Copyright newsweek
With Thanksgiving approaching and concerns over inflation and grocery costs rising, millions of American families will look for affordable ways to celebrate the holiday. Supermarkets are responding with value-driven, pre-prepared meal-deal offers, making it possible for households to celebrate Thanksgiving at reduced costs, helping them maintain their traditions without breaking the bank. Thanksgiving dinner. Family and friends (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images) Why It Matters Classic Thanksgiving items like stuffing, potatoes, and pumpkin pie are all expected to cost more this year, as the overall cost of groceries is rising by 2.7 percent, year-over-year, according to Department of Agriculture data. Plus, with the avian flu and a diminishing supply of turkeys (an estimated 195 million turkeys were raised in 2025, down 3 percent from 2024), families are bracing themselves to fork out even more for the turkey. According to the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF), turkey prices have risen by 40 percent, meaning wholesale prices have jumped from $0.94 per lb in 2024 to $1.32 in 2025. What To Know To support families battling rising costs this Thanksgiving, many major U.S. supermarkets have launched value-driven Thanksgiving meal deals. Walmart, ALDI, Kroger, and Costco have all released specially priced Thanksgiving meal bundles. Here’s how they compare: Walmart: Annual Thanksgiving Meal What it’s offering: Walmart has curated a Thanksgiving basket which contains over 20 big-brand-name items, including a 13.5 lb Butterball turkey, Stove Top turkey stuffing, fresh cranberries, Great Value dinner rolls, and Great Value 100 percent pure pumpkin. How many it feeds: 10 people. What it costs: $40, around $3.99 per person. How to buy: Shoppers can buy their Thanksgiving meal baskets online, in-store, or have them delivered to their homes until December 25, 2025. ALDI: ALDI Thanksgiving feast What it’s offering: Aldi is giving its consumers the chance to build their own Thanksgiving meal deal, giving them 21 items to choose from, including a 14 lb turkey, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pie. All items are clearly marked as part of the Thanksgiving meal deal. How many it feeds: 10 people. What it costs: $40, around $3.99 per person. How to buy: Customers can build their Thanksgiving meal by shopping in-store, or ordering online for curbside pickup or via Instacart, Uber Eats, or DoorDash for home delivery, until December 24, 2025. Kroger: Kroger Freshgiving Dinner Package What it’s offering: In its budget-friendly Thanksgiving meal deal offer, Kroger is including a 14–16 lb turkey, a 5 lb bag of potatoes, Ocean Spray cranberries, turkey stuffing mix, and bakery-fresh pumpkin pie. How many it feeds: 10 What it costs: $49.99, around $4.85 per person How to buy: Shoppers can either order their Thanksgiving meal online and choose between a store pickup or a home delivery, or shop in-store by picking the individually marked items themselves. Costco: Complete Gourmet Thanksgiving Turkey Dinner What it’s offering: Costco is offering a luxury Thanksgiving meal deal, which includes 5 lbs of free-range, Amish-farmed turkey breast, a tray of mashed potatoes, 12 gourmet dinner rolls, and two desserts. Although it’s more expensive than some of the other Thanksgiving meal deal offers, Costco has reduced the price by $70 this year. How many it feeds: 8 What it costs: $199.99, around $25 per person How to buy: Families can buy this gourmet meal online, and Costco will deliver the full meal within 2-3 business days, until November 14. What People Are Saying John Furner, president and CEO of Walmart U.S., said: “We know every dollar and minute counts – which is why we are offering a low-priced, one-click Thanksgiving Meal Basket featuring iconic brands like Butterball and Stove Top alongside trusted Walmart private brand items.”Atty McGrath, CEO of ALDI U.S., said: “I am thrilled that we are able to offer an even more affordable holiday meal than last year. Saving our shoppers money is our mission every day— but it is especially important during the holidays when they need it most.” What Happens Next Consumers are advised to monitor in-store and online promotions as the holiday approaches, and to expect variations across regions and chains.
