The Costco Charcuterie Board That Has TikTok Drooling

Many people who are not French speakers struggle with its pronunciation, but thankfully charcuterie boards can be rather easy to assemble. For one thing, cheese is really the only mandatory item. (After all, who wouldn't be happy cutting into a hunk of aged parmesan or crumbly feta regardless of what else is — or isn't — on the plate?) And it hardly needs to be breathlessly, beautifully ornate. In fact, chef and cookbook author Alison Roman encourages hosts to throw together a simple cheese plate to keep their guests sated, especially when it looks like dinner will be served later than planned due to unforeseen challenges in the kitchen. Under such circumstances, she recommends serving the charcuterie board without first cutting and portioning the cheese, allowing guests to do it themselves. (Another essential tip to keep everyone happy: keep the wine flowing.)

Alternatively, for those with the time, ambition, and inclination to really up their charcuterie board game, the possible upgrades are practically limitless. Cured meats? An assortment of berries and jam? Grissini breadsticks and sea salt crackers? Castelvetrano olives and toasted pecans? Why not all the above? Plus, the board can be a blank canvass on which to create a masterpiece that rises to join the rarefied ranks of high culinary art (as evidenced by the 31 examples presented here by PureWow). But does one have to choose between simplicity and over-the-top showmanship? According to a viral TikTok video, the answer might be a resounding "no."

No matter the quantity of items or the quality of their presentation, a charcuterie board is arguably only as good as its cheese. Does that necessarily mean you have to procure expensive varieties? Well, according to a taste test by Food52, a mediocre cheddar may suffice for dishes like macaroni and cheese, but it is better to go with higher-end options when serving them on their own. Part of the reason for this is that manufacturers of less expensive pasteurized cheeses can use lower quality milk because, either way, the cheese will not be spoiled by bacteria, per Serious Eats.

The good news? Fans of the budget-conscious dairy products sold at Costco's warehouse stores can get some great cheese without spending a lot of cheddar. Reader's Digest ranks the retailer's Kirkland-brand cheese among the 11 best items to buy and its generally inexpensive: "From goat cheese and Brie to Parmesan and Pecorino Romano, [Costco's] cheeses are cheesemonger-quality with warehouse prices," per the publication. It seems likely that the charcuterie board in this TikTok video, which has amassed more than 180,000 likes, tastes just as good as it looks. In addition to a variety of cheeses (brie, garlic-basil, cabernet, and goat's milk) the creator included four different fruits, a selection of cold-cuts, nuts, and sweets — all purchased at Costco.