The smell of turkey roasting in the oven, a pumpkin pie cooling on the windowsill, and leaves falling outside means it must be time to celebrate Thanksgiving!
If you’re hosting a Thanksgiving celebration, what’s meant to be a time of giving often winds up being a time to ruminate how expensive it can be to host a big dinner. Ditch the stress and celebrate with these tips to keep your wallet in check this Turkey Day.
The Main Course
We all know which must-have dish gets the center of the table on Thanksgiving. Fortunately, you can keep the main course on the menu without compromising your budget.
Turkey
One of the hallmarks of Thanksgiving is that sleepy feeling you get after eating your big celebration meal - a sensation caused by the tryptophan found in your turkey. No holiday celebration would be complete without it!
Turkey generally costs around $2.36 per pound. You can feed 10 people for as little as $23.60.
You can prepare turkey in several ways.
- Roasted (classic never goes out of style)
- Deep-fried (it’s easier than you think!)
- Spatchcocked (this means split down the breastbone and laid flat)
- Bacon-wrapped (we know, this suggestion is totally drool-worthy!)
Pro-tip: check with your grocery store to see if they offer the option to trade in your grocery points for a free bird. Then, you won’t spend a dime!
Side Dishes
Many food lovers believe the real stars of Thanksgiving are the side dishes. It’s easy to keep them delicious and budget friendly. When planning your Turkey Day menu, consider what’s in season. That should be an easy task - most of the classic sides you love happen to be made with in-season ingredients.
Potatoes
You can’t stuff yourself on Thanksgiving properly without potatoes. These starchy tubers are highly affordable at around $0.96 per pound.
You can prepare potatoes in countless ways.
- Roasted with herbs
- Baked with butter
- Mashed with garlic and cream
- Sliced and scalloped in a casserole
- All of the above!
Sweet Potatoes
A staple on a southern Thanksgiving table, but delicious served anywhere, sweet potatoes ring up at about $0.65 per pound.
Depending on who’s cooking, you might even find multiple sweet potato options at your Thanksgiving Day meal!
- As a pie
- In a casserole
- Roasted with butter
- Twice-baked with cinnamon
- Mashed with butter and cream
Green Beans
Canned, frozen, or fresh, chances are your Thanksgiving table features green beans. They cost about $2.13 per pound fresh.
Get creative with your side dishes this year. Try one of the ideas below:
- Classic green bean casserole
- Green beans almondine (just a fancy way of saying they’re sautéed and topped with toasted slivered almonds)
- Roasted with garlic and shallots
Carrots
The other orange veggie making its way to your table can be cooked in a variety of ways. And, carrots can be prepped ahead of time, saving you precious minutes day of. They cost about $0.70 per pound fresh.
You can chop and steam your carrots or try one of the yummy options below:
- Roasted with thyme
- Honey-glazed
- Sautéed with butter and chives
- Parmesan-crusted
Corn
Likely the only thing we eat today that was actually served at the first Thanksgiving dinner, corn can’t be left off your menu. Since late November is past the season for fresh corn off the cob, you’ll probably end up using canned or frozen corn. Regardless, there’s a ton of ways to prepare it:
- Keep it simple by steaming and serving with butter
- Whip up a cornbread or corn pudding (this is likely how the corn was served at the first Thanksgiving)
- Creamed corn
- Sauteed with onions, garlic, and herbs
Don’t Forget Dessert
Pies are a ubiquitous Thanksgiving dessert. When it comes to your wallet, the most budget-friendly options are apple and pumpkin because they’re both in season at this time of year! Apples and canned pumpkin puree both cost around $2.00 per pound. Pre-made refrigerated pie dough is also affordable, coming in at around $4.00 for two crusts.
How to Save Money Hosting Thanksgiving Dinner
- Make a list and check it twice. Making a shopping list and sticking to it is one of the best ways to keep to your holiday food budget.
- Check the local ads.Plan your meals around the sales at your local grocery stores or shop strategically to find the foods that fit your menu.
- Shop your pantry. Double check your stock at home before buying more of what you have.
- Avoid specialty ingredients.Consider using recipes that don’t require any herbs or spices you don’t regularly use.
- Dollar store décor. Peruse your local dollar store to find the perfect Thanksgiving decor.
- Stay in season. Filling your Thanksgiving menu with lots of in-season ingredients will inherently cost you less.
Don’t stress about money during the holidays. You cooked for Thanksgiving on a budget and delivered a sensational meal!
Want to save even more while you’re shopping? Make your Thanksgiving meal purchases with our Founder’s Rewards Card, which allows you to earn 2%* or 1.5% cash rewards on every purchase.
Want to learn how to save after Turkey Day? Find more money management tips and resources on our website.
*You can earn 1.5% cash rewards on purchases. You can earn 2% cash rewards on purchases if you maintain a PSECU checking account and qualifying monthly direct deposit(s) of at least $500. Some exclusions may apply. See the Visa® Founder's Card and Visa® Alumni Rewards Card Rewards Program Terms and Conditions for full details.