Personally, I think cheese should be it’s own food group. Not only is it a low-effort (and good) holiday appetizer to serve for your family gathering, but it also makes the best picnic snack, sharable party food, or solo girl dinner when you don’t want to cook anything.

Luckily, my favorite Trader Joe’s cheese is sold in stores year-round, so I can keep some in my fridge for when the craving hits. And you definitely should, too.

Best Trader Joe’s Cheese for a Cheeseboard

The Cheddar Cheese with Caramelized Onions is my favorite cheese ever, and I’m not alone. Every time I present this delicious dairy product on a charcuterie board, at least one friend or family member has asked me what it is and where they can get some, too. Now, anytime I attend someone else’s party, it never fails that this cheese makes an appearance. (I’m not mad about it—just call me an influencer.)

It costs $9.99 per pound, but it’s generally sold in smaller blocks, closer to half a pound. So I can usually get this, plus a few other charcuterie accoutrements, at Trader Joe’s to create a whole cheeseboard under $20.

If you love this flavor profile as much as I do, there are a few other similar Trader Joe’s appetizers to try, including Pastry Bites with Feta Cheese and Caramelized Onions, which are easy to heat up in the oven when you have guests over, especially if you don’t have time to cut and prep a cheeseboard. This year for the holidays, there’s this Caramelized Onion Goat’s Milk Cheese that’s also worth a try. The consistency makes it easy to spread on a cracker, crostini, or piece of bread.

Recipe Ideas

I love this cheese by itself or on a cracker, but there are so many delicious ways to use it. Here are a few ideas.

• Put it on a grilled cheese sandwich.
• Or any type of panini sandwich with your other favorite toppings.
• Melt it on a puff pastry bite or a crostini in the oven.
• Top a burger with it.
• Place some on top of a pizza before baking (like this ham and potato pizza or this soppressata pizza with arugula and honey).
• Melt some on French bread to serve with pasta.
• Use it in your favorite mac and cheese recipe.
• Use it in a broccoli cheddar soup—the caramelized onions will be a welcome flavor enhancement.
• Melt it in a fondue pot and dip chunks of bread, soft pretzel, or sausage in it.

Other Great Trader Joe’s Cheeses

TJ’s Cheddar Cheese with Caramelized Onions is by no means the only great cheese the grocery store chain has to offer. In fact, whether you’re a frequent shopper or not, I recommend perusing their robust cheese section next time you’re running errands.

When it’s in stock seasonally, lifestyle editor Ria Bhagwat favors the store’s fan-favorite Pizza Bread Cheese. “It can be eaten as a snack or added to your favorite cheesy recipe! When eaten on its own, it tastes kind of like eating the cheese off pizza (which is delicious), but I also add it to garlic bread, mac and cheese, pasta, etc. to give them an extra cheesy touch,” she says.

I polled our editors for some of their other favorite Trader Joe’s cheeses, and here are some other options they’ve tried and loved.

• Italian Truffle Cheese
• Cranberry Chèvre Goat Cheese
• Cambozola
• Goat Brie
• Manchego
• Baked Lemon Ricotta