Inexpensive Thanksgiving Recipe Ideas - Basilmomma (2024)

This post is part of a monthly series brought to you by Meijer to share the savings you can experience in their store and online. Like all posts on Basilmomma.com all opinions are my own and the thoughts therein were created solely by me to educate and hopefully inspire!

Inexpensive Thanksgiving Recipe Ideas - Basilmomma (1)

Are you looking for inexpensive Thanksgiving recipe ideas?

If you are cooking a Thanksgiving meal or just bringing a side or two, then you are probably scouring the internet for inexpensive Thanksgiving recipe ideas. In this post I will share a few of my favorite Thanksgiving recipe ideas -ones that I make every year because they are family favorites. Best of all- my entire menu can be bought for under $75 at Meijer. And that is before coupons and mPerks!

I recently polled readers on my Facebook page to see how much they spent (on average) for Thanksgiving and what their go-to Thanksgiving recipe ideas were. I was not surprised when many said they spend $100-150. I figure I probably do too. But this month, I decided that I wanted to see if I could feed my family of 4 plus 2 guests a Thanksgiving meal for under $75 shopping only from Meijer. Do you think I was able to pull it off?

Disclaimer: All prices listed are regular or in-store sale prices and do not reflect mPerks or coupon adjustments.

Below is my Thanksgiving recipe ideas shopping list. After that I will share links to my recipes. The turkey is just a turkey rubbed with butter, salt and pepper, then roasted in a Reynolds oven bag. No mystery there but it turns out perfect Every.Single.Time.

I did not include items like butter, salt, sugar, pepper, flour or other pantry items that are common. Also, I added ingredients to make a pie from Libby’s canned pumpkin mix and an unbaked shell. Feel free to make use of the Meijer bakery and get one of the pies they make. They are fantastic! Also- mashed potatoes don’t have a linked recipe either. I just drain my potatoes, add sliced cream cheese and mash together. I add salt and pepper to taste and a bit of milk. Then I lightly mash. That’s it and they are perfect every time. I truly believe that this special day of thanks should be filled with fun, family and good food that didn’t keep you in the kitchen all day. Or in the case of many people I know, including myself, for a few days beforehand!

Thanksgiving Recipe Ideas Shopping List Breakdown:

Sweet potatoes 4 at .74 cents

Apple 3 at .80 cents

Apple cider $3.99

5 lb bag of potatoes $2.69

Rhodes Rolls $2.69

Bag of cranberries $1.99

Cream cheese $1.99

Brussel sprouts $2.99 a bag

Bacon $2.69

Onion .40 cents

Celery $1.69

Chicken stock $1.99 per carton

Pepperidge Farms bread cubes $2.50

Pumpkin Pie Filling $1.89

Pie shell $2.50

Ready Whip $1.89

Whole Butterball turkey, frozen $28.34

Total: $74.67 YES! I really did create a Thanksgiving feast for 6 for under $75 from Meijer!

***This total was before coupons, in-store promotions AND mPerks. I am a HUGE fan of their mPerks app. I was able to earn rewards with my previous trip and I used them when I was checking out. Look at what I was able to save! That’s $14 off PLUS I had a $5 off coupon that printed with my receipt in my purse that I had forgotten about! so just for shopping there I was able to save $19 on this meal. So technically my Thanksgiving meal cost $55.67! That is pretty amazing for a 99% from scratch meal! High 5’s all around!***

About 30 minutes before the turkey should be done (really- look at the packaging on the turkey for directions and follow them) take a temperature reading at the breast and wing area. Breast should read 165 degrees and the wing should read at about 180. Allow the turkey to rest for about 30 minutes before slicing. Be sure to use those juices to whisk into a roux (butter and flour) to make a simple gravy!

Stuffing doesn’t have to be hard to make- saute 1 diced onion, 3 stalks of celery, and 2 tb of butter until soft. Add the chicken stock (a small carton will work- about 32 oz) a pinch of salt and pepper and the bag of bread cubes. Toss to saturate. Add to a greased baking dish and bake until the top is lightly browned. Boom. Stuffing.

My famous (in my house) brussel sprouts! Whether you use bacon or pancetta or even leave out the dried cranberries- it’s up to you! Click HERE for the shredded brussels sprouts saute

It’s not beautiful, but it DOES taste great! I used the recipe on the 29 oz can of Libby pumpkin and added a pinch of cinnamon and that’s it!

When dicing celery for the stuffing be sure to use the tops and leaves. A lot of flavor there!

The makings of a great pie!

Get these bags. Really. My perfect turkey gets rubbed with a butter mixture of: 1 stick of butter (soft), kosher salt, pepper, dried thyme, a squirt of honey, zest of 1 orange, a bit of dried thyme. Rub inside the cavity and outside- even under the skin! This also makes for some great juices for the gravy later. Be sure to remove any fat that floats to the top. We don’t need that ????

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I typically just pan saute fresh cranberries with a bit of sugar and the juice of an orange. For 3 more ways to make cranberries. Click HERE for Cranberries 3 ways

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Forget those canned yams topped with melty marshmallows. This is just as easy and I guarantee you- way better. Sliced sweet potatoes and apples draped in a sweet butter sauce. It’s cheap to make and it almost fools you into thinking it’s a dessert. Get the recipe for Candied sweet potatoes and apples HERE.

What are YOUR go-to Thanksgiving recipe ideas? Please share them below.

