Cheap Finger Foods for Wedding Reception

Finger Foods for a wedding reception is a very classic way to offer food but not have to offer a full meal. Finger foods work for a midmorning reception before lunch, an afternoon reception, or an evening party with cocktails.

Finger foods can get expensive if you have them catered or ordered from different retailers, so we have made a list of foods that can be made at home on a low budget. Most items can be made ahead of time and by someone with average cooking skills.

Wedding finger foods on a budget

One of the most important things to remember with finger foods is that you want them to be easy to serve, they don’t require the guest to have utensils like forks, and you want to keep them as mess free as possible. The last one is because typically people will not be happy if they spill sauces on their wedding attire.

Here is my list of cheap and awesome wedding finger foods on a budget!

1. Sandwiches

A sandwich platter is super easy to make and if you find lunchmeat on sale, you can make this platter for cheap! Start with large loaves of French or Italian bread and make a large simple sandwich of meat and/or cheese. Then put all the extra toppings like lettuce, tomato, onion slices, and sauces like mayonnaise and mustard on the side. Cut the large loaves into nice size 1–2-inch chunks and arrange them on a nice platter. (Pro Tip: to make each sandwich stay together better, consider using frill picks which are toothpicks with a little plastic color on top. Avoid regular toothpicks for this because you don’t want someone accidently biting into a toothpick!)

2. Nacho Bar

Nachos can get a little messy so you may want to make this a “walking nacho” bar! To making them walking tacos, you start with small individual packs of tortilla chips or Doritos. Sometimes these small bags can get costly if you don’t find them on sale, and if that is the case buy some large bags that can be put in a large bowl. Then you can use a multi-pot crockpot and have taco seasoned ground meat, cheese sauce, and a chicken option. Then place all the toppings on separate trays or bowls like diced tomato and onion, taco sauce, sliced pickled jalapenos, and sour cream. This spread can easily take up an entire table and it is usually a huge hit! (Pro Tip: this can get messy so make sure to have plenty of napkins nearby!)

3. Dips and Crackers

Most dips can be made with cream cheese or sour cream and there are a ton of variations. The simplest kind start with a dried seasoning mix like ranch powder, onion soup mix, or veggie mix. Then you can arrange crackers around each dip. (Pro Tip: To make this less messy, make sure to put spoons in each of the dips!)

4. Veggie Tray

Veggie trays are always a huge hit and they can be served room temperature. You can serve a veggie tray with a basic ranch dressing or make a veggie dip. It is cheaper to work with what seasonal vegetables are currently available in order to get them at a low price. (Pro Tip: Skip the precut vegetables because these typically are a lot more expensive. This tray may take a while to prep and cut, but the savings is worth it!)

5. Meat and Cheese Tray

Meat and Cheese trays are a great finger food for a wedding and are usually one of the first trays to be eaten up! All you need to do is slice or roll your deli style meats into nice individual sizes. For things like turkey or ham, I like to roll them up and then cut them in half. The goal is to have each size only be 1-2 bites. Place a cup of toothpicks to make this tray easy to serve for your guests! (Pro Tip: look for meats that are on sale and check out summer sausage. It is a smoked meat that is easy to cut into nice half-moon shapes.)

6. Meatballs

Meatballs are extremely versatile and are really easy to make! This is a finger food that can be made in a crockpot while you are preparing other foods. You can do a barbeque flavor, swedish style, or even a tomato based sauce. I don’t recommend serving this in a crockpot unless you have a safe space where the cord won’t be bothered. Try placing the meatballs in an aluminum tray in a chafing dish to keep them warm. (Pro Tip: To keep this less messy, try not to overfill the container with excess sauce and make sure you have a slotted spoon or tongs to serve the meatballs. This will keep the splatter of the sauce down.)

7. Sliders

This is similar to the large loaf sandwiches but are made on a more individual level. These also don’t have to be just lunch meat! You can fill these small sandwiches with prepared salads like chicken, ham, tuna, or egg salad. (Pro Tip: If you go with the prepared salad route, you won’t need to include additional toppings and sauces!)

