30 Dirt Cheap Thanksgiving Appetizers
These dirt cheap Thanksgiving appetizers make it easy to put out a fun spread without spending a fortune before dinner.
From delicious dips and snack mixes to pumpkin shaped deviled eggs and slow cooker bites, there are plenty of affordable options for Thanksgiving on a budget. They are perfect for Friendsgiving celebrations, Thanksgiving potlucks, or hosting family while the main meal cooks.
Pick a few favorites so guests have some budget-friendly Thanksgiving snacks to munch on before the main course.
Cheap Thanksgiving Appetizers & Snacks on a Budget
1. Pumpkin Deviled Eggs
These festive pumpkin deviled eggs turn an affordable classic into one of the cutest Thanksgiving finger foods. Turmeric and paprika give them their orange color, while the creamy filling keeps the familiar flavor everyone loves.
Get the Recipe: Pumpkin Deviled Eggs
2. Cranberry Little Smokies
With just three ingredients, these cranberry little smokies are an easy, budget-friendly Thanksgiving appetizer for feeding a crowd. The sauce is the perfect balance of sweet and tangy.
Get the Recipe: Cranberry Little Smokies
3. Pumpkin Pie Cheese and Crackers
Cheddar cheese and crackers are shaped into tiny pumpkin pie slices for a cute, low-cost Thanksgiving snack. Since there is no baking required, they are especially easy to put together when you are hosting.
Get the Recipe: Pumpkin Pie Cheese and Crackers
4. Roasted Garlic Sage Pumpkin Hummus
This pumpkin hummus is an inexpensive way to add something seasonal to your Thanksgiving appetizer spread. Pumpkin and sage give the creamy dip savory fall flavor.
Get the Recipe: Roasted Garlic Sage Pumpkin Hummus
5. Mini Pumpkin Cheese Balls
These mini pumpkin cheese balls are so fun and cute! You can make these mini pumpkin cheese balls ahead of time, then set them out with crackers or veggies for an easy Thanksgiving appetizer that won’t break the bank.
Get the Recipe: Mini Pumpkin Cheese Balls
6. Crescent Roll Veggie Pizza
A flaky crescent roll crust makes the base for this cold veggie pizza. Since it is made without meat, it keeps costs low.
Get the Recipe: Crescent Roll Veggie Pizza
7. Mini Baked Potatoes
These bite-size baked potatoes use inexpensive ingredients and are simple to make. Top them with sour cream and chives.
Get the Recipe: Mini Baked Potatoes
8. French Onion Dip
You only need three ingredients to make this crowd-pleasing French onion dip. Top it with green onions, or keep it even more budget-friendly and serve as-is.
Get the Recipe: French Onion Dip
9. Thanksgiving Turkey Veggie Tray
Turn fresh vegetables into a turkey-shaped platter that doubles as a fun centerpiece for the appetizer table. It gives everyone something to snack on while Thanksgiving dinner cooks.
Get the Recipe: Thanksgiving Turkey Veggie Tray
10. Slow Cooker Cranberry Meatballs
Frozen meatballs simmer in a homemade cranberry barbecue sauce for a hands-off appetizer. The sauce brings together sweet and tangy flavors, while the slow cooker keeps preparation manageable when the kitchen is busy.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Cranberry Meatballs
11. Stuffed Mushrooms with Spinach
Ricotta creates a creamy filling for these bite-size mushrooms, with spinach, Parmesan, and garlic mixed in for extra flavor. Friends and family will ask for the recipe.
Get the Recipe: Stuffed Mushrooms with Spinach
12. Caramel Apple Bites
Made with only four ingredients, these caramel apple bites are always a hit with both kids and adults. Each one combines sweet and salty flavors, making them a sweet addition to your Thanksgiving snack spread.
Get the Recipe: Caramel Apple Bites
13. Turkey Cranberry Pinwheels
Turkey and cream cheese are rolled with chives and dried cranberries to make these pinwheels. The ingredient list is short, making them a frugal option.
