with the cheese and meat plates for sandwiches.
I never throw dinner parties. This blog makes it much easier though.
I love fun parties! I make a yummy queso dip.
I love christmas parties!
Thanks for yours tips now i learned how to prepare meat and cheese on a budget. Am excited to do it at home and paired with my favorite wine.
My sister has a bigger house, so I help her whenever she has parties. I love to make a platter with an assortment of fruit, veggies and cheese.
Deviled eggs and finger sandwiches.
This is awesome information on how to make a meat and cheese tray on a budget. Labell Board cutting boards sounds like they have awesome cutting boards and I love that they are made from recycled/recovered hardwood.Thanks for sharing the information.
I have never had the opportunity to throw a holiday party but want to! A fave app I bring to parties is bacon wrapped dates.
This is perfect for holiday and for Thanksgiving parties. and that Label board looks interesting. A perfect wooden cutting board in the kitchen.
Best tip are to use cheese and fruit that is easy to get or in season to keep the price down. i prefer doing my own trays.
Nooooo, not a party type
This looks like a super yummy meat and cheese tray! I’m gonna look at making one of these this holiday season!
I don’t really throw holiday parties per-say, but I do often have friends over and do small get togethers during the holidays. I love to make deviled eggs as a little appetizer because they’re cute and yummy.
I don’t eat meat but you definitely neatly placed it all together for those entertaining.
I’m such a hostess. A great charcuterie can be all you need some nights!
Our parties are based around food!!! Our favorite is from the grill! Chicken, corn on the cob and so much more!
My husband makes awesome bacon wrapped jalapeno’s! This is his signature app that we bring to all our holiday parties!
great ideas I always stock up on items of things I will need like condiments and crackers while they are on sale
Beacon wrapped jalaponeos those are always a big hit. We always have the holidays get together in our house..
we make bacon wrapped mini sausages with brown sugar, bake them about 20 min or until the bacon is done. everything is good with bacon.
Love cheese ,love bread and butter ,and meat too ! Thanks for ideas,I would definitely add some fruits and wine !
I am a huge fan of meat and cheese trays! I am going to have to try this out.
I throw great holiday parties and I have cheese trays that a lot of people in my family really love. I have some seasonal fruits included, as well.
My favorite appetizer to serve is baby potatoes roasted Hasselback style with various toppings, such as bacon, different cheeses, chives, jalapenos, or even ranch dip and sour cream.
I must say I cheat I go to the store and purchase several trays and get a holiday cake I concentrate on the decorations at the house so this helps out a lot
We love throwing great parties! I make a fantastic chicken wing dip and cheese and bacon jalapeños
I do love parties especially when everything comes together perfectly. i make a mean stuffed mushroom that everyone always raves over.
I had friends over this weekend and have out of town guests next weekend. I like to serve heavy appetizers featuring unusual or little known items. A big hit is interesting cheeses like smoked gouda, Jarlsberg or Boursin flavors like cranberry, apple cinnamon. I serve really good Greek olives and a new item that was really popular is Golden Kiwis. They are incredibly delicious and so much tastier than green kiwis.
I enjoy throwing parties. I would love to set up a cheese plate on this butcher block.
Yep, I love to throw a killer holiday party. Favorite appetizer is my famous faux cheese dip, which works with everything from vegetables, to crackers, to chopped meat. Don’t tell anyone, but sometimes I even like eat it on its own! (Not often, but once in awhile the urge does strike.) Thanks for hosting this great giveaway, Kelly.
We don’t d a lot of parties. I do love a good veggie tray.
I don’t throw holiday parties. But a favorite appetizer to take to my family Christmas Eve is Bacon Wrapped Waterchesnuts.
We love throwing a good Holiday party. My favorite appetizer to make is a good cheese ball. They are so tasty.
Never hosted a party before. I love to bring desserts and wine
It’s been a long time since I hosted a party. I do make a lot of food and send it to family in other states, though, and a favorite is spiced nuts. Everybody likes getting them–and eating them!
