Viral $20 Dollar Tree Thanksgiving Dinner Recipe Inspires Millions

An unexpected hero has emerged this Thanksgiving season with a recipe that proves a holiday meal can be delicious, heartwarming, and budget-friendly.

Rebecca Chobat, the creator behind the popular TikTok account "Dollar Tree Dinners," has gone viral for her $20 Thanksgiving dinner recipe, made entirely with ingredients from Dollar Tree.

Chobat's platform focuses on affordable and simple meal ideas, catering to an audience of over two million people who face food insecurity or seek ways to save money on groceries.

Her latest creation—a Thanksgiving feast including Mac & Cheese croquettes, a "Best of Thanksgiving" casserole, and caramel apple cookie bars—has captured hearts and garnered over 10 million views.

In her original video, Chobat explains her mission: "I've got a $20 budget to make a Thanksgiving dinner using ingredients from Dollar Tree. I’m happy to say this might be the best Thanksgiving dinner I’ve ever made."

The video, along with step-by-step guides for each dish, has inspired thousands to try the recipe for themselves, demonstrating how small budgets don’t have to limit creativity or joy.

The impact of Chobat's videos reached even greater heights when fellow content creator Caleb Cooks shared a heartfelt story. In his video, Caleb recounted seeing a single mother with three children shopping for the Dollar Tree Thanksgiving dinner ingredients at a Houston store.

"She told me it was how she was going to provide a real Thanksgiving dinner for her family this year," Caleb shared. He emphasized the excitement of the mother’s children, who were thrilled about having a true Thanksgiving meal, rather than reheating frozen dinners.

Chobat responded emotionally, saying Caleb’s story brought her to tears. "I am humbled and honored," she said. "Hearing that my videos are helping people in such real ways means everything to me."

The Dollar Tree Thanksgiving dinner includes three courses and uses fewer than 20 ingredients. Optional add-ons, such as a block of Cheddar cheese or an extra packet of sugar cookie mix, can enhance the dishes but aren’t necessary.

Chobat’s recipe uses everyday pantry staples, including Kraft Mac & Cheese, turkey stuffing mix, and canned turkey, to create a memorable and satisfying meal.

Here’s the full ingredients list for those inspired to recreate the dinner:

• Swanson chicken broth (optional)
• Kraft ranch
• Italian seasoned breadcrumbs
• Kraft Mac & Cheese
• Turkey stuffing mix
• Idahoan mashed potatoes mix
• Pioneer turkey gravy mix
• Dried cranberries
• French-style green beans
• 2 cans of turkey
• Milk
• Margarine
• Sugar cookie mix
• Werther’s chewy caramel candies
• Apple pie filling

Chobat encourages her followers to give the meal a try: "If anyone out there is making my Dollar Tree Thanksgiving dinner this year, I sincerely hope you enjoy it as much as I did."

Her wholesome approach to cooking has resonated deeply, proving that the true spirit of Thanksgiving is about resourcefulness, gratitude, and coming together—even on a budget.