Woman Shares Her $20 Dollar Tree ‘Best Ever’ Thanksgiving Dinner List and It Goes Viral

Thanksgiving and the holidays are all about spending time with family and enjoying a delicious meal together, but what about those needing to spend the day on a budget? No worries, because TikTok creator Rebecca Chobat, folks can create a $20 Thanksgiving meal from Dollar Tree.

Chobat, the woman behind “Dollar Tree Dinners” on TikTok has found a way for those struggling to make ends meet to still enjoy a nice Thanksgiving dinner. See Chobat’s recipe for success below: 

@dollartreedinners

$20 Dollar Tree Thanksgiving Dinner! The ingredients: Swanson Chicken broth $1.25 (Optional ingredient, can be omitted) Kraft Ranch $1.25 Italian seasoned breadcrumbs $1.25 Kraft Mac & Cheese $1.25 Turkey Stuffing Mix $1.25 Idahoan Original Mashed Potatoes (the unflavored big bag) $1.25 Pioneer Roasted turkey Gravy mix $1.25 Dried cranberries $1.25 French style Green Beans (Could also swap for frozen) $1.25 2 cans of turkey $2.50 Milk $1.25 Margarine $1.25 Sugar cookie mix $1.25 Werther’s Chewy Caramel candies $1.25 Apple Pie filling $1.25 Total cost $20 Optional extras to add on if desired: Large casserole dish $1.25 (for making the casserole and easy clean up) A Block of Cheddar cheese (for the mac & cheese balls) $1.25 Extra packet of sugar cookie mix (for the caramel apple cookie bars) $1.25 The menu: Appetizer: Mac & Cheese Croquettes with Ranch for dipping Dinner: “Best of Thanksgiving” Casserole Dessert: Caramel Apple Cookie Bars #dollartreefood #dollartreegroceryhaul #dollartreethanksgiving #thanksgivingonabudget #budgetholidaymeals #howtoeatforcheap #feedafamily

♬ original sound – Dollar Tree Dinners – Dollar Tree Dinners

Chobat says in the video, “I’ve got a $20 budget to make a Thanksgiving dinner using ingredients from Dollar Tree. And I’m happy to say that not only have I already made the Dollar Tree Thanksgiving dinner, I do think it was my best Thanksgiving dinner that I have ever made.”

Chobat’s Dollar Tree Thanksgiving menu 

A few of the dinner items that Chobat made from Dollar Tree items include mac & cheese croquettes, a turkey casserole and caramel apple cookie bars. She also included a list of ingredients that she purchased for just $20. 

• Swanson Chicken broth $1.25 (Optional ingredient, can be omitted)
• Kraft Ranch $1.25
• Italian seasoned breadcrumbs $1.25
• Kraft Mac & Cheese $1.25
• Turkey Stuffing Mix $1.25
• Idahoan Original Mashed Potatoes (the unflavored big bag) $1.25
• Pioneer Roasted turkey Gravy mix $1.25
• Dried cranberries $1.25
• French style Green Beans (Could also swap for frozen) $1.25
• 2 cans of turkey $2.50
• Milk $1.25
• Margarine $1.25
• Sugar Cookie mix $1.25
• Werther’s Chewy Caramel candies $1.25
• Apple Pie filling $1.25

Chobat also included a list of a few extra items that could add a little to the meal, including a large casserole dish for easy clean-up ($1.25), a block of cheddar cheese for the mac and cheese croquettes ($1.25) and an extra packet of sugar cookie mix ($1.25).

Each ingredient is only $1.25, making it simple for anyone to create a delicious Thanksgiving meal. The purpose of Chobat’s account, which has attracted over 2 million followers, is to give those facing food insecurity or in need of saving money another option. Thanksgiving is for being with family and enjoying a dinner and Chobat has given folks a chance to do that.

Chobat’s TikTok account has truly helped others

Chobat’s account does have millions of followers looking for simpler and more affordable recipes, but you never really know who is benefiting from the content. But just a few days after the viral post, fellow content creator @calebcooks94 shared he met a woman who was putting together her own affordable Dollar Tree Thanksgiving meal, based on Chobat’s video.

https://www.tiktok.com/@calebcooks94/video/7441431075320106286

In the video, Caleb explained that he met a woman at a local Dollar Tree who had arrived with three little children in a run-down car. When he passed her in the aisle, he noticed she was collecting ingredients similar to the ones in Chobat’s Dollar Tree Thanksgiving dinner video. When Caleb asked the woman if she had followed the account, the woman explained she had planned to just make frozen dinners for Thanksgiving, but that the video is allowing her to make a real dinner for her children.

Many commenters have said Chobat should be treasured for the work she is doing with her account, with some explaining how she has helped them out during a tough time. Chobat posted a thank you to Caleb for sharing his story, saying how grateful she was.  

“I don’t have the words to describe how I’m feeling today,” Chobat shared in the video. “I think the closest I can come to is that I’m humbled, and I am honored although I don’t really think that fully encapsulates it.”

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