3 Holiday Dinner Recipes To Feed Your Family for Less Than $25

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The holidays are about family, not $200 grocery bills. With a few pantry staples and less than $25, Dollar Tree can offer a full holiday meal that actually feels special.

The below budget-friendly recipes have been simplified so you can feed a group while saving money.

Turkey Dinner

Thanksgiving may have passed already, but you can used this recipe, inspired by The Tipsy Housewife, to whip up a Christmas dinner. This traditional plate serves four to six people for about $22 to $25. It includes turkey with gravy, mashed potatoes, stuffing, green bean casserole and candied yams.

Turkey and Gravy

• Canned white turkey in water (four to six cans): $5 to $7.50 (swap with canned chicken if unavailable)
• Campbell’s turkey gravy (two packets): $2.50
• Chicken broth (two cans): $2.50 (available at select stores)
• Olive oil: $1.25

Cook turkey in a skillet with oil and seasonings. Make gravy with broth and reserved liquid, then simmer together.

Mashed Potatoes

• Idahoan buttery mashed potatoes (two packets): $3.00

Cook as directed on packaging using broth instead of water. Drizzle with oil and season.

Stuffing

• McTrader Stuffing Mix (two boxes): $2.50 (available at select stores)

Prepare with broth and oil. Bake at 375 F for 15 to 20 minutes.

Green Bean Casserole

• Green Del Monte green beans (two cans): $2.50
• Campbell’s cream of mushroom soup (one can): $1.25

Mix soup, broth and seasonings with green beans. Top with stuffing, drizzle with oil and bake 30 to 35 minutes.

Candied Yams

• Bruce’s yams in syrup (two cans): $2.50
• Libby’s chunk pineapple (one can): $1.25
• C&H brown sugar: $1.25 (available at select stores)

Toss yams with brown sugar, pineapple juice and oil. Bake at 350 F for 30 to 35 minutes, until the syrup thickens and the tops are slightly golden.

Sausage Dinner

A cozy dinner-and-dessert holiday spread for about $19 to $20, inspired by That Lisa Dawn.

Sausage Hand Pies

• Frozen ground sausage: $1.25 (available at select stores)
• Frozen seasoning blend: $1.25 (available at select stores)
• Green Giant mixed vegetables (one can): $1.25
• Spice Trader brown gravy mix (two packets): $2.50
• All-purpose flour: $1.25
• Margarine (two sticks or 8 ounces): $1

Cook sausage with seasoning blend. Add veggies and gravy. Make dough from flour, margarine and water. Fill, fold and bake.

Cheesy Corn Muffins

• Jiffy corn muffin mix: 75 cents
• Cream-style corn: $1.25
• Cheddar cheese block: $1.25

Mix ingredients, bake as directed on packaging.

Broccoli and Risotto

• Frozen broccoli cuts: $1.25 (available at select stores)
• Risotto rice with cheese mix: $1.25 (available at select stores)

Roast broccoli with oil. Cook risotto as directed on packaging.

Mashed Potatoes and Gravy

• Idahoan Four-Cheese mashed potatoes: $1.50

Cook potatoes, whisk gravy and heat.

Hazelnut or Jam Desserts

• Hazelnut cocoa spread: $1.25
• Strawberry-vanilla jam: $1.25  (available at select stores)
• Leftover dough (from hand pies)

Spread dough with hazelnut or jam, roll or sandwich, then bake.

Ham Dinner

A no-bake, stovetop Christmas meal that feeds four for under $20, inspired by Dollar Tree Dinners.

Raspberry Cream Cheese Dip

• Cream cheese-style blend: $1.25 (or if this is out of stock, you could use the Philadelphia brand for $3)
• Raspberry preserves: $1.50
• Crackers: $1.25

Soften cream cheese, top with preserve and serve with crackers.

Ham and Potato Skillet

• Smoked deli ham (two packs): $2.50 (available at select stores)
• Potatoes au gratin or scalloped (two boxes): $2.50 (available at select stores)
• Margarine (two sticks or 8 ounces): $1
• Whole milk: $1.25

Cube ham and sear. Add water, milk, margarine and potatoes. Simmer 15 minutes.

Ginger Snap Trifle With Caramel

• Ginger snap cookies: $1.25
• Vanilla pudding mix (two boxes): $2.50 (available at select stores)
• C&H brown sugar: $1.25 (available at select stores)
• Margarine (from above)
• Milk (from above)

Melt margarine, brown sugar and milk in a saucepan. Boil for three minutes to create a caramel sauce. Prepare the pudding with slightly less milk for a thicker texture. In a dish, layer cookies, pudding and caramel. Refrigerate for at least one hour or until the layers are set.

Editor’s note: Pricing and availability may vary depending on location.

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