QUICK ANSWER
A classic Thanksgiving dinner for 10 came to $42.40 at Walmart ($4.24 a person) and $58.35 at Kroger, $15.95 more, in Columbus, OH on November 5, 2026. Online shelf prices, whole packs, before tax.
By store.
Every store is in Columbus, OH, priced in the same week, so the gap is the chain, not the town.
| Store | Dinner for 10 | Per person |
|---|---|---|
| WalmartWhitehall Supercenter, 3657 E Main St, Whitehall (Columbus), OH 43213 (store 3447) | $42.40 | $4.24 |
| ALDIALDI SPR 53, 2396 Morse Rd, Columbus, OH | $47.91 | $4.79 |
| KrogerKroger E Broad Whitehall, 3675 E Broad St, Whitehall (Columbus), OH 43213 | $58.35 | $5.84 |
Target is missing: target.com stopped loading prices for us partway through this check, so Target is not in this comparison. Its Good & Gather turkey was $0.79/lb at the Whitehall store.
The menu.
- Roast turkey (16 lb) with gravy
- Bread stuffing with onion and celery
- Mashed potatoes
- Roasted sweet potatoes
- Green beans
- Cranberry sauce
- Dinner rolls and butter
- Pumpkin pie with whipped cream
Salt, pepper, oil, sugar, flour and dried herbs are assumed to be in the cupboard. The turkey is priced as 16 lb at each store’s per-pound price, so a bigger or smaller bird doesn’t skew the comparison.
Where the money goes.
| Category | ALDI | Walmart | Kroger |
|---|---|---|---|
| Turkey | $15.84 | $13.44 | $15.68 |
| Produce | $13.51 | $12.31 | $18.65 |
| Dairy and eggs | $10.44 | $9.27 | $10.66 |
| Stuffing and rolls | $3.55 | $2.64 | $5.99 |
| Pantry | $1.39 | $1.50 | $1.49 |
| Pumpkin pie | $3.18 | $3.24 | $5.88 |
| Dinner for 10 | $47.91 | $42.40 | $58.35 |
Every item, every price.
Whole-pack prices, linked to the product page we read. Quantities above one are already multiplied in.
| Item | ALDI | Walmart | Kroger |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whole frozen turkeyabout 16 lb, priced per lb | $15.84Farmer's Choice Brined Young Turkey (frozen), 16 lb at $0.99/lb | $13.44Shady Brook Farms Frozen Whole Turkey, 10–16 lb, 16 lb at $0.84/lb | $15.68Kroger Tender and Juicy Whole Frozen Turkey (14-16 lb), 16 lb at $0.98/lb |
| Stuffing mixtwo 6 oz boxes, or a 12–14 oz bag | $1.56Chef's Cupboard Real Chicken Broth Stuffing Mix, 6 oz (× 2) | $1.64 sale, was $0.97Great Value Chicken-Flavored Stuffing Mix, 6 oz (× 2) | $2.00 sale, was $1.29Kroger Chicken Flavored Stuffing Mix, 6 oz (× 2) |
| Russet potatoes5 lb bag | $3.69Baking (russet) Potatoes, 5 lb | $2.47 sale, was $3.96Fresh Whole Russet Potatoes, 5 lb Bag, 5 lb | $3.49 sale, was $3.99Russet Potatoes Bag, 5 lb |
| Sweet potatoes3 lb | $1.95Sweet Potatoes, 3 lb | $2.88Sweet Potatoes Whole Fresh, 3 lb Bag, 3 lb | $3.99Kroger Sweet Potato, 3 lb |
| Frozen cut green beans2 lb (two 16 oz bags or one 32 oz) | $2.94Season's Choice Frozen Steamed Cut Green Beans, 12 oz (× 3) | $2.94Great Value Cut Green Beans (Frozen), 12 oz (× 3) | $3.19Kroger Frozen Green Beans Cut, 32 oz |
| Fresh cranberries12 oz bag | $1.59Sweet Harvest Whole Berry Cranberry Sauce, 14 oz | $0.76 sale, was $0.97Fresh Cranberries, 12 oz Bag, 12 oz | $2.50 sale, was $2.99Ocean Spray Fresh Premium Cranberries, 12 oz |
| Yellow onions3 lb bag | $2.39Fresh Yellow Onions, 3 lb | $2.29 sale, was $3.88Fresh Yellow Onions, 3 lb Bag, 3 lb | $3.39Kroger Yellow Onion 3 lb Bag, 3 lb |
| Celery1 bunch or stalk | $0.95Celery, 1 lb container | $0.97 sale, was $2.37Fresh Whole Celery, 1 each | $2.09Sleeved Celery, 1 ct |
| Dinner rolls12 count | $1.99L'oven Fresh Hawaiian Sweet Rolls, 12 ct | $1.00 sale, was $1.87Great Value Brown and Serve White Dinner Rolls, 12 Count, 12 ct | $3.99Bakery Fresh Hard Rolls, 18 oz (12 rolls at $0.33 each) |
| Salted butter1 lb (4 sticks) | $2.89Countryside Creamery Salted Butter Quarters, 16 oz | $2.96Great Value Sweet Cream Salted Butter, 4 Sticks, 16 oz | $3.49Kroger Salted Butter Sticks, 16 oz |
| Whole milkhalf gallon | $1.54 sale, was $1.62Friendly Farms Vitamin D Whole Milk, 0.5 gal | $1.68Great Value Whole Vitamin D Milk, Half Gallon, 64 fl oz | $1.99Kroger Vitamin D Whole Milk Half Gallon, 1/2 gal |
