Between inflation and the government shutdown, the average American is a little concerned about grocery prices right now. Fortunately, Walmart has just announced the return of its annual Thanksgiving deal. It’s a meal kit for 10 people at an absolutely affordable price: less than $40.
Walmart officially announced the arrival of its Thanksgiving meal kit on October 21, 2025. What started as a direct strategy to combat grocery inflation in 2022 has ended up becoming a tradition that we eagerly await. It’s the perfect shopping list for Thanksgiving: you don’t have to rack your brains trying to figure out exactly what to buy, just order the kit and pick it up or have it delivered. Year after year, Walmart launches this promotion to ensure that its customers have a great Thanksgiving feast.
Here’s what we suggest: if you love Fall food, there’s nothing stopping you from buying this kit several times over the coming months and taking advantage of these prices. We guarantee you won’t find a cheaper shopping basket. But what exactly does this year’s meal kit contain?
$40 Grocery haul: Butterball turkey and all
Walmart has gone all out; while in previous years the price per person was $7, they have read the current market and made a record reduction to $4 per person—something we appreciate given the economic climate.
This doesn’t mean that anything is missing: the crown jewel is undoubtedly a 13.5 lb Butterball Turkey ($0.97/lb!). This is the lowest price since 2019. The kit is worth buying for the turkey alone: even if you don’t serve it at a family dinner, a 13.5 lb turkey gives you enough animal protein for many meals (fajitas, sandwiches, everything you usually make with Thanksgiving leftovers). Apart from that, its bones and carcass will keep on giving; you can make an excellent stock with some carrots (included in the kit, hah!) and onion. Then you can have homemade broth for free!
In addition, the kit includes more than 20 items from national brands and Walmart’s Great Value brand. They’ve thought of everything: Fresh Russet Potatoes (5 lb.), the double pack of Stove Top Stuffing (Twin Pack), and fresh cranberries.
They haven’t forgotten about side dishes or dessert: three boxes of macaroni and cheese, canned Great Value pumpkin, and everything you need for green bean casserole are also included.
If you think you’ll get tired of eating so much turkey, Walmart offers slight modifications to the Thanksgiving meal kit: they have an alternative—and smaller—version in which the main animal protein is prime rib. They also offer a gluten-free meal kit and another with “healthy options.”
How can Walmart sell this for cheap?
Walmart can offer this kit at such a low cost for the fall holidays thanks to the so-called “loss leader” strategy: a company intentionally sells a flagship product at cost or at a loss to attract customers. The most obvious example is Costco’s rotisserie chicken: it attracts many customers to buy it, but they have studied that they will also take advantage of the trip and buy items that give them a higher profit margin (diapers, protein drinks, etc.).
The smart customer knows the strategy, takes advantage of the central offer, and avoids impulsive purchases of other items to maximize savings. Here’s what we recommend: take advantage of Walmart’s Thanksgiving Meal Kit—even if you aren’t planning on hosting the dinner—and stop worrying about your shopping cart for the next two months. Think of it as an exercise in culinary creativity: how many ways can I cook the same turkey? How can I make the best casserole? Experimenting in the kitchen will be very inexpensive thanks to Walmart.
The good news is that there is no official purchase limit per customer, and this kit will be available until December 25, 2025. You can pick it up in store or have it shipped to your home.