At Taste of Home, we seriously love Thanksgiving. But as heart-warming as hosting can be, it can also put a dent in your wallet. One surprising place to save money? The turkey.
How much is a turkey? Many grocery stores offer competitive pricing around the holidays, so if you shop smart, you can save money on the bird (and use the savings for some fun Thanksgiving table ideas)!
Where to Find the Best Price on Turkey
A 2018 CNBC investigation into grocery pricing included three of our favorite grocery stores: Aldi, Trader Joe’s and Wal-Mart. While prices may vary by area (or if a store has a sale), this should provide a good rule of thumb for how much you can expect to spend.
A bit of a splurge: Trader Joe’s
How much is a turkey? $1.99/lb.
Trader Joe’s is one of our favorite stores because they have some fantastic specialty and ready-made items. If you need to pick up sides or desserts, then Joe’s is a great option. But, if you’re impulse buying a ton of extras, then you might wind up spending more than you save. By the way, these are the things you should only buy at Joe’s.
A great value: Walmart
How much is a turkey:? $0.68/lb.
Walmart has a very low price for turkey. Plus, their grocery prices were reasonable across the board, which makes the store a good one-stop-shop for everything on your list. Here’s how to make the most of your Walmart trip.
The best price on the block: Aldi
How much is a turkey? $0.59/lb.
Of the three stores, Aldi offered the lowest price on turkeys. The store is known for its remarkably cheap prices—with a caveat. They’re able to have low prices on the items they do have because they have a more limited selection than most grocery stores. Odds are, you may need to make multiple stops. Here’s everything Aldi has in store this November.
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Herb-Glazed Turkey
Honey and corn syrup blend with savory herbs and seasonings to give my turkey a slightly sweet flavor. My tried-and-true recipe never fails to win compliments. —Charlene Melenka, Vegreville, AlbertaGo to Recipe
Grilled Huli Huli Turkey Drumsticks
I’m never one to do things traditionally, so when it came time to hosting Thanksgiving, I went in a completely tropical direction. Borrowing my favorite Hawaiian chicken recipe, I substituted turkey legs and have never looked back. —Jacyn Siebert, San Francisco, CaliforniaGo to Recipe
Pressure-Cooker Italian Turkey Breast
This recipe makes some of the most succulent turkey I’ve ever eaten. High in lean protein, it’s a smart entree for a special occasion. —Jessica Kunz, Springfield, IllinoisGo to Recipe
Apple-Sage Roasted Turkey
A hint of apple flavor gives a slightly sweet spin to a holiday dinner’s main event. The lovely aroma wafting from your kitchen as this turkey cooks will have everybody talking. —Suzy Horvath, Milwaukie, OregonGo to Recipe
Turkey Lattice Pie
With its pretty lattice crust, this cheesy baked dish looks as good as it tastes. It’s easy to make, too, since it uses ready-to-go crescent roll dough. —Lorraine Naig, Emmetsburg, IowaGo to Recipe
Herbed Roast Turkey Breast
When learning how to cook turkey breast for my first formal dinner party as a newlywed, I came across this particular recipe. It was such a success that this turkey breast recipe has become a standby on all my entertaining menus. —Lisa Mahon Fluegeman, Cincinnati, OhioGo to Recipe
Romano Basil Turkey Breast
Guests will be impressed when you slice this golden, grilled turkey breast, dressed up with a flavorful layer of basil and cheese under the skin. —Darlene Markham, Rochester, New YorkGo to Recipe
Mediterranean Turkey Potpies
Your clan will love these wonderful stick-to-the-ribs potpies with a Mediterranean twist. I always use the leftovers from our big holiday turkey to prepare this recipe. I think my family enjoys the potpies more than the original feast! —Marie Rizzio, Interlochen, MichiganGo to Recipe
Pressure-Cooker Herbed Turkey Breasts
Tender turkey breast is enhanced with an array of flavorful herbs in this juicy, comforting dish. —Laurie Mace, Los Osos, CaliforniaGo to Recipe
Turkey Breast Tenderloins with Raspberry Sauce
Sweet and tangy raspberry sauce is a perfect complement to versatile turkey tenderloins. In fact, this sauce is so good, you’ll be tempted to eat it with a spoon. —Deirdre Cox, Kansas City, MissouriGo to Recipe
