Where To Find The Most Affordable Thanksgiving Groceries In VA

As Thanksgiving approaches, families across Virginia are getting ready to prepare one of their most meaningful — and most expensive — meals of the year.

The ongoing government shutdown and cuts to SNAP benefits, the nation's largest food aid program, are putting additional strain on holiday food budgets and forcing shoppers to be more mindful of what they spend on Thanksgiving staples like turkey, sweet potatoes and cranberry sauce.

Luckily, there are plenty of stores in Virginia where residents cannot only buy budget-family ingredients, but also support a local business at the same time, according to a new survey.

Advance America commissioned a nationwide survey of just over 3,000 people to identify the best places in each state to buy affordable Thanksgiving staples.

While big-box stores still dominate the holiday shop, the survey found that many households are turning to local grocers, farmers markets and regional discount chains to keep costs under control this holiday season.

Here's the Virginia stores made the list:

Farm Fresh, Richmond

In the heart of Richmond’s historic Tobacco Row/Shockoe Bottom district, Farm Fresh Richmond stands out as a Virginia-owned and operated, full-service grocery that feels like more than a standard chain. The store emphasizes value-oriented pricing, community service and a broad selection of staples—from frozen goods and pantry basics to fresh produce and meats.

"For holiday shoppers, this means you’re picking a store where you can find the full range of ingredients needed for a Thanksgiving-style spread, without paying premium prices — yet still benefiting from the local store atmosphere and service you don’t always get in a big box," Advance America wrote.

Lovettsville Cooperative Market, Lovettsville

Located in Loudoun County, the Lovettsville Co-op is a community-owned grocery store that provides over 7,000 items—including fresh produce, bulk goods, frozen foods, dairy and pantry staples.

"Their mission emphasizes sourcing from local farmers and vendors, and they act as a community hub rather than just a shop," Advance America wrote. "Holiday meal planning at such a store means access to good value plus the chance to support local supply chains."

Doing Thanksgiving On A Budget

Consumers are continuing to cope with changes in prices of everyday household expenses, from food to utilities and rent, according to a CBS News report.

Retailers like Walmart, Whole Foods, Target and others are offering deals with everything you need to cook or serve a traditional Thanksgiving meal, including ingredients for entrées, sides and even sometimes desserts, The Today Show reported.

Target’s Thanksgiving Meal is $20, and cheaper than it was last year, according to the brand. With one click, shoppers can add everything they’ll need to cart for a traditional Thanksgiving meal, including a 10 pound turkey, stuffing, gravy, French bread and corn.

Whole Foods offers a range of catered meals. The most basic offering is the Plant-Based Meal for 2, priced at $42.99, while their most expensive package feeds 12, priced at $550.

Walmart is promoting a money-saving meal that should feed 10 for an estimated $39.92. You can expect all the ingredients needed to put together the quintessential Thanksgiving dinner, including a 13.5 lb. turkey, russet potatoes, mac and cheese, stuffing, pie essentials and more.

In September, the Consumer Price Index — a key measure of inflation across the U.S. economy — rose by 0.1 percent. That brought the annual inflation rate to 3.0 percent, compared with 2.9 percent in August.

According to a CBS News price tracker, the overall cost of all food is about 18.2 percent more than it was in January 2022. That means a grocery bill that cost $100 back then would cost around $118.16 in September 2025.

The cost of a typical Thanksgiving dinner depends on several factors. If you shop around for the best value, a typical Thanksgiving dinner for 10 people could cost as little as $58.08, according to a 2024 annual survey conducted by the American Farm Bureau Federation.

Cooking Thanksgiving dinner doesn’t have to break the bank, especially if you plan to host a small group of family members over the holiday. While we certainly acknowledge these may not help in every situation, there are tips, tricks and shortcuts available to help U.S. families enjoy a delicious holiday dinner on a budget.

Here are a few:

Watch For Free (Or Discounted) Turkeys

Nationally, some grocery stores are recognizing the challenges facing U.S. families this year and are offering turkeys and other Thanksgiving staples at wildly low prices. BJ's Wholesale is offering a free Butterball turkey to members who spend $150 in a single transaction through Nov. 10. Additionally, Amazon has a $25 Thanksgiving meal bundle available from November 12-27, and stores like Walmart and Aldi have other bundled meal deals.

Shop Early

Buy canned cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie filling and other canned goods the week before Thanksgiving when they typically are on sale.

Deviate From The Classics

Creating your own Thanksgiving traditions can mean just as much, if not more, to your family.
Don't feel as though you have to cook turkey the traditional Thanksgiving way, especially since not everyone is a fan of turkey. (A survey from Instacart reveals that a lot of people actually dislike classic turkey.) You can roast turkey legs, which are available at a fraction of the cost of a whole bird. Also, Instead of a classic turkey, grill turkey burgers.

You can also go rogue and skip turkey altogether. See which meats are on sale the week of Thanksgiving and plan your menu around that. If it’s sausage or ground beef, have an Italian feast for Thanksgiving. If it’s chicken, make chicken and noodles. Don’t feel bad about changing things up.

Keep It Simple

Don’t spend time considering complex recipes requiring dozens of ingredients. Stick to simple dishes that everyone loves. For instance, you can make a basic scalloped corn that many people enjoy. Or you could do a simple sweet potato casserole, mashed potatoes or a green bean casserole. None of these requires extremely fancy or expensive ingredients.

Make It BYOS (Bring Your Own Side)

As long as you let guests know in advance, most won’t mind bringing something to dinner. This leaves you with turkey as your sole responsibility, while potatoes, vegetables, cranberries and dessert can be assigned to family.

If you absolutely enjoy cooking the entire meal, consider cost-sharing. Ask family members to pitch in toward the overall cost of dinner.