Pocket-Friendly Thanksgiving Potluck

Looking to orchestrate a Thanksgiving meal that’s both easy on the host and budget friendly for everyone?  Check out this economical holiday menu.  All that’s left is to delegate.

For the host: Roasted Herb Chicken (Instead of Turkey)

Why it’s budget-friendly: Chicken is often cheaper and more accessible than turkey, plus roasting a whole chicken requires less time and effort.

 Ingredients:

  • 2 whole chickens (cheaper than turkey)
  • Olive oil or butter
  • Garlic, rosemary, thyme, sage
  • Salt and pepper
  • Lemon (optional, for added flavor)

Instructions:

  1. Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C).
  2. Rub the chickens with olive oil or butter. Season generously with salt, pepper, garlic, and herbs.
  3. Optional: Stuff the cavity with lemon and herbs for extra flavor.
  4. Roast for about 1.5-2 hours or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
  5. Let the chickens rest for 10-15 minutes before carving.

Source:  I Chat-GPT’ed that s%&t.

For Cousin Kurt, the King of the Crockpot:  Slow Cooker Stuffing

No oven space needed!

Recipe:  https://www.eatingwell.com/recipe/278476/classic-slow-cooker-stuffing/

 

For Take-Out Tammy:  4-Ingredient Green Beans Almondine

Yes, this is on the stove top, so could be made with supervision at your place or in advance and warmed up in a serving in the microwave.

Recipe:  https://www.food.com/recipe/green-beans-almondine-14804

For Starch-Loving-Sister-Stephanie:  Sweet Potato Casserole in the Crock Pot

Notice a theme here?  Trying to keep the battle for the broiler to a minimum!

Recipe: https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/18913/slow-cooker-sweet-potato-casserole/

For Sweet-Tooth-Uncle-Sven:  Linda Slaughter’s Apple Cake

This is a favorite in my family from our friend Linda Slaughter of Fort Worth, Texas.

Ingredients

2 beaten eggs

2 cups sugar

1 ¼ cup vegetable oil

2 tsp vanilla

3 cups flower

1 tsp salt

1 tsp baking soda

3 cups chopped apples (I leave the skin on)

1 cup chopped pecans (optional, but delicious)

Directions

  1. Mix the eggs, sugar, oil and vanilla
  2. Sift and add the flower, salt, and baking soda
  3. Stir to combine
  4. Add the apples and pecans. Fold to combine
  5. Press heavy batter into two cake pans or one 9” x 13” pan
  6. Bake at 325 degrees for 45 minutes and golden brown on top
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Kristi Sullivan

My name is Kristi Sullivan and I have been helping people achieve financial security since 1996. I am a fee-only financial planner and public speaker. I do no investment or insurance sales for commissions. My clients pay me for guidance through their financial questions. I also work with employers to educate their employees about personal finance. I have been helping people make financial decisions for 18 years. I have worked in employee benefits and with individual clients/families. I hold the Certified Financial Planner designation. Sullivan Financial Planning, LLC is a Registered Investment Advisory firm with the State of Colorado. Areas of expertise include prioritizing savings goals, investment allocation, and wealth manager searches.