Love this post. With the price of everything going up up up it's nice to have some ideas like these. This is my go-to cheap appetizer, gets gobbled up at parties: http://theworldaccordingtoeggface.blogspot.com/2010/12/greek-hummus-rounds.html

When I entertain for large groups of people (including a recent party for 40), I always try and come up with apps that leave out cheese, meat, and seafood, as I find that these actually really drive costs up. I also avoid expensive/out of season produce (avocados, tomatoes, etc.). Olives, at least in my experience, are also really expensive, so if I cook apps with these ingredients, its just a dash (i.e. a whole batch of hummus with a few Tb. of kalamata olives blended in, versus buying olives for 40 to snack on...).

Here are some of my fav low-cost apps:
-hummus or white bean dip (good old standby; made from dried beans and with interesting mix-ins like curry powder, a small handful of olives, or sundried tomatoes, you can feed an army for just a few dollars!)
-Dukkah inspired carrot dip (carrots are one of the cheapest things you can buy; steam 5 lbs. of them and then blend with coriander seeds, ras al hanout or just cumin, olive oil, lemon juice, and a handful of almonds or hazelnuts)
-Grilled zucchini (so cheap when in season!) drizzled with balsamic and olive oil or a mint and lemon vinaigrette
-Dried tortellini cooked and marinated in vinaigrette, threaded with veggies (or a tiny bit of meat) on skewers
-Devilled eggs with interesting mix-ins like smoked paprika; harissa paste; dijon and capers, etc.

The herb-marinated feta and olives link points to the Orangette post about white bean hummus...

Any idea what that drink is? Limeaid? A mojito? Bueller?

smellykelly, I'd guess a mojito judging by the limes and what looks to be mint.

These are all great. I love the idea of doing cheese straws. We always make those to nibble on around the house at Christmas, but they're good any time of year.

Fun fact- the restaurant we had our wedding reception at in New Orleans invented the word appetizer and have all sorts of cool stories about it. I think the first one they eve called that was basically a fancy french fry. Pretty neat.

This post reminds me when I was young,
I grew up an a area with old old money my parents were middle class. I remember the wealthiest people serving only a handful of things at cocktail parties and nothing fancy at all.
Basically, what I remember were few bowls of Planters Mixed nuts, one good cheese not a plater of five different kinds, and little tea sandwiches that consisted of super thin white bread (pepperidge farms) with a cream cheese and ginger crystals or cream cheese and cucumber and Ritz crackers and that was it.
The booze and tonic/soda waters were all top shelf but very little money was spent. They also have many cocktail parties a year..

I have always go way out and too far, it gets expensive and you have less cocktail parties. This is a great reminder to keep it real and make it simple.

They're a little labor intensive, but sweet cream biscuits cut very small and served warm with honey butter and herbed butters are always fantastically popular and cost very little to make (flour, baking powder, salt, heavy cream).

Making your own melba toasts out of a loaf of french bread is also inexpensive (especially if they are fake melba toasts and just dried in a slow oven) and can be used to serve anything.

When I throw parties I like to have big plates of cut up veggies with dip. Something in the crockpot is nice for cold-weather parties, too.

I've said it tons of times but the cheapest best appetizer for parties still gets a kick out of everyone when they or I serve it- lil' smokies in a fondue/crock pot and a bottle of bbq sauce. Toothpicks for skewering and you're done! Super fast and easy and reminds everyone of any party their moms threw as kids!

Since our gatherings are usually casual, I just purchase some bread sticks that I stick in a mason jar and have bowls of in-shell peanuts and/or pistacchios on the patio outdoors. Since I'm in Northern California, outdoor events can be year-round affairs so I never worry about the shells getting all over the place.

this is my favorite appetizer and it's a hit every time. Wrap dried apricots in 1/2 slice of bacon, secure with a tooth pick. Bake or grill at 350 degrees until the bacon is done, about 20 minutes or so. Serve with warmed ginger preserves (or orange marmalade) Fabulous!

Sweet potato hummus. With dried chickpeas soaked and pressure cooked at home. Both sweet potato and chickpeas are very inexpensive (also very nutritious).

Does anyone know if I can make the cheese straws in advance of serving? If so, how far in advance can I make them?

Spinach dip..everyone goes crazy over spinach dip..

Thanks for the ideas, especially the carrot dip and tortellini. I might try one or both for my birthday on Sunday. My friends are kinda getting tired (though they love them!) of my two staples: homemade hummus with canned chickpeas and no tahini since I'm broke, and caramelized onions with cream cheese.

Pepper jelly over cream cheese. Ditto the 'Lil Smokies, but in apple butter. Also love spinach dip with green onions for crunch.

links on this are off. Olive/Feta points to Hummus and tomatillo-advocado leads to a search page.

The links on this post are messed up! The Sprouted Kitchen link doesn't go to the recipe at all. And two links go to the hummus. Please fix!

Any kind of creamy dip (hot spinach and artichoke, creamy dill and onion, french onion, etc.) are always popular with my crowd. As is any kind of bread or chips, veggie tray (with dip), etc.

We're having an Xmas party in a few weeks and I'm planning on bacon-wrapped pork loin (relatively inexpensive and easy to slice thin) with cherry madeira sauce, dill and onion dip with rye bread and blanched veggies, relish tray (yes! with pickles and good olives), candied cranberries, chocolate Christmas bark, fresh popcorn (not from the microwave), spicy gingerbread bars, and fresh rolls.

I have made cream biscuits with creamed chicken and veggies before with great success. I've also served them with just butter and honey butter. They're always a huge hit. They are best when they're hot, though.

Pea pesto - garlic, thawed frozen peas, olive oil, and parmesan. Delicious

Farinata is a great gluten-free cheap appetizer because the main ingredients in this flatbread are chickpea flour and water and you can choose whatever toppings you like best. I also love slow roasted tomatoes on slices of baguette.