Want to save money on Thanksgiving dinner without cutting the turkey or the pie? Good news: this is one of the cheapest years in a while to host. Turkey prices are down, and big stores like Walmart, ALDI, Lidl and Target are selling full Thanksgiving meals that feed a crowd for less than a takeout pizza night. Below, we compare those meal deals, show you how to get your turkey cheap or even free, and share simple ways to spend less without anyone noticing.
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Last updated: November 13, 2026
💸 What Thanksgiving Dinner Costs This Year
Here's some rare good news at the grocery store. A 12-dish Thanksgiving dinner for 10 people costs about $137.93 this year, down roughly 17% from about $166.69 last year, according to an analysis by Self Financial reported by ConsumerAffairs. The biggest drop is the turkey itself: about $29.60 to feed 10, down from $57.
That's the average for a full spread. With the meal deals below, you can get the basics on the table for a lot less.
🛒 Store Thanksgiving Meal Deals, Compared
Several big chains bundle the main Thanksgiving items into one low price. Here's what each one gets you.
🟦 Lidl: $34.40, feeds up to 10
The lowest price for 10, with a 14-lb turkey included. It's for Lidl Plus app members only, so download the free app before you go. Lidl also promises to match the total if you find a cheaper comparable basket at Walmart or ALDI.
🟨 Walmart: $35, feeds 10
The most complete basket, with 26 items covering green bean and sweet potato casseroles all the way to pumpkin pie. It's in stores and online through Dec. 24, but not offered in AK, HI, OK, PR or WI. Pickup or delivery fees may apply online. See Walmart's holiday meal basket for the full list.
🟧 ALDI: under $39, feeds 10
No coupons or membership needed. You buy each item off the shelf, so your total can vary a little by store and by what you pick.
🟥 Target: $30, feeds 6
A good fit for a smaller table, with a Butterball turkey up to 10 lb. It runs Nov. 8–29 and isn't valid in AK or HI. Check Target's Thanksgiving meal for what's included.
🦃 Get Your Turkey Cheap (or Free)
The turkey is the biggest single cost on the table, so it's worth a little effort here.
- Free after cash back with Ibotta. Finish your personal Turkey Bonus in the Ibotta app and you can get 100% cash back on one turkey, any brand. You pay at the store first, then upload your receipt. Get the details on Ibotta's free Thanksgiving turkey page.
- Super-low per-pound prices. Target's Good & Gather frozen turkey is $0.79 a pound wherever it's sold, and the Butterball turkey in Walmart's meal basket is priced at $0.97 a pound.
- Free turkey with a grocery spend. Many regional chains give a free or deeply discounted turkey when you spend a set amount over a few weeks. Check your store's weekly ad or app, since the rules and dates are different everywhere.
- Buy the right size. A common rule of thumb is about 1 to 1½ pounds of turkey per person. Going bigger only makes sense if you want plenty of leftovers.
💡 7 More Ways to Spend Less
- Shop your pantry first. Check what you already have, like spices, flour, broth and canned goods, before you write the list.
- Make it a potluck. Assign sides, rolls, drinks and desserts to guests. Most people are happy to bring something.
- Plan around the sale ads. Build your side dishes around what's on sale this week instead of locking in a menu first.
- Go store brand. Canned pumpkin, broth, stuffing mix and cranberry sauce taste the same in the store-brand can, for less.
- Cut one or two sides. Skip the dish that always comes home untouched. Fewer, better sides cost less and waste less.
- Stack cash back apps. Ibotta drops a new side dish at 100% cash back every Tuesday in November, so check the app before you shop.
- Make it from scratch where it's easy. Real mashed potatoes, homemade cranberry sauce and a simple pie usually cost less than the premade versions.
🥡 Make the Leftovers Count
Leftovers are free meals, so don't let them go to waste. Refrigerate them within two hours, pack turkey in shallow containers, and freeze anything you won't eat in three to four days. Turkey soup, sandwiches and casseroles can stretch one dinner into several.
Planning the whole week? Our countdown walks you through it step by step.
Grab our Thanksgiving organizing checklist, with a free 2-page printable to stick on the fridge.
🧰 Tools That Save You Money Later
None of these are required, but each one helps you waste less food or skip the expensive shortcut, and that's where a lot of holiday money goes.
- A Bonsenkitchen vacuum sealer seals leftover turkey and sides airtight before they go in the freezer, so they last longer and don't end up tossed. It's handy all year for bulk meat and meal prep too.
- A bella 6-quart programmable slow cooker frees up oven space on Thanksgiving Day and makes from-scratch sides like mashed potatoes or stuffing easy, which costs less than buying them premade.
- Skroam glass meal prep containers come in a 10-pack with airtight lids, so you can send guests home with leftovers or pack lunches for the week.
- IDEATECH reusable freezer bags come in a 20-pack with gallon, quart and snack sizes, and they're dishwasher-safe, so you're not buying a new box of plastic bags every holiday.
🍽️ The Bottom Line
Thanksgiving doesn't have to blow the budget this year. Pick a store meal deal for the basics, get your turkey cheap or free, ask guests to bring a dish, and make the leftovers count. You'll still have a full table, just a smaller receipt.
We're always adding new deals and freebies as we find them.
Check our Fresh Freebies & Deals page for this week's offers.
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