A Christmas dinner for ten doesn’t need a $60 ham. One big pan of roasted chicken, macaroni and cheese, potatoes and a couple of vegetables can feed the table without emptying your grocery budget.
Table of contents
- The Christmas dinner menu for ten
- A full grocery basket that stays under seventy-five dollars
- How to cook the Christmas dinner without three ovens
- A realistic cooking schedule
- Three swaps if you need a different Christmas main
- Leftovers and food safety
- Questions about the seventy-five-dollar Christmas meal
- Start with the meat price
For this cheap Christmas dinner, I’m using a ten-pound bag of chicken leg quarters as the main dish, with enough sides to serve ten adults or a mix of adults and kids. The basket comes to $67.79 at Walmart’s regular prices, checked in November 2026, which leaves about $7 for local price differences. The meal covers dinner, dessert and a simple drink, but you’ll need an oven, a stove and basic cookware.
The Christmas dinner menu for ten
Here’s what’s going on the table:
- Oven-roasted chicken leg quarters, cut into drumsticks and thighs if needed
- Mashed potatoes with onion gravy
- Stovetop macaroni and cheese
- Green beans with butter
- Brown-sugar glazed carrots
- Warm dinner rolls
- Fudge brownies
- Water plus a pitcher of powdered lemonade or another inexpensive drink
This is a filling, ordinary family meal. The chicken’s dark meat stays moist when cooked properly, and the side dishes work with an ordinary kitchen setup. One person can make it, although a helper to chop potatoes would be welcome.
A full grocery basket that stays under seventy-five dollars
Below are full-package buying amounts, including oil, seasonings and a dessert made with eggs. Lower-cost grocery picks include a 10-pound bag of chicken leg quarters at $8.64, five pounds of russet potatoes at $3.76, frozen cut green beans around $0.98 a bag, and 18.3-ounce brownie mix around $1.72. When an item was on a temporary rollback, the table uses its regular price, so the total holds after the sale ends. Store prices still change, so check your cart before leaving.
| What to buy | Full amount | Budget |
|---|---|---|
| Chicken leg quarters | One 10 lb bag | $8.64 |
| Russet potatoes | One 5 lb bag | $3.76 |
| Whole carrots | One 2 lb bag | $2.27 |
| Frozen cut green beans | Four 12 oz bags | $3.92 |
| Elbow macaroni | Two 16 oz boxes | $2.72 |
| Shredded cheddar | Two 16 oz bags | $6.96 |
| Milk | One gallon | $3.82 |
| Margarine or spread | One 15 oz tub | $3.43 |
| Eggs | One dozen | $2.50 |
| Fudge brownie mix | Two 18.3 oz boxes | $3.44 |
| Vegetable oil | One 48 oz bottle | $3.82 |
| Brown-and-serve rolls | Two 12-count packs | $2.76 |
| Salt, garlic powder and pepper | Three store-brand containers | $5.60 |
| Brown sugar | One 2 lb bag | $2.08 |
| Onions | One 3 lb bag | $3.66 |
| Brown gravy mix | Two packets | $1.16 |
| Lemonade mix | One small canister | $2.47 |
| Aluminum foil | One 75 sq ft roll | $4.78 |
| Total | $67.79 |
The list uses full packages rather than a spoonful of oil or sugar you may not have. Milk, eggs and basic seasonings can cost more in some areas. Egg prices move quickly, so that line is rounded up. If your cart comes in about $7 higher than this list, you’re still at $75.
Use water as the only drink if you’re trying to come in closer to $65, or keep the lemonade for children who want something festive. Disposable plates and utensils aren’t in this basket; regular household dishes are the cheapest option.
How to cook the Christmas dinner without three ovens
The chicken takes the most oven time. Make the brownies earlier in the day and set them aside. Wash and chop vegetables before the chicken goes in, then use the stovetop for sides while the oven does its job.
Roast the chicken without drying it out
A ten-pound bag of leg quarters may contain eight to twelve pieces depending on their size. If there are eight large quarters, cut each at the joint into a thigh and drumstick before serving, giving sixteen pieces to share. Ten guests can have a sensible portion along with generous sides.
Pat the chicken dry, arrange it skin-side up in two large roasting pans and season with salt, pepper, garlic powder and a little oil. Roast at around 400°F, turning the pans if your oven has hot spots. Cooking time varies by piece size and oven, so check the thickest section with a food thermometer. Poultry must reach 165°F, as FoodSafety.gov explains. If your oven can’t fit two pans without crowding, roast in batches and keep the finished chicken safely hot until serving.
A small amount of chicken drippings can flavor the gravy. Keep raw-chicken tools separate from the cooked meal and wash the cutting board and counters thoroughly.
Make mashed potatoes for the whole table
Peel or scrub all five pounds of potatoes and cut them into similar-sized pieces. Boil in salted water until a fork slides through easily, usually around 15 to 20 minutes after the water returns to a boil. Drain well, then mash with milk and a few spoonfuls of margarine.
Five pounds gives a little under half a pound of raw potatoes per person, plenty with the macaroni and vegetables. Put a lid on the pot to keep them warm, and add a splash more hot milk if they stiffen before dinner.
Turn the macaroni into a generous side
Cook two pounds of elbow macaroni in salted water until just tender and drain. Warm about 3 cups of milk in a large saucepan, add the shredded cheese a handful at a time and stir until smooth. Mix in the pasta, then adjust with more milk until the sauce coats every piece.
