Cheap Party Food

Affordable Party Food Recipes

Publish Date March 11, 2022 5 Minute Read

Feeding a crowd can get expensive, fast! Keep your party budget under control with delicious yet cheap party food ideas. From individual-serving-sized sliders to plates overflowing with nachos, these recipes aren’t just tastier than your usual finger foods, they’re more affordable, too! Browse (and shop!) our favorite unforgettable party snack ideas below and get ready to revel in compliments from your satisfied guests.

Smoky Chicken Nachos

These smokey, barbecue chicken-topped nachos transform your table into the trendiest snack stop. Serve them as an appetizer, starter or let guests pick as they please.

Prep: 10 minutes| Cook: 10 minutes | Total: 20 minutes | Serves: 6 | Difficulty: Easy

Smoky Chicken Nachos

Ingredients:

  • 3 cups rotisserie chicken, shredded
  • ½ cup Private Selection™ Kentucky Bourbon Craft BBQ Sauce, plus more for drizzling if desired
  • 8 oz. Private Selection™ Taqueria Style Corn Tortilla Chips
  • 8 oz. smoked Gouda, shredded
  • 4 oz. mild cheddar, shredded
  • ½ cup cilantro, roughly chopped
  • ¼ cup red onion, chopped
  • ¼ cup pickled jalapeño, sliced
  • ½ cup sour cream
Smoky Chicken Nachos

Ingredients:

  • 3 cups rotisserie chicken, shredded
  • ½ cup Private Selection™ Kentucky Bourbon Craft BBQ Sauce, plus more for drizzling if desired
  • 8 oz. Private Selection™ Taqueria Style Corn Tortilla Chips
  • 8 oz. smoked Gouda, shredded
  • 4 oz. mild cheddar, shredded
  • ½ cup cilantro, roughly chopped
  • ¼ cup red onion, chopped
  • ¼ cup pickled jalapeño, sliced
  • ½ cup sour cream

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 425°F. Line baking sheet with parchment paper.
  2. Coat shredded chicken with BBQ sauce.
  3. On baking sheet, spread tortilla chips in an even layer. Top with ½ the shredded cheeses, BBQ chicken and remaining cheese.
  4. Bake 8-12 minutes or until cheese is melted and chicken is heated through.
  5. Serve topped with cilantro, red onion, jalapeños and sour cream.

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Air Fried Pickle Wings

The secret to these flavorful chicken wings: pickle juice! Though it’s usually just dumped down the drain after the last pickle is eaten, pickle juice is great to save for brining due to its salt and vinegar content.

Prep: 3 hours, 15 minutes | Cook: 20 minutes | Total: 3 hours, 35 minutes | Serves: 4 | Difficulty: Easy

Air Fried Pickle Wings

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup pickle brine
  • 2 Tbsp. brown sugar
  • 2 lbs. chicken wings
  • ½ cup Kroger Brand Original Sour Cream
  • ¼ cup buttermilk

  • 2 Tbsp. mayonnaise
  • 2 Tbsp. fresh dill, chopped
  • ¼ tsp. garlic powder
  • ¼ tsp. onion powder
  • 2¼ tsp. salt, divided
  • ½ cup dill pickle slices
Air Fried Pickle Wings

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup pickle brine
  • 2 Tbsp. brown sugar
  • 2 lbs. chicken wings
  • ½ cup Kroger Brand Original Sour Cream
  • ¼ cup buttermilk

  • 2 Tbsp. mayonnaise
  • 2 Tbsp. fresh dill, chopped
  • ¼ tsp. garlic powder
  • ¼ tsp. onion powder
  • 2¼ tsp. salt, divided
  • ½ cup dill pickle slices

Directions:

  1. In large zip-top bag, seal together pickle brine, brown sugar and chicken wings, removing most of the air. Refrigerate at least 3 hours or up to 12 hours.
  2. Meanwhile, whisk together sour cream, buttermilk, mayonnaise, dill, garlic powder, onion powder and ½ teaspoon salt. Refrigerate until ready to use.
  3. When ready to cook, preheat air fryer to 375°F.
  4. Remove chicken from marinade; pat dry. Season chicken wings with remaining 2 teaspoons salt.
  5. In air fryer basket, arrange wings in single layer, working in batches if needed. Cook 10 minutes; flip. Continue cooking 10-15 minutes or until golden brown and crisp and internal temperature reaches 165°F.
  6. Serve wings with buttermilk dill sauce and pickle slices.

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Dairy-Free 7-Layer Dip

Serve this plant-based, fiesta-inspired dip to all your family and friends. Tortilla chips and fresh veggies make great dippers.

