2026 Thanksgiving meal deals, are they worth it and what do you save?
Thanksgiving will be here before you know it, and, if you're hosting, chances are you're already scoping out those grocery store periodicals for coupons and other deals.
Each year, a number of retailers
offer savings on Thanksgiving dinner packages or deals to work your way up to something like a free turkey.
But are those deals worth it? Or are there different ways to save.
Here's what we found.
How much does Thanksgiving dinner cost on average?
While the 2026 Thanksgiving averages aren't out just yet, last year's data from the Farm Bureau pinned the average American's 10-person Thanksgiving dinner at $55.18.
This includes the following breakdown of Thanksgiving staples and their pricing:
A 16lb turkey - $21. 50 12oz cranberries - $2.28 3lbs sweet potatoes - $4.00 1/2lb each of carrots and celery - $1.36 16oz green peas - $2.03 Two 9-inch pie shells - $3.37 14oz cube stuffing - $3.71 One dozen dinner rolls - $3.56 30oz pumpkin pie mix - $4.16 One gallon of whole milk - $3.73 1/2 pint of whipping cream - $1.87 Are grocery store meal deals worth it?
Leading up to Thanksgiving, countless meal deals are advertised at grocery stores across the country.
Amazon boasts a $25 Thanksgiving mealwith same-day delivery, featuring an 8lb turkey. Walmart says you can feed 10 with its $35 bundle, including a Butterball turkey at $0.97 per pound.
So what's the catch?
Well, that depends on how many you're hosting and what dishes you're looking to make.
While bundle deals like these can serve as a good starting point for your meal, you're likely going to need some other odds and ends to pull dinner together — consider cookware, baking trays, butter, milk and other kitchen staples.
For example, ALDI's under $39 bundle includes celery and peeled carrots in addition to whole milk and heavy whipping cream, while other deals opt for evaporated milk and canned veggies.
On the other end of the spectrum, $200 at Costcowill get you up to 5 pounds of Amish-raised free-range turkey breast and ready sides like mashed potatoes, mac and cheese, green bean casserole and more.
The point being, how valuable a grocery deal will be to you depends on what you're willing to spend, the convenience of something pre-bundled or delivered and how picky you may or may not be about your holiday recipes.
Other ways to save money on Thanksgiving dinner
Grocery dinner bundles aren't the only way to save on Thanksgiving dinner.
Here are some other suggestions:
Don't wait for one big grocery trip. For shelf-stable items like canned veggies or stuffing mix, add them into your weekly shop now to space out some pricing. Take advantage of coupons and sales. Make sure you pay attention to those periodicals for weekly deals leading up to the holiday, you may catch some good savings. Don't be afraid to shop around. It may be more effort, but nobody said you have to get the entirety of your Thanksgiving meal in one trip from one spot. Price match and compare deals at the grocery stores in your area for extra savings.
Kaitlyn McCormick is a Philadelphia-based reporter writing all things cost of living related for USA TODAY.