As we’re fond of claiming, Thanksgiving is the Mom of All Household Dinners. However despite the fact that lots of the staple meals, like potatoes, stuffing, and pumpkin, are normally low-cost gadgets, producing a vacation feast may result in the Mom of All Grocery Payments. And at a time when costs preserve climbing — practically 30% in 5 years, and nonetheless rising — whereas different financial components are including to the strain, a budget-friendly Thanksgiving goes to be a precedence for extra households.
We began taking a look at methods to create a meal with the normal vacation really feel, at a doubtlessly cheaper price level. To compile our listing, we tracked costs on gadgets in just a few alternative ways: The USDA’s weekly and month-to-month updates on nationwide common prices, Federal Reserve reporting on pricing traits, and thru on-line comparisons of costs at frequent nationwide retailers like Walmart, Goal, and Kroger. We additionally factored in the price of spices, utilizing solely herb and spice merchandise which might be accessible at retailers just like the Greenback Tree or Walmart, with a value vary of $1.25-$1.99 per merchandise. All costs had been tracked throughout October 2025.
As for the turkey, we famous that the nationwide common value is as much as $1.32 per pound this yr, which suggests a giant chook for the middle of the desk will not be inside attain. There are actually native and regional value variations, and a few well-known nice offers accessible, just like the notorious Aldi 77-cent turkey deal. Some households can even obtain turkey coupons as a vacation bonus from employers, or could produce other assist in securing a turkey for the large day. However we wished to offer another concepts in case a giant turkey isn’t life like for you this yr. As a substitute, you may select one among our recommended recipes that makes use of rooster leg quarters, that are at present one of many lowest-cost poultry gadgets accessible; or go together with one thing like our Thanksgiving meatball recipe, which affords custom with a twist.
Under are 10 Thanksgiving-worthy recipes to select from, at value factors of underneath $1 per serving, underneath $2 per serving, and underneath $3 per serving. Combine and match to create the perfect vacation menu, on the price range that works for you.
Thanksgiving Recipes for Below $1 Per Serving
Clancy Harrison’s Easy Mac and Cheese Recipe
$4.60 for the total recipe; $0.77 per serving if serving 6 individuals; $0.57 per serving for 8 individuals
Green beans with Lime
$4.60 for the total recipe; $0.57 per serving for 8 servings
Apple Crisp
$2.79 for the total recipe; $0.47 per serving for six servings; $0.70 per serving for 4 individuals
Eggnog Cake (we omitted the rum, because the recipe suggests)
$4.77 for the total recipe; $0.48 per serving for 10 individuals
Thanksgiving Recipes for Below $2 Per Serving
Thanksgiving Meatballs
$7.69 for the total recipe; $1.28 per serving for 4 individuals; $1.92 per serving for six servings
Cornbread stuffing
$11.76 for the total recipe; $1.47 per serving for 8 servings; $1.96 per serving for six individuals
Roasted Squash and Apple Mash
$7.41 for the total recipe; $1.23 per serving for six servings; $1.85 per serving for 4 individuals
Sheet Pan Roasted Chicken Legs and Vegetables (utilizing leg quarters)
$10.57 for the total recipe; $1.76 per serving for six individuals
Thanksgiving Recipes for Below $3 Per Serving
Smothered Chicken with Apple Cider Gravy
$8.58 for the total recipe utilizing 3 lbs. leg quarters, $10.02 for the total recipe utilizing 4 lbs. leg quarters; $2.12 per serving for six individuals, $2.50 per serving for 4
Roasted Chicken with Herbed Potatoes
$14.54 for the total recipe; $2.43 per serving for six individuals; $3.63 per serving for 4 individuals
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