Growing up, we had the Banquet family meal at Thanksgiving every year. It was only my mom, my sister, and me; my mom did not eat meat. I remember the pieces being thicker, but there was still a lot of gravy. She would make homemade mashed potatoes, canned green beans, and those crescent rolls. My sister and I loved the extra gravy because we could put it on our mashed potatoes. It is a good memory now as my mom suffers from late-stage dementia, and we do not spend the holidays together anymore. (Before anyone says anything she cannot handle the anxiety of so many people around, it is not that we don't want to.)
It's well worth it! I've tried it recently and was pleasantly surprised how good it was! I don't normally buy frozen meals but it was one of the items wortn bonus points where i shop! 😂
I like to buy a frozen turkey breast and crockpot it with some gravy and make stovetop stuffing. My favorite part of Thanksgiving leftovers are the turkey sandwiches for days,
@@matxalenc8410 LOL, it's all basic and symbolic. The turkey thigh and sweet potato go in the oven, the broccoli is out of the always present large bag of frozen and goes in the microwave. If I really feel the need for a pumpkin dessert, I make an icebox cake with canned pumpkin, defrosted whipped topping, chocolate graham crackers and the seasoning that I would have used for pie. It's all just me, nothing fancy.
I want to tell people...I work at a Catholic church and we do complete Thanksgiving boxes for no cost for anyone who wants one. No questions asked. They are high quality items with everything you could imagine.... whole turkey or ham or both, or a gift card to get something else. They also include pantry staples if you want them--flour, sugar, seasonings. In addition, we have an entire shed of food that is donated that at anytime during the year anyone can come get what they need. Again, no questions. We have so much we never give it all away. Every so often, we take a load of it to our local food bank so it doesn't expire. My point is......please make some calls to churches if you are struggling and ask what they have. There is no need to go without when there are options. And some places are like my church where there is no limit or requirement. In fact, people will often say.... stop, that's enough. I don't have room for any more. 😂 We try to load people up because we have so much. I how this can help someone breathe a little easier. 😊 We do it for Christmas too!
I live jn Australia, no Thanksgiving and I enjoyed your review. You have so much more compassion and patience than many people, even the people in the comments who don't listen. Anyone who follows you knows you have lots of videos showing different ranges budget meals (including from scratch) this review is for those who will be eating a frozen thanksgiving dinner. People really are unable to see past their own personal experience, its a shame, so glad that you thinking of those living in hotels , living with a disability/ill etc. Everyone deserves to be seen, and you offer that...thank you❤
A total hack for thanksgiving is to go to the deli section of a grocery store and get the most natural looking turkey sliced super thick! usually it's $10 a pound, but you're getting all meat. Then heat it up in a packet of gravy! No oven needed.
Thank you, Rebecca! Cooking a frozen dinner in the microwave vs. preparing any type of meal yourself is not *always* a financial issue: there are folks who are unable to prepare a meal on their own due to physical or mental disabilities, living arrangements, and/or dealing with depression & anxiety (I'm sure there are others I've missed). For the many people who fit in those categories, I know Rebecca's honest reviews come as a welcome gift! 💝The extra suggestions from commenters are great for those who can use them- but not everyone can or will do that..... and that's okay too- because sometimes just getting through one day at a time is all a person can handle, and they can celebrate that with their favorite frozen dinner! 💗💗😊
Last year I came down with Covid right at Thanksgiving so needless to say I spent Thanksgiving by myself. Having just watched your video I had my son pick up two Lean Cuisine dinners for me to eat on Thanksgiving Day while everyone was enjoying a traditional dinner at my son’s house. I was so thankful for your review last year as I was able to enjoy a fairly good meal too.
You always respond calmly, clearly, and kindly to unempathetic/judgmental commenters, and I truly respect that because I don’t know if I would be able to do the same. I think your attitude helps you reach and educate so many people and I hope to be more like you in the future! ❤
Something I used to get years ago was a Jenny-O turkey " roast", They had 2 versions, one was all white meat and the other was a combo of white and dark. It came with gravy and could be cooked in the microwave. I had my first baby when I was 16..(yes..16. )I lived in a little tiny rental house, there was only a tiny apartment size stove, but, the oven didn't work. Just the burners, so, I earned to make meals using an electric skillet, that my grandma gave me, crock pot, and microwave. Those turkey roasts were something I got from a program called "Come Share" , you paid $12, did 2 hours of volunteer work at certain places where they needed help, there was a list of places that participated, and then there was a designated place where a truck would come, and deliver food. The place for me was the catholic church across the street from my house, each participant got $50 worth of food, frozen meat, fresh produce, canned goods. You got a grocery bag, and went around tables and picked up 1 of each thing being offered. That program saved our life alot of times, And I learned how to make so many different things because we never knew what would be in that grocery haul. My daughter is 41 now, Im 57 and I have 3 grandchildren. I also have a 31 year old son. Everything worked out. This program was active in the m8d 80's my daughter was in kindergarten, so, 1985ish. Wish it was still going on. I'd still do it
I’m 39 years old and the turkey roasts were always my favorite!!!!! It’s been a couple years now since they’ve discontinued them, and dang I miss them lol.
That program you were on sounds wonderful! It is too bad that it is not up and running,these days, a program like that could help alot of people out.Thank you for sharing.
Everyone has a budget, a palate, and a favorite part of a holiday dinner and your honest reviews help people make informed selections for themselves, thank you.
My community this year are making bags from dollar tree. 1 package instant potatoes 1 box of stuffing. I can cranberry sauce. I can veggies Green beans etc. I package gravy. 2 cans turkey meat or chicken meat. And something sweet. A 2 pack of cookies etc. we will give suggestion for prep like using the meat with the stuffing during prep. I think this will be appreciated by those people who can’t get out or are alone for the holiday. That food pack can easily feed 2 and very easy to prepare. Love your videos.
Thank you. Just my mom and I for dinner. We don’t eat big meals and don’t need tons of leftovers. I will get a Marie Calendar’s dinner and add a veggie and an individual pie.
Adding a canned vegetable, the canned apple and a bread option like the dinner rolls that are on sale around Thanksgiving or even one of the inexpensive Italian loaves from the bakery section paired with the Marie Callender’s would be a great meal for two. It would end up around $5 or $6 per person. Another dessert option could be the little pies you find in the bakery section. They’re inexpensive and usually lots of flavors to choose from. If you’re limited to Dollar Tree or Dollar General there are tons of dessert options and a loaf of regular sandwich bread is always a good choice. It was usually our bread option for dinners growing up in a low income household and it’s still a solid choice today. I really love the amount of thought and care you put into all your videos but especially the holiday dinner ones ❤
White bread and butter was a common accompaniment to our meals when I was growing up. I agree that with a couple of simple sides the Marie Callender’s dinner would be a solid Thanksgiving meal for two.