| Heavy whipping cream1 pint (16 oz) | $4.35Friendly Farms Heavy Whipping Cream, 32 fl oz | $2.96Great Value Heavy Whipping Cream, 16 oz | $3.39Kroger Heavy Whipping Cream Pint, 1 pt |
| Large eggsdozen | $1.66Goldhen Large Grade A Eggs, 12 ct | $1.67Great Value Large White Eggs, 12 Count, 12 ct | $1.79Kroger Grade A Large White Eggs, 12 ct |
| Chicken broth32 oz carton | $1.39Chef's Cupboard Chicken Broth, 32 oz | $1.50Great Value Chicken Broth, 32 oz Carton, 32 oz | $1.49 sale, was $1.59Kroger 99% Fat Free Chicken Broth, 32 oz |
| Canned pumpkin puree15 oz can | $0.99 sale, was $1.79ALDI Canned Pumpkin, 15 oz | $1.00Great Value 100% Pure Pumpkin, 15 oz | $2.19 sale, was $2.99Libby's 100% Pure Pumpkin, 15 oz |
| Evaporated milk12 oz can | $0.95ALDI Evaporated Milk, 12 oz | $1.00Great Value Evaporated Milk, 12 fl oz | $1.19Kroger Regular Evaporated Milk, 12 fl oz |
| Frozen pie crusts2-pack, 9 inch | $1.24 sale, was $2.49ALDI Deep Dish Pie Crusts (frozen), 2 ct | $1.24 sale, was $2.54Great Value Frozen Deep Dish Pie Crusts, 2 Count, 2 ct | $2.50 sale, was $3.29Kroger Deep Dish Ready-to-Bake Pie Crusts, 2 ct |
Notes on individual lines
- ALDI, whole frozen turkey: Sold by weight. Priced as 16 lb at the per-lb price; ALDI's own estimate is $17.82 for an 18 lb bird.
- ALDI, frozen cut green beans: Sold in 12 oz bags, so 3 bags (36 oz) for the 2 lb in the basket.
- ALDI, fresh cranberries: aldi.us listed no fresh cranberries for this store, so the canned whole-berry sauce is priced instead.
- ALDI, dinner rolls: No plain 12-count dinner rolls listed; the 12-count sweet rolls are the closest match.
- ALDI, heavy whipping cream: Only sold in 32 oz (the 16 oz is organic), so the bigger carton is priced.
- Walmart, whole frozen turkey: Sold by weight. No Great Value whole turkey was listed, so the cheapest plain bird; priced as 16 lb at the per-lb price.
- Walmart, frozen cut green beans: Sold in 12 oz bags, so 3 bags (36 oz) for the 2 lb in the basket.
- Kroger, whole frozen turkey: Sold by weight. Priced as 16 lb at the per-lb price.
- Kroger, fresh cranberries: No Kroger-brand fresh cranberries in 12 oz (only an 8 oz organic bag), so the cheapest plain 12 oz.
- Kroger, dinner rolls: No Kroger 12-count soft dinner rolls listed; the bakery hard rolls are 12 to the pack.
- Kroger, canned pumpkin puree: Kroger's own pumpkin is only sold in 29 oz ($3.39), so the 15 oz Libby's can is priced.
How we priced it.
Store brand where there is one, otherwise the cheapest plain match; the closest pack size; the price the website showed that day, sale prices included. No sales tax, delivery or service fees, coupons or loyalty prices. Full rules: How we price. Writing about it? Figures and reuse terms for journalists.
Questions.
How much does Thanksgiving dinner for 10 cost in 2026?
In Columbus, OH on November 5, 2026, our 17-item basket came to $42.40 at Walmart, $47.91 at ALDI and $58.35 at Kroger. That is $4.24 to $5.84 a person, before tax.
Which store is cheapest for Thanksgiving dinner?
Walmart, at $42.40, in this check. It is one store per chain in one city on one day, so treat it as a price check, not a national ranking.
Does this include the store’s Thanksgiving meal deal?
No. Stores sometimes bundle a turkey and sides at a set price. We priced each item separately so every store is compared on the same list.
Plan the rest of the week too.
MealPot plans your dinners around your household and writes one list. Full meal planning requires Pro.
Sources.
- ALDI website, ALDI SPR 53, 2396 Morse Rd, Columbus, OH: 17 product prices read on November 5, 2026. Each price links to the page we read.
- Walmart website, Whitehall Supercenter, 3657 E Main St, Whitehall (Columbus), OH 43213 (store 3447): 17 product prices read on November 5, 2026. Each price links to the page we read.
- Kroger website, Kroger E Broad Whitehall, 3675 E Broad St, Whitehall (Columbus), OH 43213: 17 product prices read on November 5, 2026. Each price links to the page we read.
- Basket and method: MealPot. MealPot is independent of the stores listed and is not paid by them.