With inflation and EBT cuts, Cheap holiday meals can feel impossible. But you don’t need to spend big to make something cozy, delicious, and meaningful. These five meals each cost under $8 total and use budget-friendly ingredients you can find anywhere.

🦃 1. Whole Turkey Dinner (and Leftovers for Days)

Main Meal Cost (based on a 10 lb turkey):

Total main meal cost: $18.50 for ~12 servings = $1.54/serving

Instructions:

1. Thaw the Turkey. If frozen, thaw in the refrigerator for 3–4 days before cooking. (Never thaw at room temperature.)

2. Preheat Oven Set your oven to 325°F (163°C).

3. Prepare the Turkey. Remove giblets and neck from inside the turkey. Rinse the bird under cool water and pat dry with paper towels.

4. Season & Stuff Aromatics Rub the turkey all over (inside and out) with softened butter, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and paprika. Place the onion, carrots, and celery inside the cavity for extra flavor.

5. Add Moisture & Cover Pour 1 cup of water or broth into the roasting pan. Cover the turkey loosely with aluminum foil.

6. Roast

   • Bake 13–15 minutes per pound at 325°F (3-5 hours depending on the size of your turkey)

   • Remove foil during the last 45 minutes to brown the skin.

   • The internal temperature should reach 165°F in the thickest part of the thigh.

7. Rest & Carve Let the turkey rest for 20–30 minutes before carving so the juices redistribute.

🧡 Budget Tips:

• Buy your turkey on sale before Thanksgiving and freeze it for Christmas. Some stores sell them for under $1 per pound in November.

• Save the bones to make homemade turkey stock — perfect for soups and casseroles. Just water and leftover veggies, onions, etc, overnight in a crockpot or Dutch oven.

Leftover Meal Ideas (stretch that turkey!):

• Turkey burritos: 2 cups turkey ($1.50), rice ($0.50), beans ($0.75), cheese ($1.00) = $3.75 total

• Turkey fried rice: 2 cups turkey ($1.50), rice ($0.50), veggies & egg ($1.00) = $3.00 total

• Turkey pasta: 2 cups turkey ($1.50), pasta ($1.00), garlic/oil/sauce ($1.00) = $3.50 total

  
  

💡 Stretch Tip: Freeze leftover turkey in 1–2 cup portions for quick dinners under $4 anytime.

🥣 2. Butternut Squash Soup | Cheap Holiday Meals

Ingredients:

Total: $6.10 (~4 servings = $1.52/serving)

Instructions:

1. Prep the SquashPeel and cube your butternut squash into 1-inch pieces (about 4 cups).

2. Sauté the Base. In a large pot, heat olive oil or butter over medium heat. Add onion and cook for 3–4 minutes until soft. Add garlic and cook for another 30 seconds.

3. Add Squash & Broth. Stir in the cubed squash and pour in the broth. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to low. Cover and simmer for 20–25 minutes, or until squash is tender.

4. Blend Until Smooth. Use an immersion directly in the pot (or carefully transfer to a blender). Blend until creamy and smooth.

5. Add Creaminess Stir in milk, cream, or coconut milk. Season with salt, pepper.

6. Serve Warm ladles into bowls and top with a drizzle of cream, roasted seeds, or croutons if you have them.

🧡 Budget Tips:

• You can use frozen cubed butternut squash to save time — it often costs the same or less.

• Leftovers freeze beautifully. Store in freezer-safe containers for up to 3 months.

• Add cooked rice or lentils for extra protein and to stretch the meal further.

🥔 3. Shepherd’s Pie

Ingredients:

Total: $7.50 (~5 servings = $1.50/serving)

Instructions:

1. Boil the Potatoes. Peel and cube potatoes, then boil in salted water for about 15 minutes, until tender. Drain and mash with butter and milk. Season with salt and pepper.

2. Cook the Meat Mixture Skillet over medium heat, cooking ground turkey or beef until browned. Drain excess fat. Add gravy packet (or broth cube) with ½ cup water. Stir in frozen vegetables. Simmer for 5 minutes until thickened.

3. Assemble the Pie. Spread the meat and veggie mixture evenly in a baking dish (8x8 or 9x9). Spoon mashed potatoes over the top and spread evenly.

4. Bake uncovered at 400°F (200°C) for 20 minutes, or until the top starts to lightly brown.

5. Serve & Enjoy Let cool for a few minutes, then serve warm.

🧡 Budget Tips:

• Use instant potatoes if you’re short on time (they cost about $1.25 per box).

• Swap in leftover turkey or chicken to cut costs even more.

• Double the recipe and freeze one for a quick weeknight meal later

💡 Tip: Make in bulk and freeze portions for quick reheats on busy nights.

🥬 4. Green Bean Casserole

Ingredients:

Total: $6.10 (~6 servings = $1.02/serving)

Instructions:

1. Preheat Oven Set your oven to 350°F (175°C) and lightly grease a 9x9 baking dish.

2. Mix Ingredients Large bowl, combine drained green beans, cream of mushroom soup, milk, and half of the fried onions. Add a dash of salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Mix well.

3. Bake Pour the mixture into your baking dish. Bake uncovered for 25 minutes or until hot and bubbly.

4. Top & Crisp Sprinkle the remaining fried onions on top and bake for an additional 5 minutes until golden brown.

5. Serve & Enjoy Serve warm as a side dish — or even as a cozy main course with bread or rice.

   
   

🧡 Budget Tips:

• Swap canned green beans for frozen (12 oz bag ≈ $1.00) to save a little more.

• Make homemade crispy onions (sliced onions + flour + oil) to cut costs to about $4.50 total.

• Add shredded turkey or chicken to make it a complete meal.

💡 Budget Swap: Use homemade fried onions (flour + sliced onions) to cut costs to $4.50 total.

🥧 5. Pumpkin Pie

Ingredients:

Total: $6.00 (~8 slices = $0.75/slice)

Instructions:

1. Preheat Oven Set your oven to 425°F (220°C).

2. Mix Filling In a large bowl, whisk together pumpkin purée, sugar, pumpkin pie spice, and eggs. Gradually stir in evaporated milk until smooth.

3. Pour & Bake Pour the mixture into the unbaked pie crust. Bake at 425°F for 15 minutes, then reduce the heat to 350°F and continue baking for 35–40 minutes or until a knife inserted near the center comes out clean.

4. Cool & Serve Let cool for at least 2 hours before serving. Add whipped cream if desired (optional, about $1 extra).

   
   

🧡 Budget Tips:

• Make your own pie crust with flour, butter, and water to save $1–$1.50.

• Canned pumpkin often goes on sale after Thanksgiving — stock up for winter baking!

💡 Tip: Bake two pies at once and freeze one. Costs just $2 more for double the dessert.

❤️ Final Thoughts

Even with prices rising, the holidays can still be delicious and meaningful. These meals prove that good food doesn’t need a big budget — just creativity, planning, and a bit of love.

This year, skip the $8 latte and feed your family instead.

Disclaimer:

All recipes provided on this blog are for informational purposes only. Kelsey Doletzky / Kelseycharmayne Photography, LLC is not responsible for any injury, illness, allergic reaction, or other issues that may occur from improper preparation, cooking, or consumption of the recipes. Always follow food safety guidelines, cook ingredients thoroughly, and check for allergens before serving.