How to Get a (Really) Cheap or Free Thanksgiving Turkey

Thanksgiving turkey prices are always a mixed bag (just like what's happening with grocery prices), but savvy shoppers know how to work the system. In 2025, we found turkeys as low as $0.25 per pound with a coupon and $0.39 per pound with just a rewards card — way cheaper than the USDA's average price of $1.48 - $1.63 per pound.

That means a 15-pound bird can cost you less than $10 if you know where to shop and when to strike. You can also score a completely free turkey by hitting spending thresholds at stores like WinCo (just $125 in one transaction) or Acme ($300 over multiple weeks).

Here's everything you need to know about getting the best turkey deal next November, based on what we learned in 2025. And we also share the best Thanksgiving dinner bundles if you'd rather someone else do the cooking.

What KCL Experts Think You Should Know

• For the Absolute Cheapest Turkey: In 2025, Lidl had the lowest price at $0.25/lb with a digital coupon. Watch for similar loss-leader deals at discount grocers starting in mid-November.

• For the Cheapest Turkey, no Coupon Required: Safeway ($0.39/lb) and Publix ($0.49/lb) offered straightforward low prices in 2025. Regional chains often compete on price without requiring coupons or thresholds.

• For the Easiest Free Turkey Deal: WinCo only required $125 in one transaction in 2025, making it way more achievable than the $300 - $400 multiweek thresholds at other stores. Look for single-transaction deals if you want to keep it simple.

• For a Free Turkey (If You're Shopping There Anyway): In 2025, Acme had the lowest multiweek spending threshold at $300, followed by Giant Eagle at $350. If you're already doing your regular shopping at these stores, the free turkey is just a bonus.

• Year-Over-Year Pricing: Turkey prices fluctuate, but expect increases of 5% - 10% at some retailers. In 2025, Walmart's Butterball went from $0.88 per pound to $0.97 per pound (a 10% increase). However, several retailers still offered turkeys under $1 per pound, proving that shopping around pays off.

• Brand Matters Less Than You Think: A Butterball and a Jennie-O cook pretty much the same. If you're brining or heavily seasoning your turkey, save money and go with the cheaper store brand or less premium option.

What Turkey Prices Looked Like in November 2025

• Lidl: $0.25/lb (with digital store coupon)

• Safeway: $0.39/lb

• Food Lion: $0.39/lb (with $35 additional purchase)

• Meijer: $0.49/lb

• Publix: $0.49/lb

• Kroger: $0.59/lb (with digital store coupon and $25 additional purchase)

• Albertsons: $0.59/lb (with $50 additional purchase)

• Aldi: $0.77/lb

• Target: $0.79/lb (pre-basted)

• H-E-B, Walmart, and WinCo: $0.84/lb

Where to Look for the Cheapest Turkey Prices

Based on what worked in 2025, here are the stores and strategies to watch for next November.

1. Discount Grocers (Lidl, Aldi)

What we saw in 2025: Lidl at $0.25/lb with a digital coupon; Aldi at $0.77/lb with no strings attached.

Lidl had the absolute cheapest price we saw in 2025 at just $0.25 per pound for Shady Brook Farms turkeys, but you needed to clip a digital coupon with a myLidl account to get this price. Without the coupon, turkeys were $1.29 per pound. A 15-pound bird cost just $3.75 with the coupon.

Aldi offered one of the best no-strings-attached deals at $0.77 per pound for Jennie-O frozen turkeys. At that price point, a 15-pound bird cost about $11.55 — no spending threshold, no loyalty card required.

Strategy for next year: Sign up for Lidl's rewards program early and watch for digital coupons starting in early November. If you prefer simplicity, Aldi's consistent low prices make it a reliable backup option.

2. Regional Chains with Rewards Programs (Safeway, Publix, Meijer)

What we saw in 2025: Safeway and Food Lion at $0.39/lb; Meijer and Publix at $0.49/lb.

Safeway offered Signature Farms turkeys at $0.39 per pound with a rewards account (about $5.85 for a 15-pound bird) — no spending threshold or digital coupon to clip, just your rewards card at checkout.

Food Lion matched that $0.39 per pound turkey deal but required an MVP membership (their free rewards program) and a $35 purchase (excluding the turkey). Without the loyalty card, you'd pay $2.79 per pound.

Meijer had store-brand turkeys at $0.49 per pound (limit one turkey), and a 15-pound bird cost around $7.35. Bonus: If you spent $100 or more in a single transaction the week before Thanksgiving, you got a $10 coupon to use during Thanksgiving week.

Publix kept it simple with whole young turkeys at $0.49 per pound (limit two) — no coupon or spending threshold required.

Strategy for next year: Sign up for free loyalty programs at your local regional chains in October. These stores often offer straightforward low prices without jumping through hoops.

3. Warehouse Clubs and Major Grocers (Kroger, Target, Walmart)

What we saw in 2025: Kroger at $0.59/lb; Target at $0.79/lb; Walmart at $0.84/lb.

Kroger brand turkeys were $0.59 per pound with a digital store coupon (about $8.85 for a 15-pounder), but you needed to spend at least $25 (excluding the turkey) to get the sale price. This was up from $0.49 per pound in 2024, but still competitive.

Target offered Good & Gather basted frozen turkey at $0.79 per pound. This option came already marinated with turkey broth, salt, sodium phosphate, sugar, and flavoring (plus a gravy packet), so you could skip most of the prep time.

Walmart pushed their Butterball turkeys at $0.97 per pound, but their cheapest option was actually Shady Brook Farms at $0.84 per pound. A 15-pound turkey cost around $12.60 with no spending threshold or Walmart coupons required.

