The 2025 Thanksgiving celebration has become an economic battleground for retailers—creating historic savings opportunities for consumers. Despite persistently rising food prices over recent years, fierce competition among major discount chains has led to the strategic subsidization of the traditional holiday meal, enabling families to celebrate without straining their budgets.
According to the American Farm Bureau Federation’s (AFBF) November 2025 annual survey, the average cost of a classic 10-item Thanksgiving dinner for ten people is estimated at $55.18. This represents a 5% decrease from the previous year, though the overall basket cost remains higher than it was four years ago. The key to minimizing this expense lies in two core tactics: purchasing pre-assembled meal bundles and strategically prioritizing complementary ingredients.
The Price War: Complete Dinners for Under $4 per Guest
High-volume retailers are using “complete meal bundles” to draw shoppers, setting a new national benchmark for affordability.
Low-Cost Leaders (ALDI and Walmart):
Both chains are offering full Thanksgiving dinners for ten people at under $40—translating to less than $4.00 per person.- Walmart guarantees its “best deal yet,” featuring a heavily subsidized Butterball turkey priced at $0.97 per pound, the lowest rate since 2019. The Walmart bundle includes over 20 items from both national and private-label brands (such as Great Value).
- ALDI offers its 10-person feast for $40, leveraging the efficiency and scale of its private-label products. A 2025 Ramsey Solutions study even ranked ALDI as the supermarket with the most competitive prices on basic grocery items, beating Walmart on 24 out of 29 compared products.
- Lidl emerges as the most economical option for pre-packaged meals, with a holiday dinner priced at just $36 for ten people—roughly $3.60 per guest.
Convenience Solutions:
For smaller gatherings, Target offers a four-person meal kit for $20 (about $5 per person), including a Good & Gather frozen turkey and six side dishes. For those prioritizing time over cost, Publix provides a fully cooked dinner for eight people at $70, or $8.75 per person, eliminating nearly all prep work.
Where Costs Really Add Up: Sides and Private Labels
Retailers’ strategy of heavily subsidizing turkeys (which now average $21.50 for a 16-pound bird—16% less than in 2024) has shifted inflationary pressure onto side dishes.
Prices for fresh produce and essential accompaniments have seen notable increases. The AFBF reported that a tray of fresh vegetables rose by over 61%, and sweet potatoes surged by 37%, driven by higher labor costs and weather-related crop damage in key growing regions.
The Savvy Solution: Private Labels as a Shield
These rising side-dish costs can be offset by relying on store brands (private labels). Analyses show that sourcing secondary ingredients from in-house brands can deliver direct savings of up to $15 on the total dinner bill.
A hybrid shopping strategy for maximum savings would include:
Securing the turkey at the lowest possible cost:
Whether by purchasing Walmart’s subsidized Butterball turkey at $0.97/lb, or taking advantage of deeply discounted offers like Kroger’s $0.59/lb turkey (with a digital coupon and a $25 minimum purchase).
Sourcing sides from discount grocers:
Stores like ALDI consistently offer lower prices on private-label dairy, fresh produce, and canned goods.
Additional Tactics to Shrink Your Budget
Conditional Free Turkeys:
Chains like Albertsons and Safeway offer a free frozen turkey of any size with a $100+ single transaction before November 27. WinCo Foods requires a $125 minimum spend to qualify for a free Grade A turkey.
Smart Substitutions:
If Russet potatoes are priced high due to supply issues, consider alternatives like sweet potatoes to reduce costs.
Potluck Coordination:
Ask guests to contribute complementary dishes—such as desserts or beverages—to distribute financial responsibility.
Digital Tools:
Leverage digital coupons, such as Kroger’s 5X Coupon Events, to apply discounts across multiple Thanksgiving essentials. For the first time, Walmart customers using Pickup or Delivery can receive free Express delivery on their holiday basket.
Final Tip: Timing Is Everything
Complete all major shopping by Wednesday, November 26, as most major retailers—including Walmart, Target, ALDI, and Costco—will be closed on Thanksgiving Day (Thursday, November 27).