I have spent many Thanksgiving eating these meals. I like the lean cuisine one and buy mashed potatoes and save the apples for a real dessert. Thank you for doing this again. I also had pepper to my microwaveable meals.
I think a better option than any of those meals would be to buy a couple of thick slices of a good deli turkey along with a jar of gravy, a packet of instant flavored mashed potatoes (the type that only requires water) and a box of stuffing mix. You’d get a larger quantity of food with more flavor and everything could still be made in the microwave. If you bought the mashed potatoes, stuffing mix and jarred gravy at Dollar Tree they’d cost $1.25 each but many stores sell them cheaper during the holiday season so you could save a bit of the cost buying them on sale. The gravy would just have to be heated and served and give you more flavor and product for your meal. If I was eating a microwave only Thanksgiving dinner I would go with the option I presented. It would be far better flavor wise than any of the frozen boxed meals for about the same price. Considering that the mashed potatoes and stuffing mix have 3-4 portions in each as would the gravy, you’d have 3-4 meals for about the same amount of money as a subpar frozen meals. You could make up plates from the extra portions and freeze them to have for Christmas.
She's done this multiple times in previous years for her annual Thanksgiving dinner videos. You can find the videos on her page 😊 I think her point here was to give an honest review on frozen dinners for people who only have the option of buying a single item with everything already in it, that could be heated in the microwave. ❤
I was also thinking something along those lines. Buy the foods separately (I would go with instant gravy instead of a jar) and you could get a full spread for $10 if you do store brand. And have enough for a can of baked apples for dessert.
Great idea. I would recommend the great value option for the stuffing vs stovetop. It is only 98 cents and my family loves it. If a person doesn’t care about slices vs chunks, what about that carving board lunch meat. I’ve never tried it but it looks good.
Many people, including the elderly and infirm, are not able to prepare or cook anything, deal with a stove, mixing, prepping/boiling water in a microwave, etc. They need to pop one thing in and be done. This review is for frozen meals that some people have to utilize for ease of preparation.
Thank you for being here on RUclips! You're a blessing in this world and a joy to watch. I just wanted you to know that I appreciate you and love watching your videos! Feels like hanging out with a friend
Love your videos 😊 you are so compassionate and your character always shines. You try your best to help and care for people less fortunate. You are a very admirable person. Keep being you!
The nice thing about the banquet turkey swimming in gravy is you can use the gravy to go over your mashed potatoes...I do that when I buy the Salisbury steaks
Definitely would have more than enough for putting over some taters! But I do still think it’s deceptive from a packaging standpoint for it to be 75% gravy
@DollarTreeDinners i agree. 6 pieces of turkey is wild for the amount of gravy there is. But from a budget standpoint if you're only feeding one or 2 people and budget is tight it's one less item you have to buy (gravy wise)
A PSA that is fitting for this channel, this holiday season support your local food bank, if you can. Some folks rely on their food banks to have a traditional thanksgiving meal. Over the summer, due to some confusion with my county DSS, I had to use the local food bank for two weeks to get food. It was a great program.
Yes, i agree, deli oven roasted turkey, you can buy however much you need at deli. Add your own gravy chioce and sides. As a diabetic i would do real potatoes and brocolli or Brussel sprouts.
For many years we were not near family and if we didn’t get an invite anywhere or host a Friendsgiving, we had a plan. We long ago figured out all we cared about was pumpkin pie, so I made a pie and we spent all day eating it :) Now, I pick up some ribs or brisket and make side dishes and pie. We are turkey deniers :) I miss the OG metal tray Swansons turkey dinner, it was the best 😢
Chicken makes a really good stand in for Turkey, like purchase a toasted chicken and add some turkey gravy and sides and you will be surprised that you can't really tell the difference. Chicken is an excellent stand in for single people or those on a tight budget.
Thank you for the review. I usually go to a Chinese buffet with my friends for Thanksgiving but I would still like a traditional thanksgiving dinner. Now I can have one.
Thank you for reviewing this! I know it can be costly to add these all up so I really appreciate your time and effort in making these and being so in-depth, too. For those who live alone or need a quick accessible option, it's great to have someone like you being a guide. Adding volume with extra vegetables and meat is always an option with these too, I've learned! Same with adding your own sauces. Hormel is proving that not everything that is more expensive is better... Having your brightness after the sourness from last night is much needed. Stay safe, Rebecca!
I just recently found you and I'm loving it. As seniors with no children, my husband & I are always looking for ideas for holiday meals. Eating out has become ridiculously expensive for people on a fixed income. I thank you for such a wonderful channel. 👍 Edit~I just checked prices and I can get the Marie Callandor's Turkey dinner for two, a frozen Marie Callendor' pie, add one additional vegetable for about $15. That will feed the both of us a meal plus extra pie for a nighttime snack for less than one per person Thanksgiving meal in a restaurant. Usually here in Florida, it cost us between $16 & $20 per person on Thanksgiving day. Marie's is my husband's favorite pies.
im from russia so no stores and products that you bought, we dont even crlebrate thanksgiving, but the minute i saw your new video , i clicked - missed your videos😍
Mr.Rubalka. The Pilgrims were giving thanks for many things. Since you came here from Russia and if your life has improved consider yourself a Pilgrim along with all the other citizens whose ancestors came from abroad. Happy Thanksgiving. Hopefully you have friends who will invite you to dinner. Maybe you could take a favorite Russian side dish to share. Again may you have a happy Thanksgiving.
oh, thats seeet, but i meant that im from and still live in russia)) so its not a holiday i would celebrate so its not even a little bit relatable but still enjoyed the video
For Thanksgiving and Christmas last year I did the Hormel Turkey.. (2 packs ) for me and my boyfriend, I reheated it in the oven , not mircowaved.. it was delicious. letting it get that baked tastedmade it even better. There was plenty of Turkey for next day left overs.. I beleive I paid about 7.99 for it here in Nashville. Plan to do it again for Christmas this year if I can find it at Walmart.
Nice review. I'm a sucker for cranberry sauce and figure that would dress up any of these meals enough for me. Basic Banquet or Marie Callendar with a good dollop of cranberry sauce and a few slices of an orange. Lol, I'm ready for Thanksgiving.
If you don’t mind no stuffing, I would recommend the Marie Callender’s Honey Roasted Turkey dinner. It does have potatoes and the vegetables are a broccoli mix, but the turkey is pretty good. It is something that I have occasionally when my husband is out of town on business, but I want a full meal without the work of cooking it all.
A substitution for just the turkey and gravy. I’d get the Oscar Mayer Carving Board Turkey 7.5 oz, $4.49 an envelope of Turkey gravy .99 cents. Then you could add Idahoan instant mashed potatoes $1.50, Fry’s brand Stuffing $1, Fry’s brand frozen mixed veg $1.00 and Hostess single server apple pie $1.50. This is all at my Kroger/Fry’s You could easily get 2 small meals BTW, I got a whole frozen turkey for $11….so, when I buy all the fixings above…dinner for 4 will be $20 I’m very frugal🙂👍🏻 Thank you for sharing
I'm laughing because I'm 55 and I LOVE the little banquet turkey dressing and peas haha. I don't think about what the turkey mystery meat really is lol.
