20 Tasty Thanksgiving Appetizers That Don't Cost a Fortune

Before the turkey ever hits the table, the real magic happens with the appetizers. The good news? You don’t need a fancy budget to wow your guests.

These inexpensive Thanksgiving appetizers are simple, delicious, and the perfect way to keep everyone happy while the main feast cooks.

Use them at:

Thanksgiving dinner
Friendsgivings
Fancy family nights
A fun fall date night

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Easy Thanksgiving Appetizers Ideas on a Budget

Tip: Look through the Thanksgiving appetizers and pick the ones you already have some ingredients for. Then, make a list for what you need to buy and watch out for sales on those items!

1. Simple Cranberry Brie Bites

*Fancy without being complicated

Thanksgiving party food on a budget, brie appetizers with cranberry

These cranberry brie bites are easy to make, look fancy, and can be done in many different ways. This recipe uses crescent roll dough, but you could also cut up bread for crostinis. Then all you need is brie, cranberry sauce, and walnuts.

If you’re on a budget and have a big group to feed, cut your brie squares smaller, so that your cheese (the most expensive part) goes further for the same price.

2. Charcuterie Skewers

charcuterie skewers for Thanksgiving appetizers, Christmas dinner appetizers

These individual charcuterie skewers with salami are the perfect appetizer for your next party. Skewers are stacked with cheeses and accompaniments that will wow the guests!

Ingredients you’ll need for these fun skewers:

Cheddar cheese cubes
Salami (The bigger they are, the harder it is to put on the stick)
Olives (no pits)
Pickles (dill, cut into pieces)
Mozzarella balls
Grape tomatoes

3. Festive Fall Snack Mix

*Kid-friendly!

This affordable fall snack mix is salty, sweet, crunchy, and even colorful. It’s the perfect mix as an appetizer for parties and gatherings with kids.

Adjust your ingredients according to what you have and your budget!

4. Roasted Veggie Tray

Everyone knows they need to eat veggies. But when the turkey dinner hits the table, the veggies are often the black sheep of the spread. Help your family eat well by putting out a fun roasted vegetable spread beforehand. Include hummus and other tasty dips and you’ll get the best of both worlds.

5. Stuffing Stuffed Mushrooms

These easy-to-assemble stuffed mushrooms are fancy and so affordable! They are also a great use of leftover stuffing, so you don’t have to throw anything away.

6. DIY Caramel Apple Bar

Learn how to put together your own fun diy caramel apple bar as an appetizer or unique dessert option. All you need are your favorite types of apples, caramel, chocolate, and toppings you love. (Reeses Pieces are the perfect color for Thanksgiving!)

Related:

7. Turkey Bacon Cranberry Roll Ups

These turkey bacon cranberry roll ups are flavorful and easy to make! They make the perfect tasty treat for any occasion. But the cranberry gives them a specific Thanksgiving flair.

8. Gruyere Apple Butter Biscuits

Gruyere apple butter biscuits are the perfect fall appetizer or dessert. With sharp cheese and fresh apples, it is perfect for crisp, cool days!

This is all you need:

1 8 oz can crescent rolls
4 Tbsp apple butter
1 granny smith apple peeled and cut into matchsticks
1/3 cup Gruyere cheese grated

9. Cheese & Apple Board

Charcuterie boards still make the best appetizers!

In this fall spin, you see a great cheese and apple board. Apples are in season right now, making them cheaper. And you can costumize your plate with a mix of inexpensive cheeses and crackers.

10. Butternut Squash Soup Shooters

*Looks elegant but is shockingly affordable!

Quick, easy, and healthy! Butternut squash soup shooters look fancy and are perfect for fall. Just make one big batch of your favorite budget friendly soup and separate them out into individual portions.

11. Easy Charcuterie Cups Thanksgiving Appetizers

These easy charcuterie cups are super easy to make and great year round!

The adorable, customizable cups are like mini personal charcuterie boards. They are perfect for any occasion and will elevate your snacking game like never before.

12. Cheese and Cracker Pie Bites

How cute are these cheese and cracker bites?! Everyone will gobble up them up and this is a cute one kids can help make.

All you need is:

Cheese (orange for the pumpkin pie look)
Crackers (To form the pie crust you’ll need Triscuit thin crisps in the triangular shape for the bottom and Chicken In a Biskit Crackers for the backing)
Cream cheese (the whipped topping and to hold the cracker backing on)

13. Stuffed Jalapeno Poppers

These jalapeno poppers are warm, spicy, cheesy, and ultra-indulgent. What more could you ask for in a Thanksgiving appetizer? They taste like they’re from a restaurant, but they’re quite simple to make in the comfort of your own kitchen.

14. Spinach Artichoke Dip

This EASY Spinach Artichoke Dip recipe is warm, cheesy, and DELICIOUS! It can be made up to 2 days ahead of time, and is always a crowd pleaser!

15. Potato Skins

This easy recipe bakes potatoes until crispy with a little garlic butter, cheese, and, of course, bacon bits!

16. Cranberry Salsa

This cranberry salsa is a treat that is sweet, salty, crunchy, and delicious. Plus, it’s super simple and gives you exactly what everyone craves during fall.

17. Baked Onion Dip

onion dip makes crowd pleasing budget Thanksgiving appetizers

This Baked Caramelized Onion Dip is an essential appetizer recipe for cold weather and/or holiday entertaining. You’ll want to serve it with toasted baguettes. It’s a winner every time!

18. Pumpkin Pie Cheesecake Dip

Pumpkin Pie Cheesecake Dip is a breeze to make and the perfect fall or Thanksgiving appetizer!

This one calls for:

International Delight Pumpkin Pie Spice Creamer
Pumpkin spice instant pudding
Cream cheese
Sugar
Frozen whipped topping
Graham cracker crumbs

19. Turkey Snack Board

Snack boards are oh so fun for fall and Thanksgiving parties. And they allow you to use a variety of items. Use up what you have at home and then look for sales at grocery stores to fill in the rest.

20. Turkey Veggie Tray

Your regular “boring” healthy food tray can be turned into a Thanksgiving delight if you shape it into a turkey. Learn how at Lilluna.

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