I love them when they go well! People love a baked Mac and Cheese we make.
I like to make fudge for parties. My husband usually makes his blue cheese ball to bring also.
I rarely throw killer parties. We usually just do family get together’s for the Holidays that includes around 20 people. We are very relaxed and casual. I do love your ideas for the meat and cheese tray and it would fit with our celebration very nicely.
we love having family over for dinners. I make a killer guacamolee that they all love.
I love throwing parties. I always try to make different snacks, but everyone always wants my buffalo chicken dip.
My very favorite appetizer to serve my guests is always cheese and crackers with some toasted breads. Fruits are good like pears and grapes to put with them as well. Everyone even the kids enjoy eating them all day long too.
Yes my family likes having parties. I like chicken buffalo dip.
We don’t host or go to any parties. My wife usually makes devilled eggs and a sausage/cracker/cheese tray for us to nibble on for Thanksgiving and Christmas while we are making dinner for us and our son.
I love get-togethers where we can grill outside on the patio. One of my favorite appetizers is bacon wrapped stuff jalapenos, grilled.
We host all of our family get together and holidays so we rely heavily on apps to keep everyone busy and full. This would come in so handy and would be a hit on display!
we dont do many parties except for holidays. the guests always enjoy my sausage rolls and scotch eggs i make.
Yes, I love to throw a killer holiday party. My favorite appetizer would be this salsa cheese and cracker tray I make.
I like throwing holiday parties. I’m a fan of serving dips like spinach & artichoke or salsa like cranberry salsa.
I like to throw a good party. And I LOVE appetizers. Shrimp cocktail with homemade cocktail sauce, cheese plate, dips like spinach artichoke dip. Can’t pick a favorite.
My quick killer appetizer is guava paste cheese with crackers. Yummy.
i jave not been hosting as much as i should be lately, but i am masteiring the vegan cheese spreads. doing more plant based foods.
I don’t host parties. I don’t have room for a lot of people in my apartment. Being an introvert does not help…
I always make cheese and meat trays for parties and they are always a big hit! Oh my trays I usually place a few Deviled Eggs as well. It is an impressive display and not expensive…a WIN/WIN!
I love throwing holiday parties even though it can be a little stressful. My favorite appetizer to serve Sweet Potato and Chorizo Sausage Bites.
I don’t throw holiday parties i find them a bit stressful.
I love to have holiday parties with close family and friends. I make bacon wrapped green beans in a killer sauce.
I love throwing a lot of parties the only bad part is that we don’t really have too much space at our home. My favorite to make for my guests are buffalo chicken dips!
Two appetizers I really like are Honey Garlic Teriyaki Chicken Meatballs and Parmesan Cheddar Basil Bites.
I love hosting holiday parties! I like to make stuffed mushrooms for an appetizer.
I make beer cheese dip and spinach artichoke dip that always seems to go quickly
Buffalo chicken dip is my go to appetizer. Goes good with vegetables, crackers and pretzels.
I prefer attending rather than throwing a party, but I try to make my contribution delicious. I love bringing bacon wrapped stuffed jalapeno peppers.
I like to make mini cheer balls. I put nuts on them too.
I like to make mini cheer balls. I put nuts on them too. thanks
fruit plates, cheese and sausage and we makes sausage bites in a bbq sauce and put toothpicks in each bite.
I love throwing a good party! Polish roses and pickle wraps are always a huge hit at my house!
My go to is cheddar cheese & pepperioni
Over the years i’ve only thrown a couple Holiday parties. I normally make cheese ball or a vegetable platter,
Spinach artichoke dip!
I love making mini empanadas! Its a whole family affair. The kids help me stuff and close the empanadas.
Brown sugar BBQ bacon wrapped smokies are always a hit at our dinners. They are delicious!
I always get all my meats and cheese from a whole sale club (Sam’s). I go to several parties over the holidays and just purchase in bulk. The tray is really easy and quick to assemble.