Walmart’s Annual Thanksgiving Meal: Budget Bundles
Hosting Thanksgiving should feel joyful, not stressful—or expensive.
Walmart’s Annual Thanksgiving Meal makes it easy to put a generous holiday feast on the table with complete dinner bundles that include turkey, classic sides, desserts, and all the fixings, all at wallet-friendly prices.What is Walmart’s Annual Thanksgiving Meal?
Each year, Walmart highlights ready-to-shop Thanksgiving dinner bundles designed to feed families of various sizes, so busy hosts can get everything they need in one place. These bundles typically center on a frozen or fresh turkey and include popular sides like mashed potatoes, stuffing, green beans, cranberry sauce, gravy, dinner rolls, and a classic dessert such as pumpkin pie.
Whether you’re feeding a small group or a big, bustling table, the retailer’s curated options help you skip the guesswork and stretch every dollar. You can choose a full bundle or mix-and-match with individual items to suit preferences, dietary needs, and your oven capacity while keeping costs predictable and low.
How Walmart keeps Thanksgiving affordable
Special holiday pricing and rollbacks: In the weeks leading up to Thanksgiving, Walmart focuses on seasonal price rollbacks and value bundles so customers can grab essentials at consistently low prices. By grouping staples and spotlighting popular items, Walmart makes it easier to feed a crowd without overspending.
Meal bundles that simplify planning: Pre-planned bundles remove the stress of hunting for every single ingredient. You’ll find the turkey, sides, and dessert mapped out—saving time and reducing the chance of last-minute, higher-priced substitutions. These bundles also help minimize food waste since quantities are chosen with typical family sizes in mind.
Convenient pickup and delivery: Order your ingredients or bundles online and choose pickup or delivery windows that fit your schedule. Many shoppers combine this with curbside pickup to save time on a busy holiday week and avoid long in-store lines.
Ordering made easy: online, curbside, or in-store
Online ordering in minutes: Add a bundle to your cart, then personalize with your preferred sides, beverages, and desserts. If you already have a favorite family recipe, you can swap a bundle side for ingredients you’ll cook from scratch and still benefit from the overall savings.
Curbside pickup that fits your day: Secure a pickup slot as soon as schedules open for the holiday week, then let Walmart’s team do the shopping. You’ll pull into the designated area, check in via the app, and your order is brought right to your vehicle—no cart wrangling required.
Delivery for ultra-busy days: When your week gets especially packed, delivery can be a lifesaver. Members using services like Walmart+ may qualify for free delivery from their store on eligible orders, helping you reclaim time for cooking, decorating, or simply relaxing.
Tips to stretch your Thanksgiving budget
1) Start with your headcount and portions
Estimate how many adults and kids you’ll host and plan 1 to 1.5 pounds of turkey per adult (less if you have many sides). If leftovers are a must, bump that up slightly. Matching bundle size to your crowd prevents overbuying.
2) Mix a bundle with a few homemade favorites
Bundles cover the essentials; supplement with one or two signature dishes to keep costs down while making the meal feel personal. For instance, choose the bundle’s stuffing and rolls but bake your family’s beloved sweet potato casserole from scratch.
3) Lean on Great Value store brands
Walmart’s Great Value line covers everything from broth and butter to baking staples. Subbing brand-name pantry items with Great Value often yields big savings without sacrificing taste.
4) Shop early and schedule pickup windows ASAP
Popular sizes of turkeys, pies, and rolls go fast. Reserve your pickup or delivery time early to lock in availability and reduce last-minute runs. If you find a deal ahead of the rush, buy shelf-stable items and freezer-friendly ingredients now and store them until the big day.
5) Use your freezer and plan a thaw timeline
If you’re buying a frozen turkey, place it in the freezer when you get it home, then move it to the fridge with enough time to thaw safely before cooking. A general guide is about 24 hours of fridge thaw time per 4–5 pounds of turkey; always follow food-safety best practices.
6) Build a sides strategy
To save money and oven space, balance hot and cold sides. Choose a few heat-and-serve dishes from the bundle, then add a crisp salad or a no-bake dessert. Your kitchen stays manageable, and the menu stays affordable.
7) Don’t forget beverages and breakfast
Stock up on drinks, ice, and easy breakfast items for the morning-of. Picking up orange juice, coffee, bagels, and fruit prevents surprise convenience-store trips that can add up.
Customizing your Walmart Thanksgiving bundle
Accommodate dietary preferences: Swap in gluten-free stuffing mix, dairy-free butter alternatives, or vegetable-based sides. Choose a smaller turkey and add a plant-based main for vegetarian guests.
Flavor upgrades on a budget: Make a simple herb butter with garlic and rosemary for the turkey, add citrus zest to cranberry sauce, or top green beans with toasted almonds. These low-cost touches elevate store-bought sides.
Choose the right dessert mix: Pumpkin pie is classic, but apple, pecan, or sweet potato pie may better fit your crew. If you need multiple desserts on a budget, pick a store-bought pie and bake a simple pan of brownies or a crisp with in-season fruit.
Shop early to avoid shortages (and stress)
Claim your pickup time: As holiday week approaches, prime pickup windows fill quickly. Set a reminder to reserve your slot as soon as they open. If you’re shopping in-store, plan a weekday morning trip to skip crowds.
Lock in the turkey size you need: Medium birds often sell out first. If your ideal size isn’t available, buy a slightly larger one and plan on tasty leftovers—turkey soup, sandwiches, and casseroles help stretch your budget into the weekend.
Prep what you can ahead: Chop vegetables, measure baking ingredients, and assemble casseroles a day or two early. Assign one oven rack to sides that bake at the same temperature so the turkey can rest while everything else finishes.
Sample menu ideas that keep costs in check
For 6–8 guests: Turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, green beans, cranberry sauce, dinner rolls, and pumpkin pie. Add a simple tossed salad and sparkling water. Customize by swapping mashed potatoes for a roasted veggie medley or adding mac and cheese for kids.
For 10–12 guests: Choose a larger turkey or a turkey plus a small ham, then use the bundle’s sides as your base. Add a sheet-pan roasted root vegetables dish and a second pie. Ask guests to bring a favorite beverage or a family dessert to round out the table without straining your budget.
Make the most of Walmart’s tools and services
Use the app to track inventory: Check stock in real time and set substitutions you’re comfortable with. If a preferred brand sells out, opt in for a like-for-like option at a similar price to avoid last-minute store hopping.
Explore memberships and perks: If you’re already using delivery regularly, consider whether a membership with benefits like free delivery on eligible orders could save you time and money in the long run, especially during the holiday season.
A warm, budget-friendly holiday
From curated meal bundles to convenient pickup and delivery, Walmart’s Annual Thanksgiving Meal is designed to keep your celebration festive, simple, and affordable. With a little advance planning—reserving pickup windows, mixing in a few homemade favorites, and customizing sides—you can serve a memorable feast without financial strain. Here’s to a delicious Thanksgiving that gives you more of what matters most: time around the table with the people you love.