Published: · Modified: by Genevieve Morrison · This post may contain affiliate links
These fancy and frugal recipes cost $25 or less to make, and sometimes much less, and are perfect for elegant entertaining on a tight budget. In fact, some of these recipes can be DOUBLED and still won’t cost more than $25!
To be clear, though, that $25 doesn’t include kitchen staples like sugar, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, salt & pepper and basic spices. Otherwise, almost nothing would cost less than $25. My olive oil cost me $15, after all.
But lots of ingredients that are included are already in your kitchen, like mayo, mustard, soy sauce, garlic, etc. So each recipe will likely cost you even less than the listed price!
I’ve included different kinds of recipes, even co*cktails which can be particularly tricky to make on a budget!
The price tallies I used are based off of Fresh Direct’s prices.
1. Garlic Lime Honey Shrimp
Price: $23.79
This is such a tasty shrimp recipe! And if you already have coconut oil and Old Bay seasoning, you can serve it with coconut cauliflower rice for just a few dollars more!
Garlic Lime Honey Shrimp
This sensational honey shrimp recipe is a little bit spicy, tart, sweet and so easy to make!
See the Recipe
2. Crostini with Balsamic Strawberries and Ricotta
Price: $14.86
Even though these recipes are $25 or less, excluding kitchen staples like sugar and balsamic vinegar, this recipe is still under $25 if you include both of those staples!
In fact, you can DOUBLE the recipe for less than $25 because it only calls for half a container of strawberries, and half a baguette! This recipe is so tasty, so pretty and makes such a lovely summer appetizer!
Crostini with Balsamic Strawberries and Ricotta
These crostini with balsamic strawberries and ricotta are sweet, tart, creamy and perhaps the prettiest appetizers you can serve at your next fancy picnic, Mother’s Day brunch or bridal shower.
See the Recipe
3. Beet Napoleon Appetizers with Prosciutto Roses
Price: $14.96
Another recipe that can easily be doubled (even tripled) for less than $25 if you buy twice (or 3 times) the beets, and that’s it! You’re only using a little bit of cream cheese, a few tiny pieces of prosciutto and a few leaves of cilantro, so you can make a whole bunch of these beautiful appetizers for under $25!
Beet Napoleons with Prosciutto Roses
No, they’re not red velvet, they’re beautiful beet napoleon appetizers with chive cream cheese and tiny prosciutto roses on top! They're earthy, creamy, and perfectly bite-size!
See the Recipe
3. Simply Elegant Dill Deviled Eggs
Price: $16.35
Another recipe that can be doubled for less than $25, since it only calls for half a dozen eggs! All of the other ingredients are used in small amounts. I love how pretty these deviled eggs look on an appetizer tray!
With an elegant sprig of dill, you’ll make a $16 dollar appetizer look like a million bucks! As a matter of fact, I have a number of beautiful deviled egg recipes that are equally fancy and frugal!
The Simply Elegant Dill Deviled Egg
This dill deviled egg is delightfully tangy and so very simple to prepare! All you need is a little dill mustard, creamy horseradish and mayo to whip up these tasty little conversation pieces.
See the Recipe
4. Beautiful Pesto Ricotta Crostini
Price: $23.99
Yet another recipe that can easily be doubled for the same price! I love this recipe for baby showers or bridal showers… honestly, any party where you want to really make your guests say “wow!”
Tomato and Pearl Onion Pesto Crostini
These beautiful crostini are layered with pesto ricotta, olive tapenade and topped with tiny balsamic pearl onion roses and cherry tomatoes. What appetizers could possibly be prettier for a summer party!?
See the Recipe
5. Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms with Spinach and Feta
Price: $16.49
These tasty stuffed mushrooms can be a side dish, first course or even an evening snack! They’re so simple to make and are full of earthy, rich flavor.
And if you want to double the recipe and make 4 stuffed mushrooms, you just have to buy 2 more mushroom caps and a little more spinach, which will get you right to $25!
Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms with Spinach and Feta
These easy stuffed portobello mushrooms with spinach, feta and sautéed garlic are marinated in balsamic vinegar and make an absolutely perfect veggie side dish, or even first course!
See the Recipe
7. Creamy Curry Cauliflower Soup
Price: $21.14
This recipe makes 6 servings of one of the tastiest, heart warming, creamiest soups I know how to make, so it’s a perfect, budget dinner party starter! It’s also totally vegan!
Creamy Curry Cauliflower Soup
This creamy, coconut curry cauliflower soup recipe has a silky texture, so much flavor, it can be made nice and spicy, and is completely vegan!
See the Recipe
8. Bruschetta with Mozzarella, Seared Tomatoes & Roasted Garlic
Price: $24.98
This recipe is seriously impressive, and just under $25 if you already have olive oil, balsamic vinegar and Italian seasoning! It’s my favorite appetizer to serve when I want to serve something fancy before dinner, but don’t want to spend too much on the appetizers.
Bruschetta with Burrata, Seared Tomatoes & Roasted Garlic
This delicious bruschetta recipe with fresh burrata, seared cherry tomatoes and roasted garlic is the most decadent appetizer at your Italian dinner party, the most elegant appetizer at the bridal shower or a luxurious evening snack for one!
See the Recipe
9. Sparkling Pink Grapefruit co*cktail with Cucumber
Price: $18.47
Most of my co*cktail recipes cost much less than $25 to make per co*cktail, but as you know, a bottle of St. Germain or whisky can run over $25 per bottle, so I won’t include them in this list.
But! This divine sparkling pink grapefruit co*cktail can be made with inexpensive sake (which you can easily find for $15 or less) and all the other mixers are just fresh juice and soda.
Even when muddled with a little mint and cucumber, it still costs less than $25 to make at least 6 or 7 glasses of this lovely co*cktail.
Sparkling Pink Grapefruit co*cktail with Cucumber
This exquisite sake and pink grapefruit co*cktail is shaken with muddled cucumber and mint, splashed with soda and pairs perfectly with summer sunsets and stolen kisses.
See the Recipe
10. The Elegant Sake Lychee Martini
Price: $15
Now, this is my very favorite co*cktail party signature, and it has only 2 ingredients! When I want to have a delicious, fancy, elegant co*cktail that everyone will love, this sake lychee martini is it!
You can even get a big bottle of sake that will serve 12-15 people for $20 and the total cost of this co*cktail still doesn’t reach $25! Truly the best co*cktail for a big party on a budget!
The Sake Lychee Martini
This elegant sake lychee martini is truly one of the most refreshing, simple and impressive signature co*cktails for any party, or romantic date night. With just 2 ingredients and a pretty lychee co*cktail garnish, this precious co*cktail will easily become a fast favorite.
See the Recipe
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