People can actually go to any Supermarket go to the deli counter and you can get very thick cuts of turkey instead of using it for sandwich meat you make it a thicker cut for your turkey Thanksgiving that tastes amazing and you pay way less than you do on the frozen meals and they're way more cost-effective you can get four large slabs of turkey from the deli department for like five something. Food for thought. ❤❤❤
I'm in the UK, but folks on a budget who can't access a cooked from scratch meal for any reason deserve the information to be able to make an informed choice about their Thanksgiving meal, too! And let's be honest, if you're on a budget, you can't necessarily try multiple options yourself to find the best one. What a great way to serve your viewers :)
Banquet has fruit pot pies! They are pretty good! They would make an excellent dessert option for 1 or 2 people and are usually about the same price as the cheaper Banquet dinners.
So, admittedly somebody sent me this video thinking it would get a giggle out of me, but I watched the entire thing and am now waist-deep in the rest of your content. You have an absolutely amazing channel and are a lifesaver for a lot of people. God bless you!
I have a trick to make the texture of the potatoes better. I take the other foods out of the tray and put the potatoes back in for another minute or two. It thickens up the potatoes more and gets rid of the graininess. Good video - interesting how different the turkey was in each meal.
I would really LOVE to see you do a food pantry menu. So either get in touch with a pantry and find out what all a person might get for that month or week, or find out from a person that receives a box. Try to make as many meals as possible with as little additional ingredients as possible, or supplement a month of meals and spend as little as possible. Wouldn't have to be as big as all that though. Creative ways to use your food pantry box. I know it would be great and helpful no matter what you did. I know you already use things like beans and rice from scratch that people tend to get. ❤️
@tanyad4577 thanks! I thought I had been through all of her stuff but I guess not, I'll try to find it. I thought of it because I was really trying to throw some things together with my pantry dregs and its a lot of random pasta, rice, canned veggies that I got for something and never cooked. Definitely the types of things you'd get from a food pantry.
I love the Marie Callender's one. I have found that if you get to the point when the gravy is first liquid and you make sure the turkey is completely covered, it helps with dryness. I also stop it again when the turkey is loose enough to move and turn it over and make sure it is covered again. I then follow the instructions the rest of the way. Then the turkey doesn't dry out. I've also removed the stuffing during part of the cook time if it looks like it is drying out, then put it back in for the last 30 seconds to get it hot, but that depends on the wattage of the microwave. The really high powered ones like my mother-in-law has can mess things up if you don't watch it closely. It also helps if you make sure the stuffing doesn't suck up all the gravy.
Thanks for testing the family size turkey and gravy only entrees. I was planning on not cooking this Thanksgiving because my oven works erratically at best and I just didn't want to mess with it. The actual turkey is the part that we eat the least of and I prefer chicken leftovers by far. Think I might buy a few of these and just do the sides at home. For us anyway, it's all about the stuffing!
My husband and I decided to get a rotisserie chicken 36oz ($6.00) 5lbs of potatoes ($2.75) Jiffy corn mix(0.50x3=1.50) Turkey gravy mix ($0.67) which totals $10.92 I didn't include any seasoning or things I have already on hand. What kind of shocks me is the cost of some of those dinners almost equals to what I spent for our Thanksgiving dinner, I am not knocking what people choose or can afford but just really shocks me the price and portion of some of them.
Can you try this recipe from simply great recipes as a dollar tree recipe??? Turkey Stuffing Balls 2 C mashed potatoes 2 C stuffing 1 C shredded turkey ½ C grated Parmesan cheese 1 egg, beaten ¼ C bread crumbs ¼ tsp salt ⅛ tsp black pepper Preheat oven to 375° In a large bowl, combine mashed potatoes, stuffing, turkey, Parmesan cheese, egg, bread crumbs, salt, and pepper. Mix well. Form the mixture into 1-inch balls. Place the balls on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until golden brown. Serve hot with gravy or cranberry sauce
Before you leave the East coast, can you do one of your favorite meals that likely won't be available in Washington (where you are moving)? I'm thinking a Smoked Va Ham...but you pick since you guys have to eat it! Or, do a tour of items unique to that area that aren't available elsewhere...Do they still have Charles' chips deliveries? It's been ages since my family lived in Norfolk, Va. Thanks, Rebecca!
Growing up fairly poor in rural VA a Banquet Meal was a treat for us😂. We called them TV dinners and they came in an aluminum pan with 3 sections. I remember the turkey being full of gristles and just yucky! We ate them though because like I said it was a rare treat!!
I’ve always thought frozen dinners tasted better cooked in the oven. I don’t think the stuffing would be so mushy oven cooked. IMO, ovens produce better textures than does the microwave. But I do understand the choices are based on limited cooking appliances.
Hi Rebecca. I'm from Brazil, and I simply love watching your videos. You are an admirable young woman, full of energy and good will. Much success to you ❤️
The banquet turkey is chopped and formed possibly having other things added whereas the other meals were actual turkey that isn’t modified. Just roasted & sliced. That matters a great deal in the price point.
I agree, I made a Turkey dinner using deli turkey, box stuffing and packet gravy. Mix the stuffing, stuff the turkey with the stuffing in a roll and put gravy over it. You can make it for around $10 and it is not bad for a small group.
Aldi target and Walmart are all doing budget friendly FULL meals where you get a turkey and all the trimmings. Target is only 30 I think Aldi is 47 and I’m not sure what Walmart is but they are all very affordable income with everything absolutely everything something to look into. It’s only four of us so I think I’m going to go with the target meal, but Aldi is actually giving you a butterball turkey.
I am hoping to do a video this year discussing the target thanksgiving dinner. I looked at what it came with and it doesn’t look like much, I’m curious as to how much more I would have to spend to make it a complete meal since it only includes some basic items
@DollarTreeDinners it reminds me of the OnCor brand turkey & gravy. Way more gravy than turkey. I would rather buy a pound of deli turkey (sliced thick) & make my own gravy 😂.
I would be interested in a video for cheap dorm meals you could make with a microwave. I have two jobs and miss a lot of mealtimes at the dining hall and need something cheap and healthy for when I do. Love all your videos!❤
Thanks for pointing out that it’s not meant to be satire for those that eat this . I been spending thanksgiving alone for 3 years now and although I can cook I didn’t want to bother to cook on thanksgiving because it only reminds you are eating alone . So I pop in these frozen dinner instead.
