Party on a budget means you don't need a reason to throw a party
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.
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Deviled Eggs
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.
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Marinated Feta
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.
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Crockpot Beer Cheese Dip
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.
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Devils on Horseback
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.
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Whipped Feta
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.
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Gougeres
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.
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Firecrackers
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.
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Dill Pickle Dip
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.
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Classic Cheese Straws
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.
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Pimento Cheese
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.
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Olive Cheese Balls With Cheese Spread
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.
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Bacon Wrapped Sausages
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.
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Baked Cheesy Spinach Balls
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.
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Crescent Roll Pigs in a Blanket
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.
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Dulce de Leche
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.
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Nutella Pastry Puffs
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.
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Quick and Easy Popcorn Balls
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.
