My budget Christmas dinner menu ideas are here to help you save money while still creating a memorable holiday family meal. I've included appetizers, main courses, desserts, and everything in between. I provide the recipes, and you build your Christmas dinner menu—there are no right or wrong combinations!
For more Christmas menu-planning pages like this one, check out my Christmas prime rib dinner and holiday ham dinner menus. Stop by my page of make-ahead Christmas appetizers for your holiday parties or potlucks!
Jump to:
- 1. Oven Roasted Turkey Breast
- 2. Glazed Honey Ham
- 3. Easy Stuffing
- 4. Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes
- 5. Bisquick Biscuits
- 6. Campbell’s Green Bean Casserole
- 7. Jiffy Corn Casserole
- 8. Yorkshire Pudding
- 9. Sauteed Green Beans
- 10. Candied Yams with Marshmallows
- 11. Balsamic Roasted Brussel Sprouts
- 12. Butter Herb Rhodes Rolls
- 13. Mashed Sweet Potatoes
- 14. Honey Glazed Carrots
- 15. Oven Roasted Potatoes
- 16. Fondant Potatoes
- 17. Christmas Fudge
- 18. Christmas Nougat
- 19. Christmas Crack
- 20. Vintage Betty Crocker Sugar Cookies
- 21. Hot Chocolate Bar
- 💭 Tips For Choosing Budget Christmas Menu Recipes
- 📖 Recipe Card
- Budget Christmas Dinner Menu Ideas (19+ Affordable & Delicious Recipes!)
- 💬 Comments & Reviews
Planning a budget-friendly Christmas dinner does not mean sacrificing the flavor or quality of your dishes. It also doesn't mean you have to miss out on any of your favorite recipes!
This collection of Christmas dinner recipes features dishes that are inexpensive- some use only ingredients that you already have! Your meal will still be delicious and satisfying, and you won't have to break the bank!
Whether you're a pro at hosting Christmas dinner and holiday parties or giving it a try for the first time this year, you're sure to find my ultimate guide to planning Christmas a help! Don't forget to safely thaw your holiday prime rib early, too!
1. Oven Roasted Turkey Breast
Whole turkeys can quickly increase the cost of your Christmas dinner. However, you can reduce that price by enjoying perfectly cooked turkey breast instead!
Not only is it cheaper, but it is also quicker and easier to cook!
2. Glazed Honey Ham
Ham is a classic main dish for Christmas, and this recipe keeps it wonderfully simple! Grab a ham that is the ideal weight for your family, as well as some honey, brown sugar, and butter!
With these common household ingredients, you may already have most of them!
3. Easy Stuffing
This is the easiest stuffing recipe you'll find, but also the most delicious! This one is classic (and inexpensive) as-is, but feel free to mix up your stuffing by trying this cornbread stuffing, too!
No matter your choice, it will surely be a hit!
4. Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes
Creamy mashed potatoes are always a fantastic, budget-friendly side dish. This recipe uses roasted garlic and cream cheese, but you can try many different mashed potato recipes!
These cream cheese mashed potatoes and yellow mashed potatoes are some other tasty options!
5. Bisquick Biscuits
These 2-ingredient biscuits use a Bisquick baking mix to make them simple, delicious, and inexpensive. You won't have to bother with yeast, kneading, or waiting for your dough to rise!
6. Campbell’s Green Bean Casserole
Canned green beans and canned cream of mushroom soup are the secret to this ultra-affordable casserole. It's also effortless, as everything is mixed together and then popped into the oven.
I have an entire post dedicated to making green bean casserole if you want some bonus tips and tricks!
7. Jiffy Corn Casserole
Corn casserole is a Southern staple, but I'm sure everyone in the North would love it, too! It only uses five ingredients: Jiffy cornbread mix, canned corn, creamed corn, butter, and sour cream.
Although it may sound simple, this casserole is always the first to disappear! Go ahead and pick up an extra box of Jiffy mix, and you can make some Jiffy jalapeno cornbread, too!
8. Yorkshire Pudding
If you've never heard of them, Yorkshire puddings aren't pudding at all! They are delicious egg-based popovers, similar to an incredibly tasty dinner roll!
With only household ingredients, you could save some money by skipping the grocery store altogether!
>>>See All Of My Tasty Recipes Here!<<<
9. Sauteed Green Beans
Adding some fresh veggies to your Christmas menu has never been so easy! These are simple sauteed green beans with some added seasonings.
Add a sprinkle of grated Parmesan, and they make the perfect side dish!
10. Candied Yams with Marshmallows
Sweet yams are a must-have when it comes to your Christmas dinner! This recipe uses canned yams, butter, brown sugar, and marshmallows!
I can't decide if these are a dessert or a side dish, but they are delicious either way! If marshmallows aren't your thing, try my maple candied yams instead!
11. Balsamic Roasted Brussel Sprouts
Brussel sprouts make a fantastic budget-friendly side dish! They complement ham, turkey, or any other protein you may serve!
In addition to some fresh brussel sprouts, you only need some seasonings and balsamic vinegar!
12. Butter Herb Rhodes Rolls
Sometimes, store-bought rolls are the way to go! These butter herb Rhodes rolls use butter, seasonings, and pre-made rolls straight from the store!
No one will even know you didn't make them from scratch because they are incredibly delicious!
13. Mashed Sweet Potatoes
If you're a sweet potato fan, these mashed sweet potatoes are perfect! They are just as easy to prepare as your standard mashed potato recipe but with the delightful twist of being sweet!
Plus, you can choose to enhance the sweetness or enjoy them as a savory side dish!
14. Honey Glazed Carrots
Carrots make a fantastic, easy, delicious, and budget-friendly side dish for your holiday meal. A small amount of honey and brown sugar enhances the sweetness so that even picky eaters will love these!