Prep: 10 minutes | Cook: 0 minutes | Total: 10 minutes | Serves: 12 | Difficulty: Easy

Dairy-Free 7-Layer Dip

Ingredients:

  • 1 can (16 oz.) vegetarian refried beans
  • 8 oz. guacamole
  • 1 can (11 oz.) Kroger Brand Fiesta Style Corn, drained
  • 10 oz. pico de gallo
  • ½ cup sliced black olives
  • ½ cup sliced jalapeños (fresh or jarred)
  • ¼ cup cilantro, chopped
  • Tortilla chips, for serving
  • Veggies for Serving
Dairy-Free 7-Layer Dip

Ingredients:

  • 1 can (16 oz.) vegetarian refried beans
  • 8 oz. guacamole
  • 1 can (11 oz.) Kroger Brand Fiesta Style Corn, drained
  • 10 oz. pico de gallo
  • ½ cup sliced black olives
  • ½ cup sliced jalapeños (fresh or jarred)
  • ¼ cup cilantro, chopped
  • Tortilla chips, for serving
  • Veggies for Serving

Directions:

  1. In bottom of 8”x8” pan, spread refried beans evenly.
  2. Top with an even layer of guacamole, followed by corn and pico de gallo.
  3. Sprinkle with olives, jalapeños and cilantro.
  4. Serve with tortilla chips or raw veggies

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Ham and Cheese Sliders

Looking for the perfect finger food? Take ham and cheese to the next level with these sweet and savory sliders. Covered with an herb-infused butter and baked to perfection, they make a great appetizer, meal or snack for kids and adults alike.

Prep: 10 minutes | Cook: 30 minutes | Total: 40 minutes | Serves: 6 | Difficulty: Easy

Ingredients:

  • 1 package (16 oz.) Kroger Brand Hawaiian Dinner Rolls, sliced in half
  • 8 oz. deli thin sliced ham
  • 1 package (6 oz.) Kroger Brand Swiss Cheese Slices
  • ½ cup butter, melted
  • 1 Tbsp. Dijon mustard
  • 1 Tbsp. poppy seeds
  • 1 tsp. dried minced onion
  • ¼ tsp. salt
  • ¼ tsp. ground pepper

Ingredients:

  • 1 package (16 oz.) Kroger Brand Hawaiian Dinner Rolls, sliced in half
  • 8 oz. deli thin sliced ham
  • 1 package (6 oz.) Kroger Brand Swiss Cheese Slices
  • ½ cup butter, melted
  • 1 Tbsp. Dijon mustard
  • 1 Tbsp. poppy seeds
  • 1 tsp. dried minced onion
  • ¼ tsp. salt
  • ¼ tsp. ground pepper

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Prepare 9”x13” pan with aluminum foil.
  2. On bottom buns, arrange half the ham slices in an even layer. Top with cheese slices and remaining ham slices. Add top buns.
  3. In small bowl, stir together butter, mustard, poppy seeds, onion, salt and pepper. Evenly pour butter mixture over top buns, allowing excess butter to pool at bottom of pan.
  4. Cover with aluminum foil. Bake 25-30 minutes, until cheese is melted. Remove foil; continue baking 3-5 minutes, until golden.
  5. Slice into individual sandwiches and serve. Refrigerate leftovers.

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Pepperoni Pizza Muffins

Pizza is always a winner and these easy and affordable pizza muffins are no exception. They’re fun to make - and even more fun to eat!

Prep: 10 minutes | Cook: 15 minutes | Total: 25 minutes | Serves: 4 | Difficulty: Easy

Pepperoni Pizza Muffins

Ingredients:

  • 1 can (13.8 oz.) pizza crust dough, cut into 4”x3” squares
  • ¼ cup plus 2 Tbsp. pizza sauce, divided
  • ¾ cup Kroger Brand Finely Shredded Pizza Blend Cheese
  • ¼ cup Kroger Brand Sliced Mini Pepperoni
  • Marinara sauce, to serve
Pepperoni Pizza Muffins

Ingredients:

  • 1 can (13.8 oz.) pizza crust dough, cut into 4”x3” squares
  • ¼ cup plus 2 Tbsp. pizza sauce, divided
  • ¾ cup Kroger Brand Finely Shredded Pizza Blend Cheese
  • ¼ cup Kroger Brand Sliced Mini Pepperoni
  • Marinara sauce, to serve

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 400°F. Spray standard 12-cup muffin tin with non-stick cooking spray.
  2. Press crust squares into muffin tin cups; bake 6-8 minutes.
  3. In each cup, layer ½ tablespoon pizza sauce, 1 tablespoon cheese and a few mini pepperonis. Bake 6-8 minutes, until cheese is melted and golden.
  4. Serve with marinara sauce.

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For more affordable and easy party food ideas, browse and shop party food, beverages and supplies at our party shop.