8. Deviled Eggs

Deviled eggs are always a hit and you can make beautiful trays with them! The initial prep work can take a while, but these can easily be made ahead of time. (Pro Tip: Go ahead and boil and peel the eggs a few days before the wedding so the day before you can make the mixture and fill them. This will save you a lot of time the day before while you are making lots of other dishes!)

9. Cucumber Sandwiches

This classic finger food is actually very versatile! You can make a simple spread of cream cheese, mayonnaise, and fresh or dried herbs. Traditionally this sandwich is served on white bread or any other sandwich bread that is sliced, and then the crust is removed. These sandwiches can easily be made up to 24 hours in advance if you store them in a airtight container. Wait to arrange them on a platter until the last minute. (Pro Tip: you can skip making the spread by using a pre-flavored cream cheese but check the cost difference!)

10. Ham Rolls

My mom likes to call these Redneck Sushi and there are quite a few variations that can be made. The most common one is the to spread an herbed cream cheese on ham and then roll it around a pickle spear. You can also use a pickled okra for this, and it is really yummy! Once the ham is rolled you can slice them into little 1 bite sizes and arrange on a platter with toothpicks already in them or with a cup of toothpicks nearby. (Pro Tip: These can easily made ahead of time and stored in an airtight container in the fridge. Wait till the end of prep time to make a platter, so they still look beautiful and remain chilled.)

11. Jalapeno Poppers

Jalapeno poppers are a great finger food, and they are usually ones that people rave about! We like to mix cream cheese, finely shredded cheddar cheese, and ranch seasoning for the stuffing and then wrap the jalapeno halves in bacon. Make sure that you wrap the bacon where it fully covers the popper, or your cream cheese will bubble out when it bakes. (Pro Tip: if you want the jalapeno poppers to be less spicy, use a spoon to scoop out the seeds and to scrape the white membranes out of the pepper. The white part can be just as spicy as the seeds. If you want it to still be spicy, take out the seeds but leave most of the white part! Also make sure to wear gloves when you clean the peppers, or your hands will feel like they are on fire!!!!)

12. Pigs in a Blanket

Pigs and in a Blanket are such a comfort food and a great appetizer! You can start with cocktail sausages or you can just buy hot dogs and cut them in half or thirds. Sometimes buying hotdogs are much cheaper but check prices to make sure. For the blanket part you can use refrigerated dough like crescent rolls, make your own dough with biscuit mix, or use puff pastry that can be found in the frozen section of your grocery store. (Pro Tip: The goal is to make finger foods that are 1-2 bites, so make sure you keep these small. When they bake in the oven they puff up so keep that in mind!)

13. Cheeseballs & Crackers

Cheeseballs are a great finger food and there are tons of options to make them. Most start with a cream cheese and can be made in a food processor. There are also tons of options to cover the cheeseball in nuts or dried fruit. We have made cheeseballs with dried chipped beef, pineapple for a Hawaiian theme, or just plain with cheddar cheese. (Pro Tip: Keep your cheeseball refrigerated but take it out at least 20 minutes before it is time to eat. When it is fully chilled it is very hard to spread but once it softens it is perfect. Also make sure that you have a serving knife on the plate, so guests don’t use their crackers to get some and make a mess!)

14. Cucumber Bites

Cucumber Bites is similar to cucumber sandwiches, but I feel like there is so much wow factor you can add to the display. You can start with cucumber slices or hollowed out cucumbers and fill with an herb cream cheese or your favorite prepared salad like tuna or chicken salad. (Pro Tip: If you use a prepared salad, make the mixture as firm as you can, or it will start to slide around. To make this happen use less mayonnaise or sour cream. If the mixture is too soggy, it won’t stay nicely on the cucumber!)

15. Veggie Pizza

This is a great option to add more vegetables to your table and they can really be a beautiful platter! You can start with a prepared pizza crust or make your own. The crust is baked ahead of time, and then topped with a cream cheese spread. I like to keep the cream cheese mixture very simple and just mix in ranch seasoning since that goes well with most vegetables. Here comes the fun part! Next you can decorate your pizza with colorful vegetables like diced broccoli, red bell pepper, yellow squash, sliced cherry or grape tomatoes, and whatever seasonal vegetables are on sale! (Pro Tip: You can make beautiful designs with your vegetables by laying them in rows together, or you can sprinkle the vegetables all around. Slice the veggie pizza before adding it to the table and use a spatula for your guests to serve themselves. Keep your slices small for 1-2 bites each!)