Brown sugar-glazed carrots and honey and herb-roasted carrots are some other budget-friendly carrot sides!
15. Oven Roasted Potatoes
Dice some potatoes and pair them with your favorite seasonings for this easy and inexpensive recipe! These potatoes are versatile and will pair perfectly with everything else on the table!
16. Fondant Potatoes
These classic potatoes may look like a million bucks, but they're a terrific budget side dish for holiday meals!
17. Christmas Fudge
This Christmas fudge is the perfect way to finish off your Christmas dinner! It is rich, indulgent, and only uses four ingredients!
This is microwave fudge, so you won't have to deal with boiling anything!
18. Christmas Nougat
This festive nougat can be snacked on after dinner or sent home with your guests for later! They only use four ingredients: butter, marshmallows, gumdrops, and white chocolate chips!
19. Christmas Crack
With only six ingredients that can all be found in the baking aisle, this sweet treat is about as easy as it gets! You only need salted and unsalted peanuts, milk and semi-sweet chocolate chips, peanut butter chips, and white almond bark!
With how simple this recipe is, you'll be shocked at how tasty this candy is!
20. Vintage Betty Crocker Sugar Cookies
These classic cut-out sugar cookies are perfect for serving as an after-Christmas treat or decorating with the kids! They are made up entirely of baking staples, so you may have all the ingredients on hand without needing a trip to the store!
Pair them with some glossy sugar cookie icing for a fun experience!
21. Hot Chocolate Bar
Serve up a hot chocolate bar and watch everyone join in the fun! This DIY hot cocoa station can have as many add-ins as possible! Get creative and have some delicious fun!
💭 Tips For Choosing Budget Christmas Menu Recipes
Here are some tips and tricks to remember when planning your budget-friendly Christmas menu:
- Plan in advance: Start planning early to take advantage of sales and discounts. I get everything but the perishable items weeks before Christmas, so there are no last-minute mishaps.
- Bake your own desserts: It will almost always be more inexpensive to bake your own desserts instead of buying pre-made ones. Classics like no-bake cookies, Christmas fudge, dessert bars, and easy dump cakes can be made at a fraction of the cost.
- Pay attention to ingredients: Be mindful when choosing your recipes that you don't pick anything that requires expensive or hard-to-find ingredients. Pick a budget, and if you want to splurge on something like a prime rib, be more cost-conservative with your side dishes.
- Shop around: Compare prices at different grocery stores or markets. Sometimes, a little extra effort in shopping can result in significant savings! Most grocery stores have their own apps where you can add the coupons directly to your phone.
I hope my budget Christmas dinner menu ideas have helped you out! Leave a comment and let me know your favorite Christmas dishes when you're trying to save money!
Do you love a recipe you tried? Please leave a 5-star 🌟rating in the recipe card below and/or a review in the comments section further down the page.
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📖 Recipe Card
Budget Christmas Dinner Menu Ideas (19+ Affordable & Delicious Recipes!)
Ingredients
Oven Roasted Turkey
- 6 lbs turkey breast (whole bone-in turkey breast)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil (extra virgin)
- ½ teaspoon each, salt & pepper
- ½ teaspoon each, garlic & onion powder
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon parsley
(Note: 2x or 3x only changes the ingredient list)
Instructions
Oven Roasted Turkey
- Preheat your oven to 400°F (205°C) and ready your large roasting pan. *If the roasting pan is flat, use a roasting rack or lay 4-5 celery stalks across the bottom of the pan to allow the oven heat to evenly cook your turkey.
- Rinse the thawed turkey including inside the body cavity, trim any excess skin or fat if needed, and then pat dry using paper towels. Place your turkey breast onto the roasting rack with the skin facing upward.
- Coat the dried turkey breast with extra virgin olive oil and season with the combined herbs, salt, and pepper.
- Roast for 15 minutes per pound at 400°F (205°C), in the case of this 6 pound turkey breast that's 90 minutes roasting time. Check the internal temperature of your turkey for doneness. Make sure to check multiple spots where the meat is thick (and not to touch the bone).
- When the turkey's internal temperature is 160-165°F (71-74°C), remove it from the oven and cover loosely with a sheet of aluminum foil to rest for 20 minutes.
- Slice and serve once the turkey has rested.
Notes
- Servings are based on 8-ounce portions per person. You'll need 1 ½ pounds of bone-in turkey breast per portion.
- If the roasting pan is flat, use a roasting rack or lay 4-5 celery stalks across the bottom of the pan to allow the oven heat to evenly cook your turkey.
- Make sure that your turkey is completely thawed before cooking for the best results. I also recommend setting the turkey at room temperature for about 30 minutes to take the chill off.
- Allow approximately 15 minutes per pound of cooking time for bone-in turkey breast when roasted at 400°F (205°C).
- If you prefer to roast your turkey at 350°F (175°C) , allow 20 minutes per pound of bone-in turkey breast for the cooking time.
- If you remove the turkey from your oven with an internal temperature of 160°F (71°C), the turkey will continue to cook during the resting time. This carryover cooking will add 5°F to the temperature when done.
- For the absolute best juicy turkey breast, roast the turkey with the breast facing down. It won't look as pretty, but it's worth it!
- To Store: Place your turkey leftovers into an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days (I prefer to store it in slices).
- To Freeze: Wrap cooled turkey in heavy-duty aluminum foil and transfer into freezer storage bags or airtight freezer storage containers.
- Do remember to use or freeze leftovers within the first 4 days, then discard any remaining cooked turkey after this time.
- Reheating: Place turkey portion(s) into a baking dish as well as chicken or turkey broth and some butter. Cover with foil and bake in the oven at 350°F (175°C) until heated through.
Nutrition
Originally published November 22, 2023
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