I have to say having grown up on banquet, turkey meals over instant mashed potatoes, I can’t help but have nostalgia when we have it. I think if it’s what I could afford, I would thoroughly enjoy it for Thanksgiving. Another very reasonably priced dinner is a turkey pot pie. They usually come in under a dollar they’re very filling and you could add aside of mashed potatoes or pretty much anything and it would still be an affordable family meal.
i know the hormel square table was expensive, and i haven't tried the turkey - but the hormel square table beef (i forget what it's called exactly but there are two different kinds that are basically the same) is SO good and is one of our favorite mains to pair with a starch and a veggie. it's usually about $11 at stop and shop/giant/martin's in my area, but it often goes on sale for $6.99. it's like pot roast except you can make it in the microwave 😊
Thank you Rebecca!! I love all your content. Especially because you do a great job of unpacking all the info involved to whatever you are focusing on per video!! Always informative, economically friendly content!! Such a great job!❤❤❤❤
Not going to lie, the family size Banquet turkey thing was one of my favorite meals as a kid. My mom would make her amazing mashed potatoes and fry some corn and we would heat up the Banquet turkey box...I loved their gravy so I was glad they gave so much sauce (to be fair, they did give more turkey in the package quite a few years ago). I think it used to be similar meat to the one in their individual dinners.
I loved my grandma's stuffing, it was almost a soup. My mom's was great also because it was moist but not mushy and had crispy edges that my sisters and I fought for.
I grew up eating frozen dinners (80s/90s latchkey kid 😬) and loved getting the Thanksgiving meal dinners 😅 Last year’s video (has it already been a year?!) was very helpful.
@DollarTreeDinners I recently found your channel and have watched some of your videos of making meals for some elders in your community. Thank you so much for doing this. I am chronically ill and bedbound but i also have a disabled adult son who cant safely prepare meals and so his meals are very limited especially since he grew up eating home cooked meals. He misses good food which he calls "food food" (meanin not processed food). As a mother i hate that i cant cook for him anymore. There is a huge need amoung the elderly and disabled for what you are doing. I really hope others take note and look into helping others in their community. No one would expect it to be provided for free its just sharp knives and hot stoves are not always safe so they need help with preparation which isnt a service that insurance or the government provides for. Once again, thank you for blessing others as you do.
Hormel also makes a shelf stable turkey and dressing AND a chicken and dressing. I see them at all the usual grocery stores, plus Family Dollar/Dollar General. I like the gravy in the turkey one better. It's about what you would expect, quality wise, but it's decent for what it is. Downside, there's no veggies, but upside, it's perfectly edible without microwaving (although it is better when it's hot).
Unless one’s Thanksgiving meal consists of turkey and turkey only, the “absurd” amount of gravy in the Banquet Family dinner will be beneficial for the trimmings often served with turkey, such as stuffing and mashed potatoes.
You're right, gravy is always good, but 20 ounces of gravy in a 26 ounce package with a few pieces of thin sliced deli turkey is misleading to the consumer. This is marketed as a “family” meal, meaning it’s meant to serve 3 to 4 people. each person get 1 1/2 ounces of meat and 5 ounces of gravy. It’s still absurd when you think about it in that context and context is important
Thank you Rebecca! I have had a really rough night/day (19 year old son got in an accident on the way to the World Cup Paintball tournament last night...he is fine but his car is totaled) and your videos always get me in a better head space.
Great video and some very surprising results! Good to know also for people like me who sometimes want thanksgiving type food during other times of the year
I like to get the pot pies and then bake some of the cheap biscuits. The pot pies seem to have a lot of gravy like she is saying these do so it's good with the biscuits. I can get the pot pies for $1.00 and the biscuits for $1.00 and then I can make a bunch of it just small amount.
NOW is the time to find good deals. That meal you made last year with the smoked turkey leg was perfect. If you play it right you can catch those reduced price at some places.
Growing up, we had the Banquet family meal at Thanksgiving every year. It was only my mom, my sister, and me; my mom did not eat meat. I remember the pieces being thicker, but there was still a lot of gravy. She would make homemade mashed potatoes, canned green beans, and those crescent rolls. My sister and I loved the extra gravy because we could put it on our mashed potatoes. It is a good memory now as my mom suffers from late-stage dementia, and we do not spend the holidays together anymore. (Before anyone says anything she cannot handle the anxiety of so many people around, it is not that we don't want to.)
Don't let other people judge your relationship with your mom. They don't have ANY idea what's going on. Hugs!
🙏🏼❤️
I'm sorry. Dementia is not an easy road.
Prayers and God bless you and your family.
@@loriloristuff❤ Amen
I may purchase the Marie Callander's, It's just me and my beloved cat.
Me too! Happy holidays, stranger 😄
Of all the frozen meal options out there, Marie Callender’s is more often good than not!
Same. Every year i get my cat turkey based wet food, and every year he doesn’t eat it
I do the same with my dogs. I don't know why I try.
It's well worth it! I've tried it recently and was pleasantly surprised how good it was! I don't normally buy frozen meals but it was one of the items wortn bonus points where i shop! 😂
I tend to buy a turkey thigh and a sweet potato (which I bake), and add broccoli. That does it for me.
A very simple but classic Thanksgiving combination!
That sounds great, thank you for the idea to save for later.
I like to buy a frozen turkey breast and crockpot it with some gravy and make stovetop stuffing. My favorite part of Thanksgiving leftovers are the turkey sandwiches for days,
How do you cook the broccoli?
@@matxalenc8410 LOL, it's all basic and symbolic. The turkey thigh and sweet potato go in the oven, the broccoli is out of the always present large bag of frozen and goes in the microwave. If I really feel the need for a pumpkin dessert, I make an icebox cake with canned pumpkin, defrosted whipped topping, chocolate graham crackers and the seasoning that I would have used for pie. It's all just me, nothing fancy.
I want to tell people...I work at a Catholic church and we do complete Thanksgiving boxes for no cost for anyone who wants one. No questions asked. They are high quality items with everything you could imagine.... whole turkey or ham or both, or a gift card to get something else. They also include pantry staples if you want them--flour, sugar, seasonings.
In addition, we have an entire shed of food that is donated that at anytime during the year anyone can come get what they need. Again, no questions. We have so much we never give it all away. Every so often, we take a load of it to our local food bank so it doesn't expire.
My point is......please make some calls to churches if you are struggling and ask what they have. There is no need to go without when there are options. And some places are like my church where there is no limit or requirement. In fact, people will often say.... stop, that's enough. I don't have room for any more. 😂 We try to load people up because we have so much. I how this can help someone breathe a little easier. 😊
We do it for Christmas too!
May God bless you and your Church for your generosity!
🙏 ✌️
That is so incredibly kind. Your church sounds like a blessing. God Bless and thank you for tips.
Nice one
But it all needs to be prepared
I live jn Australia, no Thanksgiving and I enjoyed your review. You have so much more compassion and patience than many people, even the people in the comments who don't listen. Anyone who follows you knows you have lots of videos showing different ranges budget meals (including from scratch) this review is for those who will be eating a frozen thanksgiving dinner. People really are unable to see past their own personal experience, its a shame, so glad that you thinking of those living in hotels , living with a disability/ill etc. Everyone deserves to be seen, and you offer that...thank you❤
Thank you!!!! great comment.
