Thanksgiving Dinner on a Budget

Host Thanksgiving dinner on a budget with these tips and tricks, plus simple frugal recipe ideas for Thanksgiving dinner staples like turkey, sides, breads, and desserts.

Thanksgiving is all about the food, right?

And if you’re trying to eat better – or you’ve walked into a grocery store in the past year or two – you know that healthy food can add up quickly.

But it doesn’t HAVE to be expensive.

I’ve done a lot of grocery shopping over the years, so I’m sharing my tried-and-true method for serving a classic Thanksgiving dinner on a budget.

CLASSIC THANKSGIVING DINNER ON A BUDGET

I promise, it is possible to make food for Thanksgiving dinner without breaking the bank!

• You can still enjoy delicious food. There are plenty of simple, yummy recipes for all of the Thanksgiving dinner traditional dishes.
• It’s better for you. Simple recipes with real food ingredients are more nutritious, along with being budget-friendly.
• Planning ahead helps you save money. You can stock up when items are on sale, find recipes that coincide with the lowest-priced items, and make sure you have everything you need to cook your for you holiday table.
• Whether you’re hosting or just bringing a dish for Thanksgiving meal, you can make food that fits with your food goals AND keeps your budget on track!

SHOPPING TIPS FOR THANKSGIVING DINNER MENU ON A BUDGET

I’ve done a lot of budget shopping over the years, and I have plenty of tricks up my sleeve to help you survive the stores during the holiday season! Here are my very best shopping tips to help keep the cost of Thanksgiving dinner in check:

1. Make a thorough meal plan. Write down EVERYTHING you’re going to make for Thanksgiving spread. If you buy food for a dish you don’t end up making, put it on the meal plan for the next week.
2. Make a thorough shopping list. Like the meal plan, write down EVERYTHING you need for EVERY recipe. Don’t assume you know the recipe by heart.
3. Shop your kitchen first. Go through your list and physically touch the items you need. Double-check that you have enough of each ingredient that your recipe calls for.
4. Don’t shop too early. The best deals go live the week leading up to the holiday. Stores will have some things on sale earlier, like pumpkin puree in early November, but nearly everything you need for a classic Thanksgiving dinner will be on sale the week leading up to the holiday.
5. Shop early in the sale cycle. If the sale goes live on a Wednesday, shop on Wednesday or Thursday. If it goes live on Sunday, go on Sunday. You want to get what you need as early as possible, to avoid the people who are waiting until the last minute.
6. Shop in the morning, during the week, OR after 8 pm. This is when the stores will be the least busy. Avoid the weekends and the after-work crowds.

I use most of these same tips in my everyday meal planning and shopping. There’s no sense in NOT using the same methods for my holiday meals!

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SAVING ON THE MAIN DISH FOR THANKSGIVING DINNER

Aim to pay anywhere from $7 to $40 for a turkey.

The most inexpensive turkeys will be frozen, coming in around 47¢ – 99¢ per pound. Frozen turkeys aren’t less healthy than fresh turkeys – they’re just frozen. And this isn’t a big deal if you have someplace to thaw the bird. That could be in a cooler, a fridge, or even the garage if the weather is cold enough.

Fresh whole turkey ranges from 99¢ to $1.49 per pound, and organic turkeys are usually around $2.79/lb.

Be realistic about how much Thanksgiving turkey you really need, too. According to The Kitchn, you need about 1lb of turkey per person. (Or if you REALLY love leftovers, 1 ½ pounds.) You won’t need a 20lb bird to feed 10 people. Save a little here so you can afford the fun dessert!

You can also use the turkey drippings to make turkey gravy, and save the bones to make turkey stock after the big meal.

SIDE DISH FOODS FOR THANKSGIVING DINNER

What about all the other foods for Thanksgiving dinner?

Aim for in-season vegetables that are $1/lb or less for conventional, $2/lb for organic.

To have a successful Thanksgiving dinner on a budget, stick to the vegetables that are in season right now. That would be vegetables like sweet potatoes, white potatoes, butternut squash, and Brussels sprouts.

Keep the vegetables that aren’t in season, like green beans, corn, and asparagus, to a bare minimum, or avoid them altogether. If you MUST have your Green Bean Casserole, consider frozen green beans instead of fresh. Frozen vegetables can often win out on price when they are out of season.

A good rule of thumb is if you can find a vegetable that costs LESS than 99¢ per pound, take the money saved and put it towards another vegetable that costs more.

For example, I once found a 10lb bag of russet potatoes for 97¢ – that’s less than 10¢ per pound. That means I have 80¢ per pound (up to 10 pounds) to work with for other vegetables that might cost more.

