Thanksgiving 2025 turkey prices have jumped sharply — wholesale whole-turkey prices are about $1.68/lb, roughly 70% higher than last year, driven largely by a resurgence of highly pathogenic avian influenza and an >8% drop in turkey production. Egg and many baking-item prices have fallen (eggs down ~86% since March), and retailers such as Aldi, Walmart and Amazon are offering bundled meal deals to help shoppers save. Experts recommend shopping early for specific sizes or brands and shopping later if you’re hunting for last-minute markdowns.
Thanksgiving 2025: Why Turkey Prices Are Soaring — and Smart Ways to Save
Thanksgiving 2025 turkey prices have jumped sharply — wholesale whole-turkey prices are about $1.68/lb, roughly 70% higher than last year, driven largely by a resurgence of highly pathogenic avian influenza and an >8% drop in turkey production. Egg and many baking-item prices have fallen (eggs down ~86% since March), and retailers such as Aldi, Walmart and Amazon are offering bundled meal deals to help shoppers save. Experts recommend shopping early for specific sizes or brands and shopping later if you’re hunting for last-minute markdowns.
06:35 PM, 11/15/2025Economy
Why Thanksgiving turkeys are pricier this year
Oklahomans shopping for this year’s Thanksgiving dinner may have noticed a familiar centerpiece getting more expensive while some baking staples are surprisingly cheaper. A new report from Texas A&M AgriLife and comments from agricultural economist David Anderson point to a few clear drivers behind the price jump.
Key factors:
- Avian flu (HPAI) resurgence: Renewed outbreaks earlier in the year reduced flock sizes and disrupted production timelines.
- Lower overall production: U.S. turkey production is down more than 8% year-over-year, partly because of disease losses and partly due to economic pressures on producers.
- Long production cycle: Turkeys take months to raise to market weight, so supply can be slow to rebound even after outbreaks subside.
Wholesale prices for whole turkeys have risen to about $1.68 per pound — roughly a 70% increase from last year’s ~ $0.99 per pound, Anderson said. Fewer birds combined with higher production costs (feed, labor) and shifting demand patterns have pushed retail and wholesale prices higher.
What this means for shoppers
Retailers typically negotiate turkey supplies and prices months ahead of Thanksgiving. That explains why deeply discounted, limited-time “doorbuster” turkeys appear some years. This year, however, those headline deals are less common as grocers weigh tighter supplies against consumer demand. Anderson’s advice: shop early if you need a particular brand or bird size; shop late if you’re willing to wait for last-minute markdowns.
Where prices are easing
Not all Thanksgiving ingredients are getting more expensive. According to the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service, wholesale egg prices plunged about 86% since March — from roughly $8.20 per dozen in March to about $1.15 by October 2025. Larger U.S. dairy herds and increased milk output per cow have also helped keep butter, evaporated milk and many baking items affordable.
Some produce items such as pumpkins and green beans are down in price, while russet potatoes, sweet potatoes and cranberries are modestly higher this season.
Budget-friendly bundles and where to look
Major retailers are offering bundled meal kits to simplify planning and reduce cost. Availability and prices vary by location and are subject to stock limits.
Aldi
Aldi has promoted a holiday spread that feeds about 10 people for around $40. Typical contents include a 14-lb. whole turkey, pumpkin, potatoes, sweet potatoes, green beans, rolls, stuffing, macaroni & cheese, gravy, pie crust, evaporated milk and marshmallows. Prices and availability vary by store.
Walmart
Walmart’s Thanksgiving basket often contains 20+ items and in some promotions features a Butterball turkey advertised at about $0.97 per pound. Typical kit items include Stove Top stuffing, pie crusts, green beans, corn, carrots, cranberries, potatoes, cream of mushroom soup and mac & cheese. Additional savings may be available for Walmart+ members.
Amazon (Amazon Fresh & Whole Foods)
Amazon promoted a ready-to-assemble bundle priced around $25 that can include a Butterball frozen turkey advertised at roughly $0.69 per pound, plus stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, green bean casserole ingredients, cranberry relish, rolls and a pie. Prime membership offers may affect pricing.
Alternative: hunting wild turkey in Oklahoma
For those willing to hunt, Oklahoma’s fall turkey season is open: archery runs through January and gun season through Nov. 21, with a limit of one tom turkey per hunter. Keep in mind that wild turkey requires different cooking techniques and tastes different from commercial birds, so plan recipes and prep accordingly.
Practical tips
- Decide early if you need a specific brand/size — buy early to lock it in.
- Watch for last-minute markdowns if you can be flexible on brand and size.
- Consider bundles to simplify shopping and lower per-person cost.
- If hunting, review safe handling and wild-turkey cooking guidance before harvest.
“Turkey production takes time,” Anderson said. “The buildup on whole turkeys for Thanksgiving happens throughout the year — recovery from avian flu in the spring is impacting supplies.”
Reported originally by the Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise and summarized from Texas A&M AgriLife and USDA data.