Thanksgiving has a well-deserved reputation as a food holiday, so it’s no surprise that most major food retailers have once again cooked up bargain-priced meal bundles that feed around 10 people for less than $40.
Value has been top of mind for consumers all year. The USDA’s Economic Research Service estimated that wholesale turkey prices in October were at $1.83 per pound, almost 7% above the same month last year, according to a report from The Ohio State University’s College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. The university’s report also noted that Wells Fargo’s 2026 Thanksgiving estimate puts a meal for 10 at $78.93.
Aldi and Lidl kicked things off in October, with each announcing their meal bundles in the same week. Both grocers’ deals feed 10 people and include a turkey, staple sides and pumpkin pie fixings, with Aldi’s costing $38.74 and Lidl’s costing $35.86 for loyalty program members. Lidl started running a promotion on Wednesday that lowered its Thanksgiving meal basket to $34.40 for its loyalty members.
Similarly, Midwest grocer Hy-Vee is offering a holiday meal deal that feeds 10 for under $35, “matching or beating national discount retailers,” per a late October press release.
Food retailer's Thanksgiving Day meal bundles
Some retailers didn’t stop at meal bundles this year, finding additional ways to fill customers’ Thanksgiving Day tables.
Aldi, for example, this week unveiled options for customers hosting smaller gatherings, including an appetizer kit with fixings for charcuterie boards, a ready-to-heat meal bundle and a “Thanksgiving Recovery Kit” with breakfast staples as well as electrolyte drink mixes and coconut water.
Other grocers have also hopped on the ready-to-eat and ready-to-heat bandwagon. Along with its traditional meal bundle, Hy-Vee is offering premade holiday meal options for parties of two to 12 with a choice of protein and prepared sides.
Similarly, Winn-Dixie is giving its customers a choice between an ingredients bundle and a heat-and-serve meal bundle. The latter, which costs around $40 and serves between three and five people, includes a choice of ham or turkey, four sides from a selection of six and King’s Hawaiian dinner rolls.
Heinen’s has three prepared holiday meal options — a whole turkey dinner that serves 10 people for $159.99, a turkey breast dinner that serves 10 people for $169.99 and a Heinen’s turkey dinner for five people for $89.99. All come with sides and condiment staples like mashed potatoes, crouton stuffing, cranberry relish and turkey gravy.
Other Thanksgiving bundles aim to tap into different cultures. Along with its traditional Thanksgiving meal option, Price Rite Marketplace is selling a Hispanic-inspired holiday meal that comes with pork shoulder, rice, peas, Goya sazon, fresh yucca, green bananas, potatoes and more.
And there’s also always an option to give out free poultry. For instance, Hy-Vee is offering its popular “Buy a ham, get a turkey” promotion, while The Giant Company brought back its free turkey program.
