In 2024, Thanksgiving dinner from scratch cost an average of $58.08 for a classic holiday menu (think turkey, stuffing, rolls, veggies, cranberry sauce, and pie), according to the American Farm Bureau Federation. That comes out to about $7.26 per person for an 8-person feast. And while that number is slightly lower than the record-high prices we saw in 2022, the Thanksgiving table is more expensive than it used to be.
But the good news? You do have options. We've rounded up grocery-store meal kits and restaurant heat-and-serve bundles that can actually save you money this year. Some grocery store value bundles start as low as $4 per person, while more generous heat-and-eat spreads top out around $16.62 per person.
We compared ingredient kits from stores, like the Aldi Thanksgiving bundle, against fully prepared, heat-and-eat dinners from Costco, Sam’s Club, Bob Evans, Cracker Barrel, and more to find the best value at every price point.
Here’s what you’ll pay per person for Thanksgiving dinner this year — and where to get the most food for your budget.
Price Breakdown at a Glance
For a family of eight , here’s what you can expect to pay, on average, per person.
The 5 Cheapest Options: Ingredient Kits You Cook Yourself
These kits come with all the ingredients you need to cook a Thanksgiving meal. While these stores are saving you the time of making a shopping list, you do need to cook the meal (or at least parts of it) from scratch.
1. Walmart Thanksgiving Value Meal — $3.85 per person
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Price : $38.54
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Feeds : 10
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Included : Butterball 10- to 16-pound frozen turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy, stuffing, green bean casserole, mac and cheese, corn, carrots, rolls, cranberries, pumpkin pie
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Prep Time : 7 - 8 hours
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Money-Saving Tip : Use Walmart+ for free delivery (saves $10 delivery fee).
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How to Order: Shop in stores using the ingredient list, or buy it online for pickup or delivery by hitting "add all to cart" on this page.
2. Aldi Thanksgiving Meal — $4 per person
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Price : $40
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Feeds : 10
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Included : Jennie-O 14-pound turkey, mac and cheese, mashed potatoes and gravy, sweet potato casserole, green bean casserole, stuffing, rolls, cranberry sauce, carrots, pumpkin pie
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Prep Time : 7 - 8 hours
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Money-Saving Tip : Baked goods and frozen turkeys drop in price the closer it gets to Thanksgiving.
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How to Order: Shop in-store and pick up this exact list of ingredients.
3. Target Thanksgiving Bundle — $5 per person
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Price : $20
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Feeds : 4
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Included : Good & Gather Premium Basted Young Turkey (frozen, up to 10 pounds), russet potatoes, cranberry sauce, stuffing mix, gravy, French bread, frozen corn
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Prep Time : 7 - 8 hours
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Money-Saving Tip : Use your Target Circle Card for 5% off your entire order.
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How to Order: Shop in-store or online and add these exact ingredients to your cart.
4. Amazon — $5 per person
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Price : $25
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Feeds : 5
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Included : Butterball frozen turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes and gravy, green bean casserole, cranberry relish, crescent rolls, pie
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Prep Time : 2 - 3 hours + turkey defrosting time. Remember, because the turkey is frozen, you'll need to budget an extra day for defrosting.
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Money-Saving Tip : Clip any available Subscribe & Save or on-page coupons for individual ingredients (especially the turkey and sides) before checkout.
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How to Order: This bundle will be available to order on Amazon's website on Nov. 12. You'll get free delivery with Prime. If you don't have Prime membership, you'll pay up to a $13.95 delivery fee based on order size, shipping speed, and location.
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Order By: Nov. 27 is when the deal ends, but you'd need to get same-day delivery, as that's Thanksgiving. Same-day delivery isn't available everywhere, and that's also cutting things super close. We suggest ordering by Nov. 25 at the latest to leave time for delivery and turkey defrosting.
5. Blue Apron — $26.24 per person
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Price : $104.94
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Feeds : 4
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Included : Bone-in turkey breast, stuffing, brown butter mashed potatoes and gravy, Brussels sprouts, rolls, cranberry sauce, apple crumb pie
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Prep Time : 4 - 6 hours
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Money-Saving Tip : Use the introductory offer to get a discount on the Thanksgiving box (Nov. 17 - 23).
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How to Order: Order online here. For Blue Apron meal kits like this one, you'll need to order the week prior for one of the following delivery dates: Nov. 18 or 25.
The 5 Most Convenient Options: Heat-and-Serve Meals
Keep in mind that any of these options that includes a frozen turkey (like Amazon's option) will require an extra day for defrosting. And because these kits come preassembled, there might be limited availability and order deadlines.
1. Costco — $5.25 per person
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Price : $42
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Feeds : 8
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Included : 5-pound turkey breast, mashed potatoes and gravy, mac and cheese, corn, green bean casserole, stuffing, cranberry relish, rolls, pumpkin pie, apple cobbler
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Prep Time : 2 - 3 hours
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Money-Saving Tip : Buy this in-store only. The same meal costs $199 online.
