The ALDI vs. Walmart Thanksgiving meal question is a real one this year, because both stores are selling dinner for 10 for under $40. Walmart’s Holiday Meal Basket is $35, and ALDI’s Thanksgiving meal is under $39. They sound alike, but they hold very different groceries.
We went through both lists item by item, priced everything at our Columbus, Ohio stores, added up what you still need to buy and matched each item to a recipe. Here’s what you get, what you don’t and which deal makes more sense for your table.
Jump to a section
- The Quick Answer
- What’s in the Walmart Holiday Meal Basket
- What’s in the ALDI Thanksgiving Meal
- What Each Deal Leaves Out
- The Real Cost With Add-Ons
- Turning the Walmart Basket Into Dinner
- Turning the ALDI Meal Into Dinner
- Which Is Better for a Family of 4?
- Which Is Better for 10 People?
- Tips for Shopping Either Deal
- ALDI vs. Walmart Thanksgiving Meal: Your Questions
The Quick Answer
Prices are from Walmart’s and ALDI’s websites for stores in Columbus, Ohio, checked in October 2026. Ohio’s grocery prices are within about 1% of the national average, so you may pay more or less depending on where you live, and prices change often. Here’s how we price our recipes.
Walmart’s basket is the better deal for most families of 10. It costs less, it covers more side dishes and almost everything in it keeps in the pantry. ALDI’s meal is the better pick if you want fresh vegetables, real whipped cream and a bigger turkey.
| Walmart | ALDI | |
|---|---|---|
| Advertised price | $35 | Under $39 |
| Feeds | 10 | 10 |
| Prices good | Oct. 28 to Dec. 24 | Oct. 14 to Nov. 25 |
| Items | 26 (17 products) | 12 products |
| Turkey | Butterball, 10 to 16 lb | Farmer’s Choice, about 16 lb |
| Biggest gaps | Butter, milk, eggs | Potatoes, gravy, butter, eggs |
| Total with add-ons | About $50.58 | About $52.97 |
| Per person | About $5.06 | About $5.30 |
What’s in the Walmart Holiday Meal Basket
Walmart’s basket is a shoppable list of 26 items, not a sealed box. You can add the whole list to your cart in one click online, take things off or add things, and pick it up, have it delivered or shop it in the store. Walmart says the $35 price assumes a 13.5-pound turkey, so a bigger or smaller bird changes your total a little (Walmart’s announcement).
Here’s the list with the price of each item at our Columbus Walmart:
| Item | Amount | Our price |
|---|---|---|
| Butterball frozen whole turkey | 10 to 16 lb | $13.14 |
| Stove Top stuffing mix | 2 boxes (6 oz) | $3.00 |
| Russet potatoes | 5 lb bag | $3.84 |
| Brown gravy mix | 2 packets | $0.54 |
| Cut green beans | 3 cans | $1.50 |
| Cream of mushroom soup | 1 can | $1.00 |
| French fried onions | 6 oz | $1.00 |
| Whole kernel corn | 3 cans | $1.50 |
| Jiffy corn muffin mix | 2 boxes | $1.00 |
| Sweet potatoes | 3 | $4.11 |
| Mini marshmallows | 10 oz bag | $1.00 |
| Fresh cranberries | 12 oz bag | $0.76 |
| Brown and serve rolls | 12 count | $1.00 |
| Frozen pie crusts | 2 crusts | $1.24 |
| Pumpkin | 15 oz can | $1.00 |
| Evaporated milk | 12 oz can | $1.00 |
| Whipped topping | 8 oz tub | $1.00 |
| Total | $37.63 |
Our total came to $37.63, a little over $35. The basket isn’t an extra discount on top of shelf prices. It’s the rollback prices added up, and our sweet potatoes and corn cost a bit more than Walmart’s estimate. Expect to pay close to $35, give or take a couple of dollars.
