Finger food ideas for a party: what to serve, how much, and cost per piece
Finger food for a party ranges from $0.64 a piece for Cocktail Meatballs to $1.85 for Bacon Wrapped Dates. Ideas by type, with piece counts and trays.
By the Upper Crust Catering kitchen
The best finger food ideas for a party are the ones guests can eat in two bites with one hand: meatballs, bruschetta, cheese and crackers, pinwheels, bacon wrapped dates. At Upper Crust the trays run from $0.64 a piece for Cocktail Meatballs to $1.85 for Bacon Wrapped Dates, and a two-hour party for 30 can be fed with two trays for $109 before tax. Pick up at the kitchen in Yorkville or ask for quoted delivery.
Cost per piece, hot trays
Divide the tray price by the piece count and you can compare any two trays fairly. These are rounded to the cent.
- Cocktail Meatballs, $64 for 100 pieces, about $0.64 each.
- Rumaki, $64 for 60 pieces, about $1.07 each.
- Mini Chicken Quesadillas, $69 for 60 pieces, about $1.15 each.
- Mini Italian Sausage Kebabs, $74 for 60 pieces, about $1.23 each.
- Mini Beef Burritos, $69 for 40 pieces, about $1.73 each.
- Bacon Wrapped Dates, $74 for 40 pieces, about $1.85 each and gluten-free.
Wings count here too. Boneless Wings are $69 for 60 pieces, and Chicken Drummettes are $100 for 120 pieces, about $0.83 each.
Cost per piece, cold trays
- Cheese & Sausage Tray with Crackers, $79 for 120 pieces, about $0.66 each and gluten-free.
- Bruschetta with Garlic Toast Points, $45 for 60 pieces, about $0.75 each.
- Assorted Cheese Tray with Crackers, $69 for 60 pieces, about $1.15 each.
- Pinwheel Sandwiches, $79 for 60 pieces, about $1.32 each.
- Antipasto Kabobs, $74 for 50 pieces, about $1.48 each.
- Jumbo Chilled Shrimp, $95 for 60 pieces, about $1.58 each, gluten-free and dairy-free.
Fresh Vegetable Crudités is $59 and serves 25 to 30, a good non-meat tray.
How many pieces to order
We plan about 2 to 3 pieces a guest for each hour of a party where finger food is the main food. A two-hour party for 30 guests then lands around 120 to 180 pieces. Take 150 as the target.
A pair of trays gets you there: Cocktail Meatballs at $64 for 100 pieces plus Bruschetta at $45 for 60 pieces is 160 pieces for $64 + $45 = $109. Add 9.25% sales tax. If the party runs past two hours or the crowd is hungry, add the Assorted Cheese Tray at $69 and you have 220 pieces for $178.
If finger food is only a starter before a dinner, plan about 4 to 6 pieces a guest in total, and one tray is often enough.
Build a mix, not a pile
Pick one from each group so guests find something they like:
- One warm meat: meatballs, rumaki, kebabs.
- One cold, easy tray: cheese and crackers or pinwheels.
- One fresh tray: crudités or the Seasonal Fresh Fruit Display at $74.
- One sweet: Assorted Dessert Tray, $59 for 40 pieces.
For hot trays, a Chafing Dish Set at $17 per hot dish keeps them warm for the whole party. The full hot and cold tray list is on the platters menu.
Small details that help
Disposable Appetizer Plates & Napkins are $0.99 per person, sized at 1 and a half pieces per guest. Serving Tongs & Spoons are $1 each. See our catered appetizers guide for every tray in one place, and the drop-off catering page for how pick-up orders work.
Standard orders need 3 days of notice. Call (630) 553-9533 or send your headcount and date through the quote form.
Questions
What finger food is cheapest per guest?
Cocktail Meatballs at about $0.64 a piece and the Cheese & Sausage Tray at about $0.66 a piece are the lowest cost per piece on our menu.
How many appetizers per person for a party?
About 2 to 3 pieces a guest for each hour when appetizers are the main food. Less if dinner follows.
Is there a minimum for party trays?
No. Trays and platters have no minimum and no small-party surcharge.
Can I mix hot and cold?
Yes. Hot trays can be kept warm in a chafing dish, and cold trays come on black lacquer trays ready to set out.
Drop-off catering and party trays, priced per tray