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How to Order: You need to shop in-store if you want the $42 price. You'll find everything in the deli section as preassembled meal kits. If you do want to order online (for $199), you can order it here.
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Order By: In-store, you can pick up the items in the deli section as long as supplies last. The stores we called said they should be available starting Nov. 20. Ordering online? Order by Nov. 14 to receive it by Nov. 21. Available delivery and pickup dates will vary by location.
2. Sam’s Club — $10 per person
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Price : $100
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Feeds : 10
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Included : Smoked whole turkey, mashed potatoes, mac and cheese, sweet potato mash, green beans, corn, harvest salad, rolls, pumpkin pie
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Prep Time : 2 - 3 hours
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Money-Saving Tip : Use Scan & Go in the app to see real-time prices and avoid impulse add-ons.
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How to Order: You can order in club, online, or via curbside pickup. If you need Express Delivery in three hours or less, you need to be a Plus member and pay an $8 fee.
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Order By: There's no order deadline, but pickup and delivery slots could fill up fast at the last minute.
3. Honey Baked Ham — $14 per person
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Price : $139.99 (varies by area)
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Feeds : 10
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Included : Whole turkey, cornbread stuffing, sweet potato souffle, gravy, pecan pie
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Prep Time : 4 - 5 hours
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Money-Saving Tip : HoneyBaked Rewards members regularly get $5 - $10 off coupons. Choose pickup instead of delivery to avoid holiday courier fees.
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How to Order: You can place your order online here.
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Order By: Order deadlines vary, so we suggest using your ZIP code to see which pickup and delivery slots are available at your nearest location.
4. Bob Evans — $16.62 per person
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Price : $132.99
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Feeds : 8
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Included : Sliced turkey, stuffing, corn, mashed potatoes and gravy, rolls, green beans with ham, cranberry relish, pumpkin bread, pumpkin pie
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Prep Time : 2 - 3 hours
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Money-Saving Tip : Check the Bob Evans app or website $5 - $10 off holiday meal bundle deals.
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How to Order: You can place your order online.
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Order By: While there's no order deadline, Bob Evans' site says this bundle is available "while supplies last." So we suggest ordering early. And, yes, Thanksgiving Day pickup is available at some locations (but at limited times).
5. Cracker Barrel — $19 per person
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Price : $189.99
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Feeds : 10
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Included : Two oven-roasted turkey breasts, cornbread dressing, gravy, cranberry relish, sweet potato casserole with pecans, green beans, mashed potatoes, sweet yeast rolls, pumpkin pie, pecan pie.
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Prep Time : 2 hours
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Money-Saving Tip : Check the Cracker Barrel site for pickup days that offer a discount. Currently, at my nearest location, you can get a free digital bonus card when you preorder and select Nov. 24 or 25 as your pickup day. Just keep in mind this meal needs to be served within 72 hours of picking it up.
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How to Order: You can place your order online.
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Order By: While there's no order deadline, the available pickup dates are currently Nov. 22 - 30. High-demand pickup dates may have limited supply.
Your Cheapest Options Ranked by Price per Person
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Best Overall Value : Walmart — The lowest prices, delivered for free with Walmart+.
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Overall Value Runner Up : Costco — Amazing price point for heat-and-eat, but requires a Costco membership.
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Most Convenient : Amazon — $5 per person and delivered to your door in select areas. This drops Nov. 12.
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Shortest Prep Time : Sam's Club — Designed to be ready in under two hours.
How to Save Even More Money
Save on a from-scratch dinner:
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Buy frozen instead of fresh: Frozen turkeys, vegetables, and pies are often cheaper than ready-to-serve options and are equal in quality. Just remember to leave time to defrost the turkey.
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Use store brands: Generic or store-brand ingredients are typically 20% - 30% cheaper than name brands without sacrificing flavor.
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Share the duties: Consider a potluck-style Thanksgiving where each guest brings a dish or dessert.
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Shop early or late: Some stores offer early-bird discounts, while others mark down items closer to Thanksgiving. Both can save you money. If you choose the last-minute route, you may need to be flexible and go for a different main dish instead of turkey.
Save on heat-and-eat meals:
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Check online coupons: Websites, apps, and email newsletters often have promo codes or seasonal deals. Some restaurants also offer discounts or a bonus card if you order early or pick up your order on a less in-demand day.
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Join loyalty programs: Sign up for restaurant rewards programs (HoneyBaked Rewards, Bob Evans app, etc.) to access member-only discounts.
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Pick up your order instead of using delivery: Skip delivery fees by picking up your order directly from the store.
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Split the cost with friends or family: Split a large bundle with another household to cut costs while enjoying a full meal. Or go for a more affordable bundle and ask guests to bring desserts and pies (things which are usually add-ons to meal kits and cost extra).
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