Thanksgiving is right around the corner! So I thought I would help you come up with a budget-friendly option for Thanksgiving dinner. Whether you're feeding one person or 10 people this menu plan is adjustable, hence pick your budget. Of course due to your budget constraints this may not be a traditional Thanksgiving dinner exactly.
Let's start with a list of prices so we can start mixing and matching based on what we need for our family size and our budget. All prices are from Walmart unless otherwise stated.
Sides
Green bean casserole costs $3.47 for two cans 14.5oz green beans ($1.52 - .76¢ ea), 1-10 1/2oz can of cream of mushroom soup (.70¢), and a bag of crispy fried onions purchased from the Dollar Tree (2.8oz bag for $1.25.)
15.5oz can of candied yam ($1.57) can just be warmed up or you can add things like brown sugar, butter or margarine, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, marshmallows, etc.
6oz box turkey stuffing (.97¢) can be made with water or chicken stock/bouillon
14oz can cranberry sauce ($1.66)
15oz can of corn (.76¢) maybe add some butter/margarine
Box of mac and cheese (.58¢) often made with milk and butter/margarine
12count Brown and serve dinner rolls ($1.38) served with butter/margarine
Potatoes & Gravy
Package instant mashed potato pouch $1.00 (makes 4-½ cup servings) made with water
9oz box of instant mashed potatoes $1.26 (makes 12-½ cup servings) made with water
5lb bag of russet potatoes $3.84 can be made simply with butter/margarine and milk or add other things like garlic powder, sour cream, salt, pepper, etc.
Package turkey gravy mix .67¢ each (it makes 1 cup) made with water
Or you could choose to purchase 2lb bag flour from the Dollar Tree for $1.25 and make
homemade gravy from the turkey drippings. (Sorry but I won’t be explaining how to make gravy.)
Meat/Main
Turkey pot pie $1.00 ea
9oz package of turkey lunch meat for $3.57
whole turkey for .77¢/lb with the average weight being 14 ½ pounds costing $11.17 (from Aldi’s)
or you could do a rotisserie flavored turkey tenderloin 24oz for $7.69 (again from Aldi’s.)
Dessert
8oz whipped cream ($1.98)
8” pumpkin pie ($5.23)
or the 4” mini pumpkin pies for .84¢ each.
Prices of Things Mentioned
32oz brown sugar ($2.22)
16oz margarine ($1.24)
16oz salted or unsalted dairy free butter ($3.48)
16oz sweet cream salted butter ($3.67)
Half gallon milk ($1.64)
8oz sour cream ($1.24)
3.4oz garlic powder ($1.24)
2.5oz ground cinnamon ($1.32)
1.5oz ground nutmeg ($2.46)
26oz iodized salt (.76¢)
2oz ground black pepper ($1.25) purchased at the Dollar Tree
10oz bag mini marshmallows (.97¢)
14.5oz chicken broth (.82¢)
Although I have tried to think of all the things you might need, I don’t know your family traditions so don’t forget to add those prices also. It's also a good idea to check the backs of boxes and pouches to see what they suggest you need.
Note: for bone-in turkey the suggestion is to budget 1 to 1 ½ pounds per person and ½ to 3/4lb for bone-less.
Okay now let’s look at what and how we could put together for our Thanksgiving dinner…
The cheapest possible option would be one or two turkey pot pies per person ($1-2.00)
Now let’s say hubby and I plan to have a pot pie each but we both want mashed potatoes and gravy. Now the cost would be $3.67.
Oh and it wouldn’t be Thanksgiving without pumpkin pie with whipped cream. Now our cost is $7.33
What if we are planning to have a third person for dinner… pot pies may not be the way to go so I would opt for the turkey lunch meat and make pinwheels out of them. You could stuff them with the stuffing made with water and maybe cover them with gravy (2packets.) I would also serve green bean casserole and 3 mini pumpkin pies without whipped cream. The total cost would be $11.87.
Now let’s look at the cost of a full on Thanksgiving dinner for nine people. A whole turkey, 2 batches of green bean casserole, 2 cans yams, 3 boxes of stuffing, 1 can cranberry sauce, 3 cans corn, 3 boxes Mac and cheese, 1 package dinner rolls, bag of potatoes, flour to make gravy, 8” pie and whipped cream… totals $43.52. And this doesn't include the milk, butter or margarine, brown sugar, etc.
So as you can see your Thanksgiving dinner can cost anywhere from a dollar or two; or upwards of $50.00 - you pick.
Here are a few more ideas for Thanksgiving meal ideas:
Use frozen ground turkey ($1.98):
turkey meatloaf
turkey chili
Turkey stew made with canned diced potatoes, green beans, etc.
shepard’s pie
homemade turkey pot pie with canned diced potatoes and vegetables
turkey patties made with egg and instant mashed potato flakes - shallow fried
9oz package of turkey lunch meat for $3.57
hot turkey sandwich with mashed potatoes and gravy
Serve a rotisserie chicken for $5.97
Or get a 10lb bag chicken leg quarters for $8.47
Or a whole chicken for $1.46 a pound
The list could go on and on if you just get creative!
