27 Cheap Thanksgiving Side Dishes

These cheap Thanksgiving side dishes will help you fill your holiday table without spending a fortune.

Many use inexpensive pantry staples and everyday ingredients you may already have on hand.

Pick a few sides to serve alongside your turkey for a delicious Thanksgiving dinner on a budget.

Cheap Thanksgiving Side Dishes

Whether you’re hosting and need to keep costs low or looking for a side dish to bring to a Thanksgiving potluck or Friendsgiving, there’s something here for everyone.

1. Old-Fashioned Stuffing

This old-fashioned stuffing is one of the best cheap Thanksgiving sides because it uses simple, budget-friendly ingredients. Made with bread, butter, celery, onion, and classic seasonings, it’s always a crowd-pleaser.

Get the Recipe: Old-Fashioned Stuffing Recipe

2. 5-Ingredient Green Bean Casserole with Crispy Onions

This 5-ingredient green bean casserole is one of those inexpensive Thanksgiving side dishes that still feels classic and special. Frozen whole green beans give it a fresher spin, while the crispy onion topping brings the familiar flavor everyone loves.

Get the Recipe: 5-Ingredient Green Bean Casserole with Crispy Onions

3. Honey Glazed Carrots

Veggie-based dishes are a great way to save money, especially compared to meat-packed sides that can cost more. Honey caramelizes around the roasted carrots for a touch of sweetness, while thyme, rosemary, or sage adds cozy holiday flavor.

Get the Recipe: Honey Glazed Carrots

4. Jiffy Cornbread Casserole

This Jiffy cornbread casserole is a comforting, cheesy side made with simple pantry and refrigerator staples. It is one of those cheap Thanksgiving sides that is filling, family-friendly, and always disappears fast.

Get the Recipe: Jiffy Cornbread Casserole

5. Garlic Herb Mashed Potatoes

Garlic and herbs add plenty of flavor to these mashed potatoes. Everyone at your Thanksgiving table will be asking for the recipe.

Get the Recipe: Garlic Herb Mashed Potatoes

6. Sourdough Discard Rolls

Put extra sourdough discard to good use with these delicious homemade rolls that bake without much fuss. Soft, buttery, and made with simple ingredients, they make a budget-friendly holiday side everyone will reach for.

Get the Recipe: Sourdough Discard Rolls

7. Mashed Butternut Squash

Roasted butternut squash is blended with butter and cream for a smooth, rich holiday side. Keep it simple and budget-friendly as-is, or add fresh herbs if they fit your grocery budget.

Get the Recipe: Mashed Butternut Squash

8. Slow Cooker Mac & Cheese With Velveeta

Velveeta melts into a creamy sauce in this hands-off slow cooker macaroni and cheese. It’s a great option for feeding a crowd on a limited budget.

Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Mac & Cheese With Velveeta

9. Cranberry Jello Salad

This sweet and tart cranberry Jello salad needs only four ingredients. Its old-fashioned flavor makes it a nostalgic choice for Thanksgiving gatherings.

Get the Recipe: Cranberry Jello Salad

10. Mashed Sweet Potatoes

A short list of real-food ingredients lets the natural sweetness of these mashed sweet potatoes shine through.

Get the Recipe: Mashed Sweet Potatoes

11. Smothered Green Beans

Canned green beans are coated with a brown sugar, butter, and soy sauce mixture before being finished with bacon. You only need 5-6 slices of bacon so that you can use the leftovers in other Thanksgiving recipes or meal prep for the week.

Get the Recipe: Smothered Green Beans

12. Three-Ingredient Cranberry Sauce

Fresh cranberries, sugar, and water are all you need to make this homemade cranberry sauce. The stripped-down ingredient list keeps Thanksgiving costs manageable without relying on canned sauce.

Get the Recipe: Three-Ingredient Cranberry Sauce

13. Creamed Spinach

Fresh spinach cooks in a creamy Parmesan sauce for a classic vegetable side with plenty of flavor. It pairs well with turkey and is always a favorite.

