Nanoparticles based quantification methods are convenient for food analysis, but incur a substantial cost. Consequently, the present study proposes a cost-effective technique for the voltammetric determination of the synthetic phenolic antioxidant propyl gallate (PG) using nickel nanoparticles modified glassy carbon electrode. Modified surface enhances the oxidation peak current and showed a reduction in peak potential. Under optimized experimental conditions, two linear ranges could be observed from 1.0 x 10(-3) to 4.0 x 10(-4) M and 3.0 x 10(-4) to 2.0 x 10(-6) M. Developed method was also applied in commercial food samples and the results were in agreement with those obtained from spectrophotometric method. (c) 2019 The Electrochemical Society.