16 Perfect Trader Joe's Side Dishes for a Thrifty (And Tasty) Thanksgiving

How can you save money on Thanksgiving dinner? The prices of select sides are on the rise — making it more expensive to serve a healthy holiday meal. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the cost of refrigerated biscuits and rolls increased by 5.7 percent in 2023, and potato prices rose by 3.6 percent annually between 2000 and 2023.

If you’re looking for creative ways to stretch your grocery budget, these popular Trader Joe’s hacks can help.

From frozen French green beans to fresh spaghetti squash, TJ’s stock of Thanksgiving-ready sides will leave cash in your wallet.

Editor’s note: Prices are subject to change and may vary by location.

Price: $2.49

Save on the cost of fresh produce and pick up a pack of these frozen French green beans. And don’t worry if you can’t use the entire bag for Thanksgiving dinner. Take out what you need right now and freeze the rest for another holiday meal.

Compare the $2.49 price of TJ’s massive 24-ounce bag to $2.19 for 10 ounces of Good and Gather’s frozen organic green beans at Target.

Price: $4.49

Stock up on this new-to-the-freezer-section, limited-time buy. The 16-ounce bag includes generous portions of Brussels sprouts, spinach, onions, and kale coated in a creamy, cheesy provoke and mozzarella sauce.

As a bonus, this foodie find is easy to make. Heat the prepared pick from frozen in about eight minutes.

Price: $5.99

You’ll find this 17-ounce pack of stuffing in Trader Joe’s refrigerated section — and yes, it’s ready to heat and serve. The classic recipe features cornbread croutons, dried cranberries, sage, parsley, and roasted apples.

This prepared pick is a steal for under $6. A 16-ounce box of Williams Sonoma’s organic cornbread stuffing mix costs $19.95.

Price: $5.99

No time to whip up cheesy potatoes from scratch? No problem.

Your family will think this refrigerated version is homemade. Instead of overspending on pounds of potatoes, a few different types of cheese, and spices, you’ll get everything you need in one 17-ounce pack.

The parmesan, asiago, provolone, and fontina-drenched thinly sliced potatoes are perfect for your holiday buffet.

Price: $1.49

Bake these Brussels with sea salt and butter, air fry them with olive oil, or saute the sprouts to golden perfection.

Whichever way you choose to prepare this classic Thanksgiving side, you can score a serious bargain at Trader Joe’s on a 16-ounce bag. At less than $1.50 for one pound, you can afford to feed your entire extended family and more.

Price: $4.29

Skip slicing, baking, and hand-mashing your potatoes this year. If you’re looking for a convenient alternative to the usual from-scratch recipe, Trader Joe’s has you covered with this frozen version.

You’ll get 28 ounces for $4.29, while Walmart charges $4.47 for a 24-ounce bag of Ore-Ida’s brand-name recipe-ready potatoes.

Price: $4.49

Start Thanksgiving dinner with a comforting bowl of warm pumpkin butternut squash soup. This bargain bisque is ready for you to heat and eat. Onions, carrots, brown butter, sage, and honey give this butternut squash and pumpkin puree blend a flavor your family will savor.

Price: $4.99

Instead of the same traditional potatoes, stuffing, and cranberry sauce sides, serve your guests TJ’s autumn-inspired Harvest Chili. The savory mix of black beans, cauliflower, butternut squash, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, and chili spices is a fan favorite — so don’t wait to snag one for your dinner.

Redditor cytherian posted, “Harvest Chili…should be available all year round. I was proactive this year and stocked up on Harvest Chili before it ran out in the start of spring. Had six containers of it lining my fridge.”

Price: $2.29

From-scratch cooks can get a deal on sweet potatoes at Trader Joe’s right now. The two-pound bag is only $2.29. Bake the potatoes and serve them with butter and cinnamon, or mash them into a marshmallow casserole.

Price: $2.99

Slice and bake this sweet butternut squash, use it to make a homestyle stew or roast it with charred veggies. At $2.99 per piece, this is a Thanksgiving deal you can’t miss. Whole Foods Market sells organic butternut squash for $1.99 per pound.

Price: $2.99

Get creative in the kitchen and bake this veggie as a side. The squash’s spaghetti-like strands make it a family-friendly fine. Scoop the “noodles” out and mix them with TJ’s brown sugar and maple butter, or add a bag of cooked frozen seasoned Brussels sprouts.

Price: $2.99

Keep things simple this Thanksgiving. Heat these frozen potato pucks on your stovetop or in the microwave. Serve the cooked mashed sweet potatoes as-is, or add spiced pecans, brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg.

The 18-ounce bag is a budget-friendly buy for $2.99. Bob Evans’ 22-ounce version costs $4.99.

Price: $3.29

You already have enough buttery, salted, marshmallow-covered sides on the Thanksgiving table. Now it’s time for a healthy option.

This frozen multigrain and veggie blend is fully cooked and ready to heat. Corn kernels, carrots, and peas give this nutritious mix a subtle flavor that pairs perfectly with your holiday turkey.

Price: $3.49

Pass on pricey bakery rolls and try this refrigerated crescent dough from Trader Joe’s. Eat them plain, or dress the moon-shaped wrap rolls up with a sprinkle of sea salt, poppy seeds, or cheddar cheese.

Price: $3.99

Don’t wait to nab a box of these frozen apps. The limited-time buy is flying off store shelves. Even though the cheddar, gouda, holiday spice, and macaroni pasta balls are technically a starter, you can also serve them as a savory side.

Price: $2.99

Why serve basic pasta when you could give your guests this blend? Pearled couscous, orzo, red quinoa, and split baby garbanzo beans mix together to create a subtly earthy taste.

If you’re not sure what to do with this pick, Redditor EscapeGoat81 suggests, “I like it a lot! I like it as a cold salad with tomatoes, red onion, feta, and the can of Greek chickpeas. Some red wine vinegar for dressing.”

Trader Joe’s has everything you need to serve sweet, salty, and savory sides this Thanksgiving. Whether you’re searching for a ready-to-cook option or prefer to start from scratch, TJ’s has budget-friendly alternatives.

You can do more than just save money on groceries at Trader Joe’s. While you’re shopping for holiday meal sides, check out the retailer’s bargain beauty buys, pet products, and seasonal selection of greeting cards.