Additional Coverage:
- I attempted to make Aldi’s $40 Thanksgiving dinner for 10 people. It was surprisingly easy and delicious. (businessinsider.com)
Aldi’s $40 Thanksgiving Feast: A Budget-Friendly Holiday Success (Mostly)
Thanksgiving dinner is a beloved tradition, and for many, the anticipation of a grand spread is a year-long affair. But what if you could achieve that beloved holiday feast for a fraction of the usual cost?
That’s precisely what one home cook set out to discover, testing Aldi’s much-buzzed-about $40 Thanksgiving dinner menu designed to feed 10 people. The verdict?
A largely successful, surprisingly easy, and undeniably budget-friendly triumph.
The idea of a full Thanksgiving meal for less than half of what many families typically spend piqued the interest of our intrepid chef. Having previously tackled everything from elaborate Ina Garten recipes to convenient store-bought meals from the likes of Costco and Cracker Barrel, the key, it seems, is ensuring the essentials are present: turkey, mashed potatoes, and mac and cheese. Aldi’s promise of a complete meal for $40, including turkey, sides, and desserts, seemed almost too good to be true.
Armed with Aldi’s 21-item shopping list, which included everything from a 14-pound Jennie-O turkey to russet potatoes, evaporated milk, and ingredients for various casseroles and a pumpkin pie, the shopping expedition began a few weekends before the big day. The list promised all the fixings for turkey, rolls, cranberry sauce, mac and cheese, mashed potatoes and gravy, sweet-potato casserole, green-bean casserole, stuffing, carrots, and pumpkin pie. Aldi even highlighted these special-priced items with a “more savings more feasting” graphic on their price signs, making them easy to spot throughout the store.
The Missing Bird and Unexpected Spends
However, the journey wasn’t without its minor hiccups. The most significant challenge arose when the promised 14-pound Jennie-O turkey, advertised at a remarkable 77 cents per pound (totaling around $11), was nowhere to be found.
Despite checking multiple Aldi locations and attempting Instacart orders, the turkeys were out of stock. This forced a pivot to a fresh turkey breast from Publix, a considerably more expensive option at nearly $15 per pound, setting the budget back significantly.
While the other Aldi ingredients totaled a mere $28.20, the unforeseen turkey expense pushed the overall cost beyond the $40 mark. However, it’s worth noting that if the Aldi turkey had been available, the target price would have been easily met.
Aldi later confirmed “increased demand” for turkeys due to the promotion, assuring customers of upcoming restocks.
Simplicity in the Kitchen
One of the standout features of this budget-friendly feast was the surprising ease of preparation. Unlike traditional Thanksgiving meals that often involve hours of meticulous recipe hunting and intricate cooking, Aldi’s ingredients lent themselves to straightforward execution.
For dishes like green-bean casserole, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pie, the recipes were conveniently located on the product packaging. Mashed potatoes were prepared with familiar additions of butter and milk, and boxed stuffing was elevated with sautéed vegetables and chicken broth.
Even the turkey breast, though from a different store, was roasted using a tried-and-true method with Aldi’s poultry seasoning.
A few pantry staples not on Aldi’s list, such as eggs, milk, and sugar, were utilized from the home kitchen. While these minor additions would have slightly increased the overall cost if purchased, they are common household items for many.
The simplified approach drastically cut down on kitchen time. Our chef and her husband reported spending roughly three hours cooking, a stark contrast to the typical eight-hour Thanksgiving cooking marathon of previous years. The absence of extensive chopping and intricate steps, like grating cheese for mac and cheese or frying bacon for other dishes, contributed significantly to this efficiency.
A Satisfying Spread (with One Small Gripe)
The final meal was, by all accounts, a resounding success. The table was laden with all the traditional Thanksgiving favorites: creamy mashed potatoes, marshmallow-topped sweet potatoes, buttery rolls, moist turkey, and savory green-bean casserole. The meal easily served 10 people, with leftovers lasting for days.
The only slight disappointment came in the form of the mac and cheese. Made from boxed shells and cheese, it lacked the rich, baked-in flavors of a homemade version. When asked which dish they would upgrade with an extra $10, the family unanimously pointed to the mac and cheese, suggesting a future overhaul with elbow macaroni, a roux, and some Gruyere cheese.
The Verdict: A Great Value and Time-Saver
Despite the turkey hiccup and the desire for an upgraded mac and cheese, the Aldi $40 Thanksgiving meal proved to be a fantastic option for those looking to save money or simplify their holiday cooking. The ease of preparation and the satisfying spread made it just as enjoyable as more elaborate feasts. The extra potatoes, onions, carrots, and celery left over even provided ingredients for other meals throughout the week, adding to the overall value.
The main takeaway? This budget-friendly approach to Thanksgiving is a winner, provided you can secure that elusive Aldi turkey. With the chain actively restocking, planning ahead and checking turkey availability will be key for those hoping to replicate this impressively affordable and delicious holiday meal.