I Took The Aldi $20 Charcuterie Board Challenge—Here's What I Bought

Aldi Charcuterie Board

The holiday entertaining season is upon us! It's time for cookie baking, cocktail party-ing and planning a fun New Year's Eve bash to welcome 2024. Although the season is holly and jolly, but it can also be expensive, so it's important to find ways to stretch our Christmas dollars.

And that's where Aldi, my favorite discount grocery store, comes in. It's my go-to for holiday dinner ingredients, sweet stocking stuffers (do you know about their awesome chocolate?) and party food. One of my favorite easy party apps is a charcuterie board, which can get pricey with all those meats and cheeses. But not at Aldi! My mission: Take $20 to Aldi and turn that trip into a delicious Christmas charcuterie board. Challenge accepted!

Related: 15 Favorite December Aldi Finds

How does Aldi keep prices so low?

Ever wonder how Aldi manages to keep their prices so much lower than other grocery stores? Here are just a few ways Aldi has been able to keep their commitment to grocery shopping on a budget:

• Quarters For Grocery Carts. If there is one thing people know about Aldi, even if they don't shop there it is the fact you "rent" a shopping cart with a quarter. Why? Because they don't have to pay an employee to retrieve carts several times a day.

• Store Brands. A quick scan of Aldi's shelves will tell you name name-brand products are few and far between. Their in-house brands are much cheaper and taste just as good!

• Buying Local. Whenever possible, Aldi buys fresh meat and produce from local farmers, cutting down on transportation costs, and passing those savings onto consumers.

• Reusable Shopping Bags. While you can buy plastic and paper bags at the checkout for a nominal fee, Aldi has always been known for asking shoppers to bring shopping bags with them!

Related: 5 Best Aldi Advent Calendars 2023

What can I buy at Aldi for holiday entertaining?

If you are planning a holiday gathering this year, Aldi can make you look like the hostess with the mostess all while saving you money! No matter the size of the guest list or the menu, Aldi has got what you need for a delicious holiday spread!

From appetizers to desserts, you can plan an entire holiday meal with Aldi's help. They have all the ingredients you need to put together an impressive table for your guests, whether it is a formal dinner or a simple cocktail party.

You can find whole turkeys, ham, holiday side staples, fresh fruit and veggies, deli meats and cheeses, antipasto, chips, nuts, snacks and more at Aldi—and all of it is cheaper than any other place you could shop.

Related: The 2023 Aldi Super Fan Gift Guide

The $20 Aldi Charcuterie Board Challenge

So what exactly was I able to buy with that crisp twenty-dollar bill? Oh so much! I promise you will be drooling by the end of the list! Creating an Instagram-worthy charcuterie board doesn't have to be stressful or expensive!

I started in the Aldi Charcuterie Shop. Yep! They have an entire section dedicated to to grazing boards. Plus, many of the things I found were on sale, making them even cheaper than Aldi's everyday low prices!

Specially Selected Scalloped Garlic Crackers $1.29

When I build a charcuterie board, I like at least two different types of crackers. These have a slight garlic flavor that pairs well with meat and cheese without overpowering them.

Specially Selected Cracked Pepper Wafer Crackers $1.99

For the second cracker, I chose this one, which has a different flavor and is also smaller and thinner. Variety is key when creating a crowd-pleasing charcuterie board.

Specially Selected Feta Cheese Stuffed Olives $2.99

Olives are a must-have on any grazing board I make, and these are not only huge but also have an extra flavor boost from feta cheese!

Specially Selected Fig Fruit Spread $2.99

If you love the combo of sweet and savory, a fruit spread is perfect to set out with salty meats and creamy cheeses. I chose fig because it's such a classic holiday flavor.

Specially Selected Garlic Cornichons $1.99

If you're a pickle lover, these tiny German-style cornichons will knock your socks off! They have so much flavor in such a small bite.

Next, I moved over to the Aldi Specialty Meat and Cheese section, where I can always find new things to try, especially this time of year!

Priano Italian Meat & Cheese Tray $6.49

Aldi takes all the guesswork out of pairing meats and cheeses for me, making hosting even easier during this busy time of year. This tray had three different varieties of salami and mild and smoked provolone cheeses.

Happy Farms Port Wine Cheese Ball $1.29

I have been buying these from Aldi for years, and this is the best price I have ever paid. Port wine cheese covered in almonds makes a tasty spread for any cracker!

My $19.03 Aldi Charcuterie Board

So how did all of this come together? Check out the finished product!

A tasty assortment of crackers, meat, cheese, olives, pickles and fruit all for under twenty dollars! This was the perfect spread for the four of us, and could easily be doubled for a bigger crowd!

This holiday don't stress about the little things. Let Aldi help you enjoy everything the season has to offer, for less!

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