Aldi has turned budget, no-frills grocery shopping into something almost fun, thanks to the feeling that you actually save money when you shop. The secret to its low prices? Smaller stores, plenty of affordable store-brand products, and a few quirks, like bringing your own bags and using change to borrow a cart.
Those trade-offs help you save money at Aldi, offsetting the cost of living when we need the savings the most. And speaking of holiday savings, Aldi just announced a Thanksgiving meal deal that feeds 10 people for less. Pass the potatoes!
A look at the numbers
Aldi dropped some welcome news for those of us on a budget on October 14, announcing a Thanksgiving meal deal that includes 12 classic holiday items for a crowd of 10.
The total? Less than $39 (yes, really), which works out to under $4 per person. That's a pretty great deal when you consider how quickly the cost of a holiday spread could add up.
Aldi's rationale for the savings
Aldi didn't pull its Thanksgiving menu out of thin air. They created the deal using the American Farm Bureau Federation's annual Thanksgiving cost survey, making it easier to compare prices with the group's traditional holiday basket.
Aldi's version cost about $47 in 2024 and $40 in 2025. This year's total promises even steeper savings, which is giving us a real reason to be thankful.
How to find the items on the menu
Aldi's Thanksgiving meal deal became available on October 14, but there's still time to get your plan formulated before the holiday madness begins. In stores, look for a little turkey icon marking the included items, which should make tracking down everything on the list easier.
And for the first time, you could add the whole Thanksgiving shopping list to an online cart for pickup or delivery.
What's on the Aldi Thanksgiving menu?
Aldi's Thanksgiving lineup starts with a 16-pound turkey, followed by stuffing mix, sweet potatoes, cranberries, peas, and carrots.
You'll also get celery (for the stuffing, we imagine), Hawaiian rolls, milk, and whipping cream, plus the ingredients to bake a pumpkin pie for dessert. It's a pretty classic holiday spread, though you may need to fill in some gaps depending on your family traditions.
Caveats you may need to know
Heads up, as there is a bit of fine print. Most prices are effective starting on October 14, but a few items arrive later. For instance, cranberries are available starting October 26, the turkey from November 4, and pumpkin pie mix is available starting November 11.
All of those prices are also effective through November 25, the day before Thanksgiving. Keep in mind that prices might vary depending on availability, your selections, and store location.
How Aldi compares to Lidl
Aldi and Lidl are both making Thanksgiving budget-friendly, but their menus take different approaches. Aldi's deal costs less than $39 and includes a larger, 16-pound turkey (versus 14 pounds), while Lidl's $35.86 basket has more variety, including green bean casserole and mac and cheese ingredients.
Lidl's lower price requires a Lidl Plus membership, though, while Aldi's offer has no membership requirement.
How Aldi compares to Sam's Club
The Sam's Club Thanksgiving deal arguably targets a different demographic than Aldi. Its meal costs just under $160 and serves up to 16 people, with both smoked turkey and boneless ham, plus sides like mashed potatoes, gravy, mac and cheese, cranberry salad, dinner rolls, green beans, and corn.
Two pumpkin pies and a charcuterie tray round out the spread.
How Aldi compares to Costco
Costco's Thanksgiving meal takes a pretty premium approach, with a $199.99 spread featuring a five-pound turkey breast, large portions of classic sides, candied yams, dinner rolls, gravy, cranberry relish, and two desserts.
Costco requires planning, too, as orders must be placed by November 13 for delivery by November 20. Aldi shoppers could skip the preorder and shop in stores instead with no membership needed.
Bottom line
Thanksgiving could get expensive fast, but Aldi's meal deal will help countless families enjoy the holiday without stressing over the bill. With 10 people covered for less than $39, it helps you save money on groceries when holiday costs start becoming real.
And Thanksgiving isn't about serving the fanciest spread. It's about filling the table, catching up with your favorite people, and maybe arguing over who makes the best pie. If Aldi helps keep the budget in check, that leaves more room for what matters most.
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