What’s in the ALDI Thanksgiving Meal
ALDI’s meal is also a shopping list. The items are marked with a turkey sign in stores and on the ALDI website, where you can add the whole list to your cart for pickup or delivery. No coupons or memberships are needed. Cranberries arrive Oct. 26, the turkey Nov. 4 and the pumpkin pie mix Nov. 11 (ALDI’s announcement).
| Item | Amount | Our price |
|---|---|---|
| Farmer’s Choice whole turkey | About 16 lb | $15.84 |
| Chef’s Cupboard stuffing mix | 3 boxes | $2.37 |
| Sweet potatoes | 3 lb bag | $1.95 |
| Hawaiian sweet rolls | 12 count | $1.99 |
| Fresh cranberries | 12 oz bag | $0.95 |
| Frozen peas | 2 bags (12 oz) | $1.90 |
| Baby carrots | 16 oz bag | $0.89 |
| Celery | 1 bunch | $0.95 |
| Pumpkin pie mix | 30 oz can | $1.99 |
| Pie crusts | 2 crusts | $1.89 |
| Heavy whipping cream | 1 carton | $4.59 |
| Whole milk | 1 gallon | $2.43 |
| Total | $37.74 |
Our total was $37.74, just under ALDI’s $39 promise. Almost half of it is the turkey, which runs about 99 cents a pound.
What Each Deal Leaves Out
Neither list is a full dinner by itself. Both expect you to have pantry basics like sugar, flour, salt, pepper and spices. Here’s what else you’ll need.
Missing From the Walmart Basket
- Butter. Almost every dish uses it, from the mashed potatoes to the stuffing.
- Milk and eggs. The mashed potatoes, casseroles, corn muffins and pumpkin pie all need one or both.
- Sour cream and a can of cream-style corn if you want to make corn casserole.
- An onion, celery and chicken broth to season the turkey.
Missing From the ALDI Meal
- Potatoes and gravy. This is the big one. There are no mashed potatoes or gravy on the list.
- Butter and eggs. The pie mix needs eggs, and the turkey, stuffing and vegetables need butter.
- Evaporated milk for the pumpkin pie mix. Check the can for the amount.
- Mini marshmallows if you want sweet potato casserole.
- An onion and chicken broth for the stuffing, turkey and gravy.
The Real Cost With Add-Ons
Here’s what it costs to fill the gaps at each store, buying full packages. We left out pantry items most kitchens already have, like sugar, flour and spices.
| Add-on | Walmart | ALDI |
|---|---|---|
| Butter (1 lb) | $3.06 | $2.89 |
| Eggs (1 dozen) | $1.67 | $1.66 |
| Whole milk (1 gallon) | $2.43 | Included |
| Sour cream (16 oz) | $1.84 | Not needed |
| Cream-style corn (1 can) | $0.87 | Not needed |
| Yellow onions (3 lb) | $3.24 | $2.39 |
| Celery | $0.97 | Included |
| Chicken broth (32 oz) | $1.50 (1 carton) | $2.50 (2 cartons) |
| Russet potatoes (5 lb) | Included | $3.69 |
| Evaporated milk | Included | $0.95 |
| Mini marshmallows | Included | $1.15 |
| Add-ons total | $15.58 | $15.23 |
| Meal plus add-ons | $50.58 | $52.97 |
| Per person (10) | $5.06 | $5.30 |
Walmart’s total uses the $35 basket price. With our store’s shelf prices it would be about $53.21, which is almost the same as ALDI. Either way, a full Thanksgiving dinner for 10 lands around $5 a person. You’ll also have leftover milk, eggs, celery and broth for the rest of the week.
Turning the Walmart Basket Into Dinner
The Walmart basket builds a classic, side-heavy menu. Here’s what to make with each item:
1. Roasted Whole Turkey with Herbs
The Butterball is the star. Rub it with herb butter and roast it until the thickest part of the breast reads 165°F.
From the basket: the turkey · Add: butter, an onion, celery and chicken broth
2. Creamy Mashed Potatoes
The whole 5-pound bag of russets makes enough mashed potatoes for 10, with leftovers.
