Parties can get pricey fast, right?
Between the drinks, the decorations, the “oh shoot, I forgot napkins” run, suddenly you’re spending way more than you meant to.
But when it comes to food, you want something that looks good on a table, especially appetizers.
I’ve made plenty of these for birthday parties, but they really shine during the holidays when you’ve already got a dozen other things to buy.
Christmas potlucks, little get-togethers, the random neighbor party you didn’t plan for…cheap appetizers save the day every single time.
So here are some easy ones that taste good, look cute, and don’t make you stand in the kitchen for hours.
1. Veggie Pinwheels
Spread cream cheese on a tortilla, sprinkle on shredded carrots, chopped peppers, and a bit of spinach, then roll it tight and slice.
You can swap cream cheese for a store brand herb spread to keep it cheap.
If you want them festive, use red peppers and spinach so the slices look a little like Christmas colors.
2. Mini Caprese Skewers
Thread a cherry tomato, a tiny piece of mozzarella, and a basil leaf onto a toothpick.
Drizzle with a little balsamic.
Store brand mozzarella works fine here and tomatoes are usually cheaper in bulk packs.
3. Garlic Bread Bites
Cut a baguette or even cheap sandwich rolls into little chunks, toss them with melted butter, garlic powder, and parsley, then bake until golden.
Using day old bread from the discount rack saves a few dollars.
4. Deviled Eggs
Boil a batch of eggs, scoop out the yolks, mash them with mayo, mustard, and a sprinkle of paprika, then pipe or spoon the filling back in.
Eggs are one of the cheapest protein options, especially around holiday sales.
5. Cheesy Pull Apart Bread
Take a loaf of bread, slice it in a grid pattern without cutting through the bottom, tuck shredded cheese into the gaps, brush with garlic butter, and bake until melted.
Using a basic white loaf makes this budget friendly and still tasty.
6. Cucumber Bites
Slice cucumbers into rounds and top each one with a bit of cream cheese and herbs.
You can add a tiny tomato half if you want a pop of color.
Store brand spreadable cheese makes this super cheap.
7. Simple Bruschetta
Toast baguette slices, rub with a cut garlic clove, and top with diced tomatoes mixed with olive oil, salt, and basil.
Canned diced tomatoes actually work fine when you drain them well and cost way less during winter.
8. Spinach Dip Cups
Scoop store bought spinach dip into mini tortilla cups or baked wonton wrappers.
Making your own dip with frozen spinach and a tub of sour cream brings the cost down.
The little cups look festive if you sprinkle diced red pepper on top!
9. Cheese and Cracker Platter
Pick two cheap cheeses, slice them up, and pair with a couple budget cracker boxes.
Add grapes or apple slices if they’re on sale.
10. Mini Meatball Skewers
Heat up frozen meatballs, glaze them with a little BBQ sauce mixed with jam, and stick them on toothpicks.
Buying a big bag of generic meatballs keeps the cost low and they feed a crowd.
11. Puff Pastry Cheese Twists
Cut thawed puff pastry into strips, sprinkle with shredded cheese, twist them, and bake until puffed and golden.
Store brand pastry is usually a few dollars cheaper and works the same.
12. Roasted Chickpeas
Toss canned chickpeas with oil, garlic powder, paprika, and salt, then roast until crispy.
Using canned chickpeas from the discount section keeps this super budget friendly.
13. Tortilla Roll Ups
Spread a flavored cream cheese on tortillas, add sliced deli meat or veggies, roll tight, and slice into spirals.
You can stretch one pack of deli meat across a whole tray if you layer it thin.
14. Marinated Olives
Grab a jar of olives, drain them, toss with lemon zest, garlic, and herbs, and let them sit for an hour.
Buying olives in bulk jars saves a lot and you don’t need anything fancy.
15. Loaded Potato Bites
Bake small potatoes, scoop a little from the center, and fill with cheese, bacon bits, and green onions.
Using bagged frozen hash brown potatoes mixed with cheese works too and costs less.
16. Baked Brie with Jam
Set a round of brie in a small dish, spoon jam on top, and bake until soft and melty.
You can use the cheapest brie you find because the jam does most of the flavor work.
17. Garlic Parmesan Wings
Toss frozen wings with oil, garlic powder, and parmesan, then roast until crispy.
Wings go on sale a lot during football season so it’s a good time to stock up.
18. Hummus and Pita Chips
Scoop hummus into a bowl and serve with broken pita chips or toasted pita wedges.
Making your own hummus with canned chickpeas and lemon juice saves a few dollars.
19. Cranberry Cream Cheese Dip
Blend cream cheese with cranberry sauce and a splash of orange juice, then serve with crackers.
This turns out extra cute for Christmas thanks to the bright pink color.
20. Sausage Rolls
Wrap small pieces of sausage in strips of puff pastry and bake until golden.
Using breakfast sausage links or bulk sausage gives you the cheapest version.
21. Salsa and Chips
Pour salsa into a bowl and serve with tortilla chips or cut tortillas into wedges and bake them for a cheaper homemade version.
