What's the cost of Thanksgiving dinner in 2025? Expect to pay more in Tennessee
A plate of turkey, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes and green bean casserole piled high is the perfect, classic Thanksgiving meal. But the ingredients to make the meal can add up to a costly grocery bill.
Grocery inflation is no secret. Consumers know that the sticker price of basics like vegetables and meat has increased throughout the year. So, it comes as little surprise that your classic Thanksgiving feast will cost more this year than anytime since 2021, according to a University of Tennessee Extension study.
Homemade Turkey Thanksgiving Dinner
The price of groceries continues to be wildly high, costing about 32% more than in 2019. The past year alone has seen a 2.7% price increase, according to the Consumer Price Index.
Turkey prices go up, dairy costs less
Each year, the University of Tennessee Extension, led by UT Department of Family and Consumer Sciences’ Professor Ann Berry, releases a study about the price of Thanksgiving dinner. The research team looks at the meal costs to feed a group of 10 with a traditional turkey feast.
To find the cost, experts shop at 14 big-box and local grocery stores all around Tennessee. They shopped from Nov. 1 through Nov. 8 for the same 22 ingredients at each store, then averaged the total cost at all the stores.
Researchers found that while the price of poultry has gone up. In 2024, a 16 lb whole turkey cost 25.46. The same turkey costs nearly $2 more in 2025 at $27.37, according to the UT study.
A recent rise in the avian flu may account for the higher costs, according to Andrew Griffith, UT professor of agriculture and resource economics.
"Turkey production has been negatively impacted by Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) outbreaks this year that have resulted in massive depopulation," The UT Extension study said.
The average price of eggs in Tennessee in 2025 is $3.51 for an 18-pack, less expensive than its $4.32 price tag in 2024. Butter and milk follow a similar downward trend, according to Berry's data. Butter costs $3.78 in 2025 compared to $5.03 in the previous year. Milk is down 80 cents from its 2024 average.
Five years of Thanksgiving price trends
The project began in Tennessee in 2021, inspired by national Thanksgiving price research done by the American Farm Bureau Federation. Berry and her team began the project to inform Tennessee shoppers of grocery market trends.
"We wanted to know what's really happening in Tennessee, not just on a national scale," Berry said
Since 2021, Berry and her team have seen a gradual increase in grocery prices that echoes national food inflation trends. In 2021, dinner cost $110. That same meal cost $112 in 2022, $128 in 2023 and $116 in 2024.
This year, the cost of Thanksgiving dinner has crept up again to $128.50, data shows. Berry's team found that a traditional Thanksgiving dinner to feed 10 people in 2025 costs $12.80 per person.
Which grocery store has the best Thanksgiving deals?
The store with the cheapest overall cost of ingredients was the Walmart Supercenter, according to Berry's data. The 22 Thanksgiving ingredients at Walmart average out to around $103, according to the UT study.
Which grocery store was the most expensive?
Food City in Knoxville prevailed as the most expensive place to purchase your Thanksgiving meal, with an average cost of $176.56 for the Thanksgiving fixings. However, the data does not reflect any deals or coupons that may be in effect ahead of the November holiday.
Why do grocery prices fluctuate?
There are a few reasons that grocery prices can change. Inflation is everywhere and the food industry is no exception.
First, disruptions to a supply chain can cause costs to change. Take Hurricane Helene, for example. The 2024 storm caused major damage to roads and a major highway, Interstate 40, leaving shipping and truck routes affected.
Increasing operating costs are also a factor. Because labor and transportation costs more, the end product will come at a higher price.
Thanksgiving ingredient price averages
These are the average prices from 14 grocery stores across Tennessee. The prices reflect the cheapest possible option, often the store brand products, according to Berry.
- Turkey, 16 lbs. $27.37
- Ham, 8 lbs. $26.24
- Frozen green peas, 11 oz. (x2) $2.90
- Frozen green beans, 12 oz. (x2) $3.31
- Pie shells (x2) $3.24
- Sweet potatoes, 3 lbs. $4.05
- Russet potatoes, 5 lbs. $3.62
- Fresh cranberries, 12 oz. $2.63
- Canned pumpkin pie mix or filling, 30 oz. (x2) $4.02
- Jellied cranberry sauce, 14 oz. $1.96
- Can cream of mushroom soup, 10.5 oz. (2) $2.02
- Sugar, 4 lbs. $3.56
- Pecan halves, 16 oz. $11.50
- Marshmallows, 1 lb. $1.51
- Stuffing mix, 6 oz. (x2) $3.87
- Crispy fried onions, 6 oz. $3.34
- Cans of evaporated milk, 12 oz. (x2) $2.74
- Rolls, 12-pack (x2) $6.48
- Milk, whole, 1 gallon. $3.21
- Whipping cream, a half pint $3.67
- Butter, 1 lb. $3.78
- Eggs, 18-count $3.51
Tips to save at the supermarket for Thanksgiving
While cooking a Thanksgiving dinner can inherently be a costly endeavor, there are ways to bring down your grocery bill. Berry shared her tips for shopping smart.
- Shop when you're not hungry.
- Shop smart. Research what sales or specials are happening at your grocery store.
- Compare pricing at different stores to find for the best deals.
- Clip coupons for your Thanksgiving necessities.
Allison Kiehl covers trending and breaking news from Knoxville for the Tennessee Connect Team. Email: [email protected]
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: What's the cost of Thanksgiving dinner in 2025? Expect to pay more in Tennessee
