Budget Friendly Thanksgiving Dinner

I made a full Thanksgiving dinner that served eight people (with some seconds) for just $23.33.

All items were purchased at Food Lion in Delaware. Prices may vary based on location.

Itemized List:

Chicken (10 pieces) – $4.88

Mac & Cheese ×2 – $3.58

Mashed Potatoes – $1.25

Green Beans – $1.69

Stuffing – $1.19

Sweet Potatoes – $1.78

Cranberry Sauce – $1.89

Sweetened Condensed Milk – $1.99

Evaporated Milk – $1.19

Shredded Cheddar – $2.00

Gravy Packet – $0.89

Cake Mix – $1.00

Staple Items Used (Already on Hand):

Butter, milk, eggs, rice, and seasonings

How I Made It:

Chicken: Roasted in the oven with seasonings of choice until golden and tender.

Green Beans: Cooked on the stovetop with butter and seasonings.

Mashed Potatoes: Prepared as the package recommended.

Gravy: Prepared as the package recommended.

Mac & Cheese: Two deluxe boxes were used. About half a can of evaporated milk and half of the shredded cheddar were added to the mix. The remaining cheese was sprinkled on top before baking.

Stuffing and Rice: One cup of rice was cooked separately, then combined with the prepared stuffing to make it heartier.

Twice-Baked Sweet Potatoes: Roasted until tender, then halved. Butter, vanilla extract, white sugar, and sweetened condensed milk were added to a baking dish, and the sweet potatoes were placed cut side down and roasted again until caramelized.

Cake Mix: Prepared as the box recommended with a small amount of cornmeal added for a cake-style cornbread texture.

Every item on this plate came from that $23.33 budget. It’s proof that a full Thanksgiving meal can still be made on a tight budget without losing flavor or comfort. 💛

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