I Made a Full Christmas Dinner for $20 at Dollar Tree – It Tasted Like a $150 Holiday Spread (2025)

 

Yes, really. 

Tender chicken swimming in creamy gravy, buttery stuffing that smells like your grandma’s house, warm cookies cooling on the counter, and a cake that makes people ask for seconds — all for about $20 total using ONLY Dollar Tree ingredients.

 

Keep scrolling for the exact recipes, beginner-friendly steps, and the free printable shopping list.

(Grab the free printable shopping list + all 4 recipes in one PDF right here — never forget an ingredient again!  Attached below)

 

THE EXACT $20 DOLLAR TREE CHRISTMAS MENU

1. Christmas Chicken with the creamiest holiday gravy 

2. Buttery mashed potatoes that taste like pure comfort 

3. Stuffing with crispy edges and soft middle (hotel-buffet level) 

4. Warm frosted Christmas cookies + bonus glow-up cake 

 

Total cost at Dollar Tree right now (Dec 2025 prices): $19–$23 depending on your store.

 

RECIPE #1 – CHRISTMAS CHICKEN WITH CREAMY HOLIDAY GRAVY 

(Even total beginners nail this on the first try)

 

What you need (all at Dollar Tree): 

- 1 pack chicken thighs or drumsticks (usually 4–6 pieces, $3–$4) 

- 2 cans cream of chicken soup ($1 each) 

- 1 packet chicken gravy mix OR 2 chicken bouillon cubes ($1) 

- Seasonings you already have or grab: garlic powder, paprika, black pepper, Italian seasoning or poultry seasoning ($1 each) 

- Optional: 1 small onion ($0.50–$1)

 

Step-by-step (so easy a 12-year-old can do it): 

1. Heat your oven to 350°F (look for the middle number on the dial). 

2. Put the chicken in any baking dish or even a foil lasagna pan from Dollar Tree. 

3. Open the 2 cans of cream of chicken soup and dump them into a bowl. 

4. Add the gravy packet (or crush 2 bouillon cubes) + ½ cup water. Whisk with a fork until smooth (30 seconds). 

5. Pour this thick, creamy sauce all over the chicken. 

6. Sprinkle generously with garlic powder, paprika, pepper, and Italian/poultry seasoning — don’t be shy, this is your flavor! 

7. Slice an onion into rings and lay on top if you have it (totally optional). 

8. Cover tightly with foil (or another pan turned upside down). 

9. Bake 1 hour. 

10. Remove foil, bake 25–30 more minutes until the top is golden. 

 

Slow-cooker version (even easier): 

Dump everything in, cook on LOW 5–6 hours or HIGH 3–4 hours. Done.

 

How to serve: Spoon thick gravy over mashed potatoes, rice, noodles, or even toasted bread. It tastes like you spent all day cooking.

 

 RECIPE #2 – BUTTERY MASHED POTATOES THAT TASTE LIKE HEAVEN 

(Grandma-approved, 10-minute version)

 

What you need: 

- 5-lb bag of potatoes ($3–$4 at Dollar Tree right now) 

- Butter or margarine ($1) 

- Milk (or the little water left from boiling) 

- Salt & pepper

 

Steps even if you’ve never mashed a potato in your life: 

1. Wash 6–8 potatoes. Peel if you want (I leave skins on half the time). 

2. Cut into golf-ball-sized chunks. 

3. Put in a big pot, cover with water, add 1 teaspoon salt. 

4. Boil 15–20 minutes (poke with a fork — if it slides in easy, they’re done). 

5. Drain the water. 

6. Add 3–4 tablespoons butter + ½ cup milk. Mash with a fork or potato masher. 

7. Taste it. Add more butter and salt until you go “oh wow.” That’s the Christmas rule.

 

RECIPE #3 – STUFFING THAT TASTES LIKE A FANCY HOTEL 

(No sad dry cubes here)

 

What you need: 

- 1–2 loaves of cheap white bread or hot dog buns 

- Butter or cooking oil 

- 1 small onion or celery (optional) 

- Chicken bouillon or broth (from the gravy packet leftovers) 

- Poultry seasoning or Italian seasoning + garlic powder + pepper

 

Steps: 

1. Let bread sit out overnight OR toast in oven 10 minutes (makes it crispy). 

2. Tear or cut into bite-sized cubes into a big bowl. 

3. Melt 4 tablespoons butter in microwave (30 seconds). Pour over bread and toss. 

4. Dice onion/celery tiny and mix in. 

5. Sprinkle 1–2 teaspoons poultry seasoning + garlic powder + pepper. Toss again. 

6. Add chicken broth ¼ cup at a time until moist but not soggy (usually 1–1.5 cups). 

7. Put in a greased pan, bake at 350°F for 25–30 minutes until the top is golden and crispy.

 

RECIPE #4 – BAKERY-STYLE CHRISTMAS COOKIES FROM A $1 MIX 

(Everyone will think you’re a pro)

 

What you need: 

- 1 box cake mix OR cookie mix ($1) 

- 1 tub frosting ($1) 

- Sprinkles ($1) 

- Optional: chocolate chips ($1)

 

The secret upgrade: 

- Use 2 eggs instead of 1 

- Add 1 tablespoon melted butter 

- Add 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (or imitation vanilla) 

- Stir in chocolate chips

 

Bake according to box (usually 350°F for 9–12 minutes). Frost while warm. Add sprinkles. Done.

