How to Host Thanksgiving on a Budget

Thanksgiving Recipes on a Budget

Thanksgiving ushers in a season of cozy gatherings, perfectly curated parties and comforting dishes, but with so much focus on hosting, your budget can really take a hit. Luckily, you can navigate your way toward a budget-friendly Thanksgiving without compromising on the warmth and joy of the season. In this guide, we'll explore a cornucopia of tips and tricks to help you host a delightful holiday gathering that will leave guests impressed and thankful, all while keeping your wallet content.

Thanksgiving on a Budget

Thanksgiving is a time to express gratitude, share love and indulge in a comforting meal with family and friends. However, the prospect of hosting Thanksgiving dinner can be daunting, especially when you're working with a limited budget. These tips and tricks will help you prepare a Thanksgiving feast that will impress your guests while keeping your financial goals in mind.

Small Servings for Big Savings

Maybe you don’t have a crowd to feed this year, but still want to indulge in the comforting holiday foods of your childhood. There are many ways to make a nostalgic Thanksgiving feast with small plates and an even smaller budget.

A common Thanksgiving mistake is overestimating what’s needed. Sometimes, more food is simply too much, so create a plan for how much is needed per person.

For 10 or fewer people, a smaller turkey (12-14 lbs.) should be plenty. Or perhaps you don’t need a whole turkey. Roasting a turkey breast or some thighs might be fine.

Thanksgiving for one can be just as festive and comforting as cooking for a crowd. This Thanksgiving dinner for one features delicious sweet potato casserole, roast turkey and classic green bean casserole. Pair it with these sausage and stuffing bites to enjoy all your festive favorites without a week’s worth of leftovers.

• Plan in Advance
  In most homes, Thanksgiving is a chance to bring out our favorite family recipes, ones we’ve been looking forward to all year long. This makes planning and budgeting ahead simple. Create your menu in advance so that you can grab ingredients when they’re on sale. If you know green bean casserole is always on your table, shop sales on canned soup and frozen produce. Shopping gradually will also help relieve some of the stress leading up to the holiday.
• Host a Potluck-style Dinner
  Thanksgiving is about celebrating loved ones and showing your gratitude for them. Instead of putting all the pressure on one person to host, instead try throwing a potluck this year. You can assign each guest a dish to bring, or let them choose their favorite. This can be especially fun as a friends-giving party.
  Keep in mind that guests coming from out of town won’t have an easy way to bring food, so consider leaving them out of the equation.
  Alcohol can run up your bill quickly, so you could ask your guests to bring their own or delegate one or two guests to bring a bottle or two.
• Use Frozen or Canned Food
  Frozen and canned foods are often preserved when they reach their peak of freshness, making them an easy choice for budget-friendly sides. Try using frozen or canned green beans in your green bean casserole or canned corn in this cheesy jalapeno corn side.
• Love Your Leftovers
  Think of Thanksgiving not only as a holiday meal, but as an opportunity to meal prep. Repurpose extra turkey into these turkey enchiladas or this turkey pancake breakfast. Add some stuffing and mashed potatoes to create a comforting shepherd’s pie. With a little creativity, you can make sure that your grocery budget the week after the holiday is low and your fridge is full.

Budget-friendly Sides

When it comes to crafting a budget-friendly Thanksgiving feast, side dishes play a crucial role in creating a flavorful meal without straining your wallet. Simple, wholesome ingredients can be transformed into dishes that complement the main course beautifully:

• Green Bean Casserole
  Made with canned soup and green beans, this dish is a budget-friendly favorite. Try this comforting, bubbly green bean casserole and give the turkey a run for its money. Watch and learn how to make a green bean casserole with our helpful guide.
• Mashed Potatoes and Gravy
  Another affordable classic. Try our Instant Pot mashed potatoes for a classic taste in half the time and use this Thanksgiving gravy hack to top them in style. If you’re looking for more mashed potato tips and how many potatoes you will need for your dinner, we’ve got you covered with our mashed potato guide.
• Sweet Potatoes
  Root vegetables are not only in season and abundant during Thanksgiving, they’re also easy and affordable. Try roasting a mix of sweet potatoes, turnips and parsnips for a delicious root vegetable medley or make a traditional sweet potato casserole that everyone will love. For more sweet potato tips, visit our how-to cook sweet potatoes guide.

Affordable Entrées

Turkey is traditionally the star of the show on Thanksgiving, but who says you have to follow tradition? Shake up your menu this year, and explore new ways to save with these ideas for a Thanksgiving dinner on a budget:

• Break Tradition with Beef
  A round roast is one of the most affordable cuts of beef and is perfect for feeding a crowd. You can make roasts in the oven or using an Instant Pot for a quick and tender dinner. Try this a roast and pair it with your favorite simple sides.
• Host a Winner Chicken Dinner
  Whole roasting chickens are a great choice for hosting a Thanksgiving on a budget. They’re especially good options for cozier gatherings with close friends and family. If you’re looking for a premade Thanksgiving dinner, grab a Kroger Brand rotisserie chicken for a flavorful, timesaving and budget-friendly option.
• Keep it Traditional with a Turkey
  If you want a traditional Thanksgiving dinner, then you’re going to need a turkey. Frozen turkeys are a great way to help cut down on some of the cost. You can purchase your turkey in October and keep it in the freezer to avoid any potential demand-based markups closer to the holiday.
• Another easy way to make Thanksgiving dinner on a budget is opt for individual pieces instead of roasting a whole turkey. Try this easy roast turkey breast for an easy and budget-friendly option. Or save space in the oven for casseroles with this Instant Pot turkey breast. The best part of forgoing the whole turkey is that you can make sure to have plenty of whatever cut is your family’s favorite. Do your guests dream of drumsticks? Roast these smoky butterbasted turkey legs. Or knock out several dishes at once with this roasted turkey thighs and chorizo cornbread stuffing dish.