A total hack for thanksgiving is to go to the deli section of a grocery store and get the most natural looking turkey sliced super thick! usually it's $10 a pound, but you're getting all meat. Then heat it up in a packet of gravy! No oven needed.
I love this. Your compassion for others is beautiful.
Thank you, I appreciate that!
I 2nd that
@@DollarTreeDinners This is a source of income. It is not like you are spending time helping others. Just making money.
You are very good with this. Such a joy to watch you. 💕 🌸
@@Koji-888 She does it for money.
Thank you, Rebecca! Cooking a frozen dinner in the microwave vs. preparing any type of meal yourself is not *always* a financial issue: there are folks who are unable to prepare a meal on their own due to physical or mental disabilities, living arrangements, and/or dealing with depression & anxiety (I'm sure there are others I've missed). For the many people who fit in those categories, I know Rebecca's honest reviews come as a welcome gift! 💝The extra suggestions from commenters are great for those who can use them- but not everyone can or will do that..... and that's okay too- because sometimes just getting through one day at a time is all a person can handle, and they can celebrate that with their favorite frozen dinner! 💗💗😊
Thank goodness! I needed a Rebecca video today
Glad to be of service! 😉
I totally agree!!!! I get excited when she posts a video lol
Alot of us feel the same ;)
Right!? They're so calming and make me feel seen. 🎉🎉🎉❤🙏
I’m Canadian and needed a distraction too 😂
Last year I came down with Covid right at Thanksgiving so needless to say I spent Thanksgiving by myself. Having just watched your video I had my son pick up two Lean Cuisine dinners for me to eat on Thanksgiving Day while everyone was enjoying a traditional dinner at my son’s house. I was so thankful for your review last year as I was able to enjoy a fairly good meal too.
You always respond calmly, clearly, and kindly to unempathetic/judgmental commenters, and I truly respect that because I don’t know if I would be able to do the same. I think your attitude helps you reach and educate so many people and I hope to be more like you in the future! ❤
Something I used to get years ago was a Jenny-O turkey " roast", They had 2 versions, one was all white meat and the other was a combo of white and dark. It came with gravy and could be cooked in the microwave. I had my first baby when I was 16..(yes..16. )I lived in a little tiny rental house, there was only a tiny apartment size stove, but, the oven didn't work. Just the burners, so, I earned to make meals using an electric skillet, that my grandma gave me, crock pot, and microwave. Those turkey roasts were something I got from a program called "Come Share" , you paid $12, did 2 hours of volunteer work at certain places where they needed help, there was a list of places that participated, and then there was a designated place where a truck would come, and deliver food. The place for me was the catholic church across the street from my house, each participant got $50 worth of food, frozen meat, fresh produce, canned goods. You got a grocery bag, and went around tables and picked up 1 of each thing being offered. That program saved our life alot of times, And I learned how to make so many different things because we never knew what would be in that grocery haul. My daughter is 41 now, Im 57 and I have 3 grandchildren. I also have a 31 year old son. Everything worked out. This program was active in the m8d 80's my daughter was in kindergarten, so, 1985ish. Wish it was still going on. I'd still do it
I’m 39 years old and the turkey roasts were always my favorite!!!!! It’s been a couple years now since they’ve discontinued them, and dang I miss them lol.
Those are good
That program you were on sounds wonderful! It is too bad that it is not up and running,these days, a program like that could help alot of people out.Thank you for sharing.
I loved those turkey roasts and miss being able to buy them.
Everyone has a budget, a palate, and a favorite part of a holiday dinner and your honest reviews help people make informed selections for themselves, thank you.
My community this year are making bags from dollar tree. 1 package instant potatoes 1 box of stuffing. I can cranberry sauce. I can veggies Green beans etc. I package gravy. 2 cans turkey meat or chicken meat. And something sweet. A 2 pack of cookies etc. we will give suggestion for prep like using the meat with the stuffing during prep. I think this will be appreciated by those people who can’t get out or are alone for the holiday. That food pack can easily feed 2 and very easy to prepare. Love your videos.
Thank you. Just my mom and I for dinner. We don’t eat big meals and don’t need tons of leftovers. I will get a Marie Calendar’s dinner and add a veggie and an individual pie.
Adding a canned vegetable, the canned apple and a bread option like the dinner rolls that are on sale around Thanksgiving or even one of the inexpensive Italian loaves from the bakery section paired with the Marie Callender’s would be a great meal for two. It would end up around $5 or $6 per person. Another dessert option could be the little pies you find in the bakery section. They’re inexpensive and usually lots of flavors to choose from. If you’re limited to Dollar Tree or Dollar General there are tons of dessert options and a loaf of regular sandwich bread is always a good choice. It was usually our bread option for dinners growing up in a low income household and it’s still a solid choice today.
I really love the amount of thought and care you put into all your videos but especially the holiday dinner ones ❤
You’re welcome, and I appreciate the kind words! I’m always looking for budget-friendly meal ideas.
White bread and butter was a common accompaniment to our meals when I was growing up. I agree that with a couple of simple sides the Marie Callender’s dinner would be a solid Thanksgiving meal for two.
I have spent many Thanksgiving eating these meals. I like the lean cuisine one and buy mashed potatoes and save the apples for a real dessert. Thank you for doing this again. I also had pepper to my microwaveable meals.
I could totally see adding a small packet of mashed potatoes to it, it was fantastic
I remember these meals could be found for 10 for $10
I think a better option than any of those meals would be to buy a couple of thick slices of a good deli turkey along with a jar of gravy, a packet of instant flavored mashed potatoes (the type that only requires water) and a box of stuffing mix.
You’d get a larger quantity of food with more flavor and everything could still be made in the microwave.
If you bought the mashed potatoes, stuffing mix and jarred gravy at Dollar Tree they’d cost $1.25 each but many stores sell them cheaper during the holiday season so you could save a bit of the cost buying them on sale.
The gravy would just have to be heated and served and give you more flavor and product for your meal.
If I was eating a microwave only Thanksgiving dinner I would go with the option I presented.
It would be far better flavor wise than any of the frozen boxed meals for about the same price.
Considering that the mashed potatoes and stuffing mix have 3-4 portions in each as would the gravy, you’d have 3-4 meals for about the same amount of money as a subpar frozen meals.
You could make up plates from the extra portions and freeze them to have for Christmas.
She's done this multiple times in previous years for her annual Thanksgiving dinner videos. You can find the videos on her page 😊 I think her point here was to give an honest review on frozen dinners for people who only have the option of buying a single item with everything already in it, that could be heated in the microwave. ❤
I was also thinking something along those lines. Buy the foods separately (I would go with instant gravy instead of a jar) and you could get a full spread for $10 if you do store brand. And have enough for a can of baked apples for dessert.
