How Much a Thanksgiving Meal Deal Costs at Walmart, Aldi, and Costco | Invesloan.com

With Thanksgiving five weeks away, retailers are once again stepping in to take some of the guesswork out of hosting.

Walmart, Aldi, and Sam’s Club have each shared this year’s menus of ready-to-order Thanksgiving meal kits. Costco also appears to be in on the trend; one shopper on social media spotted a meal kit available in the fresh food section.

Retailers have taken some creative steps to keep prices steady in spite of persistent inflation, with budget-minded chains aiming to keep the overall basket at or below $40 for a gathering of eight.

Business Insider rounded up several of the menus to see how much each one costs per person.

Sam’s Club — $10

The offering from Walmart-owned Sam’s Club is the most expensive in the group, but also very likely the easiest to put together quickly. The company says it surveyed its Member’s Mark community to design the menu, and nearly two-thirds of respondents said cooking and prep were their biggest turkey day challenges.

This year’s basket costs $100, feeds 10 people, and can be ready in two hours. Curious diners can also try it out in advance at a nearby “Taste of Sam’s” event on November 15.

Here’s what’s included:

• Member’s Mark Smoked Turkey
• Member’s Mark Yukon Gold Mashed Potatoes
• Member’s Mark Macaroni and Cheese
• Member’s Mark Yeast Dinner Rolls
• Member’s Mark Pumpkin Pie
• Member’s Mark Green Beans with Cranberries and Sliced Almonds
• Member’s Mark Garlic Herb Corn
• Member’s Mark Harvest Salad
• Member’s Mark Sweet Potato Mash

Walmart — $4

Walmart says this year’s holiday feast is the lowest price per person since it started offering a ready-to-order basket. A big chunk of the savings comes from selling the turkey at less than a dollar a pound, plus a strong representation from the retailer’s own Great Value private label brand.

This year’s offering is available as a one-click order option online and costs $40 for a gathering of 10 people.

Here’s what’s included:

• Butterball Turkey, 13.5 lb. ($0.97/lb. — lowest price since 2019)
• Kinder’s Fried Onions, 4.5 oz.
• Campbell’s Cream of Mushroom Soup, 10.5 oz. (1 can)
• Stove Top Turkey Stuffing, Twin Pack 2 x 6 oz.
• Great Value Dinner Rolls, 12 ct.
• Fresh Russet Potatoes, 5 lb.
• Fresh Cranberries, 12 oz.
• Great Value Baby Carrots, 2 lb.
• Great Value Corn, 15 oz. (3 cans)
• Great Value Green Beans, 14.5 oz. (3 cans)
• Great Value Artisan Macaroni & Cheese, 12 oz. (3 boxes)
• Great Value Brown Gravy Mix, 0.87 oz. (2)
• Great Value Pie Crusts
• Great Value Evaporated Milk, 12 fl. oz.
• Great Value 100% Pure Pumpkin, 15 oz.

Aldi — $4

Aldi says it has beaten last year’s price for a basket of 21 total products, including a 14-pound turkey, to feed a gathering of $10. Like Walmart, the cash savings translate into a little more time and energy cooking the meal nearly from scratch.

The low-frills grocer also offers a handy shopping list to help shoppers navigate the aisles and stay within their budgets.

“We believe families shouldn’t have to make trade-offs to feed everyone, especially at Thanksgiving,” Aldi US CCO Scott Patton said in a statement.

Here’s what’s included:

• Whole Turkey (14 lbs)
• French Fried Onions
• Chicken Broth
• Pie Crust
• Condensed Cream of Mushroom Soup
• Chicken or Cornbread Stuffing (x2)
• Evaporated Milk
• Whipped Dairy Topping
• Hawaiian Sweet Rolls
• Yellow Onions (3 lbs.)
• Miniature Marshmallows
• Baby Peeled Carrots
• Cut Green Beans (x2)
• Celery
• 100% Pure Canned Pumpkin
• Cranberries
• Shells & Cheese (x2)
• Sweet Potatoes (3 lbs.)
• Brown Gravy Mix (x3)
• Russet Potatoes (10 lbs)

Target — $5

Target told Business Insider that its Thanksgiving basket isn’t available yet, but last year the bullseye brand offered a meal for four that cost $20, which it said could be doubled (or tripled) to meet the occasion.

While the baseline menu is less comprehensive than some competitors’, the company offers additional side dishes, like mac and cheese and pumpkin pie, for less than $5 each.

Last year, Target also offered a free frozen pizza for Circle 360 members, saying Thanksgiving Eve is one of the most popular pizza days of the year, thanks to all the preparation for the big meal.

Here’s what’s included:

• Good & Gather Premium Basted Young Turkey (Frozen) — up to 10 lb.
• Good & Gather Russet Potatoes — 5 lb.
• Del Monte Cut Green Beans — 14.5 oz.
• Campbell’s Cream of Mushroom Soup — 10.5 oz.
• Ocean Spray Jellied Cranberry Sauce — 14 oz.
• Stove Top Turkey Stuffing Mix — 6 oz.
• Heinz Home Style Roasted Turkey Gravy — 12 oz.

Costco $7.50

Costco doesn’t typically announce its offerings, but one enthusiastic shopper posted a warehouse find on social media showing a “Thanksgiving kit” available in the deli section for $42 that he said is intended for eight people. Costco didn’t respond to a request for comment, but the turkey dinner was available at a warehouse that Business Insider checked in Wisconsin.

Round the kit out with a container of mac and cheese and one of Costco’s legendary 3.5-pound pumpkin pies, and the total comes out to about $60. Availability may vary by location.

Here’s what’s included:

• Thanksgiving kit

  • Turkey
  • Stuffing
  • Gravy
  • Mashed potatoes
  • Green beans
  • Cranberry sauce
• Mac and cheese
• Pumpkin pie