$20 Christmas Dinner

The holiday season is fast approaching, bringing the joy of Christmas celebrations, family gatherings, and—let’s be honest—extra spending. If you’re feeling the pinch, don’t worry! This $20 Christmas Dinner proves you can serve a festive holiday meal on a small budget. Watch me bring it to life on my YouTube channel!

This idea follows the success of my “Dirt Cheap Easy Family Dinner Ideas” and “My Ideal Thanksgiving Dinner MADE EASY” series, both of which were hits on my blog and YouTube. But this one is all about Christmas! On the menu: tender glazed ham, creamy mashed potatoes, and more classic holiday favorites—all made with simple, affordable ingredients.

I sourced all the main ingredients at Walmart, the most budget-friendly store in my area. The only items I didn’t purchase were basic kitchen staples like oil and seasonings, which I already had on hand. Don’t worry—most of the seasonings used in these recipes are common pantry items, and if you’re missing any, they’re affordable and easy to find.

Whether you’re looking to cut costs this holiday season or simply trying to put a beautiful Christmas dinner on the table, these recipes are for you. They’re simple, satisfying, and most importantly, budget-friendly.

If you’re hungry for more affordable meal ideas, check out one of my most popular blogs, “Cheap Family Meals Under $10.” It’s packed with even more delicious recipes to keep your family fed and happy—no matter your budget. Let’s make this Christmas dinner one to remember without the stress of overspending!

My Master Grocery List (with prices in my area)

Below is my grocery list from shopping at my local Walmart here in Utah. Feel free to go to a store near you that you might find cheaper!

• Ham $9.23
• Cake $1.37
• Jiffy $0.50
• Pudding $0.98
• Gravy $0.32
• Corn $0.50
• Green beans $0.98
• Whipped topping $1.07
• Potatoes $1.86

↓ EASY Emergency Grocery Budget-Friendly Christmas Holiday Recipes ↓

I hope you enjoy this list of recipes that can create a Christmas dinner for only $20

Seasoned Green Beans

Ingredients:

• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 12 oz bag frozen green beans
• 1 tbsp minced garlic
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/8 tsp pepper
• 1 tsp Italian seasoning  

Instructions:

• To a large pan over medium heat, add the oil.
• Once hot, add the green beans.
• Let the green beans cook, stirring occasionally, for 8 minutes.
• Stir in the garlic and seasonings, and let cook for an additional minute.
• Garlic burns easily and becomes bitter, so don’t let it cook for too long.

Cornbread Casserole

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup melted butter
• 15 oz can corn, drained
• 2 eggs
• 8 oz sour cream
• 8.5 oz box Jiffy corn muffin mix

Instructions:

• To a medium-sized bowl, add the melted butter, drained corn, eggs, sour cream, and Jiffy. Stir well until combined.
• Spray an 8×8 baking dish with nonstick spray.
• Add the corn muffin mixture into the baking dish.
• Bake for 35 minutes or until the center has set.

Red Velvet Poke Cake

Ingredients:

• 1 box red velvet cake mix
• 3 eggs
• Oil and water as directed on the back of the box
• 3.4 oz box vanilla pudding mix
• 1 1/2 cups milk
• 8 oz package whipped topping

Instructions:

• Preheat oven to 325°F.
• To a medium-sized bowl, add the eggs, oil, and water as directed on the back of the box.
• Spray a 9×13 baking dish with nonstick spray.
• Pour the prepared cake mix into the baking dish. Bake according to the package instructions.
• Once out of the oven, let cool completely.
  Using the back of a spoon, poke holes all over the top of the cake.
• To a medium-sized bowl, add the pudding mix and milk. Whisk well.
• Pour the pudding mixture over the top of the cake.
• Refrigerate for 30 minutes.
• Spread the whipped topping over the top of the cake.

Glazed Ham

Ingredients:

• 4-8 lb bone-in ham
• 1/2 cup water

Glaze for the ham ingredients:

• 1/2 cup butter
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1 tbsp yellow mustard
• 1/4 cup water
• 1/2 tsp nutmeg
• 1/2 tbsp whole cloves

Instructions:

• Preheat oven to 325°F.
• Spray a 9×13 or large baking dish with nonstick spray.
• Place the ham into the baking dish facing down.
• Using a knife, score the top of the ham diagonally, making shallow cuts about 1 inch deep.
• Cover tightly with foil.
• Bake for 1.5 hours.
• Once the ham is almost finished baking, get started on the glaze.
• To a small pot on the stove over medium heat, add the butter, brown sugar, and mustard. Whisk well until smooth and simmering.
• Whisk in the water and seasonings. Let simmer for 3 more minutes, whisking occasionally to slightly thicken.
• Once the ham is finished baking, remove the foil and pour the glaze over the top.
• Bake uncovered for an additional 30 minutes.
• Slice the ham off the bone.

Mashed Potatoes:

• 

  Garlic Herb Mashed Potatoes

  Cooks in 25 minutes

  Garlic Herb Mashed Potatoes are creamy, salty, savory, buttery, and luscious. Everyone will be swooning over these amazing mashed potatoes.

  2 votes 5.0 Cuisine: American, Thanksgiving

If you’re looking for more budget-friendly meal ideas, be sure to check out my most popular post, Cheap Family Meals Under $10. It’s packed with even more delicious, affordable recipes your family will love!

Budget-friendly recipe posts and videos you might have missed!

• Blog Post: Dirt Cheap Easy Family Dinner Ideas
• Blog Post: My Ideal Thanksgiving Dinner MADE EASY
• Blog Post: Cheap Family Meals Under $10
• Video: Emergency Grocery Budget-Friendly Meal Plan
• Video: $5 Family Dinners
• Video: Eating For $1 A Day (Full Week)
• Video: 70 Meals For $25

Quick links for making dinner easy:

• Family meal plans
• Tools for the kitchen and more
• The best cookbook for family dinner recipes
• FREE budget meal plan
• Cooking videos to watch

If you give these recipes a try, make sure to tag us on Instagram @julia.pacheco.cooking and let me know how much you liked the recipes!