17 Cheap Finger Food Recipes

Party on a budget means you don't need a reason to throw a party

Baked Cheesy Spinach Balls on a white plate

The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga

The great thing about serving finger food at a party is that it lets people move around and mingle and enjoy a bunch of different bites and flavors. But what if you're on a budget? It's still completely possible to make a gorgeous spread of light-bites for your guests to nosh while they sip their drinks. We've picked some of our favorite finger food recipes and calculated their cost per serving, making sure that each one costs about $1 per serving.

Calculating Costs

We've calculated cost for each using Instacart. For ingredients like salt, or dried herbs and seasonings, we added a few cents to the total, but for the main ingredients, like meat, cheese, dairy, flour, veggies and so on, we calculated the exact amount, based on how much those items cost. We then divided by the quantity each recipe calls for, and then adding up the total. We recognize that cost of groceries vary by location, but use these estimates as a great jumping off point.

  • 01 of 17

    Deviled Eggs

    A platter filled with classic deviled eggs

    The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck

    Deviled eggs are a quintessential finger food. While the price of eggs has been up and down like a rollercoaster lately, assuming we are back in "normal" territory for a carton of eggs, these are a great budget friendly option. You can prepare and fill them a day in advance, then cover and store them in the refrigerator. This recipe calls for six eggs, but at around 52 cents a serving, you might as well double it and use the full dozen. A few fun toppings that can add a little excitement (and that you might already have on hand) is a sprinkle of Everything But the Bagel seasoning, furikake, or chili crisp.

  • 02 of 17

    Marinated Feta

    Feta with olive oil and herbs with a side of baked, sliced bread

    The Spruce Eats / Stephanie Goldfinger

    Put your money toward a delicious brick of feta cheese, then marinade in a mixture of olive oil and whatever herbs and spices you have on hand. A zest of fresh lemon would also shine in this recipe. Depending on the cost of your feta, and the herbs you already have on hand, this can come out to under 50 cents a serving.

  • 03 of 17

    Crockpot Beer Cheese Dip

    A crockpot beer cheese dip with a side of sliced vegetables for dipping

    The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga

    A giant vat of creamy, beer laced cheese? What's not to love? Opt for a mix of veggies and bread or tortilla chips for dipping, and you've got enough to feed 10 people at around $1 per serving.

  • 04 of 17

    Devils on Horseback

    Devils on Horseback Appetizer resting on a plate

    The Spruce Eats / Cara Cormack

    With just three ingredients these retro classic bites pack big flavor. Smoky, salty bacon, sweet dates, and creamy cheese -- the gang's all here. These work out to about $1 per serving, with plenty of bacon left over for the next morning's breakfast.

    Continue to 5 of 17 below
  • 05 of 17

    Whipped Feta

    Whipped feta in a bowl with side of cucumber and peta chips

    The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga

    This creamy whipped feta comes together with just a few ingredients. Skip the more costly pine-nut garnish if you don't already have them on hand and just load up on freshly ground pepper and a olive oil drizzle. This is enough to serve 8 people at about $1.10 a serving.

  • 06 of 17

    Gougeres

    A plate full of gougeres

    The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga

    A few pantry staples, eggs, and cheese go a long way to make for a very delicious (and very French) cheese puff. While the recipe yields about 15 puffs, there is no world in which we are only eating one per person, so the more realistic cost of this is around $2 per serving, assuming enough for 6 people.

  • 07 of 17

    Firecrackers

    A basket filled with fire cracker crackers

    The Spruce Eats / Bahareh Niati

    A humble sleeve of saltine crackers gets a makeover with a Chinese five spice, miso, and chili crisp bath. While chili crisp and miso are bigger ticket items, this recipe uses only a fraction of each so you will have plenty left over. Cost for this works out to about 80 cents per serving.

