Budget-Friendly Family Spread (Printable)

An easy platter with meats, cheeses, veggies, and crackers, perfect for sharing at any gathering.

# What You’ll 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:

01 - Place generous piles of sliced ham, turkey, and salami at various corners of a large serving platter or tray.
02 - Fan out sliced mild cheddar and Swiss cheese next to the meats for easy grabbing.
03 - Group and arrange carrots, cucumber rounds, red bell pepper slices, and cherry tomatoes in accessible heaps around the platter.
04 - Fill small bowls with cream cheese, hummus, green olives, and pickles; distribute them evenly around the platter.
05 - Stack assorted crackers and sliced baguette in high-volume piles, ensuring ease of access from all sides.
06 - Serve immediately, replenishing items as needed for larger gatherings.

# Top Suggestions:

01 -
  • Zero cooking required—just beautiful, simple assembly that looks restaurant-worthy while taking only 20 minutes.
  • It's impossible to mess up, which means you can focus on being present with your guests instead of stressed in the kitchen.
  • Everyone finds something they love on the platter, making it perfect for mixed tastes and dietary preferences.
02 -
  • Slice or prep everything right before serving—this keeps vegetables crisp and meats from drying out. I learned this the hard way after prepping hours ahead and watching everything wilt.
  • Room temperature is your friend; take meats and cheeses out of the fridge 15 minutes before serving so flavors bloom and textures are more enjoyable.
  • Arrangement matters as much as ingredients. I discovered that when things are piled generously and accessibly, people eat more and enjoy it more—there's psychology in generosity.
03 -
  • Buy quality from the deli counter instead of pre-packaged items—same budget, better taste, and you can request exactly what you need.
  • Group by color for visual impact: a pile of red peppers here, white cheese there, green olives scattered throughout. This makes abundance visible.
  • Keep your platter in a cool spot until serving, but bring it out 15 minutes before guests arrive so flavors and textures reach their best—this small detail makes everything taste noticeably better.
Go Back