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A crowd-pleasing, show-stopping Thanksgiving dinner doesn’t have to break the bank. Don’t believe us? Our very own Nicole McLaughlin made a traditional holiday meal—complete with an appetizer, sides, dinner, dessert, and a festive cocktail—for under $100.
“And this is for more than just a small family of four,” she says, “You can feed at least eight people with a complete Thanksgiving dinner.”
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Grandma’s Cornbread Dressing
Kick things off with this basic cornbread dressing recipe. Plus, it’s grandma-approved!
“I like this because it’s subtly sweet, and these two boxes are about 65 cents each,” Nicole says.
Green Bean Casserole
Allrecipes/Julia Hartbeck
“The green bean casserole is done the old-school, grandma’s way, and it’s the cheapest way to go,” Nicole says of this 4-ingredient, $7 dish.
Classic Candied Sweet Potatoes
Allrecipes / Qi Ai
For this classic recipe, you’ll need just a stick of butter, some brown sugar, and about $4’s worth of sweet potatoes.
“These are so good,” according to Nicole. “They’re the perfect sweet that doesn’t taste like dessert, and the sauce underneath will thicken slightly into a very thin glaze.”
Oven-Roasted Turkey Breast
Allrecipes Video
Now it’s time for the main event. Instead of a whole turkey, Nicole opted for a $26 turkey breast and $5 chicken legs. She seasoned both meats with garlic, salt, sage, Italian seasoning blend, and paprika, then roasted them over onions until they were crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside.
“The turkey breast is less intimidating to cook, it’s going to take up less oven space, and it’s the part that everybody likes the most, and it’s just as affordable,” says Nicole.
Pumpkin Pie Dump Cake
Peyton Beckwith
“This dessert has a buttery, crackly cake top with a creamy pumpkin pie-like filling underneath,” Nicole says of this crowd-pleasing, budget-friendly recipe.
Hawaiian Rolls
Nicole elevates a $3 package of Hawaiian rolls by brushing them with butter, sprinkling them with garlic powder and salt, and popping them in the oven for just 5 minutes.
Canned Cranberry Sauce
DebbiSmirnoff/Getty Images
Of course, canned cranberry sauce is a Thanksgiving necessity. Slice it into the iconic jellied discs or mash it up to give it a homemade look.
Baked Brie with Jalapeno and Cranberry
Allrecipes Video
You can never go wrong with a baked brie appetizer. Nicole tops her wheel with a mixture canned cranberry sauce, chopped jalapeño, a splash of balsamic vinegar, and a pinch of salt. She serves it with homemade crostini (oven-toasted baguette slices).
Apple Cider Spritz
Allrecipes Video
Skip the traditional orange juice-based mimosa for a festive cocktail. Simply rim a Champagne flute with cinnamon-sugar, add 2 ounces of apple cider, then top it with prosecco. Garnish with an apple slice and get the party started!
