PHOENIX — “I do see there’s a lot of grocery prices that are going up,” said Margaret Casas.
It’s hard to miss when you walk down the aisles, food prices are up almost 11% in the last year.
“Mashed potatoes, chili chipotle mashed potatoes, turkey, ham, green bean casserole,” said Casas describing her family’s Thanksgiving meal. “We have a lot.”
Casas has 17 grandchildren to feed for Thanksgiving, so as to fight inflation.
“I shop at one store for the sales, and then I shop at another for the sales,” said Casas.
One of the Fry’s locations in Phoenix is her third stop of the day after Costco and Safeway.
“Inflation, yes it will take a bite out of the money that you spend,” said ASU Professor Hitendra Chaturvedi.
Chaturvedi is an expert in supply chain management, he said groceries have been one area hit the hardest because there’s also "shrinkflation."
“Where the product sizes are going down, so true inflation in groceries is actually closer to 20%,” said Chaturvedi.
He told ABC15 people can expect this year’s Thanksgiving to be a little more expensive.
ABC15’s Smart Shoppers team went to a Valley store and got the basics for a full Thanksgiving meal.
That included turkey, celery, onions, stuffing, gravy, the ingredients for green bean casserole, two pies, rolls, potatoes, milk, eggs, chicken broth, and cranberry sauce.
The total was $85 for a meal that would feed around a family of six.
When you compare that to some of the restaurants or local businesses where you can buy a full pre-cooked dinner, it’s still less expensive to make the meal yourself.
Boston Market - $109-$119
Cracker Barrel $118-$154
Miracle Mile Deli - $225
Not a fan of cooking? Is the thought of putting together a Thanksgiving feast for the entire family daunting? Try a pre-made Thanksgiving meal, prepared by Valley grocers.
Our Smart Shopper team looked at the prices at Bashas’, Albertsons and Sprouts, to see what is available for a price within multiple budgets.
Before turning to a pre-made meal, check with your local grocery store for availability, order deadlines, and preparation instructions.
BASHAS’
https://www.bashas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/BA_HolidayDinners_Thanksgiving2022.pdf
Turkey Dinner for Two, $26.99
Serves 2. Meal Includes:
- One Fully Cooked Split Jennie-O Turkey Breast
- 22 oz Home-style Stuf ng
- 14 oz Creamy Mashed Potatoes
- 7 oz Home-style Turkey Gravy
- 12 oz Cranberry Orange Relish
- Four Dinner Rolls
Holiday Tamale Tray, $29.99
Serves 6, per Bashas’. Meal includes:
- One Dozen Beef Tamales
- 24 oz Refried Beans
- 24 oz Mexican Rice
- 16 oz Salsa Molcajete Roja or Verde
Deluxe Traditional Turkey Dinner, $69.99
Serves 6-7. Meal includes:
- One 11 to 13 lb Fully Cooked Jennie-O Turkey
- 28 oz Home-style stuffing
- 48 oz Creamy Mashed Potatoes
- 24 oz Turkey Gravy
- 14 oz Cranberry Orange Relish
- One Dozen Freshly Baked
- Dinner Rolls
- One 8-inch Pumpkin or Apple Pie
Deluxe Spiral-Sliced Ham Dinner, $69.99Serves 6-7. Meal includes:
- One 8 to 10 lb Hormel Cure 81 Spiral-Sliced Bone-In Ham
- 32 oz Scalloped Potatoes
- 30 oz Green Bean Casserole
- 23 oz Spiced Apples
- 24 oz Mashed Sweet Potatoes
- One Dozen Freshly Baked Dinner Rolls
- One 8-inch Pumpkin or Apple Pie
Rib Roast Dinner, $89.99
Serves 6-7. Meal includes:
- One 5 lb Rib Roast
- 32 oz Scalloped Potatoes
- 30 oz Green Bean Casserole
- 23 oz Spiced Apples
- 24 oz Mashed Sweet Potatoes
- One Dozen Freshly Baked Dinner Rolls
- One 8-inch Pumpkin or Apple Pie
The Feast, $129.99
Serves 10-12. Meal includes:
- One 11 to 13 lb Fully Cooked Jennie-O Turkey
- One 8 to 10 lb Spiral-Sliced Bone-In Ham
- 56 oz Home-style Stuffing
- 96 oz Creamy Mashed Potatoes
- 48 oz Turkey Gravy
- 28 oz Cranberry Orange Relish
- Two Dozen Freshly Baked Dinner Rolls
- Two 8-inch Pumpkin or Apple Pies