Great idea. I would recommend the great value option for the stuffing vs stovetop. It is only 98 cents and my family loves it. If a person doesn’t care about slices vs chunks, what about that carving board lunch meat. I’ve never tried it but it looks good.
Many people, including the elderly and infirm, are not able to prepare or cook anything, deal with a stove, mixing, prepping/boiling water in a microwave, etc. They need to pop one thing in and be done. This review is for frozen meals that some people have to utilize for ease of preparation.
Thank you for being here on RUclips! You're a blessing in this world and a joy to watch. I just wanted you to know that I appreciate you and love watching your videos! Feels like hanging out with a friend
Love your videos 😊 you are so compassionate and your character always shines. You try your best to help and care for people less fortunate. You are a very admirable person. Keep being you!
Thank you really needed a distraction this morning ❤
You're welcome! 😄
@@realalecclarke ikr?
Hopefully, our country will be OK.🫂
Our world will be more than just OK
I would get the Banquet one because I love a LOT of gravy. I put it on my potatoes, stuffing, and turkey, and dip my rolls in it.
Great video. Thanks for taking one for the team and taste testing all of these meals for us.
The nice thing about the banquet turkey swimming in gravy is you can use the gravy to go over your mashed potatoes...I do that when I buy the Salisbury steaks
Definitely would have more than enough for putting over some taters! But I do still think it’s deceptive from a packaging standpoint for it to be 75% gravy
@DollarTreeDinners i agree. 6 pieces of turkey is wild for the amount of gravy there is. But from a budget standpoint if you're only feeding one or 2 people and budget is tight it's one less item you have to buy (gravy wise)
A PSA that is fitting for this channel, this holiday season support your local food bank, if you can. Some folks rely on their food banks to have a traditional thanksgiving meal. Over the summer, due to some confusion with my county DSS, I had to use the local food bank for two weeks to get food. It was a great program.
I agree wholeheartedly, it's definitely important to support food banks!
Yes, i agree, deli oven roasted turkey, you can buy however much you need at deli. Add your own gravy chioce and sides. As a diabetic i would do real potatoes and brocolli or Brussel sprouts.
As a diabetic as well that sounds really wonderful to plan.
This is very helpful. My husband died this year, so I will be alone for the holidays.
I’ll be thinking of you and others like us. The holidays are different for me now too. 😢
I’m so sorry to hear that. I hope you still have a wonderful holiday ❤️❤️
I’m so sorry for your loss. My dad passed away the week before Thanksgiving last year. It changes everything.
I’m so sorry for your loss.
This is my 2nd year as a widow. It hasn't gotten easier.😢
i live alone and was trying to think what i was going to fix myself for thanksgiving
I miss the cranberry sauce that used to come with these types of meals
oh yeah that's missing too! I didn't think about cranberry sauce
For many years we were not near family and if we didn’t get an invite anywhere or host a Friendsgiving, we had a plan. We long ago figured out all we cared about was pumpkin pie, so I made a pie and we spent all day eating it :) Now, I pick up some ribs or brisket and make side dishes and pie. We are turkey deniers :) I miss the OG metal tray Swansons turkey dinner, it was the best 😢
@Susanfuzz I miss the metal trays too.
Chicken makes a really good stand in for Turkey, like purchase a toasted chicken and add some turkey gravy and sides and you will be surprised that you can't really tell the difference. Chicken is an excellent stand in for single people or those on a tight budget.
Many people watch these reviews to help decide on meal purchases throughout the year, not just for the holidays. Thanks for posting this.
Thank you for the review. I usually go to a Chinese buffet with my friends for Thanksgiving but I would still like a traditional thanksgiving dinner. Now I can have one.
Congrats on 200k 🎉
Wow! That's wonderful.
Wow!❤❤❤
Thank you for reviewing this! I know it can be costly to add these all up so I really appreciate your time and effort in making these and being so in-depth, too. For those who live alone or need a quick accessible option, it's great to have someone like you being a guide.
Adding volume with extra vegetables and meat is always an option with these too, I've learned! Same with adding your own sauces. Hormel is proving that not everything that is more expensive is better...
Having your brightness after the sourness from last night is much needed. Stay safe, Rebecca!
I just recently found you and I'm loving it. As seniors with no children, my husband & I are always looking for ideas for holiday meals. Eating out has become ridiculously expensive for people on a fixed income. I thank you for such a wonderful channel. 👍
Edit~I just checked prices and I can get the Marie Callandor's Turkey dinner for two, a frozen Marie Callendor' pie, add one additional vegetable for about $15. That will feed the both of us a meal plus extra pie for a nighttime snack for less than one per person Thanksgiving meal in a restaurant. Usually here in Florida, it cost us between $16 & $20 per person on Thanksgiving day. Marie's is my husband's favorite pies.
These have been my holiday meals for decades. Thank you for acknowledging the single, working, and elderly!
im from russia so no stores and products that you bought, we dont even crlebrate thanksgiving, but the minute i saw your new video , i clicked - missed your videos😍
Thanks for watching! I hope you enjoyed it!
Mr.Rubalka. The Pilgrims were giving thanks for many things. Since you came here from Russia and if your life has improved consider yourself a Pilgrim along with all the other citizens whose ancestors came from abroad. Happy Thanksgiving. Hopefully you have friends who will invite you to dinner. Maybe you could take a favorite Russian side dish to share. Again may you have a happy Thanksgiving.
oh, thats seeet, but i meant that im from and still live in russia)) so its not a holiday i would celebrate so its not even a little bit relatable but still enjoyed the video
For Thanksgiving and Christmas last year I did the Hormel Turkey.. (2 packs ) for me and my boyfriend, I reheated it in the oven , not mircowaved.. it was delicious. letting it get that baked tastedmade it even better. There was plenty of Turkey for next day left overs.. I beleive I paid about 7.99 for it here in Nashville. Plan to do it again for Christmas this year if I can find it at Walmart.
Nice review. I'm a sucker for cranberry sauce and figure that would dress up any of these meals enough for me. Basic Banquet or Marie Callendar with a good dollop of cranberry sauce and a few slices of an orange. Lol, I'm ready for Thanksgiving.
If you don’t mind no stuffing, I would recommend the Marie Callender’s Honey Roasted Turkey dinner. It does have potatoes and the vegetables are a broccoli mix, but the turkey is pretty good. It is something that I have occasionally when my husband is out of town on business, but I want a full meal without the work of cooking it all.
Loved it! There have been several years in various decades of my past when my Thanksgiving meals have been frozen.
A substitution for just the turkey and gravy. I’d get the Oscar Mayer Carving Board Turkey 7.5 oz, $4.49 an envelope of Turkey gravy .99 cents. Then you could add Idahoan instant mashed potatoes $1.50, Fry’s brand Stuffing $1, Fry’s brand frozen mixed veg $1.00 and Hostess single server apple pie $1.50. This is all at my Kroger/Fry’s
You could easily get 2 small meals
BTW, I got a whole frozen turkey for $11….so, when I buy all the fixings above…dinner for 4 will be $20
I’m very frugal🙂👍🏻
Thank you for sharing
I absolutely love the carving board turkey but sadly none of the stores around me seem to carry it anymore. I wonder if it’s being discontinued
I buy that also when I want turkey just for me.