16. Baked Brie

If you are going for a more upscale event on a budget then baked brie is definitely a must have. All you need is a small wheel of brie and frozen puff pastry dough. You will want to completely thaw the puff pastry first and then wrap the whole wheel of cheese. If there is any dough leftover, my Dad likes to make little leaves or roses with the dough and place it on top. (Pro Tip: make sure to pinch the decorations into the puff pastry or use an egg wash to “glue” them down or they will fall off. Then use the egg wash all over so once the baked brie is cooked it will have a gorgeous golden brown color!) Definitely serve the baked brie with a small metal spatula or butter knife. You can also add a jam of your choice to the top of the brie before you wrap it, so when you cut into the cheese you get a little layer of sweet jam. Just remember this is a very rich cheese so the portions are very small. I also love to serve this with ginger snaps or a rich buttery cracker!

17. Pinwheels

Similar to the Ham Rolls, pinwheels are typically made with soft flour tortillas, a cream cheese based mixture and slices of meat. You can substitute vegetables instead of meat if you want to offer a vegetarian option. These rolls can be made ahead of time and then sliced and arranged at a later date. (Pro Tip: When slicing these make sure to keep your knife very clean or you will end up with bad cuts. I like to use a very sharp flat paring knife or meat slicer that does not have edges.)

18. Chicken Stuffed Broccoli Cheese Ring

This is a really filling and hearty finger food and basically a stuffed ring of chicken, cheese, and broccoli. You can use a puff pastry or a crescent dough for the ring, then lay your stuffing in the middle. Very carefully fold over the edges and bake in the oven until golden brown. Once this is cooled, you can make nice cuts about every inch. (Pro Tip: Make sure your filling is firm. IF the filling is really soggy the ring will not cut as nicely. Your filling may seem dry at first, but once baked the cheese will melt and help fill the space. Don’t overfill the ring or you will have a very messy finger food.)

19. Buffalo Chicken Dip

There are lots of different versions of buffalo chicken dip. Lots of people like to make it in the crockpot which can take 3-4 hours, but I like to make it in the oven where it only bakes for about 20 minutes. The dip that I make starts with cream cheese, shredded chicken, hot sauce, ranch dressing, and blue cheese crumbles. I just mix all the ingredients together and put in a greased casserole dish and then bake in the oven. I love to serve this dip with tortilla chips or toasted bread slices. (Pro Tip: You can make the dip mild and put bottles of hot sauce on the table for those that want it to be spicier. If you opt to make the dip spicy, you will want a put a sign up saying that the dip is spicy, so no one gets surprised.)

20. Rumaki (Bacon Wrapped Water Chestnuts)

This is another elegant finger food that can be made on a budget. I like to start with rinsing and cutting the water chestnuts in half. Then depending on the bacon, you can slice it in half or in thirds. The important part is to fully wrap around the water chestnut and then secure with a toothpick. There are also variations of this finger food where you can substitute the water chestnut for pineapple chunks or a mandarin orange. (Pro Tip: before slicing all your bacon, test one strip out first to make sure that each piece of bacon is long enough to wrap all the way around.)

21. Spinach Dip with Pumpernickel Bread

Spinach Dip is one of my all-time favorite dips and I could probably eat a whole batch in one sitting by myself! There are lots of options when it comes to this dip, and you can add more ingredients like cooked bacon or diced artichoke hearts. These add ons will up the cost, but this is usually a huge fan favorite at the buffet table! I like to serve it in the center of a pumpernickel round loaf, but you can also serve with toasted bread or tortilla chips. (Pro tip: if you opt to serve inside a round loaf, make sure to cut the top of the loaf of bread and hollow it out as much as possible. Then take the amount you have removed and dice it up into 1-inch cubes for dipping!)

