5 Dishes From Dollar Tree Dinners You Need on Your Thanksgiving Table To Save Money
Written by
Laura Beck
Edited by
Molly Sullivan
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TikToker “Dollar Tree Dinners” proved you can serve a complete Thanksgiving feast for a fraction of traditional costs. She created a full holiday meal using only Dollar Tree ingredients, transforming budget items into dishes that look and taste impressive.
Here are five Thanksgiving recipes from her channel that deliver holiday flavor without the premium grocery store prices.
No-Bake Apple Crumble Dessert
Ingredients:
- Chewy granola bars
- Apple pie filling
- Vegetable oil or margarine
Price: Approximately $3 to $4
This dessert hack skips expensive pie crusts and complicated baking. Crush the granola bars and mix with a small amount of oil or melted margarine to create a crumb topping. Heat the apple pie filling until warm, then top with the granola crumble.
Turkey With Gravy
Ingredients:
- 2 cans premium canned turkey (or chicken if turkey is unavailable)
- 2 cans turkey gravy mix
Price: Approximately $4 to $5
Canned turkey gets a bad reputation, but Dollar Tree Dinners transforms it into a centerpiece-worthy dish. Drain the canned turkey (or chicken) and place it in a pot. Pour the gravy over the turkey and heat through.
Turkey Stuffing
Ingredients:
- Stuffing (if available)
- Turkey broth from the canned turkey (reserved from turkey recipe above)
Price: Approximately $1.25
Instead of buying expensive butter for boxed stuffing, Dollar Tree Dinners uses the reserved broth from the canned turkey. This adds turkey flavor throughout the stuffing while eliminating the need for additional fat.
Prepare the stuffing mix according to package directions, substituting turkey broth for the butter and liquid called for in the instructions. The broth keeps the stuffing moist while intensifying the savory turkey taste.
Mashed Potatoes
Ingredients:
Price: Approximately $1.50
Instant mashed potatoes get dismissed as inferior to fresh, but Idahoan brand are creamy, flavorful results when prepared correctly.
Pro-tip: Don’t over-mix and add the correct water-to-potato ratio. Many people add too much water, creating gluey potatoes. Measure precisely and the texture rivals homemade. For Thanksgiving, consider adding a small amount of garlic powder or dried herbs from Dollar Tree to elevate the flavor beyond basic instant potatoes.
Green Beans
Ingredients:
Price: Approximately $1.25
The easiest side dish on the table requires zero preparation. Just season how you like, heat and serve!
This is the dish to assign yourself when you’re already juggling multiple recipes and need something foolproof that won’t occupy stovetop or oven space for long.
The Total Cost Breakdown
This complete Thanksgiving meal costs approximately $11 to $13 total at Dollar Tree:
- Apple crumble dessert: $3 to $4
- Turkey with gravy: $4 to $5
- Stuffing: $1.25
- Mashed potatoes: $1.25
- Green beans: $1.25
Compare that to a traditional Thanksgiving dinner that can easily cost $50 to $100-plus depending on whether you’re buying organic turkey, fresh vegetables and bakery pies.
Editor’s note: Pricing is accurate as of Nov. 17, 2025. Pricing and availability are subject to change.
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