Walmart's $35 holiday basket gives Thanksgiving hosts another low-cost grocery option, but the advertised price alone cannot settle where to shop. Turkey weights, menus, sale dates and preparation differ across the offers from Walmart, ALDI, Lidl and Sam's Club.
Reuters reports that Walmart's October 28 launch lowers its advertised cost from last year's $4 per person to $3.50. The practical question for a household is how much of its own dinner the basket covers, including the food, time and delivery it will need.
Four offers with different assumptions
| Retailer | Advertised total and servings | Shopping window or start | Main condition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walmart | $35 for 10 | October 28 to December 24 | Estimate uses a 13.5-pound turkey; geographic exclusions apply |
| ALDI | Under $39 for 10 | Prices through November 25 | 16-pound turkey; some ingredients arrive later |
| Lidl | $35.86 for up to 10 | November 11 to 25 | Lidl Plus membership; 14-pound turkey |
| Sam's Club | About $160 for up to 16 | Ordering starts October 28 | Membership; prepared assortment with weight-dependent prices |
These are retailer estimates for the listed assortments, before any applicable fulfillment charges. They are not identical meals or a local checkout test.
Walmart's terms exclude Alaska, Hawaii, Oklahoma, Puerto Rico and Wisconsin. The $35 estimate also assumes 3.2 pounds of sweet potatoes. It needs no special membership, but availability and the weights selected can change the bill. Its 26 items include repeated units of some products.
ALDI's basket includes ingredients for stuffing, sweet potatoes, rolls, cranberries, peas, a vegetable tray and pumpkin pie, plus milk and whipping cream. No coupon, loyalty card or membership is required. The advertised turkey is 2.5 pounds heavier than Walmart's pricing assumption. That can matter more to a household planning leftovers than a small difference in the basket total.
Lidl's menu includes ingredients for mashed potatoes, green bean casserole and macaroni and cheese. Its price is for Lidl Plus members. Check that the actual dishes match what your guests will eat before treating every included item as a saving.
Check the calendar before making the trip
ALDI's promotion has already begun, but its Farmer's Choice turkey arrives November 4 and pumpkin-pie mix November 11. Cranberries became available October 26. The remaining listed ingredients have prices effective October 14 through November 25; selection and location can affect the total.
Walmart's separate free Express delivery promotion ends November 30, earlier than its basket pricing. It requires code THANKFUL, a $35 minimum and an order containing Campbell's mushroom soup, Butterball turkey or Stove Top stuffing. Applicable taxes remain the customer's responsibility. Outside qualifying promotions, fulfillment charges can add to the advertised grocery price.
Paying more can buy a different kind of meal
Sam's Club offers smoked turkey, boneless ham, sides, a charcuterie tray and two pumpkin pies. It says the assortment can be prepared in about two hours, based on its own testing; household oven times vary.
Its roughly $160 total covers a larger group and more prepared food. Several products are sold by weight, so the final price can move. The per-person claim assumes buying the complete assortment and dividing it among 16 guests. Buying selected dishes separately produces a different calculation.
Include thawing and oven time in the decision
The ingredient baskets require advance preparation. FoodSafety.gov's chart allows three to four days to thaw a 12- to 16-pound turkey in a refrigerator set to 40 degrees Fahrenheit or below. Roasting an unstuffed 14- to 18-pound turkey at 325 degrees takes an estimated three hours and 45 minutes to four hours and 15 minutes.
Use a thermometer to verify 165 degrees in the innermost thigh and wing and the thickest breast. Those preparation requirements belong in the comparison alongside the grocery bill, especially if the same oven must handle several side dishes. Before ordering, compare the listed ingredients with your recipes and pantry, then review the final cart for substitutions, product weights and delivery charges.