22. Stuffed Mushrooms

Mushrooms are such a versatile appetizer option! You can make them vegan with a mix of herbs, breadcrumbs, and olive oil. Or you can make a mixture of cream cheese and cooked ground meat like ground beef or Italian sausage. The possibilities are truly endless! (Pro Tip: Mushrooms release a lot of natural juices when baked, so remove as much juice from the pan as possible before serving in a chafing dish. This will cut down any splatter when guests are serving themselves!)

23. Mexican Dip with Tortillas

This one is also known as a 5-layer or 7-layer Mexican dip. You can arrange it parfait style in a large glass bowl, or you can spread it out in beautiful rows on a platter. The traditional style includes refried beans, sour cream, guacamole, shredded cheddar cheese, chopped tomatoes, olives, and or sliced pickled jalapenos. (Pro Tip: I like to serve this with tortilla chips in a basket with a cloth napkin to cut down on chip mess!)

24. Crab and Cheese Wontons (Crab Rangoons)

These appetizers are a huge crowd pleaser and much easier to make then they look. One of the ways to lower the price tag is to use imitation crab meat or canned crab meat instead of fresh crab meat. A simple mixture of cream cheese, seasonings, and crab meat is mixed together and then a small amount placed in the center of a wonton wrapper. The wonton is then fried and dried on paper towels. This finger food is traditionally served with a sweet and sour dipping sauce. (Pro Tip: Make all of your wontons at once, and then batch fry them. Make sure to let the fried wontons sit on a rack or paper towels to get the excess oil off before placing them on a platter or chafing dish pan.)

25. Mini Quiche

These mini style quiches are so cute and appetizing. You can go vegetarian with a veggie quiche or go for a ham and cheese. There are actually many varieties to choose from. This is one of those items that you can buy pre-made that just need to be baked, but if you want to save money you will need to make them yourself. If you are stressed for time or oven space, it may be worth buying them in bulk from a place like Costco or Sam’s.

26. Fruit Tray

A fruit tray or even fruit kabobs are an excellent choice for finger foods. If you stick to seasonal fruits, you can save even more money. For instance, during the spring and summer, fruits like watermelon, strawberries, and blueberries will be cheaper. If you have a winter wedding, you may want to stick with pineapple, pears, or oranges. (Pro Tip: Fruits can be prepped and cut ahead of time, and then arranged on platters before the wedding. This will take up less fridge space and keep the fruit from getting too juicy on the platter!)

27. Hummus

Hummus is a fabulous finger food that can be done on a budget! Instead of buying prepared hummus, you can actually make it yourself for very little money. You can top the hummus with roasted garlic, red pepper jelly, or leave it plain. I like to serve hummus with fresh vegetables, pita bread, or pita chips. (Pro Tip: For pita bread or pita chips, you will want to look to see if whole pita pockets are cheaper to cut yourself instead of buying them already cut. Pita chips are really easy to make because they are basically just pita bread that is sliced and then toasted in the oven.)

28. Chicken Tenders/ Boneless Wings

If you are looking to add more meat or protein to your spread, consider doing chicken tenders or boneless wings. This is a great finger food if children will be attending the wedding, but don’t be surprised if you see lots of adults eating this yummy comfort food too! (Pro Tip: Look at the price per ounce when buying chicken nuggets or tenders. The price per ounce varies wildly on frozen chicken but they do go on sale regularly. Thankfully since this is a frozen item, you can buy it months in advance when it is at a super low price and save it for the wedding!)

29. Relish Tray

A relish tray is a mixture of pickles, olives, and sometimes fresh vegetables like carrots and celery. I would pick a mix of sweet and spicy pickle and olive options to please everyone’s taste. It is best to use little signs to let people know if an item will be spicy. (Pro Tip: if you notice that the price of olives and pickles is high, cut the cost by including low price vegetables like carrots and celery. Even though it is tempting to buy precut vegetables, these come at a premium price. It is much cheaper to buy bags of carrots and celery and cut them yourself!)

