What's an easy, inexpensive appetizer or dessert that I can make or buy to bring to a Friday evening beach party?

You could do a fruit salad pretty cheap. I’ve seen grapes ($0.99 lb), watermelon ($3 each) and cantaloupe ($2 each) really cheap lately. Apples, pineapple, blueberries are good, too. Drizzle with lemon juice to keep things like apple from discoloring.

Watermelon cut up on ice.

5 layer bean dip. 9 inch glass pie plate.

Put a layer made from one can of refried beans. A layer of sour cream. A layer of shredded cheddar cheese. A layer of chopped green onions, including the green parts. A layer of diced tomatoes.

Bag of thick tortilla chips. Eat!

Booze
Always welcome
Always appreciated

Deviled eggs are always my go to.

Costco has some awesome, giant pies. They also have big plastic containers of baklava and brownie bites that everyone seems to like.

You can also fill a large, lidded tupperware bowl with those small, round fresh mozzarella balls called ovolini and add to some jarred marinated mushrooms and one or 2 kinds of fancy stuffed olives (maybe stuffed with almonds or jalapenos) or even some pepperoncinis or grape tomatoes, whatever combo you like. Then provide a box of toothpicks for people to skewer their own. I’ve done this at many a potluck and people loved it. I usually buy olives and mushrooms at Big Lots whenever they have some of those fancy ones (much better price than the regular grocery store). But you can get the ovolini at Costco.

Costco also has those yummy port wine cheeseballs that are covered in nuts. You can get 2 or 3 of those, transport them, already unwrapped, in a covered tupperware bowl, then set them out onto a plastic platter with at least 3 spreaders (plastic knives or otherwise) because people will pick them up and move them always! Then you can have another tupperware bowl filled with slices from one of those long narrow baguettes to spread the cheese onto.

I was just at Costco last night and they had some good sized containers of salsa, including one that is mango salsa. You could get 2 or 3 different kinds (pico de gallo, green and mango) then get a big old honkin’ bag of tortilla chips (you can dump them into a bowl or just let people grab them out of the bag) have at least 2 spoons for each container of salsa for scooping, for the same reason that I mentioned above about them disappearing.

Costco also has some good sized containers of different kinds of hummus. And they have big bags of pita chips.

Or you could make your own Greek Tzatziki Sauce with a big honkin’ container of plain yogurt from Costco and either serve it with fresh pita bread cut into triangles, or with the pita chips mentioned above.

Key lime pie is super easy and very inexpensive. You can buy the graham cracker pie crust pre-made for $2 or less.
I use Betty Crocker’s recipe

I don’t know what this is called, but it’s delightful.

ingredients:
store bought crescent dough (like this)
chicken breast
bell pepper
cream cheese
fajita seasoning

directions:
1. Cube the chicken breast and cook with fajita seasoning (the pieces should be fairly large).
2. Separate the crescent dough into triangles and place on a greased cookie sheet.
3. Slice the bell peppers into long, thin slices.
4. Place a chunk of cream cheese, a couple pieces of chicken, and a couple slices of bell pepper at the short edge of the triangle and form into a roll.
5. Bake the rolls according to the directions for baking normal crescent rolls.

When I make this, I use homemade fajita seasoning. I can find the recipe if you would like it.

For a red, white and blue dessert: You will need a large clear plastic or glass type bowl like a trifle, angel food cake, strawberries, blueberries and whipped topping (Cool Whip or similar). Begin with tearing the angel food cake into bit size pieces. Alternate layers of each ingredient in the bowl. White angel food cake, red strawberries, white whipped topping, blueberries, angel food cake, red strawberries, whipped topping, blueberries, angel food cake…

Easy, cheap and delicious. I personally like to make my own whipped topping by beating heavy whipping cream. I always get nice compliments on this easy dessert.

Taco Salad….easy to make and inexpensive.

I’d go a little futher on chyna’s idea. Throw in all sorts of melons, fruits and stuff. It’s getting toward summer and all that stuff is good for the diet.

@boffin: Booze is a given since it’s BYOB. I am not a drinker (not really) so I won’t be bringing booze. Everyone will bring what they want or what they want to share.

Tortilla pinwheels

Mix cream cheese, ortega green chiles, (drained and diced) some minced black olives, minced water chestnuts and minced green onions, spread on tortillas, roll, and slice into pinwheels.

Each filled tortilla should make about 8 appetizers when cut into about ½ inch slices.

Pecan Spread:

1 pkg.( 8 oz.) cream cheese
2 T. milk

¼ c. finely chopped green pepper
½ t. garlic salt
¼ t. pepper
2 T. dry onion flakes
½ c. sour cream
1 T. butter, melted
½ c. coarsely chopped pecans
½ t. salt

Put cream cheese in a large soup bowl or small casserole suitable for serving. Microwave 45 secondson low( 10%) power or just until softened. Add milk, green pepper, garlic salt,pepper, onion flakes and sour cream. Mix well. Place butter in a cup. Microwave 30 seconds on medium( 50%) power to melt. Add nuts and salt. Stir well. Spoon over cheese mixture. Serve at room temperature or microwave about 1 minute on high(100%) power to serve warm. Serve with a variety of crackers or firm chips. Makes 2 cups.

Okay, I’m hungry now.

@bkcunningham Me too. I’m looking forward to making a berry cheesecake for the weekend. Blueberries and strawberries. I’m looking at the picture now, I can’t wait!

@jca Let us know what you decide. Good luck, and hope you have a good time!

I love 5-layer bean dip! Except that I add a layer of sliced or chopped black olives.

I love 7-layer salad even more. Layer lettuce, chopped tomatoes, chopped green onion, chopped fresh mushrooms, chopped black olives, chopped hard boiled eggs, thawed frozen peas, and shredded cheddar cheese. Spread mayonnaise or miracle whip on top like frosting. Top with a generous amount of crumbled bacon.

My next door neighbor brought that to our holiday party Thursday. It is delicious. The mayo and bacon make it taste so good.

@Skaggfacemutt I don’t think I’ve ever craved a 7-layer salad at 9pm until now, thanks to you. That sounds so good to me right now.

Thanks, @jca , for asking this question. I need to bring an appetizer to an office party tomorrow, and had no idea what to bring. That 7-layer salad is the winner.