Budget Friendly Family Spread (Printable)

A simple, hearty spread featuring meats, cheeses, vegetables, and crackers ideal for easy sharing and gatherings.

# What you need:

→ Meats

01 - 7 oz sliced cooked ham
02 - 7 oz sliced turkey breast
03 - 5.3 oz sliced salami

→ Cheeses

04 - 7 oz mild cheddar, sliced
05 - 5.3 oz Swiss cheese, sliced
06 - 3.5 oz cream cheese, for spreading

→ Vegetables

07 - 2 large carrots, sliced into sticks
08 - 1 cucumber, sliced into rounds
09 - 1 red bell pepper, sliced
10 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes

→ Crackers & Bread

11 - 14 oz assorted budget-friendly crackers
12 - 1 baguette, sliced

→ Extras

13 - 1 cup hummus
14 - 1/2 cup green olives
15 - 1/2 cup pickles

# How to make it:

01 - Place sliced cooked ham, turkey breast, and salami in generous piles at separate corners of a large serving platter or tray.
02 - Fan out slices of mild cheddar, Swiss cheese nearby the meats for easy grabbing.
03 - Group and heap sliced carrots, cucumber rounds, red bell pepper strips, and cherry tomatoes in accessible sections around the platter.
04 - Fill small bowls with cream cheese, hummus, green olives, and pickles, then place them strategically around the serving tray.
05 - Stack assorted crackers and sliced baguette in voluminous piles reachable from all sides.
06 - Offer immediately, replenishing items as needed to accommodate larger groups.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Everyone finds something they love—no one feels left out or bored
  • It comes together in just 20 minutes, meaning you can focus on your guests instead of being stuck in the kitchen
  • It's genuinely budget-friendly without anyone knowing you're being careful with money
  • People actually eat less when they're choosing their own portions, so it feeds more than you'd expect
02 -
  • Prep your vegetables the morning of, but don't slice the cucumber until just before serving—it weeps moisture and gets sad-looking quickly
  • Buy your meats and cheeses from the deli counter, not pre-packaged. It costs the same and tastes noticeably better, plus you can ask for exactly the thickness you want
  • Always arrange more than you think you'll need. A sparse platter discourages people from eating, but an abundant one gives permission to indulge
03 -
  • Set up your platter no more than 2 hours before serving—things start looking tired and vegetables begin to weep after that
  • If you're making this for a larger crowd, make two smaller platters instead of one massive one. People are more likely to approach and eat from something that feels accessible rather than intimidatingly large
  • Keep small napkins and toothpicks nearby—people want them even if they don't ask, and having them makes the whole experience feel more thought-through
Return