Here it is: the best cheese board cheese varieties — my go-to selections for creating a crowd-pleasing cheese plate. These are the exact cheeses I reach for time and again; reliable, flavorful, and loved by guests every time.
It’s officially summer cheese board season, and that means it’s time to build beautiful, tasty spreads.
I’ve written a lot about cheese boards over the years—methods, favorite combos, and full spreads. My top picks can shift a bit with seasonality and availability, and I’ll often choose based on what friends and family love. Because readers frequently ask me exactly which cheeses to buy, I’m listing my perennial favorites here so you can pick with confidence.
The cheeses below are my tried-and-true classics. I don’t always include all of them on every board; sometimes I choose one or two, sometimes I mix and match. Some are brand-specific, others can be substituted with similar options you’ll find at many grocers. I also love discovering limited-edition flavors at stores like ALDI, and I’ll add those for variety when the season calls for it.
These picks never fail me. They’re the ones I crave and the ones guests always ask about.
