Thanksgiving has a way of making your wallet feel like the uninvited guest. Turkey, sides, pies and a table big enough for ten can add up fast, and the cost of hosting is the question nobody wants to ask out loud.
Fortunately, your holiday dinner doesn’t have to be a financial disaster. Walmart’s shelves hold everything a crowd-pleasing spread requires, and the whole thing can come in under $100.
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Think of it as a feast without the financial hangover. You can build your cart from scratch or start with Walmart’s annual Thanksgiving meal basket and tweak it to your liking. Either way, the classics stay on the table, and your bank account stays off the carving station.
Turkey, Gravy and Cranberry
The average price for this must-have is about $13.14 ($0.97 per pound). A 10- to 16-pound Butterball Turkey can serve upwards of 11 guests. It’s pre-brined, minimally processed, contains no artificial ingredients and is perfectly dressed with a bit of cranberry sauce ($2.47 per can) or gravy ($1.98 per jar).
Stove Top Turkey Stuffing Twin Pack
Ready in just five minutes, the Stove Top turkey stuffing mix is ideal for a quick, easy and coveted Thanksgiving side dish. A 6-ounce box and contains 12 servings, so two boxes would be enough for all your guests to get a scoop.
Mashed Potatoes
The classic move is mashing with milk and butter, but russets are flexible, so mash them however you like. The milk and butter you buy for this dish will have plenty left over to use for other stuff. No matter what you do with them, a 5-pound bag is enough for 10 people to get their share.
Green Bean Casserole
Though you may need a few other common ingredients (like the milk you bought for the mashed potatoes) to whip this together, you can put this popular dish together for less than $5 at Walmart. Prices may vary by sale or location, but if you stick with Great Value for the green beans and onions, you’ll come in under budget.
Mac & Cheese and Other Optional Carb-Filled Sides
These are no-brainers, as they are all ready to go, with very little need for cheffing. Plus, it fills out your table with delicious variety, making sure everyone gets something they love.
2 Pumpkin Pies
There’s always room for dessert, even in the budget. You can make classic pumpkin pies, and you don’t even have to skimp on the ice cream. Everyone knows the only thing that makes pumpkin pie better is a scoop of ice cream, and this is the lowest-effort upgrade on the entire list.
The Bottom Line
Ten people, one table and a grand total of $92.78. That’s about $9.28 a head for a full Thanksgiving spread, with enough left over to make the leftovers an actual perk. Prices shift by store and by sale, so check your cart before checkout, but the math holds: you can host the whole crew without wrecking your budget.
Editor’s note: Prices and availability are subject to change.
This article was provided by MoneyLion.com for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, legal or tax advice.
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