I'm laughing because I'm 55 and I LOVE the little banquet turkey dressing and peas haha. I don't think about what the turkey mystery meat really is lol.
People can actually go to any Supermarket go to the deli counter and you can get very thick cuts of turkey instead of using it for sandwich meat you make it a thicker cut for your turkey Thanksgiving that tastes amazing and you pay way less than you do on the frozen meals and they're way more cost-effective you can get four large slabs of turkey from the deli department for like five something. Food for thought. ❤❤❤
Deli turkey of good quality is upwards of $10 A pound, so it would be pricey and you'd still have to get the sides.
I'm in the UK, but folks on a budget who can't access a cooked from scratch meal for any reason deserve the information to be able to make an informed choice about their Thanksgiving meal, too! And let's be honest, if you're on a budget, you can't necessarily try multiple options yourself to find the best one. What a great way to serve your viewers :)
Banquet has fruit pot pies! They are pretty good! They would make an excellent dessert option for 1 or 2 people and are usually about the same price as the cheaper Banquet dinners.
Really! Thank you, I had no idea.
Thank you for sharing these Thanksgiving frozen dinners Rebecca.
You are so welcome!
So, admittedly somebody sent me this video thinking it would get a giggle out of me, but I watched the entire thing and am now waist-deep in the rest of your content.
You have an absolutely amazing channel and are a lifesaver for a lot of people. God bless you!
Love these kind of videos. Sometimes all you need is a microwave meal & it really helps if the product tastes good.
My thought on the banquet gravy ratio is that you can use the gravy on your mash and stuffing and whatever so it's enough for everything?
“Gravy with a drizzle of turkey” 😂❤
I have a trick to make the texture of the potatoes better. I take the other foods out of the tray and put the potatoes back in for another minute or two. It thickens up the potatoes more and gets rid of the graininess. Good video - interesting how different the turkey was in each meal.
I buy Marie Callendar’s meals often. They taste better than lots of other frozen meals (also, I love eating turkey and stuffing all year)
I would really LOVE to see you do a food pantry menu. So either get in touch with a pantry and find out what all a person might get for that month or week, or find out from a person that receives a box. Try to make as many meals as possible with as little additional ingredients as possible, or supplement a month of meals and spend as little as possible. Wouldn't have to be as big as all that though. Creative ways to use your food pantry box. I know it would be great and helpful no matter what you did. I know you already use things like beans and rice from scratch that people tend to get. ❤️
She has done those videos but a review is good..
@tanyad4577 thanks! I thought I had been through all of her stuff but I guess not, I'll try to find it. I thought of it because I was really trying to throw some things together with my pantry dregs and its a lot of random pasta, rice, canned veggies that I got for something and never cooked. Definitely the types of things you'd get from a food pantry.
I love your videos, Rebecca. You have such a sweet and beautiful spirit. Thank you.
I love the Marie Callender's one. I have found that if you get to the point when the gravy is first liquid and you make sure the turkey is completely covered, it helps with dryness. I also stop it again when the turkey is loose enough to move and turn it over and make sure it is covered again. I then follow the instructions the rest of the way. Then the turkey doesn't dry out. I've also removed the stuffing during part of the cook time if it looks like it is drying out, then put it back in for the last 30 seconds to get it hot, but that depends on the wattage of the microwave. The really high powered ones like my mother-in-law has can mess things up if you don't watch it closely. It also helps if you make sure the stuffing doesn't suck up all the gravy.
Love your videos Rebecca, your recipes and reviews are a game changer in the kitchen
Thanks so much! I appreciate it!
I love this series!! I appreciate what you do!!
Thanks so much, I really appreciate it!
Thanks for testing the family size turkey and gravy only entrees. I was planning on not cooking this Thanksgiving because my oven works erratically at best and I just didn't want to mess with it. The actual turkey is the part that we eat the least of and I prefer chicken leftovers by far. Think I might buy a few of these and just do the sides at home. For us anyway, it's all about the stuffing!
Used to be we baked two chickens for Thanksgiving because that's what everyone liked best. I think everyone can do what they want and can afford.
My husband and I decided to get a rotisserie chicken 36oz ($6.00) 5lbs of potatoes ($2.75) Jiffy corn mix(0.50x3=1.50) Turkey gravy mix ($0.67) which totals $10.92 I didn't include any seasoning or things I have already on hand. What kind of shocks me is the cost of some of those dinners almost equals to what I spent for our Thanksgiving dinner, I am not knocking what people choose or can afford but just really shocks me the price and portion of some of them.
Some people only have a microwave to cook with.
2024 is brutal!
I loved the banquet turkey meal as a kid, growing up in a 1 parent household.
Me too
Can you try this recipe from simply great recipes as a dollar tree recipe???
Turkey Stuffing Balls
2 C mashed potatoes
2 C stuffing
1 C shredded turkey
½ C grated Parmesan cheese
1 egg, beaten
¼ C bread crumbs
¼ tsp salt
⅛ tsp black pepper
Preheat oven to 375°
In a large bowl, combine mashed potatoes, stuffing, turkey, Parmesan cheese, egg, bread crumbs, salt, and pepper.
Mix well.
Form the mixture into 1-inch balls.
Place the balls on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until golden brown.
Serve hot with gravy or cranberry sauce
I like the Lean Cuisine turkey and the 7:00 and Marie Callender's
Before you leave the East coast, can you do one of your favorite meals that likely won't be available in Washington (where you are moving)? I'm thinking a Smoked Va Ham...but you pick since you guys have to eat it! Or, do a tour of items unique to that area that aren't available elsewhere...Do they still have Charles' chips deliveries? It's been ages since my family lived in Norfolk, Va. Thanks, Rebecca!
You are so humble, I appreciate you so much. Reminds me of home. Thank you mate!
I am a chef so I will be working on thanksgiving. So I probably get a microwave meal after work. Lol can't just cook for myself
Growing up fairly poor in rural VA a Banquet Meal was a treat for us😂. We called them TV dinners and they came in an aluminum pan with 3 sections. I remember the turkey being full of gristles and just yucky! We ate them though because like I said it was a rare treat!!
I wish tv dinners still came in aluminum trays, but then they wouldn’t be microwavable I suppose so it’s a trade off
I’ve always thought frozen dinners tasted better cooked in the oven. I don’t think the stuffing would be so mushy oven cooked. IMO, ovens produce better textures than does the microwave. But I do understand the choices are based on limited cooking appliances.
When I was a kid, TV dinners were still a novelty and we thought they were a real treat!,
Marie Calendar frozen dinners are my favorite.
