This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
When the holidays start creeping in, I always look for ways to make Thanksgiving feel warm, homemade, and memorable without spending a fortune. Over the years I’ve shared full Thanksgiving dinners, budget-friendly menus, slow cooker soups, easy sides, and desserts that work for any family size or budget.
This guide pulls together all of my best Thanksgiving recipes and videos in one place so you can build your perfect holiday menu without the stress.
Whether you want a full dinner under 25 dollars, a complete start-to-finish feast, or just a few simple sides and desserts, you’ll find it here. Mix and match recipes, follow one of my full menu videos, or use this as your holiday gameplan.
Shop My Cookbooks
Make It Simple – My New Cookbook Is Available Now
These Thanksgiving recipes are budget-friendly, beginner-friendly, and perfect for a calm holiday. Inside this roundup you’ll find full Thanksgiving dinners, classic sides, desserts, slow cooker soups, and practical cooking timelines. Everything is built with simple ingredients, affordable grocery ideas, and steps that keep the day running smoothly.
Why You’ll Love These Thanksgiving Recipes..
These recipes prove that Thanksgiving doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive to taste amazing. Everything here uses simple, accessible ingredients and beginner-friendly steps, but still feels comforting and homemade. Whether you want a full feast or just a few sides, you’ll find easy, reliable dishes that come together smoothly and help you enjoy the day instead of stressing over it.
- Uses simple, affordable ingredients
- Perfect for both small families and large gatherings
- Beginner-friendly instructions in each linked recipe
- Make-ahead and slow cooker options to save oven space
- Mix-and-match menus for any holiday
- Evergreen recipes you can use for Thanksgiving, Friendsgiving, or Christmas
- Each category links directly to full recipes on my site
👉 Related Recipe Categories:
• Slow Cooker Recipes
• Desserts
Made With Love,
Julia’s Thanksgiving Gameplan Videos
These three videos are the heart of this roundup. You can follow one from start to finish or pull ideas from each.
1. How Made My Family A Thanksgiving Dinner for Just 25 Dollars
A full Thanksgiving meal on a tiny budget. Practical, simple, and great for small families or anyone wanting to save money.
2. How to Make a FULL Thanksgiving Dinner (Easy Start-to-Finish Feast)
This is my full Thanksgiving gameplan in one video. I walk you step-by-step through the entire feast, including the cooking timeline, oven organization, make-ahead prep, and the order everything should be cooked. It keeps the day calm, simple, and completely manageable for busy families.
3. Full Christmas $20 Holiday Dinner
Even though this video is Christmas themed, the full menu works beautifully for Thanksgiving too. It includes an affordable main dish, several make-ahead sides, a few cozy casseroles, and a simple dessert lineup. Great if you want a holiday meal that feels comforting and doable without overspending
Thanksgiving Mains
These recipes are simple, budget-friendly, and perfect for small or medium-sized gatherings.
- Juicy Slow Cooker Turkey with Mashed Potatoes
https://www.juliapacheco.com/juicy-slow-cooker-turkey-with-mashed-potatoes/ - Easy Turkey Stuffing Casserole
https://www.juliapacheco.com/chicken-stuffing-casserole/ - 5 Cheap & Easy Dinners Using Boxed Stuffing (5 Recipe Ideas)
https://www.juliapacheco.com/5-easy-meals-using-boxed-stuffing/
Thanksgiving Sides
These sides match perfectly with any main dish and are easy to prep ahead.
Video: 5 Must-Make Thanksgiving Side Dishes
- Creamy Twice Baked Mashed Potatoes
https://www.juliapacheco.com/twice-baked-potato-casserole/ - Garlic & Herb Mashed Potatoes
https://www.juliapacheco.com/garlic-herb-mashed-potatoes/ - Homemade Cranberry Sauce
https://www.juliapacheco.com/homemade-cranberry-sauce/ - Easy Thanksgiving Stuffing
https://www.juliapacheco.com/easy-thanksgiving-stuffing/ - Traditional Thanksgiving Stuffing
https://www.juliapacheco.com/traditional-thanksgiving-stuffing/ - Sweet Potato Casserole with Marshmallows
https://www.juliapacheco.com/sweet-potato-casserole-with-marshmallows/ - Southern Sweet Potato Casserole
https://www.juliapacheco.com/southern-sweet-potato-casserole/ - Corn Casserole
https://www.juliapacheco.com/corn-casserole/ - Easy One Hour Dinner Rolls
https://www.juliapacheco.com/easy-one-hour-dinner-rolls/
Perfect Thanksgiving Desserts
From classic flavors to fun twists, these desserts work for any holiday table.
Video: 6 AMAZING Dump Cake Recipes
Pumpkin Pie Bars | Mixed Berry Cobbler | S’mores Dump Cake | Pineapple Upside-Down Cake | Cinnabon Cake | Pumpkin Crumble Dump Cake | Reese’s Peanut Butter Cake | Strawberry Pretzel Dessert
Cozy Holiday Slow Cooker Soups
Perfect for Thanksgiving week, feeding guests, stretching leftovers, or easy dinners all season long.
Video: 15 BEST CROCKPOT SOUPS
Chicken-Based Soups
Marry Me Chicken Soup | Chicken Noodle Soup | Chicken Tortilla Soup | White Chicken Chili | Crack Chicken Soup
Beef-Based Soups & Chilis
Taco Soup | Easy Slow Cooker Beef Stew | Classic Chili | Lasagna Soup | 8 Can Taco Soup
Pork-Based Soup
Vegetarian Soups
Slow Cooker Lentil Soup | Broccoli Cheese Soup | Creamy Potato Soup
Mixed Protein / Sausage
Italian Vegetable and Sausage Soup
Tips and Tricks for a Smooth, Affordable Thanksgiving ↓↓
Create a simple timeline for your holiday cooking so you aren’t juggling everything at once. Plan what can be done two or three days ahead, what gets finished the day before, and which dishes are cooked on Thanksgiving. Even a small written checklist makes the whole day feel smoother and more organized. If you are cooking with family, divide tasks so everyone has one main responsibility.
Instead of making too many mains, choose one centerpiece dish and build your menu around it with affordable sides like potatoes, rolls, and casseroles. Use pantry staples wherever possible and allow yourself one or two special ingredients to elevate the meal without overspending. Leftovers stretch even further when you turn them into slow cooker soups the next day.
You don’t have to rely on the oven alone. Slow cookers, stovetop burners, air fryers, and even the grill can help free up space. Make desserts and rolls the day before so nothing important gets bumped last minute. While the turkey or main dish rests, reheat sides in casseroles so everything is served warm at the same time.
Many components can be made ahead of time. Mashed potatoes, stuffing bases, vegetable casseroles, and desserts all hold well overnight. Prepping small things in advance, like chopping vegetables or mixing toppings, saves time and reduces holiday stress. Leftovers store easily and make great next-day meals, especially when turned into soups or sandwiches.
Serve one or two soups early in the day as a warm starter.
Pair turkey or ham with two starches and one vegetable for simplicity.
Rolls make everything feel bigger and more filling.
Desserts can be served chilled, warm, or made ahead depending on oven space.
Almost all sides can be made 24 hours ahead and reheated.
Casseroles reheat beautifully and travel well.
Soups freeze for up to three months and make great leftover meals.
Desserts like bars and dump cakes stay fresh for several days.