30. Meatball Subs on a Stick

These cut finger foods are basically meatballs that have been wrapped in pizza dough. Depending on the cost of frozen meatballs, it may be cheaper to make your own so you will need to price that out. It is almost always cheaper to make your own pizza dough and it is super easy to do. Once your pizza dough is ready, you will need to use a rolling pin to make it thin and then cut into 1/2 inchslices. The dough slices are then wrapped around a meatball and secured with a toothpick. I like to brush the tops of these meatballs with a garlic butter sauce and then bake in the oven. Tomato sauce is a great dipping sauce that is cheap that can go with these. (Pro Tip: you can buy cheaper pasta sauce or even plain tomato sauce and add Italian spices to make it taste good. Depending on how many people you are serving, this could save you a lot of money.)

31. Caprese Salad Skewers

Caprese Salad with mozzarella, fresh tomatoes, and basil is so yummy. If you take the time to make a miniature version on skewers you will have a really awesome finger food. I would use either cherry or grape tomatoes, and then skew them with a bite of mozzarella. (Pro Tip: Instead of drizzling the whole platter with oil and vinegar, I would mix together a vinaigrette with fresh basil and place it next to the platter. This allows guests to minimize the splatter and some people may like it better without the sauce.)

32. Bagel Bites

No, we aren’t talking about the frozen mini pizzas, but we can make a grown-up version that is fancy enough for a wedding! All you need is a bag of mini bagels and your imagination. You can go super fancy with cream cheese and lox on top, or you can even make little mini pizzas with chopped pepperoni and cheese. (Pro Tip: These look super fancy and be make a beautiful platter. If you have time I would make 2-3 different options for toppings, so that way you can make a pretty design on a platter or tray.)

33. Shrimp Cocktail

Depending on your budget you can offer shrimp cocktail as a finger food that many people love. Another option is to make a shrimp cocktail dip with cream cheese, cocktail sauce, and chopped shrimp. The dip is usually served with toasted bread or crackers, and you actually make a cold dip or a warm dip! (Pro Tip: If you serve this as a dip, make sure it is marked with a sign. Some guests may have a seafood allergy and may accidently try this if it is not clear that shrimp is in the dip.)

34. Cranberry Brie Bites

This is very similar to baked brie, but it is made in a miniature form. Instead of one large brie that is wrapped in puff pastry or filo dough, you can make tiny cute little ones in a mini muffin pan. You start with your dough in each muffin spot, and them place a small slice of brie and your favorite jam. These little nibbles will puff up and turn golden brown. (Pro tip: I like to make the minis in 2 different flavors that are different colors like apricot jam and raspberry jam. This makes for a beautiful platter, and I garnish with fresh strawberries and grapes.)

35. Mixed Nuts

There is a reason you typically see mixed nuts as a snack at cocktail parties. They are easy and a big hit with most guests. You can buy large pre-mixed containers of different nuts, or you can make your own mix. Peanuts are the cheapest option, but you can also buy cashews, sunflower seeds, pecans, walnuts, and almonds. (Pro Tip: Cost your nuts out at different stores because buying in bulk is not always the cheapest per ounce.)

36. Sweet Peppers and Dip

Another great option for a veggie tray is to use small sweet peppers. These look like baby bell peppers and come in green, red, yellow, and orange colors. These are just like big bell peppers where you would want to cut the stem off and clean out the seeds inside. (Pro Tip: You can prep the peppers ahead of time, and arrange them on a platter later.) I like to use a cream cheese based dip and there are tons to choose from!

37. Sausage Balls

These tasty little morsels of meat, cheese, and biscuit are super easy to make and are always huge crowd pleasers. Thankfully these little guys are easy to mix up and bake in large batches. (Pro tip: use a tablespoon or small ice cream scoop to keep the balls as uniform in shape as possible. These are best served warm, so use a chafing dish to keep them warm and moist.)

38. Chicken Salad in Puff Pastry

Chicken Salad in a small puff pastry cup is a cute little finger food that looks super fancy but is actually easy to make. I like to make these miniature, so I cut the puff pastry dough and fit it into mini muffin pans and then bake them to create the cup. Then you fill the cup with chicken salad and garnish with either a small piece of tomato or an olive. (Pro Tip: Bake your shells ahead of time and store in an airtight container. When it is closer to the reception, then fill the cups and put them on a platter. Chicken salad is typically very wet and if you fill these cups too early, they will start to fall apart and get soggy!) You can also make this extremely fancy by making puff pastry swans or cups with lids!