Slow-Cooked Turkey with Herbed Stuffing
I’m all for turkey dinner, especially around the holidays. A whole turkey won’t fit in my slow cooker, so thank goodness for turkey breast. I cook it with my grandma’s easy stuffing recipe for a happy meal that doesn’t require any hard work. —Camille Beckstrand, Layton, UtahGo to RecipeTaste of Home
Turkey Bundles
This recipe is definitely a must-try, and all you do is bundle up creamy turkey filling in crescent dough. I usually double the recipe so I have extra for lunch the next day. —Lydia Garrod, Tacoma, WashingtonGo to Recipe
Butter & Herb Turkey
My kids love a turkey meal, and this one falls off the bone. It’s the ideal recipe for special family times and holidays. —Rochelle Popovic, South Bend, IndianaGo to Recipe
Peppery Herbed Turkey Tenderloin
I won the North Carolina Turkey Cook-Off one year with these full-flavored tenderloins in rich sauce. Marinating the turkey in wine, garlic, rosemary and thyme gives it a fantastic taste. —Virginia Anthony, Jacksonville, FloridaGo to Recipe
Roasted Sage Turkey with Vegetable Gravy
There’s no prep like home-style when roasting the big bird. Instead of sage stuffing with turkey, fill this bird with fresh sage and thyme sprigs for the same delicious flavors. —Beth Jacobson, Milwaukee, WisconsinGo to Recipe
Spatchcocked Herb-Roasted Turkey
This moist and tender turkey cooks up with even browning and crispy skin in half the time of a whole turkey. —Matthew Hass, Ellison Bay, WisconsinGo to Recipe
Pressure-Cooker Turkey with Berry Compote
This delicious dish gives you a way to get all that yummy turkey flavor without heating up the house, and the berries make the perfect summer sauce. For a browner turkey, just broil it for a few minutes before serving. —Margaret Bracher, Robertsdale, AlabamaGo to RecipeTaste of Home
Turkey Cutlets with Pan Gravy
Using cutlets or any boneless meat speeds up cooking time for this quick entree. You can use thin boneless, skinless chicken breast as well. —Margaret Wilson, Sun City, CaliforniaGo to RecipeTaste of Home
Creole Roasted Turkey with Holy Trinity Stuffing
I jazz up turkey Creole style with the trinity of onions, bell peppers and celery—plus a stuffing that gets hotter and hotter the longer it sits. —Eric Olsson, Macomb, MichiganGo to RecipeTaste of Home
Turkey Biscuit Stew
This chunky stew makes a hearty supper, especially in the fall and winter. It’salso a great way to use extra turkey during the holidays. —Lori Schlecht, Wimbledon, North DakotaGo to Recipe
Thanksgiving Stuffed Turkey
I’ve tried fancy stuffing recipes for our holiday bird, but none hits the spot like my mother’s simple mixture of bread, eggs and caramelized vegetables. Have it on any holiday. —Lily Julow, Lawrenceville, GeorgiaGo to Recipe
Maple-Sage Brined Turkey
When the leaves start turning, it’s turkey time at our house. We use maple-sage brine to help brown the bird and make the meat incredibly juicy. —Kim Forni, Laconia, New HampshireGo to Recipe
Slow-Cooked Herbed Turkey
When herbs are plentiful in my garden, I prepare this turkey recipe. The turkey stays moist in the slow cooker and is bursting with herb flavors. When I served this to our Bible study potluck group, everyone wanted the recipe! —Sue Jurack, Mequon, WisconsinGo to Recipe
Turkey Cordon Bleu Casserole
Impress your holiday visitors with this fancier twist on the traditional casserole. —Kristine Blauert, Wabasha, MinnesotaGo to Recipe
Rosemary Turkey Breast
I season turkey with a blend of rosemary, garlic and paprika. Because I rub half of the mixture directly on the meat under the skin, I can remove the skin before serving and not lose any of the flavor. The result is an entree that’s lower in fat, yet delicious—the perfect centerpiece for holiday meals. —Dorothy Pritchett, Wills Point, TexasGo to Recipe
Happy Orange Turkey
Here’s the perfect centerpiece for your Thanksgiving feast. Champagne and oranges flavor this special bird that will become one of your favorite turkey recipes ever. —Tara Baier, Menomonie, WisconsinGo to RecipeTaste of Home
Golden Apricot-Glazed Turkey Breast
Basted with a simple glaze, this wonderfully moist and tender turkey bakes to a lovely golden brown. Make it the centerpiece of your holiday table; guests will be glad you did.
