How To Cook An Affordable Thanksgiving Dinner In 2022

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Nationally, some grocery stores recognize the challenges facing U.S. families in 2021 and are offering turkeys and other Thanksgiving staples at wildly low prices. Some stores are giving away turkeys, while some are throwing one in if you purchase a ham.

Also, grocery savings app Ibotta is one-upping free turkey offers this year by providing a free way to get an entire Thanksgiving dinner. Just shop at Walmart, and you could get 100 percent cash back on certain purchased items.

Buy canned cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie filling and other canned goods the week before Thanksgiving when they typically are on sale.

Creating your own Thanksgiving traditions can mean just as much, if not more, to your family. Don't feel you have to cook turkey the traditional Thanksgiving way, especially since not everyone is a fan of turkey. (A survey from Instacart reveals that a lot of people actually dislike classic turkey.)

You can roast turkey legs, which are available at a fraction of the cost of a whole bird. Also, instead of a traditional turkey, grill turkey burgers. You can also go rogue and skip the turkey altogether.

See which meats are on sale the week of Thanksgiving and plan your menu around that. If it's sausage or ground beef, have an Italian feast for Thanksgiving. If it's chicken, make chicken and noodles. Don't feel bad about changing things up.

Don't spend time considering complex recipes requiring dozens of ingredients. Stick to simple dishes that everyone loves. For instance, you can make scalloped corn that many people enjoy. Or you could do a simple sweet potato casserole, mashed potatoes or a green bean casserole. None of these requires extremely fancy or expensive ingredients.

Also, you don't need a dozen ingredients to make food taste spectacular. Certain ingredients make all the difference: a lemon, an orange and some spices go a long way when taking roasted vegetables, cranberry sauce and other dishes from ordinary to holiday meal-worthy.

As long as you let guests know in advance, most won't mind bringing something to dinner. This leaves you with turkey as your sole responsibility while assigning potatoes, vegetables, cranberries and dessert to others in the family.

If you enjoy cooking the entire meal, consider cost-sharing. Ask family members to pitch in toward the overall cost of dinner.

Here are some helpful roundups of budget-friendly Thanksgiving recipes: – Food Network – Cooking Channel – Food & Wine – All Recipes – Better Homes & Gardens

Perhaps Thanksgiving dinner isn't among your list of worries this year. If so, consider donating a Thanksgiving meal to local food banks. The Feeding America network includes over 200 food banks throughout the United States that work with food pantries and soup kitchens to reach communities.

Once you find a food bank near you, be sure to check drop-off information, operation hours and the most-needed items.

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How To Cook An Affordable Thanksgiving Dinner In 2022

Nationally, some grocery stores recognize the challenges facing U.S. families in 2021 and are offering turkeys and other Thanksgiving staples at wildly low prices. Some stores are giving away turkeys, while some are throwing one in if you purchase a ham.

Watch For Free (Or Discounted) Turkeys

Also, grocery savings app Ibotta is one-upping free turkey offers this year by providing a free way to get an entire Thanksgiving dinner. Just shop at Walmart, and you could get 100 percent cash back on certain purchased items.

Watch For Free (Or Discounted) Turkeys

Buy canned cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie filling and other canned goods the week before Thanksgiving when they typically are on sale.

Shop Early

Creating your own Thanksgiving traditions can mean just as much, if not more, to your family. Don't feel you have to cook turkey the traditional Thanksgiving way, especially since not everyone is a fan of turkey. (A survey from Instacart reveals that a lot of people actually dislike classic turkey.)

Deviate From The Classics

You can roast turkey legs, which are available at a fraction of the cost of a whole bird. Also, instead of a traditional turkey, grill turkey burgers. You can also go rogue and skip the turkey altogether.

Deviate From The Classics

See which meats are on sale the week of Thanksgiving and plan your menu around that. If it's sausage or ground beef, have an Italian feast for Thanksgiving. If it's chicken, make chicken and noodles. Don't feel bad about changing things up.

Deviate From The Classics

Slow Down, Iron Chef

Also, you don't need a dozen ingredients to make food taste spectacular. Certain ingredients make all the difference: a lemon, an orange and some spices go a long way when taking roasted vegetables, cranberry sauce and other dishes from ordinary to holiday meal-worthy.

Slow Down, Iron Chef

As long as you let guests know in advance, most won't mind bringing something to dinner. This leaves you with turkey as your sole responsibility while assigning potatoes, vegetables, cranberries and dessert to others in the family.

Make It BYOS (Bring Your Own Side)

If you enjoy cooking the entire meal, consider cost-sharing. Ask family members to pitch in toward the overall cost of dinner.

Make It BYOS (Bring Your Own Side)

Here are some helpful roundups of budget-friendly Thanksgiving recipes: – Food Network – Cooking Channel – Food & Wine – All Recipes – Better Homes & Gardens

Not Sure What To Cook?

Perhaps Thanksgiving dinner isn't among your list of worries this year. If so, consider donating a Thanksgiving meal to local food banks. The Feeding America network includes over 200 food banks throughout the United States that work with food pantries and soup kitchens to reach communities.

If You Can, Donate

Once you find a food bank near you, be sure to check drop-off information, operation hours and the most-needed items.

If You Can, Donate

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