Cheap & Easy Thanksgiving Recipes
Introduction
Thanksgiving doesn’t have to mean fussing for hours over elaborate dishes or spending big at the grocery store. With these Cheap & Easy Thanksgiving Recipes, you’ll have a crowd-pleasing and delicious holiday meal on the table without stressing your wallet or your schedule. From savory sides to a show-stopping main, these simple recipes prove that affordable cooking can still deliver big on flavor and tradition.
The Secret to Affordable Thanksgiving Dishes
What makes these recipes stand out is their focus on minimal, pantry-friendly ingredients, cost-effective proteins, and smart use of classic flavors. By embracing simplified versions of timeless Thanksgiving dishes, you can serve up heartwarming comfort food that everyone loves—without any compromise on taste or festive spirit.
No-Fuss Roast Turkey Breast
Instead of committing to a whole turkey, this recipe uses a bone-in turkey breast glazed with pantry staples, ensuring juicy meat every time. It’s quick to prep, affordable, and bakes faster—freeing up your oven for all those easy sides.
Classic Stove Top Stuffing with a Twist
Boxed stuffing gets a homemade boost with sautéed onions, celery, and a sprinkle of dried herbs. It’s ready in 30 minutes, and nobody will guess you took the easy route!
Simple Garlic Green Beans
Fresh or frozen green beans are sautéed in olive oil with plenty of garlic and a handful of sliced almonds. Just as festive as those creamy casseroles, but cheaper and lighter.
Easy Mashed Potatoes
Russet potatoes, a touch of butter, and milk—that’s all you need for traditional, fluffy mashed potatoes. For an extra-cheap hack, keep the skins on for both flavor and added nutrients.
Quick Pumpkin Pie Bars
Skip the pie crust and complicated steps: these bars layer spiced pumpkin filling atop a simple graham cracker base for all the classic flavors in a budget-friendly package.
Thanksgiving on a Budget: The Complete Menu
This selection covers everything you need for a classic Thanksgiving celebration—from the turkey and stuffing to sides and dessert. Each recipe is designed with cost, convenience, and flavor in mind, making your holiday meal both memorable and manageable.
Ingredients
💡Meal Planning Tip: Save this menu on CookifyAI to automatically generate a smart, sorted shopping list for your Thanksgiving feast—making budgeting and grocery trips as quick and organized as possible!
Instructions
- No-Fuss Roast Turkey Breast: Preheat oven to 375°F. Rub turkey with olive oil, herbs, salt, pepper, and minced garlic. Place in a baking dish and roast for 70–90 minutes, or until juices run clear and internal temperature reaches 165°F. Let rest 10 minutes before slicing.
- Classic Stove Top Stuffing: Melt butter in a skillet. Sauté onion and celery until soft. Prepare stuffing mix as package directs, adding sautéed vegetables and herbs.
- Simple Garlic Green Beans: Heat oil in skillet. Add green beans; cook 5–7 minutes until tender. Stir in garlic (and almonds if using); sauté another 2–3 minutes. Season and serve.
- Easy Mashed Potatoes: Boil cubed potatoes until fork-tender. Drain and mash with butter, milk, salt, and pepper to desired consistency.
- Quick Pumpkin Pie Bars: Combine crushed graham crackers with melted butter; press into an 8×8-inch baking dish. Mix pumpkin, eggs, sugar, and spices; pour over crust. Bake at 350°F for 30–35 minutes. Cool before slicing into bars.
Weekly Meal Planning
Want to make Thanksgiving cooking even easier? Save and schedule this full menu on CookifyAI to see all your ingredients at a glance, plan prep ahead of time, and generate a unified shopping list for the entire holiday—and any other meals you’re preparing that week.
Planning Benefits:
– Automatically calculates total ingredient needs for all recipes
– Organizes grocery lists by store sections for efficient shopping
– Prevents overbuying and forgotten items
– Streamlines meal prepping on busy holiday weeks
Pro tip: Use CookifyAI to plan leftover-friendly recipes after Thanksgiving so nothing goes to waste and your budget stretches further.
Cook and Prep Times
Prep Time: 45 minutes (total, for all recipes)
Cook Time: 2 hours (total, can overlap for efficiency)
Total Time: 2 hours 30 minutes