Oftentimes, a cost-effective way to put together a big Thanksgiving meal is to lean on a grocery store package. In 2022, Walmart started an annual deal to feed a big group cheaply.
The deal is back again for Thanksgiving, and this year, Walmart is boasting that you’ll feed everybody for $4 a pop. Here’s everything you need to know.
What Is Walmart’s 2025 Thanksgiving Deal?
Walmart claims you’ll feed 10 people with this meal, but it’s important to note that “meal” is slightly misleading. This is a grocery list. Some Thanksgiving “meals” arrive cooked and ready to eat; this comes with the ingredients to cook a bunch of Thanksgiving classics. If you order online, delivery fees may also be a factor.
Here’s what comes in the bundle:
- Butterball Frozen Whole Turkey (10-16 lbs)
- Fresh Cranberries (12 oz)
- Fresh Russet Potatoes (5 lbs)
- Great Value Brown Gravy Mix (2 units – 0.87 oz)
- Great Value Golden Sweet Whole Kernel Corn (3 units – 15 oz)
- Great Value Baby Carrots (2 lb)
- Great Value Cut Green Beans, Canned Green Beans (3 units – 14.5 oz)
- Campbell’s Condensed Cream of Mushroom Soup (10.5 oz)
- Kinder’s Crispy Fried Onion Original Recipe (4.5 oz)
- Great Value Artisan Crafted Macaroni and Cheese, Italian Five Cheese (3 units – 12 oz)
- Stove Top Turkey Stuffing Mix Twin Pack (2 units – 6 oz)
- Great Value Dinner Rolls (12 ct)
- Great Value Frozen Traditional Pie Crusts (15 oz)
- Great Value 100% Pure Pumpkin (15 oz)
- Great Value Evaporated Milk (12 fl oz)
Counting each can or package, this bundle contains 22 individual packages across 15 different ingredients. That’s seven fewer items than the 29-package (21-ingredient) basket Walmart offered last year.
Basically, Walmart has given you the ingredients for a turkey, stuffing, green bean casserole, mashed potatoes, mac and cheese, and pumpkin pie. The baby carrots are a little bit more of a mystery, but maybe you’re supposed to glaze those suckers.
Walmart has a few other Thanksgiving bundles as well, if you want to switch up the classics. Here are the other packages Walmart is offering:
- Prime Rib Meal Basket ($34)
- Balanced Thanksgiving Swaps ($40)
- Gluten-Free Thanksgiving Meal ($52)
What Was Last Year’s Deal?
Walmart’s deal last year was a little bit more robust, but it came out to $7 per person despite only serving about eight people. That’s fewer people, for more dollars per person. Here’s what they offered in 2024:
- Whole Frozen Turkey (10-16 lb)
- Great Value Sweet Hawaiian Rolls (12oz)
- Great Value Golden Sweet Whole Kernel Corn (3 units – 15oz)
- Ocean Spray Jellied Cranberry Sauce (14oz)
- Great Value Canned Green Beans (2 units – 14.5oz)
- French’s Crispy Fried Onions ( 6oz)
- Campbell’s Condensed Cream of Mushroom Soup (2 units – 10.5oz)
- Great Value Brown Gravy Mix (2 units – 0.87oz)
- Marie Callender’s Southern Pecan Pie (32oz)
- Great Value Frozen Whipped Topping (8oz)
- Great Value Frozen Deep Dish Pie Crusts (16oz)
- Great Value 100% Pure Pumpkin (15oz)
- Great Value Evaporated Milk (12 fl oz)
- Jet-Puffed Mini Marshmallows (10oz)
- Jiffy Corn Muffin Mix (2 units – 8.5oz)
- Great Value Poultry Seasoning (1.5oz)
- Swanson Chicken Broth (32oz)
- Fresh Whole Russet Potatoes (5lbs)
- Fresh Whole Sweet Potatoes (3 units)
- Fresh Yellow Onions (3lbs)
- Fresh Celery Stalks
Walmart’s 2024 basket served eight people for under $7 per person, or about $55 total. It included brand-name staples like Marie Callender’s pecan pie, Ocean Spray cranberry sauce, and Jiffy corn muffin mix. Those products, along with sweet potatoes, celery, and onions, are missing from this year’s basket.
