How I Make a $20 Dollar Tree Thanksgiving Dinner Feed 5-8 People

Thanksgiving is a time for sharing, gratitude, and, of course, delicious food. But what if you're working with a limited budget? Can you pull off a Thanksgiving dinner for a family of five with just $20? I decided to put it to the test at my local Dollar Tree and see if I could create a meal, including dessert, for less than $20. Spoiler alert: it was a success!

Setting the Budget

I live in Tennessee, where food taxes apply, so I aimed for $20 pre-tax. After some change digging, I headed to Dollar Tree with my list in hand and a mission to create a memorable meal for my family of five. Surprisingly, I even managed to fit dessert into the budget! Here’s how it went down.

Shopping at Dollar Tree

When I arrived at Dollar Tree, I grabbed a few key items right off the bat:

• Two boxes of stuffing mix
• Canned turkey (yes, they had turkey!)
• Mashed potatoes
• Green beans
• Seasoning blend with onions, celery, and bell peppers
• A graham cracker pie crust
• Pudding mix
• Oreo-style cookies for dessert

In the end, I swapped out the shredded cheese I initially picked for some premium shells and cheese dinner, and I also added some ham trimmings for extra flavor in the sides. I even snagged a packet of cheddar garlic biscuit mix, thinking it would be a nice addition to the spread.

Dessert First: Oreo Pudding Pie

I started with dessert because it needed time to set.

Using a food processor, I crushed the cookies into a crumbly topping, saving a few for decoration.

Then, I mixed the pudding with just two cups of milk to make it thicker and poured it into the graham cracker pie crust.

Into the fridge it went to chill for a couple of hours while I moved on to the main event.

The Main Dish: Turkey Stuffing Balls

For the main dish, I combined canned turkey, stuffing mix, and turkey gravy.

I didn’t drain the turkey because the broth helped moisten the stuffing.

After adding a bit of water and letting the stuffing fluff up, I used an ice cream scooper to form stuffing balls.

These went into the oven at 375°F for about 20 minutes, until the outside was crispy.

Savory Green Beans with Ham

Next, I tackled the green beans.

I sautéed the seasoning blend and ham trimmings in a little oil until everything started browning and smelling delicious.

Once the ham was crispy, I added the green beans (juice and all) to let it all simmer together. The result? Flavor-packed green beans that paired perfectly with the rest of the meal.

Sides: Biscuits, Shells & Cheese, and Mashed Potatoes

While the green beans cooked, I prepared the sides. The cheddar garlic biscuits were super easy—just a mix of milk and water with the biscuit mix, baked for 12 minutes.

I also whipped up the shells and cheese, following the package instructions but leaving a bit of cooking water to keep the pasta from drying out.

For the mashed potatoes, I brought water and the last of my milk to a boil, added a pat of butter, and mixed in the potato flakes.

I like my mashed potatoes a little thinner than the box instructions, and these turned out perfect—creamy but not overly thick.

Time to Feast!

When everything was done, I plated the meal: turkey stuffing balls with gravy, seasoned green beans, cheddar garlic biscuits, creamy mashed potatoes, shells and cheese, and, of course, the Oreo pudding pie. The whole spread looked way better than you'd expect from Dollar Tree ingredients!

Taste Test

We sat down to eat, and I have to say, it was delicious! The stuffing balls were moist and flavorful, the green beans had a savory kick thanks to the ham, and the mashed potatoes were just right. The biscuits were soft and buttery, and even the shells and cheese—though not gourmet—were tasty. The Oreo pie was a hit with the kids, who couldn't believe it came from Dollar Tree ingredients.

Final Thoughts

So, can you make a full Thanksgiving dinner for $20 at Dollar Tree in 2024? Absolutely! Not only did we have enough food for our family of five, but there were leftovers that could easily serve a couple more people:

While it might not be a traditional turkey with all the trimmings, this meal was filling, flavorful, and festive.

Next up, I’m planning to try the same challenge with a $20 Walmart Thanksgiving dinner. Stay tuned for that, and remember, no matter your budget, you can create a delicious meal with a little creativity!

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!