Cheap Christmas Dinner Ideas: A Full Family Menu on a Budget

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Christmas dinner doesn't need three meats, eight sides and a store-bought dessert tray. One good main, a few classic sides and one homemade dessert feel just as festive, and cost far less.

Here's a complete cheap Christmas dinner menu for a family of six: glazed ham, mashed potatoes, roasted carrots, green beans, homemade cranberry sauce and apple crisp. At typical US prices it comes to about $45, or roughly $7.48 a person, with ham left over for the days after. There are swaps to make it cheaper still, plus a make-ahead plan so you're not stuck in the kitchen all day.

Quick answer

For a cheap Christmas dinner, pick a budget main like a spiral ham or whole chickens, add cheap, filling sides (potatoes, carrots, green beans), make cranberry sauce and dessert from scratch, and buy store brands. This six-person menu costs about $45 at typical US prices, and swapping the ham for a ham shank or two roast chickens can bring it closer to $35.

The menu and what it costs

Costs are for the amounts used in each recipe, assuming you already have salt, pepper, oil and cinnamon.

Glazed spiral ham (7 lb bone-in half)	$26.04
Mashed potatoes	$3.71
Butter-roasted carrots	$1.99
Green beans	$6.27
Homemade cranberry sauce	$2.96
Apple crisp	$3.89
Total for 6	about $45 (about $7.48 a person)

Prices are typical US prices checked in early November 2026 (US Bureau of Labor Statistics average prices and USDA weekly grocery ad reports). Yours will vary by store and area.

The ham is roughly half the bill, which is normal. That's why the main is the best place to save: see the swaps below.

The recipes

Swaps to make it even cheaper

• Choose a ham shank instead of spiral. In the same late-October USDA ad report, bone-in ham shanks averaged about $2.05 a pound versus about $3.53 for spiral halves. A 7 lb shank would be about $14, saving roughly $10. You'll carve it yourself.
• Roast two whole chickens. BLS put whole chicken at about $2.06 a pound in September 2026, and stores were advertising whole fryers for about $1.07 a pound on average in late October. Two 4½ lb birds cost roughly $10–$19.
• Buy a turkey in the November sales. Frozen whole turkeys were advertised at about $1.26 a pound on average in late October. If you have freezer space, buy one now and keep it for Christmas.
• Make it a potluck. Ask guests to bring the green beans or the dessert. That can take $6–$10 off your bill.
• Skip the extras no one remembers. Fancy appetizers, three desserts and special drinks add up fast. Water with sliced oranges or a jug of iced tea is fine.

Make-ahead plan

• Early December: buy shelf-stable items and the ham or turkey if you see a good sale (freeze it).
• Up to a week before: make the cranberry sauce.
• Two or three days before: buy the fresh produce. Move a frozen turkey to the fridge to thaw in time (it needs about one day for every 4–5 lb).
• Christmas Eve: make the mashed potatoes and apple crisp topping, and trim the green beans.
• Christmas Day: warm the ham, roast the carrots, reheat the potatoes, cook the beans and bake the crisp while you eat.

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What to do with the leftovers

A 7 lb ham for six usually leaves plenty for sandwiches, soup and breakfast hash. Cool leftovers within 2 hours, and keep cooked ham in the fridge for 3–5 days or freeze it for 1–2 months for best quality (USDA guidance). Our Christmas leftover recipes turn it into several more cheap meals.

FAQ

What is the cheapest meat for Christmas dinner?

Whole chicken, turkey bought on sale and ham are usually the cheapest per pound. In late October 2026, USDA's grocery ad report averaged frozen whole turkeys at about $1.26 a pound and spiral hams at about $3.53, while BLS put boneless chuck roast at about $9.19 a pound.

How much ham do I need per person?

For a bone-in ham, plan on about ¾ to 1 pound per person if you want leftovers, or about ½ pound if you don't.

How can I host Christmas dinner on a budget?

Plan one menu, buy store brands, make sauces and dessert from scratch, ask guests to bring a dish, and write your shopping list on a free Christmas budget planner so you buy only what's on it.

Final take

A cheap Christmas dinner is one good main plus simple, classic sides: this menu feeds six for about $45 at typical US prices, and a ham shank or roast chickens bring it closer to $35. For the rest of the season, see our Christmas on a budget ideas and these cheap Christmas party food ideas.

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