Figuring out where to buy your bird is vitally important when youre planning your Thanksgiving meal. After all, your turkey is the centerpiece of the table and you want a great one — but you also dont want to end up draining your checking account just for a little bit of juicy white and dark meat.
The good news is, there are plenty of options out there for where to buy a turkey that wont leave you in credit card debt. Costco is one of them — but should you shop for your turkey there or look elsewhere?
How Much Does Turkey Cost at Costco? Your 2023 Guide
With the holidays right around the corner, it’s time to start planning your festive menu. For many families, a juicy roasted turkey takes center stage at Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner. Purchasing a whole turkey can get pricey at regular grocery stores. Luckily, Costco offers high quality birds at budget-friendly prices. But exactly how much does turkey cost at Costco?
In this comprehensive guide we’ll break down the pricing on various turkey options at Costco for 2023. You’ll learn how Costco’s turkey prices compare to competitors what turkey sizes are available, and how to find the best deals. Let’s get started!
Costco’s Turkey Brands and Pricing
Costco provides shoppers excellent prices on popular turkey brands like Butterball, Plainville Farms, and its exclusive Kirkland Signature line. Here are the turkey varieties typically stocked at Costco and their average per-pound costs:
- Butterball Whole Turkey – $0.99/lb
- Plainville Farms Organic Young Turkey – $3.49/lb
- Kirkland Signature Smoked Turkey – $4.99/lb
- Kirkland Signature Roast Turkey Breast – $4.79/lb
Butterball whole turkeys are fresh, not frozen. At just $0.99 per pound, they offer outstanding value compared to the $1.50 or more per pound other grocers charge. You’ll find hens from 12-14 pounds and toms from 18-22 pounds.
Plainville Farms organic turkeys range from 10-16 pound hens fed an all-vegetarian diet. Though pricier than conventional turkey, the $3.49 per pound cost beats most organic options.
Kirkland Signature Smoked Turkey arrives pre-cooked so it just needs reheating. These average 13 pounds and cost $4.99 per pound. The Kirkland turkey breast ranges from 2-4 pounds for smaller gatherings.
Costco’s exceptional turkey prices beat many supermarkets by at least $0.30 per pound. Even higher-end grocers like Whole Foods can’t match Costco’s savings on budget-friendly Butterball or Plainville Farms turkeys.
Estimated Cost of Popular Turkey Sizes
To give you a better idea of what you’ll pay for different turkey sizes at Costco, here are some examples:
- 12 lb Butterball Hen Turkey – $11.88
- 14 lb Plainville Organic Turkey – $48.86
- 16 lb Butterball Tom Turkey – $15.84
- 20 lb Butterball Tom Turkey – $19.80
- 4 lb Kirkland Turkey Breast – $19.16
A 12-14 pound turkey feeds 6-10 people, while a 16 pound bird serves 10-12. For gatherings of 12-15 people, opt for an 18-22 pound turkey. Budget about 1 pound per person when estimating turkey sizes.
How Do Costco Turkey Prices Compare?
Costco’s exceptional turkey prices even beat grocery delivery services like Instacart:
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12 lb Butterball Hen Turkey:
- Costco Price – $11.88
- Instacart Price – $21.96
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16 lb Plainville Organic Turkey:
- Costco Price – $48.86
- Instacart Price – $62.16
You’ll save around $10 for a 12-14 pound Butterball turkey and at least $13 on a similarly sized organic turkey through Costco. And you don’t have to pay delivery fees or tips.
Costco vs. Whole Foods Turkey Prices
Whole Foods sells Diestel brand organic turkeys for $4.49 per pound. Here’s how Costco competes:
- 14 lb Diestel Turkey at Whole Foods – $62.86
- 14 lb Plainville Organic Turkey at Costco – $48.86
Choosing Plainville over Diestel at Costco saves you $14 per turkey! For the best deals on budget-friendly turkeys, Costco can’t be matched.
Ways to Save on Turkey at Costco
Take advantage of these tips to maximize your turkey savings at Costco:
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Check for coupons or promotions. Costco occasionally offers turkey coupons through their monthly savings books or website deals.
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Buy Kirkland gift cards on sale to lower your total purchase price.
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Split the cost of a large turkey with friends or family. Buying in bulk helps maximize Costco’s low turkey prices.
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Shop early for the best selection. Popular sizes sell out closer to the holidays.
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Price match turkeys using Costco’s generous policy if you spot them cheaper elsewhere.
How to Buy Turkey at Costco
When purchasing your holiday turkey at Costco, here are some useful tips:
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Fresh turkeys are stocked 1-2 months prior to Thanksgiving/Christmas. Check freezer sections for frozen options earlier in the season.
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Place a hold online or call your local warehouse to check availability in the days leading up to your celebration.
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Shop at least 1-2 days before needing the turkey to allow thorough thawing in the refrigerator.
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Review Costco’s turkey handling guidelines for thawing, roasting, and food safety advice.
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Allow extra time at the warehouse – long lines form during peak turkey-buying periods.
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Bring an extra set of hands or a cart to transport large 20+ pound turkeys easily.
Get the Most Out of Your Costco Turkey
Once you’ve secured the perfect turkey at a stellar price, be sure to make the most of your purchase:
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Use the bones and carcass to make broth or soup. This adds inexpensive homemade flavor to side dishes or risotto.
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Prepare creative turkey leftovers like pot pie, sliders, casseroles, sandwiches, chili, and salads rather than re-heating plain roasted meat again and again.
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Portion and freeze turkey in servings for quick lunches or dinners later. Frozen turkey lasts 2-6 months in the freezer.
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Turn excess turkey into grab-and-go items like breakfast burritos, lettuce wraps, or turkey salad. Enjoy convenience without waste.
With its affordable Butterball turkeys and budget-friendly prices on brands like Plainville Farms, Costco offers unbeatable values for your holiday bird. Follow these tips to secure the perfect turkey and make your dollars stretch further this Thanksgiving and Christmas season.
Is buying your turkey at Costco a good idea?
There are definitely some benefits to buying a turkey at Costco. For one thing, prices tend to be very competitive. In past years, Costco charged $0.99 per pound for turkeys weighing in between 12 and 20 pounds. These were good-quality name-brand turkeys, too, raised with no antibiotics and from big names in the turkey game like Butterball.
Currently, however, Costcos only turkey offering is a $49.99 Quality Ethnic Foods Halal Frozen Whole Young Turkey that weighs between 13 and 15 pounds. Thats not a bad price (at $3.33 a pound for a 15-pound bird), but its more expensive than frozen turkeys offered by other big box stores like Walmart. Remember, though, this is for a kosher turkey, so a different standard applies.
Costco usually gets its fresh, never-frozen turkeys in at the local stores around a week before Thanksgiving. And based on past years, those birds are likely to come in at a lower price point thats more on par with what other stores offer.
Costco also offers a full turkey dinner kit priced at $269.99, which serves eight to 10 people and includes the turkey. However, this is currently sold out and its too late to pre-order, so if you were hoping for that option, its off the table until next year.
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- Costco offers turkeys for sale for Thanksgiving.
- Buying them at the warehouse club can make sense if youre a member.
- The type of turkey you want may not be in stock, however.
Figuring out where to buy your bird is vitally important when youre planning your Thanksgiving meal. After all, your turkey is the centerpiece of the table and you want a great one — but you also dont want to end up draining your checking account just for a little bit of juicy white and dark meat.
The good news is, there are plenty of options out there for where to buy a turkey that wont leave you in credit card debt. Costco is one of them — but should you shop for your turkey there or look elsewhere?