From the basket: russet potatoes · Add: butter and milk
3. Brown Gravy or Traditional Gravy
Make the two gravy packets and whisk in a little of the turkey drippings for more flavor, or skip the packets and make our homemade gravy.
From the basket: 2 brown gravy packets · Add: turkey drippings (or butter, flour and broth for homemade)
4. Green Bean Casserole
Two cans of green beans, the soup and the fried onions make one full casserole. Warm the third can with butter as a plain side.
From the basket: green beans, cream of mushroom soup and French fried onions · Add: milk
5. Sweet Potato Casserole
The three sweet potatoes and the bag of marshmallows go here. The recipe calls for evaporated milk, but save that can for the pie and use regular milk instead.
From the basket: sweet potatoes and mini marshmallows · Add: butter and milk
6. Corn Casserole
One box of corn muffin mix and one can of corn turn into a soft, spoonable corn casserole.
From the basket: 1 box of corn muffin mix and 1 can of corn · Add: a can of cream-style corn, sour cream and butter
7. Corn Muffins
Bake the second box of Jiffy the way the box says, or make our cornbread from scratch. Warm the last can of corn with butter, or save it for a weeknight.
From the basket: 1 box of corn muffin mix · Add: an egg and milk
8. Classic Stuffing
Our stuffing recipe starts with two 6-ounce boxes of stuffing mix, so the two boxes of Stove Top fit it exactly.
From the basket: 2 boxes of Stove Top · Add: butter, an onion, celery and chicken broth (or just butter if you follow the box)
9. Cranberry Sauce
Fresh cranberries and sugar simmer into sauce in about 15 minutes, and it keeps in the fridge for days.
From the basket: fresh cranberries · Add: sugar
10. Dinner Rolls
Bake the brown and serve rolls while the turkey rests. If you have time to bake, our soft dinner rolls are a step up.
From the basket: brown and serve rolls · Add: nothing
11. Pumpkin Pie
The pumpkin, evaporated milk and one crust make the pie, and the whipped topping goes on top. You’ll have a spare crust for a second pie or a quiche.
From the basket: pumpkin, evaporated milk, pie crusts and whipped topping · Add: eggs, sugar and spices
Turning the ALDI Meal Into Dinner
The ALDI list leans fresh, with a vegetable tray, peas and real cream. Once you add potatoes, this is the menu:
1. Roasted Whole Turkey with Herbs
ALDI’s turkey is about 16 pounds, so there will be plenty of leftovers. Tuck a couple of stalks of the celery inside with the onion.
From the list: the turkey and celery · Add: butter, an onion and chicken broth
2. Classic Stuffing
Our recipe uses two boxes of stuffing mix. With ALDI’s three boxes, add about half again as much butter and broth.
From the list: stuffing mix and celery · Add: butter, an onion and chicken broth
3. Creamy Mashed Potatoes
Potatoes aren’t on ALDI’s list, so add a 5-pound bag of russets. The milk on the list covers the rest.
From the list: milk · Add: a 5-pound bag of russet potatoes and butter
4. Traditional Gravy
There’s no gravy on the list either. Make it from the turkey drippings with butter, flour and broth, and double the recipe for 10.
From the list: turkey drippings · Add: butter, flour and chicken broth
5. Sweet Potato Casserole
The 3-pound bag of sweet potatoes is just right for this casserole. Or skip the marshmallows and roast the potatoes with butter and brown sugar.
From the list: sweet potatoes · Add: butter, evaporated milk and mini marshmallows
6. Honey Garlic Roasted Carrots
The bag of baby carrots is 1 pound, so make half the recipe. While the oven’s on, steam the frozen peas in the bag and toss them with butter for an easy extra side.
From the list: baby carrots and peas · Add: butter, honey and garlic
7. Carrot and Celery Crudité with Ranch Dip
Prefer the carrots raw? Set them out with the celery and a quick ranch dip while the turkey roasts.