Another idea is to serve plenty of inexpensive vegetables (like mashed potatoes) and just one pound of the pricey vegetable, like green beans. Here are some of my favorite inexpensive vegetable recipes that also taste amazing:

• Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes
• Crash Hot Sweet Potatoes
• No-Sugar Sweet Potato Casserole
• Bacon Brussels Sprouts
• Carrot and Sweet Potato Fritters
• Roasted Beets
• Roasted Veggie Kale Salad
• Spinach Salad with Apples and Cranberries

BUDGET THANKSGIVING DINNER IDEAS FOR BREAD

Homemade bread is CHEAP – as low as 25¢ per loaf – and healthier than store-bought. Plus, you can make the bread ahead of time and freeze it for the big meal.

Almost any bread recipe can be shaped into rolls, and if you want a sweeter bread, double the sweetener and use pineapple or orange juice instead of water.

• Fluffy Dinner Rolls (Just like Hawaiian Rolls!)
• No-Knead Artisan Bread
• 90 Minute Man Bread
• Rosemary Olive Oil Bread
• Cloud Rolls

THANKSGIVING DINNER DESSERTS

Canned pumpkin puree runs from 79¢ – 1.29¢ per can during the holiday season, which is pretty cheap considering one pie serves 8 people. (Or you can make pumpkin puree yourself for ALL THINGS PUMPKIN!)

Apples are in season leading up to Thanksgiving, so like the vegetables, aim for $1/lb for conventional or $2/lb for organic.

Here are some seasonal Thanksgiving dinner ideas for dessert, including pies and beyond:

• Healthy Pumpkin Pie
• Slab Apple Pie
• Apple Crumble Ice Cream
• Pumpkin Cookies with Cream Cheese Frosting
• Cheesecake Baked Apples
• Crockpot Poached Pears

Other desserts that don’t rely on seasonal items, like Healthy Homemade Chocolate Pie, will be affordable this time of year as well.

HOW TO COOK FOOD FOR THANKSGIVING DINNER ON A BUDGET

Other ideas to consider when planning your food for Thanksgiving dinner:

• Pick ALL the meat off the turkey. Measure it into 2-cup portions and freeze right away.
• Make turkey stock. Keep all of the vegetable scraps from the day, and as soon as the turkey is meat-free, make stock with the bones and scraps. If you use a steaming basket inside the Instant Pot, you can make multiple batches back-to-back with minimal effort (here’s the tutorial).
• Reduce the number of side dishes you serve. Do you REALLY need 10 different sides on the dinner table? Or will 2-3 be plenty? It’s easy to think we have to do it ALL on Thanksgiving, but it’s okay to just stick to the absolute favorites! If no one loves stuffing, don’t make it!
• Keep the side dishes simple. Extra ingredients mean extra cost. Again, no-fuss sides will help YOU, the cook, enjoy the day even more.
• Let your company bring something! Write down your holiday meal so when they ask what they can bring, you have an exact answer. This is SO MUCH more helpful than saying “an appetizer” or “bring dessert,” especially when it’s a holiday meal. Just be sure to note who is bringing what.

CAN THANKSGIVING DINNER BE MACRO-FRIENDLY TOO?

Besides sticking to a budget, what if you’re ALSO trying to stick to your nutrition goals?

Remember these guidelines:

• Plan ahead. If you know a big dinner is coming, keep breakfast and lunch lighter with protein and veggies to balance your intake for the day.
• Focus on protein. Aim for at least 30-40% of your calories to come from protein to help keep you satisfied.
• Be mindful of carbs. Choose whole foods, limit sugary sauces, and indulge in small portions of treats.
• Control your fats. Enjoy rich dishes in moderation.
• Portion control. Use a smaller plate, fill it halfway with veggies, and eat slowly to give yourself time to feel full and savor the flavors.
• Account for beverages. And don’t forget to hydrate!
• Dessert strategies. Opt for fruit-based desserts or small portions of heavier sweets.

Above all, don’t stress! If you overindulge, don’t beat yourself up. Get back to your regular eating routine the next day.

BUDGET THANKSGIVING DINNER FAQS

MORE THANKSGIVING FOOD IDEAS

• Stovetop Mac and Cheese
• Hasselback Potatoes
• Autumn Rice Pilaf
• Slow Cooker Cranberry Sauce
• Caramelized Onions and Swiss Chard
• Delicata Squash Salad with Apples and Cranberries
• Pumpkin Swirl Brownies
• Maple Pecan Blondies