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Despite a year in which consumers were wary of food inflation, the cost of cooking Thanksgiving dinner was lower than in 2024, thanks to the holiday’s centerpiece: turkey.
The American Farm Bureau Federation reports that the average cost of preparing a “classic holiday feast” for 10 people this year is $55.18, or about $5.52 per person. This is a 5% savings over the cost of a Thanksgiving dinner in 2024.
The farm group said 2025 marks the third consecutive year prices have fallen from a record high of $64.05 in 2022.
Grocery stores’ efforts to lower raw material prices and discount meals have helped keep prices down. Our sister publication, Grocery Dive, reports that several chains We implemented deals to win over budget-conscious consumers.For example, Target is offering a $20 Thanksgiving meal for four people.
According to AFBF, turkey prices are down 16% from last year, with the average price for a 16-pound frozen turkey totaling $21.50, or about $1.34 per pound. The spread of avian flu has increased costs for producers, but prices remain low as consumer demand continues to decline over the long term.
AFBF economist Faith Parum said turkey is typically the most expensive part of the Thanksgiving meal.
“Farmers continue to work to rebuild turkey flocks devastated by avian influenza, but overall demand has also decreased,” Parum said. “This combination will help ensure that turkey remains an affordable option for families celebrating Thanksgiving.”
Items like dinner rolls and stuffing have become cheaper this year due to lower wheat prices, but prices for fresh vegetables and sweet potatoes have risen.
AFBF said vegetable tray prices soared 61% year-on-year, and sweet potatoes rose 37%. The group said this was due to natural disasters, including hurricanes, in North Carolina, the largest sweet potato growing area in the United States.
The group also analyzed average costs by region, finding that the South had the cheapest meal price at $50.01, followed by the Midwest at $54.83, the Northeast at $60.82 and the West at $61.75.
AFBF has conducted the survey annually since 1986, focusing on the prices of items such as turkey, stuffing, sweet potatoes, rolls, peas, cranberries, vegetable trays, and pumpkin pie with whipped cream. This included average costs for all 50 states and Puerto Rico, by checking prices in stores and online.
