Thanksgiving grocery shopping has turned into a price war, and the stores are not being shy about it. Sticker prices range from $30 to $200, and the amount of food you get for the money varies a lot.
One roundup lined up the biggest deals side by side. Some of the numbers are eye-popping, and a couple come with fine print worth reading.
The figures below come from a Scary Mommy roundup originally posted October 22 and updated October 28.
Costco Slashed Its Dinner By $70, But You Still Have To Cook The Bird
Costco members can order the Complete Gourmet Thanksgiving Turkey Dinner, now discounted from $269.99 to $199.99. It feeds eight adults, which works out to about $25 per person.
The meal is nearly ready-made, but you still roast the turkey yourself. It is a convenient package for hosts who want to skip the side dish marathon.
Still, $25 a head is the priciest rate on this list. Convenience has a cost.
Walmart Feeds 10 For $35 With 26 Items In One Basket
Walmart’s Holiday Meal Basket serves 10 people for $35, or about $3.50 per person. It includes 26 items and can be bought in stores or online.
Free Express Delivery on the online basket runs through November 30. For anyone who dreads the pre-holiday crowds, that is a real perk.
Only Lidl, at $35.86 for up to 10 people, comes close. That deal runs November 11 through November 25 and requires scanning the Lidl app at checkout. Signing up is free.
Aldi And Wegmans Keep Things Simple
Aldi charges $39 to feed 10 people, based on its annual shopping list that includes a 16-pound whole turkey, stuffing ingredients and dinner rolls.
Wegmans prices its meal at under $5 per person for eight, the same as last year. Special prices run November 8 through November 28, and frozen turkey promotions run November 8 through November 22.
Both stores skip the membership requirement, so any shopper can walk in and use the deal.
Sam’s Club Goes Big And Lets You Trim The Bill
Sam’s Club’s default meal costs $160 and feeds 16 people. That is $10 a head, which is a fair bit higher than Walmart but built for a very large table.
It is available starting October 28, and members can add it to their cart in one click and customize it. Removing the second tray of sides lowers the price.
Prep time is about two hours, so this is not a heat-and-serve shortcut.
Target’s $30 Meal For Six Has A Turkey Catch
Target is running a $30 meal that feeds six, and the prices match last year. That makes it the cheapest sticker price on the list.
Here is the catch. Target’s Good & Gather turkeys cost 79 cents per pound, but the shopping list names a Butterball turkey instead. Check which bird is in your cart before you check out.
How To Pick The Right Deal For Your Table
The best deal is not always the lowest total. Divide the price by the number of guests, then ask whether the store’s meal matches how you actually cook.
- Big family and tight budget: Walmart’s $35 for 10 or Lidl’s $35.86 stand out.
- Huge gathering: Sam’s Club’s $160 for 16 spreads the cost across a larger crowd.
- Small table: Target’s $30 for six keeps the total lowest, if you confirm the turkey.
- Want less cooking: Costco’s package takes the most work off your plate, at a higher price.
Read The Fine Print Before You Hit Buy
Memberships matter. Costco and Sam’s Club require one, and Lidl’s price requires the free app. A deal that sounds cheap can change quickly if you have to pay to join.
Check the dates, too. Wegmans and Lidl set windows for their offers, and a delay in shopping could mean paying full price.
Finally, remember that guests rarely eat evenly. Plan for a little extra on the sides, and keep a few spare dollars for ice, butter and cranberry sauce.
With the right store and a clear head count, you can put a full holiday dinner on the table for far less than last year’s headlines suggested.
Little Costs That Sneak Into The Cart
Even a bargain bundle leaves a few things off the list. Most hosts forget the extras that make a Thanksgiving table feel complete.
Drinks, ice, aluminum foil, a disposable roasting pan and extra butter for the rolls can add up by Wednesday night. Write them on the list now so they do not catch you off guard.
It also helps to know your oven. A big bird and two trays of sides will not all fit in a standard oven at once, so plan which dishes can be made ahead and reheated.
If you are hosting more than ten, think about whether a second, smaller turkey breast would be easier than one giant bird. That choice can change which bundle makes sense.
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