More Posts in the Meijer Series:

Save money on Halloween at Meijer

4 Perfect Tailgate Recipes Plus Savings From Meijer

Tex-Mex Chicken Burrito Bowl

Lunch Box Recipes for Back to School

Light Summer Meal- Chicken Salad 4 Ways with Meijer

10 Tips for the Perfect BBQ on a Budget from Meijer

Bacon Gouda Cheese Dip

Find Meijer Online Here:

Inexpensive Thanksgiving Recipe Ideas - Basilmomma (14)

A few more places to find/follow Meijer:

@Meijer on Twitter

Meijer on Facebook

Meijer Stores on Pinterest

@MeijerStores on Instagram

Related posts:

Fresh Pasta Made in Indiana and Pasta Dinner RecipesConey Dogs with Dr. Pepper BBQ SauceTex-Mex Chicken Burrito Bowl50 Warm Drinks with Alcohol (or Not!)
Inexpensive Thanksgiving Recipe Ideas - Basilmomma (2024)

FAQs

What are the 12 most popular Thanksgiving dishes? ›

Scroll through to take a look at our most popular Thanksgiving recipes.
  • 01 of 24. Perfect Turkey. ...
  • 02 of 24. Roasted Brussels Sprouts. ...
  • 03 of 24. Cranberry Sauce. ...
  • 04 of 24. Homemade Mac and Cheese. ...
  • 05 of 24. Sweet Potato Pie. ...
  • 06 of 24. Granny Kat's Pumpkin Roll. ...
  • 07 of 24. Slow Cooker Turkey Breast. ...
  • 08 of 24. Cream Corn Like No Other.
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What are the 10 traditional Thanksgiving foods? ›

Here are our favorite traditional Thanksgiving dishes that are delicious and easy to make.
  • Creamy Mashed Potatoes. Prep Time: 20 minutes | Cook Time: 15 minutes | Serves: Up to 4 people. ...
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  • Green Bean Casserole. ...
  • Sweet Potato Casserole. ...
  • Baked Corn. ...
  • Mac and cheese. ...
  • Peas & Water Chestnuts. ...
  • Fresh Rolls.
Oct 28, 2021

What to make 2 days ahead for Thanksgiving? ›

Dishes you should definitely make in advance
  • Thanksgiving stuffing. "We always make my mom's sweet potato stuffing ahead of time. ...
  • Casserole. "Pretty much anything with 'casserole' in the name is built for being made in advance." — ...
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What is the most popular side dish served at Thanksgiving? ›

Traditional side dishes for Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners in America often include roasted turkey stuffing, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, green beans, sweet potato casserole, and gravy. Additionally, dishes like cornbread, Brussels sprouts, and pumpkin pie are commonly enjoyed during these festive meals.

What are the 5 most common sides served on Thanksgiving Day? ›

First things first: If you're going for the most quintessential Thanksgiving, you've got to have the classics. We're talking stuffing, sweet potato casserole, gravy, green bean casserole, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce…

What is served at a black Thanksgiving dinner? ›

You will likely be eating roast turkey, barbecued turkey, deep fried turkey, glazed country ham, collard greens, macaroni and cheese, green beans, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes mashed and covered with marshmallows, corn, cornbread, yeast/potato rolls, black eyed peas, rice, gravy, potato salad, cranberry sauce from ...

What is the least favorite Thanksgiving food? ›

Another poll conducted by SurveyMonkey on behalf of The Vacationer showed cranberry sauce (31.5%), sweet potatoes (29.2%), green bean casserole (28%), turkey (27.7%) and stuffing (26.8%) were the top five most “disliked” Thanksgiving dishes. (This survey allowed to respondents to choose multiple dishes they disliked.)

What every Thanksgiving dinner should have? ›

But a few things are guaranteed, no matter where I am or who I'm with: There will be turkey; there will be stuffing; there will be cranberry sauce, gravy, potatoes, and pie.

What is the most important meal on Thanksgiving? ›

Four Essentials for Thanksgiving
  • Turkey. Some would say a turkey is the most important food item at the table. ...
  • Mashed potatoes. There's nothing better than smooth and creamy mashed potatoes! ...
  • Cranberry Sauce. Thanksgiving is never Thanksgiving without this iconic treat. ...
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What food can I make the night before Thanksgiving? ›

Pie, stuffing, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce the day before. Day of I just have to roast the turkey, do the veg and make gravy. Anything that reheats nicely, mashed potatoes, sweet potato, stuffing I do in the crockpot in the morning, cut veggies for salads, potato salad.

What part of Thanksgiving dinner can be made ahead of time? ›

Many Thanksgiving staples can be made entirely ahead of time and reheated before mealtime – think Mashed Potatoes, Sweet Potato Casserole, Green Bean Casserole, and Apple Pie.

What are the top 20 Thanksgiving foods in America? ›

Top 20 Thanksgiving Recipes
  • Apple Stuffing.
  • Homemade Buttermilk Cornbread.
  • Asparagus Bake.
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What are the 3 most popular food dishes served on Thanksgiving? ›

The 10 Most Popular Thanksgiving Dishes
  • Roast turkey. We've already filled you in on how to carve a turkey like a chef. ...
  • Stuffing. Good stuffing is key to a successful Thanksgiving dinner. ...
  • Mashed potatoes. ...
  • Green bean casserole. ...
  • Corn casserole. ...
  • Sweet potato casserole. ...
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Nov 2, 2022

What is everyone's favorite Thanksgiving food? ›

Thanksgiving is just around the corner and though the turkey (or ham) might take top billing, everyone knows the sides are the true stars of the table. What would our national holiday be without stuffing and sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes and mac and cheese, green beans and rolls?

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