The simplest version uses shredded cheddar and milk. It can be slightly thinner than a baked casserole, which is fine for a family table. Keep it on low heat once combined so the cheese doesn’t separate. Great Value elbows and 16-ounce bags of shredded cheese are useful price references.
Give the green beans a little butter
Four 12-ounce bags of frozen green beans provide three pounds of vegetables. Simmer or steam them until hot and tender, then toss with margarine, salt and pepper. Don’t boil them for half an hour while the chicken cooks. A short cook near serving time keeps the beans from turning soggy.
Frozen beans save trimming time. If fresh beans happen to be cheaper at your store, buy enough to give ten people a side portion and wash them in advance.
Glaze the carrots in one saucepan
Slice two pounds of carrots into thick coins. Simmer in a little water until just tender, drain most of the liquid, then stir in a tablespoon or two of margarine and 2 tablespoons of brown sugar. Cook another minute or two until lightly glossy.
A little sweetness makes carrots feel like a holiday side, but you can leave out the sugar for guests who prefer them plain. Keep them warm with a lid on the pan while the rolls heat up.
Warm the rolls last
Two packs of twelve give you 24 rolls, so most guests can take two. Follow the package timing and use the oven when the chicken comes out to rest. If the rolls need only a few minutes, don’t put them in early and let them dry out while everyone waits for dinner.
Great Value brown-and-serve rolls are $1.38 a pack at Walmart’s regular price and sometimes drop to $1.00 on rollback.
Bake the brownies in the morning
Two boxes of brownie mix make a generous tray of dessert pieces. Follow the box recipe using the eggs, oil and water already included in the grocery list. Let the brownies cool completely before cutting them into 20 small squares. You can serve two per person if they’re modest-sized pieces, or set a plate out for people who want seconds.
This is a convenient place to stop if the day is busy: brownies keep well for a short time once cooled and stored as the mix’s directions allow. The grocery basket includes a dozen eggs even though you’ll use only the number called for by the mix.
A realistic cooking schedule
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| Day before | Check the chicken is thawed in the fridge, clear oven space, set out serving dishes |
| 10:00 a.m. | Bake brownies and let cool |
| 1:30 p.m. | Peel carrots and potatoes, prepare chicken pans |
| About 2 hours before dinner | Start roasting chicken; confirm timing by temperature |
| 45 minutes before dinner | Cook potatoes and pasta in separate pots |
| 25 minutes before dinner | Cook green beans and carrots, finish macaroni |
| Just before dinner | Check chicken temperature, rest it, warm rolls, make gravy |
Change the clock times to match your serving hour and the capacity of your oven. A crowded oven may take longer, and a thermometer matters more than a rigid timetable.
For guests with food allergies or dietary needs, ask ahead. The macaroni contains wheat and dairy, the rolls usually contain wheat, and the brownies typically contain wheat and eggs. Keeping one plain vegetable dish aside before adding butter is easy if someone needs it.
Three swaps if you need a different Christmas main
Slow-cooker pulled chicken. If you can buy bone-in chicken affordably but want easier serving, cook chicken safely, remove the bones and serve the shredded meat with pan juices. The sides can stay the same. This is helpful for younger children, but make sure you have enough meat after removing bones.
Baked pasta dinner. For a vegetarian family, replace the chicken with baked ziti or a second macaroni dish and add beans or lentils for protein. The grocery list will change, but feeding ten people for under $75 should be possible with store-brand pasta and canned tomatoes if you build a new cart before shopping.
Ham only when the sale is truly good. A ham can work, but compare the weight, bone and per-pound price. A $35 ham leaves less room for vegetables and dessert than the $8.64 chicken bag. Check whether the ham is fully cooked or requires cooking, and follow the appropriate USDA temperature guidance.
Leftovers and food safety
Put perishable foods into shallow containers and refrigerate within two hours of serving, or within one hour if the temperature is over 90°F. Reheat leftovers thoroughly to 165°F. The FDA’s food-handling guide has more details.
Don’t leave a big dish of macaroni out all afternoon while people come and go. Portion what you need for dinner, keep the rest cold, and bring out more only if it will be eaten. Cooked chicken can become sandwiches the next day, provided it was stored promptly.
Questions about the seventy-five-dollar Christmas meal
Will this really feed ten adults?
The sides are generous, and the ten-pound bag of bone-in chicken should provide enough pieces to share after cutting large quarters into thighs and drumsticks. For ten very hungry adults who expect big meat portions, add another smaller pack of chicken if your cart has room under $75 or choose a different menu.
What if I don’t own a large roasting pan?
Use two ordinary baking pans that fit your oven. Borrow one from a neighbor if needed. Disposable foil pans cost extra and can bend under heavy chicken, so set them on a sturdy baking sheet if you use them.
Can I make this dinner without dairy?
Yes, with changes. Use dairy-free spread for potatoes and vegetables, and swap macaroni and cheese for seasoned rice or another side your family eats. Read labels on rolls and brownie mixes carefully because some contain milk ingredients.
How do I get the cheapest ingredients?
Compare store-brand packages by total cost and look at weekly meat promotions before choosing a menu. The chicken price does most of the work here, so if it doubles, revisit the main rather than shaving pennies off carrots.
Start with the meat price
Check the price of a ten-pound bag of chicken at your store, then fill the rest of the basket from this list. If the total is under $75 with a little room left, pick your dinner time and write the oven schedule on a piece of paper you can keep on the fridge.
For help planning the wider celebration, see our Christmas budget guide, the $100 Thanksgiving dinner for ten and these cheap Thanksgiving side dishes.