 

Bonus: Glow-Up Cake 

Bake any $1 cake mix in a 9×13 pan. Poke holes with a fork while hot. Warm the frosting 20 seconds in microwave and pour over. Sprinkle with cinnamon-sugar from the packets. People lose their minds.

 

Turn Your Tiny Kitchen Into Pure Christmas Magic 

While something is in the oven: 

- Play Michael Bublé or old Christmas movies on your phone 

- Light the $1 candle you bought 

- Wear your favorite old sweater 

- Sip hot chocolate (packet + hot water = $0.25 luxury) 

- Let the house fill with butter + onion + cookie smells 

 

That’s Christmas. Not the price tag.

 

You did it. 

You made a full, warm, delicious Christmas dinner that tastes like love and smells like memories — for twenty bucks.

 

Grab your free printable shopping list + all recipes on one page here (no email needed this time — just helping you out).

 

Merry Christmas, friend. 

You’ve got this. 🎄❤️

 

P.S. People are pinning this like crazy on Pinterest — save it now so you have it next year too!

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$20 DOLLAR TREE CHRISTMAS DINNER 

Full Menu + Printable Shopping List & Recipes 

(Everything really is $1–$1.25 at Dollar Tree – December 2025)

 

SHOPPING LIST (check off as you grab!)

 

Produce 

□ 5-lb bag russet potatoes 

□ 1 small yellow onion (optional but recommended)

 

Meat 

□ 1 pack chicken thighs or drumsticks (4–6 pieces)

 

Canned Goods 

□ 2 cans cream of chicken soup 

□ 1 packet chicken gravy mix OR 2 chicken bouillon cubes

 

Bakery 

□ 1–2 loaves white bread OR hot dog/hamburger buns (for stuffing)

 

Baking 

□ 1 box yellow or white cake mix (for cookies OR bonus cake) 

□ 1 tub vanilla frosting 

□ 1 bottle sprinkles (red/green) 

□ Chocolate chips (optional but SO good)

 

Dairy/Fridge 

□ Stick of butter or margarine 

□ Dozen eggs 

□ Small bottle milk (or use water in a pinch)

 

Seasonings (only buy what you don’t already have) 

□ Garlic powder 

□ Paprika 

□ Black pepper 

□ Italian seasoning OR poultry seasoning 

□ Vanilla extract (optional – makes cookies taste bakery-level) 

□ Cinnamon-sugar packets (for bonus cake)

 

Total at Dollar Tree: $19–$23

 

RECIPES (All on one page so you don’t lose anything)

 

1. CHRISTMAS CHICKEN WITH CREAMY GRAVY 

Oven: 350°F | Total time: 1 hr 30 min 

- Put chicken in a baking dish 

- Mix 2 cans cream of chicken + gravy packet (or 2 crushed bouillon cubes) + ½ cup water 

- Pour over chicken 

- Season heavily with garlic powder, paprika, pepper, Italian/poultry seasoning 

- Optional: top with sliced onion 

- Cover with foil → bake 1 hour 

- Uncover → bake 25–30 min more until golden 

Slow cooker: LOW 5–6 hrs or HIGH 3–4 hrs

 

2. BUTTERY MASHED POTATOES 

- Peel (or don’t) and chunk 6–8 potatoes 

- Boil in salted water 15–20 min until fork-tender 

- Drain, add 3–4 Tbsp butter + ½ cup milk + salt/pepper 

- Mash and taste → keep adding butter until you smile

 

3. CRISPY-EDGE HOLIDAY STUFFING 

- Toast or dry out bread, cut/tear into cubes 

- Toss with 4 Tbsp melted butter 

- Add diced onion (optional) + 1–2 tsp poultry seasoning + garlic powder + pepper 

- Slowly add chicken broth/bouillon water until moist 

- Bake 350°F, 25–30 min until top is golden

 

4. BAKERY-STYLE CHRISTMAS COOKIES 

- 1 box cake/cookie mix + 2 eggs + 1 Tbsp melted butter + 1 tsp vanilla 

- Add chocolate chips if you bought them 

- Drop onto cookie sheet → 350°F, 9–12 min 

- Frost warm cookies + add sprinkles

 

BONUS GLOW-UP CAKE (crowd favorite) 

- Bake any $1 cake mix in 9×13 pan 

- Poke holes with fork while hot 

- Microwave frosting 20 sec and pour over 

- Sprinkle with cinnamon-sugar packets

 

You just made a full Christmas dinner that smells and tastes like pure magic — for twenty bucks. 

Merry Christmas — you’ve got this! 🎄❤️

 

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