Get the Recipe: Turkey Cranberry Pinwheels
14. Slow Cooker Chex Mix
Making Chex Mix in the slow cooker frees up valuable oven space when you are preparing a big holiday meal. You can never go wrong setting out a bowl of homemade Chex mix; it always gets eaten up.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Chex Mix
15. Velveeta Rotel Dip
This cheesy dip needs just two ingredients for a spicy kick. Velveeta and Rotel come together in minutes, which is helpful when you need a warm party snack without a long prep list.
Get the Recipe: Velveeta Rotel Dip
16. Turkey Deviled Eggs
Bell peppers transform deviled eggs into little turkeys for a creative Thanksgiving appetizer. Aren’t they cute?
Get the Recipe: Turkey Deviled Eggs
17. Pumpkin Pie Dip
Pumpkin pie dip is a fun budget-friendly option for Thanksgiving. If you’re on a tight budget, team up with someone: you bring the dip, and they bring graham crackers, cookies, or apple slices for dipping.
Get the Recipe: Pumpkin Pie Dip
18. Slow Cooker Apple Butter Little Smokies
Apple butter and barbecue sauce coat bite-size sausages with a combination of sweet and savory flavors. Plus, it’s made with just three ingredients.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Apple Butter Little Smokies
19. Garlic Knots
Strips of pizza dough are tied into knots and baked with a garlic Parmesan topping. Serve them with marinara sauce for dipping.
Get the Recipe: Garlic Knots
20. Garlic Rosemary White Bean Dip
Garlic and rosemary add plenty of savory flavor to this white bean dip. Add it to a party platter with pita, tortilla chips, or veggies.
Get the Recipe: Garlic Rosemary White Bean Dip
21. Cheddar Bacon Pinwheels
Cheese, bacon, and a chive-and-onion flavored spread are tucked inside these party-ready pinwheels. Since the recipe uses only six slices of bacon, save the rest of the package for other Thanksgiving dishes or another meal later in the week.
Get the Recipe: Cheddar Bacon Pinwheels
22. Garlic Ranch Pretzels
Ranch seasoning and garlic turn ordinary pretzels into a crunchy snack that takes about five minutes to toss together in one bowl. This is one of the cheapest appetizers on this list.
Get the Recipe: Garlic Ranch Pretzels
23. Cream Cheese Veggie Dip
Cream cheese and fresh herbs combine to make this creamy dip. Serve it with pretzels, veggies, or crackers.
Get the Recipe: Cream Cheese Veggie Dip
24. Pumpkin Cheese Ball
This pumpkin cheese ball is a showstopping appetizer that’s sure to get rave reviews at your Thanksgiving gathering.
Get the Recipe: Pumpkin Cheese Ball
25. Grape Jelly Meatballs
Grape jelly gives these slow-cooker meatballs a touch of sweetness to balance their savory flavor. They take just five minutes to prep before going into the slow cooker and use only four ingredients.
Get the Recipe: Grape Jelly Meatballs
26. Cranberry Jalapeno Dip
Cranberry and jalapeño bring sweet and spicy notes to this cream cheese dip. Its festive flavor makes it a fun addition to a Thanksgiving appetizer table.
Get the Recipe: Cranberry Jalapeno Dip
27. Bacon Wrapped Tater Tots
Tater tots wrapped in savory bacon make a hearty bite-size addition to your Thanksgiving spread. Best of all, you only need two ingredients to make this appetizer.
Get the Recipe: Bacon Wrapped Tater Tots
28. Pumpkin and Caramelized Onion Puff Pastry Pockets
Pumpkin and caramelized onion are tucked into puff pastry pockets for a fall-themed appetizer.
Get the Recipe: Pumpkin and Caramelized Onion Puff Pastry Pockets
29. Loaded Sour Cream Dip
This loaded sour cream dip has delicious ranch flavor and is always a winning appetizer. It takes only 10 minutes to prep, and since it needs to chill in the fridge, it’s a great make-ahead option.
Get the Recipe: Loaded Sour Cream Dip
30. Stuffing Sausage Balls
Cheese, sausage, bacon, and stuffing come together in these budget-friendly four-ingredient sausage balls. They’re a hearty bite-size Thanksgiving appetizer with familiar seasonal flavors.
Get the Recipe: Stuffing Sausage Balls