From the list: baby carrots and celery · Add: sour cream and dried herbs
8. Cranberry Sauce
Make the cranberry sauce a day or two ahead. Save a little for turkey sliders the next day.
From the list: fresh cranberries · Add: sugar
9. Hawaiian Rolls and Next-Day Turkey Sliders
Warm the Hawaiian sweet rolls for dinner, and save a few to turn leftover turkey and cranberry sauce into sliders.
From the list: Hawaiian sweet rolls · Add: nothing for dinner
10. Pumpkin Pie with Whipped Cream
Mix the pumpkin pie mix following the can and bake it in one of the crusts. Whip the heavy cream with a little sugar to go on top.
From the list: pumpkin pie mix, pie crusts and heavy cream · Add: eggs and evaporated milk
Want more sides for either menu? Our 18 Cheap Thanksgiving Side Dishes are all priced per serving.
Which Is Better for a Family of 4?
For four people, neither deal is a perfect fit, because both are built for 10. If you want one, Walmart’s works better. The turkey can be as small as 10 pounds, and the extras are mostly canned goods and mixes that keep for months. ALDI’s turkey is about 16 pounds, which is about 4 pounds per person for a family of four.
A better plan for a small table is to skip the full list. Buy a turkey breast and three or four sides, and follow our Thanksgiving dinner for 4 menu. Both stores let you take items off the list before you check out.
Which Is Better for 10 People?
For 10 people, Walmart’s basket wins on price and on the number of dishes. With the add-ons it costs about $2.39 less than ALDI’s meal, and it gives you mashed potatoes, gravy, green bean casserole and corn casserole without any extra shopping beyond dairy and eggs.
ALDI is the better choice if your family likes fresh vegetables, you want real whipped cream on the pie or you’d like plenty of leftover turkey. Just remember to add potatoes. If you’re hosting a crowd of 8, our budget Thanksgiving dinner menu prices a full spread at both stores.
Tips for Shopping Either Deal
- Shop by the dates. ALDI’s prices end Nov. 25. Walmart’s run through Dec. 24, so the basket works for Christmas too.
- Buy the turkey early and thaw it in the fridge. Allow about a day for every 4 to 5 pounds. A 16-pound turkey needs 3 to 4 days.
- Watch the delivery fees. Walmart offers free Express Delivery through Nov. 30 with the code THANKFUL on orders of $35 or more that include certain items. ALDI’s price also applies on delivery apps, but their fees may be added.
- Check what you already have. Take items off the list in your cart if they’re already in your pantry.
- Plan the oven. Our free Holiday Dinner Planner has an oven schedule and a make-ahead timeline.
For everyday groceries, see our full ALDI vs. Walmart price comparison.
ALDI vs. Walmart Thanksgiving Meal: Your Questions
Is the Walmart Holiday Meal Basket really $35?
Close to it. Walmart prices it at $35 with a 13.5-pound turkey, and our Columbus total came to $37.63. Your total depends on your store, the turkey’s weight and any delivery fees.
Is the ALDI Thanksgiving meal cheaper than Walmart’s?
Not this year. ALDI’s list costs a few dollars more, and it leaves out potatoes and gravy. Once you add the missing items, Walmart’s meal for 10 is about $2.39 less.
Does either meal include dessert?
Yes. Both include what you need for pumpkin pie: pumpkin or pie mix and crusts, plus whipped topping at Walmart or heavy cream at ALDI. You’ll need to add eggs, and ALDI’s pie mix also needs evaporated milk.
Can I change the items on the list?
Yes. Both lists are made of regular grocery items, so you can take things off or add things before you check out, online or in the store.
How long are the ALDI and Walmart Thanksgiving prices good for?
ALDI’s prices run from Oct. 14 to Nov. 25, 2026. Walmart’s run from Oct. 28 to Dec. 24, 2026. Some ALDI items, like the turkey and pie mix, arrive later in November.
This post shares general budgeting information, not personal financial advice.
