12 Trader Joe's Items You Should Be Picking Up For Thanksgiving In 2026

We don't really ever need an excuse to shop at Trader Joe's — witness our breathless round-up of the best TJ's desserts under $5 for just one reason why we love the grocer — but Thanksgiving is, in our humble opinion, one of the moments of the year when the store really shines. The holiday is, of course, just as much a celebration of good eating as it is gratitude and family closeness, and Trader Joe's always has us covered when it comes to good eating. Furthermore, it features almost everything we need for an elaborate Turkey Day spread, and often at great prices to boot. 

We've already covered common Thanksgiving hosting mistakes, and biting off more than you can chew in the way of prep tasks is an oft-overlooked blunder. Where Trader Joe's excels as a shopping hub for the holiday is in groceries that are either ready to serve or simply need time to heat up. Many customers rave about the quality at TJ's, so you can rest assured that any shortcuts you take are very likely to taste delish and look attractive on your table. 

Consider the following a non-exhaustive grocery list of Thanksgiving essentials that you can scoop up at Trader Joe's, and also keep in mind that there are a ton of helpful and yummy items that we had to omit for space. There's not a lot of overlap with the menu at the first colonial Thanksgiving, but you'll find all the big players on many an American table today. Keep in mind that item availability is subject to change and that all pricing info was accurate as of this writing.

A popular 19th-century novel may have popularized the tradition of nomming turkey on Thanksgiving, and nearly 200 years later, a big bird is still the centerpiece of many consumers' tables. Not every gathering requires a massive display of poultry, however — your group may be small, or you may be one of the only omnivores at a gathering of vegetarian eaters. Either way, this modest pastry encasing white-meat turkey and stuffing is elegant and effective at telegraphing "celebration" without requiring hours of roasting. 

Purchase a 2.5-pound Turkey & Stuffing En Croute for $16.99. 

Studded with aromatics, veggies, and homey spices, these sausage links allege that they are close to your nana's famous stuffing. We can't think of a better use for stuffing-inspired sausages than putting them back where they were meant to be: in your dressing. We love to upgrade boxed stuffing with chorizo, and this represents a milder, perhaps more traditional option. As an alternative, you could fry these sausages up and serve them for Thanksgiving brunch before the main event. 

Purchase Just Like Your Grandma's Stuffing Chicken Sausage for $4.99. 

Green bean casserole was first invented by a Campbell's employee as a way to sell soup, but, today, it's an integral part of many Thanksgiving tables. Some foodies take a refined approach and concoct their casserole from scratch with fresh beans and a creamy homemade roux, but there are tons of folks that demand canned veg and cream of mushroom soup. Somewhere in the middle there exists the need for these gourmet fried onions — the ideal crowning glory to a gloriously golden pan of casserole. 

Purchase eight ounces of Gourmet Fried Onion Pieces for $3.79. 

The lead-up to Thanksgiving can feel like an unrelenting flurry of peeling, chopping, dicing, and slicing produce. We like a hack for peeling potatoes more easily using a fork, but we don't have a similar time-saver for all our veggies. That's why we see so much value in these handy-dandy containers of hash made with frequent celebratory superstars like squash, sweet potatoes, aromatics, and fragrant herbs. Give it a good sauté, and you have a solid backbone for your stuffing, with almost no prep required. 

Purchase 18 ounces of Holiday Vegetable Hash for $4.99. 

Corn is a time-honored favorite for the Thanksgiving table, and there's nothing that screams holiday joy like smothering veggies in cream and cheese. This delectable side is begging to be served hot (maybe with some fresh herbs?) as an accompaniment to your turkey. Best of all, it can even be heated in the microwave for maximum conservation of prime stovetop real estate. Save your stress for picking the perfect bottles of Thanksgiving wine (Ina Garten favors a light red). 

Purchase 14 ounces of Creamy Corn for $3.99. 

We've extensively covered the reasons why brining your turkey is a worthwhile use of your time, but here's an idea: why not buy a turkey that's already brined? Not only do these turkeys feature a sweet-umami brine for tenderness and flavor, but these birds have a lot going for them in general. For one, they're never frozen and minimally processed. The largest ones are only 16 pounds, so those planning on lots of guests may need to buy two birds. 

All Natural Brined Young Turkeys are priced per pound.

An excellent gravy is the fulcrum that makes Thanksgiving dinner work. Beyond simply moistening turkey, many consumers love to douse their entire plates in the stuff. We like this particular gravy because it's thickened with cornstarch (meaning no gluten) and is enriched with the familiar herbs and spices that we love. You might want to grab a few extra containers for Black Friday and beyond, as drowning our sammies in gravy is one of our favorite hacks for upgrading our Thanksgiving leftover sandwiches. 

Purchase a one-pound container of Kettle Cooked Turkey Gravy for $4.49. 

Some folks consider a juicy ham as the second fiddle to a Thanksgiving turkey, while others wait all autumn for a slice of glazed pork. This ham is lean and boneless, fully cooked, and comes with the brown sugar glaze you need to finish the protein with a sugary, glossy gleam. Around Easter we discussed the fact that the right amount of boneless ham to budget per guest is around 1/3 of a pound. However, if you're also serving turkey, you are probably safe to account for less. 

Purchase Frick's Uncured Carver Ham for $6.49 per pound. 

A boxed stuffing mix is a versatile and wonderful thing. With a worthy specimen like this one, all you need is a bit of butter and water to whip up a serviceable dressing that will delight your guests. Of course, you can gild the lily all you want: use stock for the liquid, add veggies and meat, bake it in a pan, et cetera. No matter what you do, try to avoid soggy stuffing, even if we know that there are a couple of ways to fix it. 

Purchase 12.4 ounces of Cornbread Stuffing Mix for $4.99. 

Thanksgiving diners tend to fall into one of two distinct categories: those who like jellied cranberry sauce that holds the shape of its can, and those who prefer a fresher option. For the latter camp, Trader Joe's offers a compromise that is easy-breezy but still tastes more like the real thing. This fresh cranberry sauce has delicious fruit chunks and a craveably sweet-tart flavor. Best of all, there's no need to futz with fresh cranberries, an ingredient that many home cooks aren't used to working with. 

Purchase a one-pound container of Fresh Cranberry Sauce for $3.99. 

Baking pumpkin pie from scratch can be a time-consuming adventure, and doing so during the holidays tends to compound our stress quite a bit. We love a homemade pie — especially when we swap the cream in the recipe for eggnog — but a store-bought pastry definitely takes some heat off a busy home cook. The Trader Joe's version is just the kind we like, with warming spices swirled through a creamy pumpkin puree. Pick up one or two for effortless serving alongside all your other Thanksgiving desserts. 

Purchase one Pumpkin Pie for $6.99. 

Butter is the unsung hero of Thanksgiving dinner. Almost every home cook goes through scads of it during dinner prep, from basting the turkey to greasing pie pans to melting a metric ton or so in every one of those unhealthy Thanksgiving side dishes that you crave all year long. Trader Joe's has you covered with abundant butter options, but we find that salted sticks are the most versatile. Don't forget to buy an adequate amount ... you will almost always use it up eventually.

Purchase a one-pound box of Butter Quarters, Salted for $2.99.