If you just want a simple solution to your Thanksgiving meal, check to see if your store offers a “Thanksgiving Meal Deal.” Here are a few I found:
Aldi’s: $40.00 for 10 people
Walmart: $40.00 for 10 people
Target: $20.00 for 4 people
Amazon: $25.00 for 5 people
Just be sure to read what you're getting and add any additional items you would need to purchase.
Before I go I’d like to give you a couple of recipes you can use for your Thanksgiving Dinner or use them the next day to help use up your leftovers.
Best Of Thanksgiving Casserole by Rebecca from Dollar Tree Dinners
4 cups instant mashed potatoes made per the instructions but replacing one cup of chicken broth for one cup of water
Milk
Margarine/butter
Salt and pepper
1 can french cut green beans or you could make green bean casserole
2 cans turkey* or chicken - be sure to shred this well so you get a piece in every bite
(drain but save the juice you’ll be using it in the stuffing)
1-2 packages roasted turkey gravy made with water
4.5oz package cranberries - soaked in a little hot water to help re-concentrate them a bit
- I’d say 15-20 minutes will do. Drain them.
Box of turkey stuffing - made by replacing equal amounts of water for turkey can juice
and remaining chicken broth and margarine/butter
To assemble the casserole:
Add your prepared mashed potatoes to the bottom of a large casserole dish (8”x13”)
Add drained green beans or your prepared green bean casserole as the next layer
Next put your two cans of shredded drained turkey or chicken
Your fourth layer is the prepared gravy
The final layer is your prepared turkey stuffing with re-hydrated cranberries stirred in
Top this with a dozen or so thin pats of margarine/butter
Bake this at 400 degrees for about 30 minutes
Shopping List
13.75oz box instant mashed potatoes ($1.88)
16oz margarine ($1.24)
Half gallon milk ($1.64)
26oz iodized salt (.76¢)
2oz ground black pepper ($1.25) purchased at the Dollar Tree
14.5oz chicken broth (.82¢)
2-14.5oz cans green beans ($1.52 - .76¢ ea)
1-10 1/2oz can of cream of mushroom soup (.70¢)
bag of crispy fried onions purchased from the Dollar Tree (2.8oz bag for $1.25)
2 cans of turkey from the Dollar Tree ($2.50) or 12.5oz can chunk chicken ($2.97)
2 packages turkey gravy mix ($1.34 - .67¢ea)
6oz box turkey stuffing (.97¢)
6oz sweetened dried cranberries ($1.96)
TOTAL: $17.83 with turkey or $18.30 with chicken
Turkey Burgers or Turkey Steaks
Make 4oz patties (burgers) from your frozen ground turkey meat or larger 6-8oz patties (steaks) and fry them with a tablespoon or two vegetable oil to prevent sticking if needed.
Make your stuffing per the box instructions (you can chicken broth or water which ever you prefer)
Cook your french fries per the instructions or you could use instant mashed potatoes (I would use the potatoes with the turkey steaks - but that’s me)
Prepare your gravy using water
To assemble:
Fry your burgers or steaks
Toast your buns for the burgers - the steak doesn’t need a bun
Put a scoop of prepared stuffing on top of the burger
or you prepared mashed potatoes on the steak
Add your cooked french fries on top of the stuffing -
i wouldn’t put them on the steak but you do you
Top everything with gravy
Put the bun top on your turkey burger
These are just suggestions - you can serve everything on the side if you wish
And I would have to make green bean casserole for a side dish cause I LOVE green bean casserole!
Shopping List
1lb. frozen ground turkey ($1.98)
16oz bottle vegetable oil ($1.25) purchased from the Dollar Tree
1-2 packages turkey gravy mix ($1.34 - .67¢ea)
16oz margarine ($1.24)
14.5oz chicken broth (.82¢)
6oz box turkey stuffing (.97¢)
32oz bag french fries* ($2.97) I’d pick a thicker cut fry verses a thinner cut one
8ct package hamburger buns ($1.43)
2-14.5oz cans green beans ($1.52 - .76¢ ea)
1-10 1/2oz can of cream of mushroom soup (.70¢)
2.8oz bag of crispy fried onions purchased from the Dollar Tree ($1.25)
TOTAL: $14.00 with Dollar Tree fries or $15.47 with Walmart fries
* Sometimes you can get cans of turkey at the Dollar Tree especially around Thanksgiving. And you can sometimes get french fries if your Dollar Tree has a freezer case.
Well I think that covers Thanksgiving! I'm so happy and grateful you stopped by and have a wonderful Thanksgiving with your family and friends.
ð Jo
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