39. Mini Spring Rolls

This is one of those finger foods that you have to determine if you want to save time or money. Unfortunately, it is very rare that you can save both on mini spring rolls. You can buy these premade and frozen at places like Sam’s or Costco. You can also make them yourself, but keep in mind that the average guest will probably eat 2-4 of them. So, depending on how many guests you have, this may take a very long time to roll the spring rolls and then fry them. (Pro Tip: I like to serve these in a chafing dish to keep them warm. Then use a nice bowl with spoon for the sweet and sour dipping sauce.)

40. Bacon Wrapped Dates

Bacon wrapped dates are similar to Rumaki, but instead of the inside being a water chestnut, it has a sweet date inside. Simply wrap your dates in bacon and secure with a toothpick. Then bake in the oven until crispy. After they have cooled, they can be served in a chafing dish or at room temperature on a platter! (Pro Tip: These do not look as good if you make them too far in advance. Once the bacon has fully cooled or is refrigerated, it will have a congealed fattiness to them. So, bake these the morning of the event!)

41. Corn Zucchini Fritters

This is another great option if you are serving for vegetarian guests! Corn and Shredded Zucchini is combined with beaten egg and seasonings. Then the fritter is formed and fried in oil. I like to serve Corn Zucchini Fritters with an herb aioli, but I know others like to add lime or lemon juice to give it a little zing. (Pro Tip: For the fritters with a tablespoon or small ice cream scoop to keep them uniform and small in shape.) I like to serve these on a platter or in a chafing dish. Since the fritters are fried, you will want to let them drain on paper towels before placing them in serving dishes, so they don’t make a greasy mess.)

42. Bruschetta

Bruschetta is one of my absolute favorite finger foods! It looks beautiful and it is so simple to put together! Since we are going for finger foods, I would start with small, toasted bread. Check prices in your area because it may be cheaper to buy loaves and cut them yourself instead of buying the precut bread slices. Top each piece of toast with a small slice of tomato and mozzarella, then gently drizzle a little basil vinegarette on top.

43. Tuna Tulips

Tuna Tulips are another show piece that look beautiful but don’t really take too much work! We like to go with simple white sandwich bread and cut slices into 4s. Then fill the bottom of your mini muffin tins with a slice a bread. These will be baked in the oven for a slightly toasted texture. Once cooled, you can fill the cups with tuna salad and top with a garnish of your choice. (Pro Tip: Make the bread cups ahead of time and toast them, then store in an airtight container. You can make these look like tulips by using different cookie cutters on your white bread and arranging the “petals” in the muffin tin before baking. Keep your tuna salad mixture as thick as possible because if it is runny, it will make your bread cups soggy.)

What is the cheapest food to serve at a wedding?

Finger foods are a great way to serve guests food but without having to serve a full meal. This means that finger foods at your reception is perfect for a late morning wedding, midafternoon, or evening wedding.

Serving a full meal at a wedding, especially a sit-down meal that will be served by waitstaff can really get expensive. Finger foods on a buffet takes minimal waitstaff to keep running so this will keep your costs down as well.

Most finger foods can be made ahead of time and placed at the reception just in time for the party to start. It doesn’t matter if you are having a backyard wedding or a fancy wedding in a reception hall!

If you are renting a reception hall, you may want to see if you can rent the on-site kitchen for the day before to prepare your finger foods. This could give you much need prep space as well as cold storage space.

Another way to save money is to really do your price comparisons at different stores for your ingredients. It may end up being much cheaper to pick up your items at multiple stores rather than buy everything from one grocery store or warehouse store.

As a general rule of thumb, if your reception will have more than 100 guests, you will need some help with your food set up and break down. I am not talking about friend and fanily, but actually paid waitstaff.

You want your guests to enjoy themselves, so if you save money by making the food, you should definitely consider hiring help for the set-up, serving/ replenishing the buffet, and the clean-up. Check with local restaurants or even culinary school programs for college students who would love to get paid for a one-day job!