Strategy for next year: Clip digital coupons at Kroger early in November. If you want a pre-seasoned option to save time, Target's Good & Gather turkey is worth the slightly higher price. At Walmart, skip the name brands and go straight for their budget option.

How to Get a FREE Turkey For Thanksgiving

If you're willing to spend a certain amount at the grocery store over a period of a few weeks, you can score a completely FREE turkey. In 2025, several stores offered free turkey promotions with varying spending thresholds. Here's what we saw and what to watch for next year:

Single-Transaction Deals (Easiest to Hit)

Albertsons: Spend $100 (in one transaction)

In 2025, spending $100 or more in one transaction got you a free Signature Select frozen turkey (up to 24 pounds). Limit of one free turkey per person.

WinCo: Spend $125 (in one transaction)

WinCo had one of the lowest spending thresholds at just $125 in a single transaction. You got a free frozen turkey — choose from Honeysuckle White, Northern Pride, or Jennie-O Grade A brands (Butterball excluded).

BJ's Wholesale Club: Spend $150 (in one transaction)

This was one of the easier free turkey deals to hit, but you needed a BJ's membership. Spend $150 in a single transaction (after discounts, before taxes) and you got a digital coupon for a free Butterball fresh or frozen turkey (excluding organic) valued up to $25. Since most families easily spend $150 on a big grocery haul, this was way more achievable than spreading $300 - $400 over multiple weeks.

Strategy for next year:

If you're planning a big grocery haul anyway, time it for mid-November when these promotions typically launch. Single-transaction deals are perfect if you're stocking up for the holidays in one trip.

Multiweek Spending Thresholds

Acme: Spend $300 (over multiple weeks)

In 2025, you could spend $300 across multiple transactions over about six weeks to get a free Signature Select turkey up to 22 pounds (at $0.99 per pound, your maximum value was around $21.78).

Giant Eagle: Spend $350 (over multiple weeks)

Spend $350 across multiple transactions over about three weeks to get a free Giant Eagle turkey.

Foodtown: Spend $400 (over multiple weeks)

Spend $400 across multiple transactions to get a free Shady Brook Farms frozen turkey (up to 20 pounds) or a $10 store gift card.

Giant: Earn 400 points (about $400 spend)

Rack up 400 Choice loyalty points (roughly $400 in spending) over about four weeks to earn a free frozen Shady Brook Farms turkey (up to 20 pounds). You could also redeem your points for a free store brand ham, Tofurky Roast, or Stouffer's party-size entree instead.

ShopRite: Spend $400 (over multiple weeks)

Spend $400 across multiple transactions over about five weeks to qualify for a free Bowl & Basket turkey (up to 21 pounds). In 2024, ShopRite only required $350 in spending, so the threshold jumped $50 in 2025. If you didn't want the turkey, you could redeem your $400 spend for a free Cook's Half Smoked Ham, Stouffer's Party Size Lasagna, Stouffer's Party Size Mac & Cheese, Tofurky, or Gardein Plant Based Roast instead.

Weis: Earn 400 points (about $400 spend)

Earn 400 points (roughly $400 in spending) over about three weeks to redeem them for a free Weis Quality turkey through their Thanksgiving Rewards promotion.

Food Lion: Spend $50 in six transactions ($300 total)

This wasn't technically a free turkey, but if you spent at least $50 in six separate transactions over about six weeks, you got a $20 coupon good for two weeks from the issue date. Since Food Lion's Butterball turkeys were $2.99 per pound, that $20 coupon basically covered a 6-pound turkey or significantly discounted a larger one.

Strategy for next year:

Start tracking your grocery spending in mid-October. If you're already doing your regular shopping at one of these stores, hitting the threshold is easy over 4 - 6 weeks. Just make sure you're signed up for the loyalty program before you start.

Subscription Box Deals

ButcherBox: Spend $126 on your first subscription box

In 2025, if you signed up for a curated or custom ButcherBox subscription, you got a free 10- to 14-pound whole turkey or 9-pound spiral ham included with your first box. Orders shipped in 1 - 3 days and arrived 1 - 2 days after they shipped.

Strategy for next year:

If you're considering a meat subscription service anyway, watch for these promotions in early November. Just make sure you understand the subscription terms before signing up.

Is a "Free" Turkey Really Free?

Let's do the math. A 15-pound turkey at standard grocery store prices costs $15 - $20 this year. If you're spending $300 - $400 to get a "free" turkey, you're essentially getting $15 - $20 back on a large grocery haul.

Here's when it makes sense:

• You were going to spend that money anyway. If you're doing your regular grocery shopping at one of these stores, hitting the threshold is easy over 4 - 6 weeks.

• You're stocking up for the holidays. Thanksgiving prep includes a lot of groceries beyond the turkey: sides, desserts, appetizers, drinks. It adds up fast.

• The store has other deals you want. If you're already shopping sales and using coupons at these stores, the free turkey is a nice bonus.

• You want to donate the turkey to someone in need. Every bit counts this season, and donating a free turkey helps to pay it forward.

Here's when it doesn't make sense:

• You have to buy things you don't need. Don't blow your budget on random purchases just to hit a threshold.

• You can get a cheap turkey elsewhere for under $12. In 2025, Aldi's $0.77 per pound Jennie-O turkey was a better deal than forcing yourself to spend $300 - $400 at a store you don't normally shop at.

You May Also Be Interested In:

• Aldi Thanksgiving Dinner Cost This Year

• Ibotta Thanksgiving Meal Hack: How It Works

• Cheapest Thanksgiving Dinner Bundles, Ranked