Hi Rebecca. I'm from Brazil, and I simply love watching your videos. You are an admirable young woman, full of energy and good will. Much success to you ❤️
The banquet turkey is chopped and formed possibly having other things added whereas the other meals were actual turkey that isn’t modified. Just roasted & sliced. That matters a great deal in the price point.
as a single guy with no where to go for holidays and being broke living on disability its nice to see these kinds of videos
Very good review. Thank You
The cranberry compote may be used along with the meal as a stuffing and turkey accompaniment rather than as a dessert. Just a thought...
I was thinking this too. The apple cranberry compote was instead of cranberry sauce not instead of dessert
Thank you Rebecca! I love the Lean Cuisine turkey dinner. If I have it for lunch it’s enough. For dinner I add a non starchy vegetable or a salad.
Great idea!!
I agree, I made a Turkey dinner using deli turkey, box stuffing and packet gravy. Mix the stuffing, stuff the turkey with the stuffing in a roll and put gravy over it. You can make it for around $10 and it is not bad for a small group.
Aldi target and Walmart are all doing budget friendly FULL meals where you get a turkey and all the trimmings. Target is only 30 I think Aldi is 47 and I’m not sure what Walmart is but they are all very affordable income with everything absolutely everything something to look into. It’s only four of us so I think I’m going to go with the target meal, but Aldi is actually giving you a butterball turkey.
I am hoping to do a video this year discussing the target thanksgiving dinner. I looked at what it came with and it doesn’t look like much, I’m curious as to how much more I would have to spend to make it a complete meal since it only includes some basic items
I agree with you on your Banquet turkey assessment. I like gravy with my turkey, not gravy with a side of turkey. Great video.
It was a total gravy overload, right?
@DollarTreeDinners it reminds me of the OnCor brand turkey & gravy. Way more gravy than turkey. I would rather buy a pound of deli turkey (sliced thick) & make my own gravy 😂.
I would be interested in a video for cheap dorm meals you could make with a microwave. I have two jobs and miss a lot of mealtimes at the dining hall and need something cheap and healthy for when I do. Love all your videos!❤
Thanks for pointing out that it’s not meant to be satire for those that eat this . I been spending thanksgiving alone for 3 years now and although I can cook I didn’t want to bother to cook on thanksgiving because it only reminds you are eating alone . So I pop in these frozen dinner instead.
I have to say having grown up on banquet, turkey meals over instant mashed potatoes, I can’t help but have nostalgia when we have it. I think if it’s what I could afford, I would thoroughly enjoy it for Thanksgiving. Another very reasonably priced dinner is a turkey pot pie. They usually come in under a dollar they’re very filling and you could add aside of mashed potatoes or pretty much anything and it would still be an affordable family meal.
Deli turkey. Stove top stuffing, prepared. Gravey. Stuffing on deli turkey, roll. Gravey over all. Bake.
i know the hormel square table was expensive, and i haven't tried the turkey - but the hormel square table beef (i forget what it's called exactly but there are two different kinds that are basically the same) is SO good and is one of our favorite mains to pair with a starch and a veggie. it's usually about $11 at stop and shop/giant/martin's in my area, but it often goes on sale for $6.99. it's like pot roast except you can make it in the microwave 😊
Im actually looking at having one of these as my meal this year. Your review came at the perfect time
In my opinion, these frozen meals are underrated. These are delicious for a budget.
May your compassion be contagious ❤
As someone going through some stuff…thank you 😊
Thank you Rebecca!! I love all your content. Especially because you do a great job of unpacking all the info involved to whatever you are focusing on per video!! Always informative, economically friendly content!! Such a great job!❤❤❤❤
Not going to lie, the family size Banquet turkey thing was one of my favorite meals as a kid. My mom would make her amazing mashed potatoes and fry some corn and we would heat up the Banquet turkey box...I loved their gravy so I was glad they gave so much sauce (to be fair, they did give more turkey in the package quite a few years ago). I think it used to be similar meat to the one in their individual dinners.
Haha I went to go stir it and had an internal thought “where’s the turkey?”
I loved my grandma's stuffing, it was almost a soup. My mom's was great also because it was moist but not mushy and had crispy edges that my sisters and I fought for.
Play spot the doggo in the background
I grew up eating frozen dinners (80s/90s latchkey kid 😬) and loved getting the Thanksgiving meal dinners 😅 Last year’s video (has it already been a year?!) was very helpful.
@DollarTreeDinners I recently found your channel and have watched some of your videos of making meals for some elders in your community. Thank you so much for doing this. I am chronically ill and bedbound but i also have a disabled adult son who cant safely prepare meals and so his meals are very limited especially since he grew up eating home cooked meals. He misses good food which he calls "food food" (meanin not processed food). As a mother i hate that i cant cook for him anymore. There is a huge need amoung the elderly and disabled for what you are doing. I really hope others take note and look into helping others in their community. No one would expect it to be provided for free its just sharp knives and hot stoves are not always safe so they need help with preparation which isnt a service that insurance or the government provides for. Once again, thank you for blessing others as you do.
Hormel also makes a shelf stable turkey and dressing AND a chicken and dressing. I see them at all the usual grocery stores, plus Family Dollar/Dollar General. I like the gravy in the turkey one better. It's about what you would expect, quality wise, but it's decent for what it is. Downside, there's no veggies, but upside, it's perfectly edible without microwaving (although it is better when it's hot).
Happy early Thanksgiving!
Unless one’s Thanksgiving meal consists of turkey and turkey only, the “absurd” amount of gravy in the Banquet Family dinner will be beneficial for the trimmings often served with turkey, such as stuffing and mashed potatoes.
You're right, gravy is always good, but 20 ounces of gravy in a 26 ounce package with a few pieces of thin sliced deli turkey is misleading to the consumer. This is marketed as a “family” meal, meaning it’s meant to serve 3 to 4 people. each person get 1 1/2 ounces of meat and 5 ounces of gravy. It’s still absurd when you think about it in that context and context is important
Thank you Rebecca! I have had a really rough night/day (19 year old son got in an accident on the way to the World Cup Paintball tournament last night...he is fine but his car is totaled) and your videos always get me in a better head space.
Great video and some very surprising results! Good to know also for people like me who sometimes want thanksgiving type food during other times of the year
We always used the banquet sliced turkey for hot turkey sandwiches with mashed potatoes. So that takes care of a lot of gravy.
The Stouffers and Lean Cuisine often go on sale for 4/$10 or even 5/$10 which makes a pretty economical meal.
I like to get the pot pies and then bake some of the cheap biscuits. The pot pies seem to have a lot of gravy like she is saying these do so it's good with the biscuits. I can get the pot pies for $1.00 and the biscuits for $1.00 and then I can make a bunch of it just small amount.
NOW is the time to find good deals. That meal you made last year with the smoked turkey leg was perfect. If you play it right you can catch those reduced price at some places.
I hope so! I’m going to try and find some deals this year too.