—Greg Fontenot, The Woodlands, TexasGo to Recipe
Turkey & Spinach Stuffing Casserole
I know dried cranberries may seem like an odd ingredient to include in this dish, but they add just a hint of sweetness that makes an easy casserole so special. —Gilda Lester, Millsboro, DelawareGo to RecipeTaste of Home
Thyme Roasted Turkey
It’s easy for flavors to get lost when using too many seasonings together. When in doubt, a simple combination of butter and fresh thyme captures the essence of Thanksgiving for a classic turkey dinner. —Alma Winberry, Great Falls, MontanaGo to Recipe
Make-Ahead Turkey and Gravy
Ease the holiday time crunch with a make-ahead turkey recipe that’s ready to serve when you are. It’s a great choice for potlucks, too. —Marie Parker, Milwaukee, WisconsinGo to Recipe
Stuffed Turkey with Mojo Sauce
I love Latin food so I created this recipe that combines wonderful spices and fresh ingredients. This is a traditional turkey recipe with a healthier twist because it uses chicken sausage instead of chorizo. —Melissa Lauer, San Antonio, TexasGo to RecipeTaste of Home
Turkey Dumpling Stew
My mom made this stew when I was young, and it was always a hit. Since it’s not time-consuming to make I can fix it on a weekend for our children, who love the tender dumplings. —Becky Mohr, Appleton, WisconsinGo to RecipeTaste of Home
Marinated Thanksgiving Turkey
My family enjoys this Thanksgiving turkey because it cooks up tender, tasty and golden brown. Build up flavor by marinating the meat, then grill it to add a tempting barbecued flavor. —Ken Churches, Kailua-Kona, HawaiiGo to Recipe
Moist & Tender Turkey Breast
This easy turkey recipe is sure to be popular in your home. Everyone will love the taste, and you’ll love how quickly it comes together. —Heidi Vawdrey, Riverton, UtahGo to Recipe
Roasted Turkey with Maple Cranberry Glaze
I prepare turkey with a taste of Canada in mind. The sweet maple flavor comes through even in the breast meat. You may start to notice it’s caramelized color after about 2 hours. That’s when I cover it loosely with foil while it finishes cooking. The meat will stay tender and juicy. —Suzanne Anctil, West Vancouver, British ColumbiaGo to Recipe
Minestrone with Turkey
I remember my mom making this soup; now I make it for my kids as often as I can. It’s a good way to use up leftover vegetables. Sometimes I add a can of rinsed and drained kidney or garbanzo beans. —Angela Goodman, Kaneohe, HawaiiGo to Recipe
Turkey in a Pot
I use this recipe often as an easy Sunday dinner idea. The turkey breast has a holiday feel when served with the cranberry gravy seasoned with cinnamon, cloves and allspice. —Lois Woodward, Okeechobee, FloridaGo to Recipe
Fruit-Glazed Roast Turkey
Apple, cranberry and raspberry flavors blend with fresh herbs in a tangy glaze for the roasted turkey. It’s a welcome change to a traditional entree. —Aysha Schurman, Ammon, IdahoGo to Recipe
Slow-Cooker Turkey Breast with Gravy
This quick-prep recipe lets you feast on turkey at any time of year. We save the rich broth for gravy, noodles and soup making. —Joyce Hough, Annapolis, MarylandGo to RecipeTaste of Home
Turkey-Stuffed Acorn Squash
We stuff acorn squash with leftovers like turkey, dressing and cranberry sauce. Make as much or as little as you need to use everything up. —Cindy Romberg, Mississauga, OntarioGo to RecipeTaste of Home
Citrus & Herb Roasted Turkey Breast
This recipe will make you love turkey again. Brining with lemon, rosemary and orange juice makes it so moist and flavorful. It’s the star attraction at our table. —Fay Moreland, Wichita Falls, TexasGo to RecipeTaste of Home
Thanksgiving Stuffed Shells
Leftover turkey, dressing and sweet potatoes make terrific stuffing for jumbo pasta shells. We add cheese and use turkey gravy as the sauce for this crowd-pleaser. —Robin Haas, Cranston, Rhode IslandGo to Recipe
Honey-Citrus Glazed Turkey
A turkey breast is enough for us, but you can roast a whole bird if you’re feeding a big group. Either way, this super-succulent turkey wins the day. —Peter Halferty, Corpus Christi, TexasGo to Recipe
Spiced & Grilled Turkey
My fiance loves to grill, so for the holidays we decided to grill our turkey instead of deep frying it. It was the best we’d ever tasted! Having the brine in the pan under the turkey catches the drippings, but also keeps everything nice and moist. Start with the breast down, then flip to the other side. —Sydney Botelho, Columbia, South CarolinaGo to Recipe
Creamy Turkey Casserole
I sometimes make turkey just so I have the extras for the casserole! —Mary Jo O’Brien, Hastings, MinnesotaGo to Recipe ⓘ