Get the Recipe: Creamed Spinach

14. Cream Cheese with Corn

Cream cheese turns corn into a rich, buttery side using just a handful of ingredients. Since it comes together in about 15 minutes, it can fill out a Thanksgiving spread without adding much extra prep.

Get the Recipe: Cream Cheese with Corn

15. Roasted Potatoes and Carrots

Potatoes and carrots roast together on one pan until the potatoes are creamy inside and the carrots become tender and sweet. It’s easy and inexpensive to make.

Get the Recipe: Roasted Potatoes and Carrots

16. Pea Salad with Bacon

This pea salad combines bacon with a budget-friendly base for a crowd-pleasing side that does not require much effort. It is a useful option when you need another dish for the Thanksgiving table without stretching the grocery bill.

Get the Recipe: Pea Salad with Bacon

17. Instant Pot Turkey Gravy

The Instant Pot helps turn turkey drippings into about three cups of gravy after the bird is cooked. It is an economical way to finish the meal while making good use of turkey drippings.

Get the Recipe: Instant Pot Turkey Gravy

18. Cornbread Stuffing

Butter and simple herbs give this cornbread stuffing plenty of flavor without needing pricier add-ins like sausage. It bakes with golden edges and a soft, tender center.

Get the Recipe: Cornbread Stuffing Recipe

19. Cream Cheese Corn Casserole

Cream cheese gives this baked corn casserole a smooth, creamy texture. Fresh herbs and green onions are optional, but to keep costs low, you can skip them.

Get the Recipe: Cream Cheese Corn Casserole

20. Cream Cheese Mashed Potatoes

Yukon Gold potatoes are a budget-friendly choice for making fluffy, creamy mashed potatoes with cream cheese, butter, and milk. They are a delicious addition to Thanksgiving dinner but simple enough to serve with weeknight meals, too.

Get the Recipe: Cream Cheese Mashed Potatoes

21. Southern Cornbread Without Buttermilk

This Southern cornbread skips the buttermilk and relies on basic ingredients you may already have in the kitchen. Baking it in a hot cast-iron skillet gives it a moist center with the right amount of crumb.

Get the Recipe: Southern Cornbread Without Buttermilk

22. Baked Candied Yams

Butter and brown sugar form a gooey glaze around these baked yams, while cinnamon and nutmeg provide warm spice. This Southern holiday staple will be a hit at your table.

Get the Recipe: Baked Candied Yams

23. Oven Roasted Asparagus

Just two main ingredients, plus salt and pepper, make this roasted veggie side a frugal choice. Its lighter flavor helps balance out richer Thanksgiving dishes.

Get the Recipe: Oven Roasted Asparagus

24. Roasted Butternut Squash

Brown sugar, maple syrup, and seasonings coat cubes of butternut squash before they go into the oven. Roasting makes the squash tender while giving the outside a caramelized finish.

Get the Recipe: Roasted Butternut Squash

25. Sauteed Broccolini

Fresh broccolini cooks quickly with butter, garlic, and herbs for a savory vegetable side. Made with simple ingredients, it is an easy addition to your Thanksgiving table.

Get the Recipe: Sauteed Broccolini

26. Slow Cooker Cranberry Sauce

Cranberries and sugar cook together in the slow cooker for a classic balance of sweet and tangy flavor. Using the slow cooker also frees up valuable stovetop space while the rest of Thanksgiving dinner comes together.

Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Cranberry Sauce

27. Roasted Red Potatoes

Red potatoes roast until fork-tender inside while their thin skins crisp around the edges. They take only 10 minutes to prep.

Get the Recipe: Roasted Red Potatoes

More Thanksgiving Recipes

• 30 Dirt Cheap Thanksgiving Appetizers
• 12 Thanksgiving Casserole Sides to Feed a Crowd
• 30 Fun & Cute Thanksgiving Treats