Target’s $30 Thanksgiving Dinner for 6 (2026): What’s Included

With grocery prices going up, I’m looking for ways to keep Thanksgiving dinner affordable since I’m hosting this year. Target’s suggested Thanksgiving shopping list caught my attention: the retailer says the groceries can feed six for $30 before tax, or $5 per person.

Target’s $30 Thanksgiving dinner is complete with a turkey, three main sides, gravy, bread and cranberry sauce. But will the quantities be enough for six, and what else will you need to buy?

Here’s what’s on the list, how to turn it into dinner and what to consider before planning your holiday budget.

What’s on Target’s Thanksgiving Shopping List?

Here are the products and quantities Target lists:

Item	Size or quantity
Butterball Premium Whole Young Turkey	Up to 10 pounds
Good & Gather Russet Potatoes	3-pound bag
Ocean Spray Jellied Cranberry Sauce	14 ounces
Del Monte French Style Green Beans	Two 14.5-ounce cans
Campbell’s Condensed Cream of Mushroom Soup	10.5 ounces
Good & Gather French Fried Onions	6 ounces
Stove Top Stuffing Mix for Turkey	6 ounces
Heinz Homestyle Turkey Gravy	12 ounces
Favorite Day Take & Bake Baguette	Two count

Target’s suggested shopping list can make a complete Thanksgiving turkey dinner with three main sides: stuffing, green bean casserole and mashed potatoes. You’ll also have turkey gravy, baguettes and cranberry sauce to serve alongside it.

Does Target’s Thanksgiving Dinner Really Feed Six?

Looking at the quantities and manufacturers’ serving guidance, the list appears sufficient for six standard portions. I haven’t cooked this exact meal to test the yield, though, and there’s a difference between feeding six and having plenty for seconds.

The turkey’s actual weight matters, too. Target specifies a bird weighing up to 10 pounds.

Dish	What the quantity means for six people
Turkey	A 9- to 10-pound whole turkey fits Butterball’s guideline of about 1.5 pounds per person when planning for leftovers. A smaller bird leaves less margin.
Mashed potatoes	Three pounds is 8 ounces of raw potatoes per person, before peeling and cooking—a reasonable starting amount for a side.
Stuffing	The 6 ounce box makes six prepared 1/2-cup servings, according to Stove Top. That is one standard portion each, with little room for seconds.
Green bean casserole	Campbell’s recipe serves six and allows two drained 14.5 ounce cans of beans with one can of soup.
Gravy	One 12 ounce jar may be tight if guests want gravy on both turkey and potatoes. You should probably get another jar.
Bread and cranberry sauce	Slice both baguettes for sharing. The 14 ounce cranberry works out okay to about 2.3 ounces per person.

For six people who enjoy generous helpings, I would add another box of stuffing and an extra jar of gravy. So, Target’s $30 Thanksgiving dinner is doable.

Recipes Using Target’s Shopping List

Here are ways to prepare the groceries on Target’s $30 Thanksgiving list. You will need additional ingredients like butter, milk, soy sauce, oil and seasonings.

Green Bean Casserole

Makes six side servings. Adapted from Campbell’s classic recipe, using the onions on Target’s list.

Ingredients

• Two 14.5 ounce cans green beans, drained
• One 10.5 ounce can condensed cream of mushroom soup
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1 teaspoon soy sauce
• 1 1/3 cups French fried onions, divided; measure from the 6-ounce container
• Black pepper to taste

Directions

1. Set the oven to 350°F. In a 1 1/2 quart baking dish, combine the beans, condensed soup, milk, soy sauce, pepper and 2/3 cup onions. Do not dilute the soup with extra water.
2. Bake until bubbling, about 25 minutes. Stir, then scatter the remaining 2/3 cup onions over the surface.
3. Return to the oven for roughly 5 minutes to crisp the topping.

Easy Mashed Potatoes and Gravy

Suggested recipe for six side portions.

Ingredients

• One 3 pound bag russet potatoes
• 4 tablespoons butter
• 1/2 to 1 cup warm milk
• Salt and black pepper to taste
• One 12 ounce jar turkey gravy

Directions

1. Peel the potatoes and cut into evenly sized chunks. Place in a pot, cover with cold water and add a little salt.
2. Bring to a boil, then simmer for about 15 to 20 minutes, until the potatoes are easily pierced with a fork.
3. Drain thoroughly and mash with the butter. Gradually add warm milk until you like the consistency. Season to taste.
4. Heat the gravy separately according to its label and serve alongside the potatoes and turkey.

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Quick Stovetop Stuffing

Makes six 1/2 cup prepared servings.

Ingredients

• One 6-ounce box Stove Top Stuffing Mix for Turkey
• 1 1/2 cups water
• 4 tablespoons butter

Directions

1. Bring the water and butter to a boil in a saucepan.
2. Stir in the stuffing mix, cover and remove from the heat.
3. Let stand for 5 minutes, then fluff with a fork. Check the box for current instructions.

Roast Turkey, Bread and Cranberry Sauce

For a standard raw whole turkey, thaw fully in the refrigerator according to the package, then remove the packaging, neck and giblets. Place breast side up on a rack in a roasting pan, pat dry and lightly brush with cooking oil. Roast unstuffed in a conventional oven at 325°F, following the package timetable. Butterball estimates roughly 2 1/2 to 3 hours for a 7- to 10-pound unstuffed turkey, but doneness must be checked with a thermometer.

USDA’s minimum safe temperature is 165°F in the thickest breast and innermost thigh and wing, away from bone. Follow any higher temperature specified on the turkey’s label. Rest for 15 to 20 minutes before carving.

Bake the baguettes according to the package and slice for sharing. Serve the cranberry sauce sliced or spooned into a bowl.

What Does the $30 Shopping List Leave Out?

For the recipes above, you’ll also need:

• One stick of butter: half for the mashed potatoes and half for the stuffing
• 1 to 1 1/2 cups milk for the potatoes and casserole
• 1 teaspoon soy sauce
• A little cooking oil
• Salt and black pepper

These ingredients are not included in Target’s shopping list. Dessert, drinks and additional servings cost extra, too.

Target Also Has a 79 Cent Turkey Offer

Beginning in November, Target is bringing back Good & Gather frozen turkey for 79 cents per pound. This is a separate offer from the Butterball turkey listed in the $30 meal.