Thanksgiving dinner will cost less for the second year despite bird flu

[Simone Del Rosario]

Thanksgiving is all about gratitude, so this year, how about being grateful Thanksgiving dinner is cheaper for the second straight year?

A spread for 10 people will run you about $58 bucks or $5.81 per person, according to the American Farm Bureau Federation’s 39th annual Thanksgiving dinner survey.

Prices are down more than 9% since hitting a record high of $64.05 in 2022. But the cost of dinner is still 19% higher than before the pandemic. In 2019, you could feed a family of 10 for under $50 bucks.

Thanksgiving food is bucking the overall grocery trend, which is up about 1% over the past year.

So what’s for dinner, and how much does it cost? Pass your plate, I’ll load you up.

You have to start with the Turkey, which is generally the most expensive part of the meal. The average price of a 16-pound turkey is $25.67, or around a buck-sixty per pound. That’s a savings of 6% from last year.

Farm Bureau economist Bernt (Bear-ent) Nelson says “The American turkey flock is the smallest it’s been since 1985 because of avian influenza, but overall demand has also fallen, resulting in lower prices at the grocery store for families planning a holiday meal.”

If you’re not a turkey family, a 4-pound boneless ham will run you $14.79, down more than $3 dollars from last year.

But the centerpiece is a given. If your favorite part of the feast is the sides, save some room on your plate. Here we go.

Stuffing is the most popular side this year, according to Campbell’s 2024 State of Sides report. A 14-ounce box of cubed stuffing is going to set you back $4.08, a 31-cent increase from 2023.

Mashed potatoes are America’s second favorite side. Price relief is here with Russet potatoes giving you the fluffy texture you’re looking for. The price of five pounds fell by nearly a dollar to $2.63.

The third most popular side is sweet potatoes and 3 pounds will run you $2.93 this year, saving you more than a dollar from last year.

Campbell’s also suggests green bean casserole is the fourth most popular side. A pound of beans is down 16 cents for the year, but you will also need some cream of mushroom soup and some crispy fried onions.

I’m not one for cranberry sauce, but 12 ounces of fresh cranberries is up a quarter to $2.35.

I hope you’ve saved room because it’s not over until dessert is served. No surprise here, pumpkin pie is the most popular, according to readers at The Pioneer Woman.

Pumpkin Pie mix is coming in at $4.15 for a 30-ounce package. That’s down 29 cents compared to last year. Meanwhile, 2 pie shells are $3.40, only falling 10 cents since last year.

For those wondering, pecan pie is the second most popular, followed by apple pie and then chocolate pie. Sweet potato pie did not make the list.

Listen, it’s Thanksgiving, I’m here to add up dollars and cents, not calories. You can save that for the most popular New Year’s resolution.