Turkey is the time-honored centerpiece of most Thanksgiving Day meals. And while the USDA says wholesale prices for frozen whole turkeys will average about 96 cents per pound, down 44 cents from the 2023 average, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t look for deals. The good news is consumers have plenty of options when it comes to getting an inexpensive or even a free turkey.
We’ve rounded up some of the best deals in 2024 to make sure you have that delicious bird as the centerpiece at your Thanksgiving table.
Our Favorite Ways to Pay For Your Thanksgiving Dinner
How to Get a Free Turkey This Year
Luckily, there are a number of grocers that offer free turkey promotions to bring more hungry holiday shoppers into their stores and to help keep budgets in check.
In general, it’s not worth it to spend $300 on random items just to score a bird you could get for $20 to $30. But if you’re going to spend that money anyway, why not get the turkey on the house?
Think about some of the food you’ll be making for holiday celebrations and if you need to stock up on spices, dried herbs or other shelf-stable ingredients, you can buy those now. Stock, flour, sugar, canned goods and more will keep through the next cooking cycle. One word of warning on our list: All of these offers vary by store, so you’ll want to call ahead to make sure your favorite location is participating.
Here are stores that have announced their free turkey promos for 2024.
1. Acme Markets
Acme is giving away free turkeys when you clip the free turkey coupon on its website.
Then, you’ll have to spend $300 or more while shopping through Nov. 28. After you’ve met that minimum spend, you can claim your free turkey at the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states chain.
2. Foodtown
Foodtown locations in the Northeast are rewarding customers with a free 10- to 20-pound turkey when they shop with their Club Card. You will need to spend $400 before Thanksgiving.
If you don’t want a whole frozen turkey, you also have the option to choose a ham, a turkey breast, a family size Stouffer’s frozen lasagna, or a $10 Foodtown gift card.
3. Giant
If you can bank 400 Giant Choice Reward points by Nov. 28, you can redeem your points for a certificate for a free turkey up to 20 pounds.
If turkey isn’t your thing, you can also redeem your certificate for a free Stouffer’s family-size lasagna or a free tofurky roast. You can also choose to donate your turkey through Giant to a local food bank.
You can redeem your certificate beginning Nov. 15.
4. Hy-Vee
Purchase a Hormel Cure 81 ham or a Honeysuckle turkey, and Hy-Vee will reward you with a free 10- to 14-pound Honeysuckle turkey.
5. ShopRite
First, you have to earn points on purchases from Oct. 20 through Thanksgiving with your Price Plus club card.
Once you spend a certain amount (check your local store’s circular for details), present your Price Plus club card to the cashier to receive one of 10 free items, including a free turkey up to 21 pounds, turkey breast, chicken, lasagna, Gardein plant-based roast, tofurky, ham or a whole picnic.
You can pick up your free item any day up to and including Thanksgiving Day.
6. Weis Market
If you’re part of Weis’ rewards program, your reward points could get you a Thanksgiving turkey for free.
It’s pretty simple: From Oct. 20 through Nov. 28, you earn one point for every dollar you spend, and it takes 400 points to receive a free turkey, tofurky roast, tofurky ham, frozen lasagna or frozen mac and cheese.
You also have the option to purchase discounted turkeys and hams after earning 200 points. For example, a Weis frozen turkey can be had for 39 cents per pound after you spend 200 points in the rewards program.
It’s important to note that your points do have an expiration date, which is printed on the bottom of your receipts. You can claim your free turkey until Nov. 28.
Where to Get a Turkey for Cheap
The average price of a whole turkey this year can cost anywhere from $1.04 to $1.98 per pound, depending on where you live.
Here are some other stores offering reasonable prices, as well as some stores where we can expect prices to go down during Thanksgiving promotions over the next few weeks.
7. Aldi
This year, Aldi is offering Thanksgiving prices lower than 2019. Thanks to the low-priced Thanksgiving basket deal, you can feed 10 people for less than $47. The basket includes a Butterball turkey, pumpkin pie ingredients and favorite holiday side dishes.
8. Target
Target announced the return of its Thanksgiving Meal basket for 2024, priced $5 cheaper than last year. The meal serves four people for $20, featuring a turkey, stuffing and five side dishes. Target is also selling individual whole turkeys at 79 cents per pound, 20% less per pound than last year.
