Feeding 10 people for Thanksgiving costs $55.18 this year, down 5% from 2024. Turkey prices are lower, but sweet potatoes, peas and whole milk are up.
HOUSTON — This weekend, scores of people are heading to the grocery store to stock up for Thanksgiving, and the aisles are already busy days before the holiday.
“I always do a smoked turkey and like to brine it before we put it on the smoker,” Bob Cuyler said. With Thanksgiving around the corner, Cuyler is shopping with his list in hand and looking for a number of different items. “We have a big crew coming,” he said.
Rising costs still on people’s minds
More people around the table often means more food and more out-of-pocket spending.
“Before I came [to Kroger] we looked for prices,” Anali Ibarra said.
According to the American Farm Bureau Federation, feeding 10 people this year costs $55.18, which is down five percent from 2024. While turkey prices are down, other classic items — including sweet potatoes, peas and whole milk — have gone up.
Stores offer deals and meal bundles
Families are doing what they can to keep food costs manageable.
“When you have family coming in from out of town and you don’t really expect them to contribute to what we’re eating, so you’re trying to provide everything and provide them in a, in a cost-effective manner,” Blanca Reza said.
“What kind of deals are you hoping to find?” KHOU 11 Reporter Amanda Henderson asked.
“Well, hopefully deals on all the staples like the, the things that we use all the time,” Reza said.
Many grocery chains are offering package deals and meal kits to help reduce costs. Kroger, Walmart and Aldi all offer Thanksgiving meal kits designed to feed 10 people for less than $5 each.
Why people keep spending on Thanksgiving
“We buy holiday foods because it is a tradition. It’s family, it’s friends, and therefore we are willing, and the financial trends suggests that,” Dr. Barbara Stewart, chair of Human Development and Consumer Sciences at the University of Houston, said.
Dr. Stewart said families should budget for the essentials before buying specialty items.
“The good news about Thanksgiving is it’s poultry-based rather than beef-based. I think if we had, uh, you know, beef roasts instead of turkey, we’d all be screaming,” Dr. Stewart said.
Tips to save on your Thanksgiving meal
Some of the most common ways shoppers are cutting costs this year include:
- Choosing generic or store-brand items
- Checking store apps for coupons and deals
- Buying frozen produce, which costs 15 percent less this year