There are some obvious differences here, like name-brand products rather than Walmart’s Great Value brand, and ingredients for different dishes. But price-wise, this doesn’t hold a candle to the current deal.
How Does Walmart’s Deal Compare to Aldi’s Deal?
Aldi is doing something pretty similar. This is what comes in Aldi’s Thanksgiving basket, another $40 meal meant for 10 people:
- Whole Turkey
- Chicken Broth
- Condensed Cream of Mushroom Soup
- Evaporated Milk
- Hawaiian Sweet Rolls
- Miniature Marshmallows
- Cut Green Beans (x2)
- 100% Pure Canned Pumpkin
- Shells & Cheese (x2)
- Brown Gravy Mix (x3)
- Poultry Spices & Herbs
- French Fried Onions
- Pie Crust
- Chicken or Cornbread Stuffing (x2)
- Whipped Dairy Topping
- Yellow Onions (3 lbs.)
- Baby Peeled Carrots
- Celery
- Cranberries
- Sweet Potatoes (3 lbs.)
- Russet Potatoes (10 lbs.)
This is inarguably a better Thanksgiving basket. It comes with everything that Walmart’s does, plus the ingredients for sweet potatoes with marshmallows. Walmart’s dinner basket clocks in at 15 ingredients, but Aldi is offering 21.
What Are People Saying About Walmart’s Thanksgiving Dinner Deal?
While this year’s Walmart basket costs less than last year’s basket, consumers don’t seem to feel they’re getting the same quality of ingredients.
One shopper on Reddit lamented the turkey was more expensive, and that, “Last year also had Hawaiian rolls (replaced by Walmart brand); Pecan Pie (not included this year); sweet potatoes (not included this year); Campbell’s Soup (1 can this year instead of 2); fresh onion (not included this year); and others.”
Fewer items and fresh produce is a tough one. Another shopper in a separate corner of Reddit agreed that Aldi’s deal was better, saying, “Aldi’s list is more diverse. There are a lot more items than the Walmart ones.”
Some of the other meals Walmart offers have gotten more love than the traditional Thanksgiving meal, with some calling the prime rib basket “a great price.”
While Walmart’s meal comes with a lot of stuff, you should consider the quality of that stuff when choosing which Thanksgiving package to pick this year.
Bottom Line
Walmart’s 2025 Thanksgiving meal basket lowers the upfront cost of hosting a holiday meal, but the price drop comes from trimming the contents and swapping name-brand items for store-brand versions. The new bundle contains 22 individual packages and costs about $40, whereas the 2024 kit had 29 packages and cost roughly $55.
Customers who want extras like pecan pie, cranberry sauce, marshmallows, or sweet potatoes will need to supplement the 2025 basket or consider Aldi’s $40 promotion, which includes more ingredients. As always, comparing the lists and considering personal preferences can help shoppers decide which Thanksgiving deal offers the best value.
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More Thanksgiving content:
- Subway Adds 3 New Thanksgiving Subs to the Menu, Complete With Stuffing — Subway has released some brand new sandwiches to break you out of your boring old routine — and get you in the holiday spirit.
- Oreo Released 6 New Thanksgiving Dinner-Themed Cookies, and the Flavors Are … Interesting — Are you looking for a way to combine the experiences of eating turkey and eating dessert? If so, Oreo has you covered.
- Turkeys Are Back at Popeyes for a Very Cajun Thanksgiving — If you are confounded but also intrigued by this ultimate fast-food holiday hack, here’s everything you need to know in order to get yours.