9. City Market
City Market currently sells a Kroger brand frozen, whole turkey (10 to 14 pounds) for $10.44 (typically $22.68) and a Butterball frozen turkey for $15.36
Keep an eye out for even better deals throughout November. In the past, City Market, a Kroger store in the Rocky Mountains region, has offered deals for shoppers who met a minimum spend of $25.
10. Cub Food
Currently, Cub Food offers a range of whole turkeys for sale — including 12- to 15-pound Butterballs at $2.39 per pound and 35 cents per ounce.
But keep your eyes on the Cub Food weekly ads in the coming weeks. Turkeys have been discounted in the two weeks leading up to Thanksgiving in past years. Good news for folks in Illinois and Minnesota, where the Cub Food stores are located.
11. Meijer
Currently, you can get a Meijer frozen turkey for $2.29 per pound, a Butterball for $0.99 per pound or a Honeysuckle frozen turkey for $2.49 per pound at the Midwestern chain Meijer.
However, this is another store that tends to offer great promotional pricing during November, especially for the store’s mPerks members.
12. Safeway
This large chain store also has a wide variety of whole frozen turkey options.
The brands range from Butterball and O Organics to Open Nature and Signature Farms. Depending on the brand, prices are typically offered between $1.99 to $3.99 per pound.
13. Shaw’s
Shaw’s also has the usual brand name offerings like Butterball and O Organics, plus more, that sell for between $1.49 to $2.99 per pound.
In the past during the week of Thanksgiving, Shaw’s offered discounted turkeys to customers who made a $25 purchase. Look out for other possible deals like that to save you a lot of money at the Northeastern food chain.
Shaw’s also tends to price match during the holiday season, so if you see a lower price elsewhere, talk to your cashier.
14. Walmart
Walmart offers some of the best deals on this list with incredible savings.
It has a 16- to 24-pound Butterball turkey for $1.04 per pound. You can also choose a 10- to 16-pound Butterball for $14.90, or a Honeysuckle frozen turkey for $17.60 or 88 cents per pound.
15. Wegmans
You can get a Wegmans Fresh Young Turkey for $2.69 per pound, as well as a Shady Brook brand whole turkey for $24.43 for a 7-pound bird.
In years past, the beloved Northeast food chain that’s now in some Mid-Atlantic states has offered turkey for a nice discount in the two weeks leading up to Thanksgiving. It also offers a price-match guarantee.
Free Thanksgiving Turkey and Meals for Families in Need
If you or someone you know can’t afford to spend the money to get a free turkey from the grocery stores above, you can look to your community for help.
16. Food Banks
Food banks are hard at work hosting turkey drives and fundraising events to help put Thanksgiving meals on the tables of those in need. Food bank turkey distributions are usually held during the weekend before and days leading up to Thanksgiving. You can search by state or ZIP code for your local food bank, as well as food pantries.
17. United Way
United Way chapters also host turkey drives to help families in need. You can search for your local United Way chapter, or you can use the United Way 211 resource to contact a representative who can help you find free turkeys or meals in your area.
18. Meals on Wheels
Many Meals on Wheels providers have a program specifically for the holiday season.
These meals include turkey, dressing, potatoes, peas, corn, cranberries, rolls, pumpkin pie and milk. They are delivered directly to your home and are available to all families and individuals in need — not just seniors.
You can see what programs are available in your area by contacting your local Meals on Wheels.
19. Salvation Army
The Salvation Army also gives free Thanksgiving dinners to those in need. Each program is administered locally, so you will want to look up your local chapter.
20. Churches and Charities
Many local churches and charities usually collect donated food items to provide low-income families in their communities with Thanksgiving meals. Check with your church or local charity if you need help providing your family with a Thanksgiving meal.
Robert Bruce is a senior writer with The Penny Hoarder. Jamie Cattanach and Brynne Conroy contributed to this story.
This was originally published on The Penny Hoarder, a personal finance website that empowers millions of readers nationwide to make smart decisions with their money through actionable and inspirational advice, and resources about how to make, save and manage money.