ALBERTSONS
https://www.albertsons.com/orderahead/store/2955/category/Holiday%2BMeals?catId=2
Rotisserie Boneless Turkey Dinner, $54.99
Serves 6-8. Meal includes:
- 3-4 lbs Fully Cooked Turkey Breast
- 24 oz Mashed Potatoes
- 28 oz Homestyle Stuffing
- 24 oz Gravy
- 14 oz Cranberry Sauce
- 12 count King's Hawaiian Rolls
Spriral Ham Dinner, $56.99
https://www.albertsons.com/orderahead/product/Spriral+Ham%20Dinner?prdctId=3585&catId=2
Serves 8. Meal includes:
- 7-9 lbs Fully Cooked Spiral Ham
- 32 oz Scalloped Potatoes
- 30 oz Green Bean Casserole
- 12 count King's Hawaiian Rolls
- 16 oz Spiced Apples
Deluxe Turkey Dinner, $59.99
https://www.albertsons.com/orderahead/product/Deluxe+Turkey%20Dinner?prdctId=3910&catId=2
Serves 6-8. Meal includes:
- 10-12 lb Fully Cooked Turkey
- 24 oz Mashed Potatoes
- 28 oz Homestyle Stuffing
- 14 oz Cranberry Sauce
- 24 oz Gravy
- 12 count King's Hawaiian Rolls
Prime Rib Dinner, $74.95
https://www.albertsons.com/orderahead/product/Prime+Rib%20Dinner?prdctId=3576&catId=2
Serves 6. Meal includes:
- Fully Cooked Prime Rib
- 32 oz Scalloped Potatoes
- 30 oz Green Bean Casserole
- 12 count King's Hawaiian Rolls
- 16 oz Spiced Apples
SPROUTS
https://shop.sprouts.com/shop/categories/434
The deadline to order from Sprouts is Saturday, November 21, 2022, per the store’s website.
Natural Turkey Meal, $85.99
Serves 6-8. Meal includes:
- Fully Cooked Turkey
- Homestyle Stuffing, 30 oz
- Creamy Mashed Potatoes, 48 oz
- Homestyle Gravy, 24 oz
- Creamed Kale and Spinach, 24 oz
- Cranberry Sauce, 14 oz
- Authentic French Brioche Petite Rolls, 1 dozen
Roasted Turkey Breast Meal, $43.99
Serves 2-3. Meal includes:
- Roasted Boneless Turkey Breast
- Homestyle Stuffing (30 oz.)
- Creamy Mashed Potatoes (24 oz.)
- Homestyle Gravy (24 oz.)
- Cranberry Sauce (14 oz.)
- Authentic French Brioche Petite Rolls (1 dz.)
Vegan Roast Meal, $47.99
Serves 4-6. Meal includes:
- Field Roast Hazelnut and Cranberry Plant-based Roast, crafted with rosemary and ginger and wrapped in a flaky puff pastry.
- Plant-based Green Bean Casserole (16 oz.)
- Plant-based Cornbread Stuffing (16 oz.)
- Plant-based Sweet Potato Casserole (16 oz.)
- Cranberry Sauce (14 oz.)
- Market Corner Take and Bake San Francisco Style Sourdough Bread (14 oz.)
USDA Boneless Beef Rib Roast Meal, $95.99
Serves 6-8. Meal includes:
- USDA Choice Boneless Beef Rib Roast
- Scalloped Potatoes, 32oz
- Mashed Sweet Potatoes, 32oz
- Creamed Kale and Spinach, 24oz
- Creamy Cauliflower, 24oz
- Authentic French Brioche Petite Rolls, 1 dozen
Spiral-Sliced Ham Meal, $85.99
Serves 6-8. Meal includes:
- Fully Cooked Spiral-sliced Ham
- Scalloped Potatoes, 32 oz
- Mashed Sweet Potatoes, 32 oz
- Creamed Kale and Spinach, 24 oz
- Spiced Apples, 23 oz
- Authentic French Brioche Petite Rolls, 1 dozen
FRY’S
Per a Fry’s spokesperson, the “opportunity to order pre-made holiday meals online has been turned off due to varying availability by store.” Customers looking to order a pre-made holiday meal should contact their local Fry’s Food Store and reach out directly to the deli department for the most up-to-date availability.
Butterball Bone-in Baked Turkey Meal, $80
- Butterball Bone-in Baked Turkey, 10-12 lbs
- Home Chef Green Bean Casserole 28 oz
- Home Chef Old Fashioned Bread Stuffing 32 oz
- Home Chef Sweet Potato Souffle 32 oz
- Home Chef Mashed Potatoes 24 oz
- Home Chef Turkey Gravy 13 oz
- King’s Hawaiian Rolls 12 count
- Pumpkin Pie
Boar’s Head Carve and Serve Boneless Turkey Meal, $80
- Boar’s Head Carve and Serve Boneless Turkey 3.5-4.5 lb
- Home Chef Green Bean Casserole 28 oz
- Home Chef Old Fashioned Bread Stuffing 32 oz
- Home Chef Sweet Potato Souffle 32 oz
- Home Chef Mashed Potatoes 24 oz
- Home Chef Turkey Gravy 13 oz
- King’s Hawaiian Rolls 12 count
- Pumpkin Pie