Best Cheap Thanksgiving Recipes to Feed a Crowd – 2025 Holiday Edition

Introduction

A memorable Thanksgiving feast doesn’t have to break the bank. With strategic planning and a few creative, budget-friendly recipes, you can prepare a plentiful meal that keeps your guests coming back for seconds—all without overstretching your holiday budget. This 2025 Holiday Edition of the best cheap Thanksgiving recipes will help you serve a delicious, crowd-pleasing dinner that feels abundant and festive.

Why These Cheap Thanksgiving Recipes Are Perfect for Your Crowd

Each recipe in this roundup relies on affordable pantry staples, seasonal produce, and clever cooking techniques to stretch your dollar further—without sacrificing flavor. They’re designed to serve a crowd, scale easily, and offer all the classic Thanksgiving comfort for less. Think herby stuffing, savory casseroles, fluffy biscuits, and hearty roasted vegetables. With these money-saving dishes, everyone at your table will feel grateful and satisfied.

Featured Recipe: Herb & Onion Bread Stuffing

The true hero of any Thanksgiving table? A classic, homemade bread stuffing. This affordable side is irresistible with its crisp top and moist, fragrant center—plus it pairs beautifully with almost any main course. You can easily double or triple the batch for a big gathering, and it utilizes day-old bread, making it as frugal as it is flavorful.

Ingredients

• 1 large loaf day-old sandwich bread (about 16 slices), cubed
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter
• 2 large onions, diced
• 3 ribs celery, diced
• 2 teaspoons dried sage
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley (or 2 tablespoons dried)
• 2 cups low-sodium chicken or vegetable broth
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• 2 large eggs, beaten

💡Meal Planning Tip: Save this recipe with CookifyAI to automatically generate an organized shopping list—ingredients sorted by store section for the easiest holiday meal prep yet.

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease a large casserole dish.
2. Spread bread cubes onto a baking sheet. Toast in the oven for 10 minutes until lightly crisped, then transfer to a large mixing bowl.
3. In a skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Add onions and celery; sauté until soft, about 8 minutes. Stir in dried sage, thyme, and parsley; cook 1 minute more.
4. Pour the sautéed vegetables and herbs over bread cubes. Add broth, eggs, salt, and pepper. Toss gently until well combined (mixture should be moist but not soggy—add more broth if needed).
5. Transfer to the prepared casserole dish. Bake uncovered for 35–40 minutes, until top is golden and stuffing is heated through. Serve hot straight from the oven.

More Budget-Friendly Thanksgiving Recipes to Try

• Brown Sugar Roasted Carrots: Sweet and caramelized with just a bit of butter and pantry spices.
• Creamy Green Bean Casserole: Made with frozen green beans and a homemade mushroom sauce for max flavor, minimal price.
• Savory Skillet Cornbread: No-fail, extra-moist, and can be cut into hearty squares for a crowd.
• Garlic Mashed Potatoes: Using russet potatoes and basic seasonings, this filling side is always a hit.
• Slow Cooker Turkey Breast: Small bone-in turkey breasts are cost-effective and ensure juicy, flavorful meat without the fuss.
• Pumpkin Pie Pudding Cups: All the spiced goodness in single-serve cups—cheaper and easier than baking pies from scratch.

Weekly Meal Planning

These cheap Thanksgiving recipes aren’t just for the holiday—they’re perfect for meal prepping, Friendsgiving, or any big family event. Save and schedule your favorite recipes with CookifyAI to autofill your shopping list, plan your prep timeline, and even scale up the ingredients for larger groups.

Planning Benefits:

• Auto-calculate total ingredient amounts across all your holiday recipes
• Consolidate items and organize your master grocery list by store section
• Spend less time at the store—no duplicate purchases or forgotten items
• Reduce food waste and streamline your prep day

Pro tip: When you plan your full Thanksgiving menu in CookifyAI, overlapping quantities (like butter, onions, or eggs) are calculated for you, so shopping and prepping for a crowd is easier—and cheaper—than ever.

Cook and Prep Times

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour

Recap: Best Cheap Thanksgiving Recipes for 2025

This year, give thanks for flavor, abundance, and savings. These wallet-friendly Thanksgiving recipes are proof that feeding a crowd can be simple, satisfying, and celebration-worthy. With the right planning and a few trusty recipes, you’ll impress your guests and keep your budget happy—making this holiday one to remember.

Happy Thanksgiving—and enjoy your feast!