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Does Walmart Do Prepared Thanksgiving Dinners?

Published in Thanksgiving Meal Kits 3 mins read

Walmart offers comprehensive Thanksgiving meal bundles or kits rather than fully cooked, heat-and-serve prepared Thanksgiving dinners. These bundles provide all the necessary ingredients for customers to cook and assemble a traditional holiday meal at home.

While you won't find a hot, ready-to-eat dinner, Walmart aims to simplify the Thanksgiving cooking process by packaging the essential components into a convenient bundle. This approach helps shoppers save time on grocery runs by consolidating many common holiday items into one purchase.

What's Included in Walmart's Thanksgiving Meal Bundles?

Walmart's Thanksgiving meal bundles are designed to equip you with the raw ingredients needed for a classic feast. A typical bundle is quite extensive, comprising around 29 items. Key components often include:

  • Main Course: A frozen turkey, usually weighing between 10-16 pounds. Customers will need to thaw, prepare, and cook the turkey themselves.
  • Staple Side Dishes: Ingredients for traditional sides such as:
    • Hawaiian rolls
    • Corn
    • Cranberry sauce
    • Russet potatoes (for mashed potatoes or other preparations)
    • Sweet potatoes
    • Ingredients for dishes like green bean casserole
  • Desserts: Components for popular holiday sweets, including:
    • Pecan pie
    • Pumpkin pie

This extensive collection of ingredients means that while the shopping is simplified, the actual cooking and preparation remain a hands-on activity for the consumer.

How Walmart's Offering Differs from Fully Prepared Meals

It's important to distinguish Walmart's meal bundles from fully "prepared" or "heat-and-serve" dinners offered by some other retailers or catering services.

Feature Fully Prepared Dinner Walmart Thanksgiving Meal Bundle
Cooking Required Minimal (primarily reheating) Yes (full cooking and assembly)
Turkey State Cooked, often carved or whole Frozen, raw
Side Dishes Pre-cooked and ready to heat/serve Ingredients provided for cooking
Convenience Level Highest High for shopping, moderate for prep

For those looking for a completely hands-off approach, where food is ready to eat after just warming, Walmart's bundles would not fit that specific need. However, for families who enjoy cooking but want the convenience of a pre-selected and pre-packaged grocery list, these bundles are an excellent option.

Benefits of Choosing a Walmart Thanksgiving Meal Bundle

Opting for a Walmart Thanksgiving meal bundle can offer several advantages for holiday hosts:

  • Cost-Effectiveness: These bundles are often priced competitively, providing a budget-friendly way to feed a crowd.
  • Time-Saving: Eliminates the need to scour store aisles for every individual ingredient, as most traditional items are included.
  • Comprehensive: Ensures you have all the core components for a traditional Thanksgiving dinner, reducing the chance of forgetting an essential item.
  • Customization: While ingredients are provided, you still have the freedom to prepare dishes according to your family's favorite recipes and preferences.

You can learn more about where to order Thanksgiving meals, including options from Walmart, by checking resources like Where to order a Thanksgiving dinner, from Target to Walmart.