The 50-Cent Walmart Find So Good I Bought Six

I was making a Walmart run recently when I spotted the beloved blue Jiffy Corn Muffin Mix boxes for 50 cents each. I wrote about Jiffy last year and thought I already scored the best price at Dollar Tree, but clearly I was wrong. My brain immediately started doing math, and it came to 25% less than at Dollar Tree.

For three dollars, I could prep a couple of Thanksgiving sides and have a few boxes left over, all for under $3.00. As a border Canadian, I travel to the U.S. a lot and have the unique opportunity to celebrate Thanksgiving twice (sometimes even three times) a year, which is just my way of saying I get to eat delicious food and hang out with my people a lot. And I can't complain about that!

We already had Canadian Thanksgiving in October, and we'll celebrate two American Thanksgiving dinners this year with our American friends and family. So, the affordability of this find makes it feel like an even bigger feather in my cap.

Why I Bought Six Boxes of the Walmart Jiffy Mix

The price alone would've been reason enough to stock up, but what really made me grab six boxes is the versatility of this mix during the holiday crunch. At 50 cents per box, I'm looking at enough ingredients to make at least two side dishes, with more for future options. 

Practically speaking, each box is small and stackable, so it doesn't take up much pantry space during the weeks leading up to the holidays. And because the mix has a long shelf life, I don't have to worry about them going bad if my plans change and I end up turning them into countless other family favorites.

Why This Mix Belongs on Your Thanksgiving Table (and Beyond)

The mix is beyond simple. You just need to add an egg and milk to create a basic muffin mix, but you can do much more with it, including a lot of the Thanksgiving menu.

One box is going toward a corn casserole, and I might even make a double batch because it's a hit with my family, and Jiffy really shines. There are many variations online, but I like to mix it with a can of whole kernel corn, a can of creamed corn, some Greek yogurt, melted butter, and an egg, then bake it all into a creamy, custardy side dish that's part cornbread and part soufflé. It's the one dish that gets scraped completely clean, and using Jiffy makes it more efficient.

I loved Trader Joe's Cornbread Stuffing Mix, so I'm inspired to try my hand at making my own. This Sausage, Sage, and Cornbread Stuffing from Elizabeth Stark looks like it would be a massive hit with my extended family. If I go that route, I'll bake it a day or two before, let it dry out slightly, then tear it up and get to baking.

I'll keep the remaining boxes as my insurance policy, in case something goes sideways or I need a last-minute appetizer (like mini cheddar, salami, and jalapeño muffins). The point is that having a couple of safety options is important when you're cooking for a crowd.

Beyond Turkey Day, they would also come in handy the next morning when everyone wants something easy and comforting for breakfast. Jiffy makes excellent cornbread pancakes if you thin the batter slightly with extra milk.

And if none of this happens, they'll inevitably become a buttery, cast-iron corn bread when we need something comforting, turned into dumplings or muffins alongside a weeknight chili, or studded with blueberries and turned into a lunchbox snacking cake or muffins. 

Since discovering Jiffy last year, I've become a huge fan. And even though Dollar Tree's price is still fantastic, the 50-cent price tag makes this Walmart buy a no-brainer. For three dollars, I've got a showstopper casserole, my stuffing base covered, and backups for whatever else the holiday and coming months throw at me.

_{To learn more about our approach to product recommendations, see HERE.}