Canned tomatoes blended with onion and lime make an even more budget friendly salsa.
22. Caprese Garlic Toast
Toast bread slices, brush with garlic butter, add a tomato slice and a bit of mozzarella, then warm it in the oven until the cheese softens.
Using shredded mozzarella instead of fresh cuts the cost.
23. Feta and Tomato Crostini
Mix crumbled feta with a splash of olive oil, spoon it onto toasted baguette slices, and top with diced tomatoes.
A small block of feta goes a long way so it’s great for cheap appetizers.
24. Bacon Wrapped Dates
Stuff dates with a tiny bit of cheese, wrap with a half slice of bacon, and bake until crispy.
Buying bacon in large value packs keeps this cheaper.
25. Simple Cheese Ball
Mix cream cheese with shredded cheddar, garlic powder, and green onion, shape into a ball, and roll in crushed nuts or pretzels.
Pretzels are usually the cheaper coating option.
26. Pizza Pinwheels
Spread pizza sauce on a tortilla or crescent dough, sprinkle cheese and mini pepperoni, roll tight, and slice before baking.
Using tortillas instead of dough makes this the super cheap version.
27. Stuffed Mushrooms
Pop out the mushroom stems, mix cream cheese with garlic and herbs, fill the caps, and bake until soft.
White mushrooms usually cost less than brown ones and work just as well.
28. Cranberry Sausage Bites
Mix cooked crumbled sausage with a little cranberry sauce, scoop into mini phyllo cups, and warm in the oven.
Using the canned cranberry sauce keeps it cheap and easy.
29. Ranch Veggie Cups
Spoon ranch into small cups and stick in a handful of veggie sticks.
You can stretch the ranch by mixing in a spoon of sour cream if you’re trying to keep costs down.
30. Baked Goat Cheese Marinara
Bake a small log of goat cheese in a dish of marinara until warm and soft, then serve with toasted bread.
Store brand marinara works fine and goat cheese logs often go on sale near holidays.
31. Mini Quesadillas
Spread shredded cheese on one half of a small tortilla, fold it, and cook in a pan until the cheese melts.
Cutting them into wedges makes them look party ready and you only need one pack of tortillas for a big batch.
32. Garlic Roasted Potatoes
Toss chopped potatoes with oil, garlic powder, and salt, then roast until crispy.
Bagged potatoes are usually the cheapest veggie option and feed a crowd without much effort.
33. Chocolate Covered Pretzels
Dip pretzels in melted chocolate and let them set on parchment.
Sprinkles make them look festive without costing much and you can use candy melts from the baking aisle to save a bit.
34. Fruit and Marshmallow Skewers
Thread grapes, apple chunks, and mini marshmallows onto toothpicks.
Using whatever fruit is on sale keeps this super budget friendly.
35. Cheesy Bean Dip
Blend refried beans with salsa and shredded cheese, warm it in the oven, and serve with chips.
Refried beans are dirt cheap and stretch into a hearty appetizer with just a couple add ins.
More Cheap Appetizer Ideas
If you’re still trying to round out a party table without blowing your grocery budget, here are a few more easy wins.
These are the kind of snacks you can throw together with pantry staples, sale items, or whatever you already have sitting in the fridge.
Nothing fancy, nothing pricey, just simple things people actually eat!
- Garlic Butter Naan Dippers: Brush naan with garlic butter, cut into strips, and bake until toasty.
- Ranch Popcorn: Pop some kernels and shake on ranch seasoning.
- Veggie Fritters: Mix shredded veggies with an egg and a little flour, then pan fry spoonfuls.
- Mini Cornbread Muffins: Stir together a cheap cornbread mix and bake in mini tins.
- Cheese Stuffed Peppers: Fill mini peppers with cream cheese and herbs, then chill.
- Bean and Corn Salsa: Combine canned beans, corn, onion, and salsa in one bowl.
- Herbed Cream Cheese Crackers: Spread cream cheese on crackers and sprinkle dried herbs.
- Cheesy Tortilla Chips: Top tortilla wedges with cheese and bake until melted.
- Simple Potato Skins: Scoop out baked potatoes, fill with cheese and bacon bits, and broil.
- Chicken Salad Sliders: Mix canned chicken with mayo and seasonings, then pile on small buns.
- Quick Pickle Plate: Slice cucumbers and onions, toss with vinegar and salt, and let sit a bit.
- Hard Boiled Egg Snackers: Slice boiled eggs and add a dab of mayo and paprika.
- Seasoned Oyster Crackers: Toss crackers with oil and seasoning, then bake until crisp.
- Creamy Onion Dip: Stir dry onion soup mix into sour cream and let it sit to thicken.
- DIY Snack Mix: Combine pretzels, cereal, and nuts with melted butter and seasoning, then bake.
Cheap Bites That Make Hosting Way Easier
When you’ve got people coming over for the holidays, it helps to have a few go to snacks that don’t wreck your budget or your energy.
These cheap appetizers come together fast, look good on the table, and keep everyone happily snacking while you handle the rest of the chaos.
Hosting really does feel a lot lighter when the food doesn’t cost a fortune.
