Are you hosting Thanksgiving this year but working with a tight budget? With skyrocketing food prices, it’s all too easy to go over your budget. Fortunately, Trader Joe’s makes it affordable to serve a complete Thanksgiving feast for eight people for $75. You can enjoy everything from appetizers, a charcuterie board, sides, desserts, and a whole turkey! Read until the end to see the grand total.
Whole Turkey
Even though we are on a budget, we are going all out with our turkey- no half turkey at our party! Whole Turkey prices range from $2.49 for all-natural Turkey to $3.99 for Organic Free-Range Turkey. To stay within our budget, we will buy a $30 all-natural turkey.
That turkey size is in line with the recommended guideline of 1.5 pounds of turkey per person, and since we have 8 guests, we will need a 12-pound turkey. Trader Joe’s all-natural turkeys are vegetarian-fed, free from antibiotics and hormones, and minimally processed. Plus, it’s fresh, not frozen!
Turkey Gravy
Gravy is essential. You can buy it at Trader Joe’s for just $1.69. Preparation is easy with Trader Joe’s ready-to-heat turkey gravy—just warm it up and pour it into a gravy boat. Plus, it’s gluten-free!
Cranberry Sauce
Cranberry sauce is a staple for Thanksgiving celebrations. At Trader Joe’s, you can pick up a bottle for just $2.99.
Pumpkin Tortilla Chips and Hatch Valley Salsa
For our Thanksgiving party appetizer, we’ll be serving Pumpkin Tortilla Chips with Hatch Valley Salsa. These delicious chips are a tasty blend of sweet and savory, crafted from corn, pumpkin puree, pumpkin seeds, cinnamon, and nutmeg, all for just $2.49 a bag. Plus, it’s gluten-free and vegan! When paired with the Hatch Valley Salsa, priced at $2.99 a bottle, you’ll have an appetizer that everyone will love.
Pumpkin Cranberry Crisps
We’ll also be putting together a small charcuterie board as a Thanksgiving appetizer. It will feature Trader Joe’s Pumpkin Cranberry crisps. Priced at just $3.99 a box, these tasty crackers complement cheese beautifully.
Unexpected Cheddar Cheese
For our Thanksgiving charcuterie board, we’ll be serving Trader Joe’s Unexpected Cheddar, priced at $3.99 for a 7 oz block. This distinctive cheese resembles aged cheddar and starts off with a familiar aged cheddar flavor. However, its creamy smoothness soon gives way to a tangy taste with a slightly crumbly texture. It leads to flavors reminiscent of aged Parmesan.
Red Leicester Cheese
We will also serve Trader Joe’s Red Leicester Cheese on our Thanksgiving charcuterie board. The vibrant red will give our charcuterie board a pop of Fall colors. This distinctive cheese has a sharp, cheddar-like flavor with a hint of nuttiness. You can buy a 7 oz block of Red Leicester Cheese for just $4.99.
Thanksgiving Stuffing Popcorn
These Trader Joe’s Thanksgiving Stuffing Popcorn will add a unique twist to your Thanksgiving Charcuterie board. This savory popcorn, seasoned to taste like traditional stuffing, pairs wonderfully with cheese and pumpkin cranberry crisps. It’s only $2.99 a bag at Trader Joe’s.
Pumpkin Spiced Pretzels
These delicious Pumpkin Spice Mini-Pretzels are a great addition to your Thanksgiving charcuterie board. With their sweet and salty pumpkin flavor, these mini-pretzels are coated in yogurt. Each bag is priced at $3.49. To keep within our $75 budget, you’ll need to decide between these pumpkin spice pretzels or the Thanksgiving stuffed popcorn. Unfortunately, you can’t have both on your charcuterie board!
Cornbread Stuffing
The Cornbread Stuffing at Trader Joe’s is delicious, made from lightly seasoned toasted white bread and cornbread croutons. It is easy to make—just add water and butter for a fluffy, tasty stuffing. You can buy a box of this Cornbread Stuffing for just $4.99 at Trader Joe’s.
Pumpkin Pie
For Thanksgiving Dessert, we will serve a traditional Pumpkin Pie. Trader Joe’s delicious pumpkin pie is priced at just $6.99 each. Made with fresh pumpkin puree and encased in a tender, flaky crust, it’s sure to be a hit at your Thanksgiving table.
Apple Tart
If you’re not a big fan of Pumpkin Pie, you can serve Apple Tart and spend a dollar more. Trader Joe’s French Apple Tart is priced at $7.99. It has apple slices and apple filling nestled in a rich shortbread crust, all topped off with a light apricot glaze. Keep in mind that to stay within our $75 budget, you can only pick one pie.
Pecan Pie
If you want to splurge a bit on your Thanksgiving dessert, you can serve a Pecan Pie. It’s just $3 more than our cheapest pumpkin pie option. You can buy a delicious Pecan Pie at Trader Joe’s for $9.99. This perfectly baked pie features a crispy outer crust and a gooey, caramelized center topped with crunchy pecans. However, to stay within our $75 Thanksgiving budget, remember that we can only serve one pie. Check out 15 Easy Last Minute Thanksgiving Desserts from Costco (No Bake)
Mashed Potatoes
When it comes to Thanksgiving side dishes that are both budget-friendly and widely loved, mashed potatoes top the list. You can buy a 3 pound bag of organic gold potatoes at Trader Joe’s for just $3.99. It’s perfect for your Thanksgiving feast. Check out 35 Costco Christmas Decor Finds to Buy Before They Sell Out (with Prices)
Cornbread
Cornbread is a great side dish for Thanksgiving dinner. Trader Joe’s Cornbread mix costs $2.99. It’s easy to prepare—just add egg, milk, and oil. You’ll have delicious, sweet, cakey, and crumbly cornbread that’s perfect for your Thanksgiving spread. There is also a gluten-free version. Check out 20 Costco Toys Under $50 Perfect for Holiday Gifts (with prices)
Chocolatey Caramel Pretzel Drumstick Decorating Kit
If you’re hosting a Thanksgiving party with kids, the Chocolatey Caramel Pretzel Drumstick Decorating Kit is a fun activity. This all-in-one kit lets you create mini pretzel drumsticks covered in caramel, chocolate, and sprinkles. It’s the perfect Thanksgiving arts and crafts project to enjoy while indulging in dessert. Priced at just $4.99, the box makes 18 drumsticks. Check out 30 Christmas Gifts Under $20 at Costco to Buy Now Before They Sell Out
Our Grand Total
Our Thanksgiving dinner came to a total of $75.08, which means we went slightly over budget by just 8 cents. That’s not bad considering we are feeding eight people, making it about $9.35 per person. Plus, this includes a Thanksgiving charcuterie board set up!
Keep in mind this total is based on choosing the most economical option, which is pumpkin pie. If you decide to upgrade to either an apple tart or pecan pie, you’ll be looking at an additional $1 to $3. And if you want to include the Drumstick decorating kit, don’t forget to add an extra $4.99 to your overall budget. Check out 15 Best Trader Joe’s Food that I Can’t Live Without (Free Meal Planner)