  • 08 of 17

    Dill Pickle Dip

    A dill pickle dip with ruffle potato chips

    The Spruce Eats / Bahareh Niati

    Skip the store-bought French onion dip and opt instead to make this pickle-laced creamy dip for that tray of ruffle potato chips. A little Trader Joe's pickle seasoning and a whole lotta dill pickles really bring the dill pickle flavor. This works out to $1.20 a serving for 8 people to dip to their heart's content.

    Continue to 9 of 17 below
  • 09 of 17

    Classic Cheese Straws

    A plate filled with classic cheese straws

    The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga

    Cheese straws are a popular party snack in the South and they're surprisingly easy to make. Mix the dough, roll it flat, cut into ribbons, then twist and bake. Use sharp cheddar for the best flavor and don't skimp on the cayenne! This recipe makes around 48 straws, or 12 servings, at 80 cents per serving.

  • 10 of 17

    Pimento Cheese

    Southern Pimento Cheese Spread in a bowl

    The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga

    This southern staple is also a low cost dip you can whip up at home. With buttery Ritz crackers and some cucumber or celery, this works out to about $1.50 a serving.

  • 11 of 17

    Olive Cheese Balls With Cheese Spread

    Olive cheese balls with cheese spread on a platter

    The Spruce Eats / Abby Mercer

    These little cheese balls are made with a surprise olive center. The cheese dough is shaped around pimiento-stuffed olives, chilled, and then baked to perfection. The recipe makes 48 balls, or 12 servings, at 68 cents a serving.

  • 12 of 17

    Bacon Wrapped Sausages

    A plate full of bacon-wrapped sausages

    The Spruce Eats / Nyssa Tanner

    Smoked sausages, bacon, and brown sugar are the core ingredients in a recipe that's sure to be a hit. They're really versatile in terms of when you can serve them, be it a tailgate or a holiday cocktail party. These are delicious with honey-mustard, homemade ketchup, or spicy mayo. This recipe is about $1.24 per serving.

    Continue to 13 of 17 below
  • 13 of 17

    Baked Cheesy Spinach Balls

    Baked cheesy spinach balls on a plate

    The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga

    These spinach balls are incredibly delicious, easy to make, and ready in just 35 minutes. Made with tangy Parmesan cheese, breadcrumbs, and eggs, they're great as a meat-free party snack. This recipe makes 48 balls, or 12 servings, at around $1 per serving.

  • 14 of 17

    Crescent Roll Pigs in a Blanket

    Crescent roll pigs in a blanket on a plate

    The Spruce Eats / Eric Kleinberg

    These crescent-roll pigs in a blanket are the perfect finger food for a party or casual gathering, especially with kids. Cheddar and American are great melting cheeses to use. It's about $1 per serving.

  • 15 of 17

    Dulce de Leche

    Four stacks of dulce de leche candy

    The Spruce Eats / Cara Cormack

    Even a little sweet treat is possible at this finger foods party on a budget. With this recipe you are just one can of sweetened condensed milk away from being a candy maker. This dead-simple recipe yields a wildly rich caramel bite. Roll in nuts, a bit of coconut flake, or a bit of cinnamon-sugar, these still work out to about 33 cents a serving.

  • 16 of 17

    Nutella Pastry Puffs

    A plate with three Nutella pastry puffs cut in half

    The Spruce Eats / Cara Cormack

    This warm, Nutella-oozing pastry puff is quick and easy, and it's made with store-bought puff pastry, and can be ready in about 35 minutes. This recipe is perfect as-is, but you could try adding some orange zest to the filling to punch up the flavor. The puffs are around $1 per serving

    Continue to 17 of 17 below
  • 17 of 17

    Quick and Easy Popcorn Balls

    A plate full of quick and easy popcorn balls

    The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga

    These sweet, crunchy, and slightly sticky treats are easy to put together and make fun party snacks. And since popcorn is cheap, they'll fit your budget easily. The recipe makes 12 popcorn balls, at 22 cents each.