You don’t need to wait until Thanksgiving to enjoy succulent turkey, buttery mashed potatoes or tart cranberry sauce. Restaurants have been rolling out holiday menus earlier and earlier every year, and some chains have already started offering themed foods. This year, three of America’s favorite chains are serving up turkey on their holiday menus, and we’re putting them head to head in our Thanksgiving fast food turkey showdown. We’ve got Arby’s, Cracker Barrel & Friendly’s in the lineup and we’re comparing what each has to offer, what it costs and who it’s best for. As always, we’ll also share a few ways to keep your holiday spending in check.
Please note: our comparison looks at turkey items on each fast food chain’s seasonal Thanksgiving menu. That means catering trays, premade dinners and sit-down dining on the holiday won’t be covered in this blog.
Limited-Time Thanksgiving Menu Items at a Glance
Prices and availability can vary by location, so be sure to check with your local restaurant before paying them a visit.
Arby's Thanksgiving Menu: Deep Fried Turkey Sandwiches
Best for: a quick and affordable holiday-themed lunch.
If you’re looking for the cheapest way to enjoy a bite of turkey before the holiday, Arby’s is a great place to start. Arby's Thanksgiving menu brings back their deep-fried turkey sandwiches, each packing a quarter pound of thick-sliced, marinated turkey.
Deep Fried Turkey Gobbler (±$7.39)
Tastes the most like Thanksgiving dinner with its crispy onions, Swiss cheese, stuffing, cranberry spread & mayo.
Deep Fried Turkey Club (±$6.99)
A more classic take on a turkey sandwich with bacon, cheddar cheese, tomato, lettuce & mayo.
Arby's fried turkey sandwiches are also the only items on this list priced under $10 and they’re available at participating locations while supplies last. So if you want one, don’t wait until the last week of November.
Cracker Barrel Thanksgiving Menu: Country Fried Turkey
Best for: a filling meal with sides included.
If we had an award for the most traditional Thanksgiving menu, Cracker Barrel would definitely win it by a landslide. Their holiday menu features a country fried turkey plate and sandwich, each with 27 sides to choose from.
Country Fried Turkey (±$13.99 for 2 sides | ±$15.49 for 3 sides)
A pair of hand-breaded turkey tenderloins smothered with herbed pan gravy. Served with two or three classic sides, cranberry relish & corn muffins or buttermilk biscuits.
Country Fried Turkey Sandwich (±$12.99 for 1 side | ±$13.99 for 2 sides)
A hand-breaded turkey tenderloin smothered in herbed pan gravy on a toasted buttermilk bun. Served with cranberry relish & one to two sides.
The sides are where the value is, because they’re included in the price. Cracker Barrel's Thanksgiving menu items work as a full plate and not just a main, making them the closest thing in our lineup to a sit-down holiday meal in a single order. Be sure to give it a try while it's available this winter holiday season!
Friendly's Thanksgiving Menu: Turkey Sandwiches Reimagined
Best for: anyone who prefers burgers and sandwiches over traditional turkey plates.
Friendly's Thanksgiving menu takes a different approach by offering two turkey-based options at the exact same price.
Snowfall Burger ($16.99)
A succulent turkey patty topped with white American cheese, Alfredo sauce & hardwood-smoked bacon on a Parmesan-dusted pretzel bun. Served with Friendly’s signature golden fries.
Harvest Stack ($16.99)
An open-face sandwich with thinly sliced turkey topped with creamy mashed potatoes, savoury stuffing, a rich gravy & cranberry sauce on sourdough toast.
Safe to say the turkey patty is the most unusual idea in the showdown, but it's a great option if you’re in the mood for a burger that still fits the holiday.
Thanksgiving Turkey Sandwich Comparison
- Cheapest: Arby’s Deep Fried Turkey Club at ±$6.99
- With the most fixings: Cracker Barrel’s Country Fried Turkey Sandwich, which comes with 1 or 2 sides.
- Most traditional sandwich: Friendly’s Harvest Stack, which contains the most classic Thanksgiving comfort foods.
There’s more to a Thanksgiving sandwich than its price tag, but it's hard to ignore when the cheapest one is under $10. Keep in mind that Arby’s sandwiches are à la carte, whereas Cracker Barrel’s comes with 1 to 2 sides included in the price.
Thanksgiving Fast Food Deals: How to Save
Thanksgiving fast food is only one way to get a taste of holiday turkey at a lower price, but our savings expert, Jessica Pinker, has a few more tricks up her sleeve:
- Compare the full meal cost. A cheaper sandwich doesn’t necessarily mean it offers the best value for money if you need to buy sides separately. Compare the total cost of the meal you actually want and go from there.
- Check the mobile apps and rewards program of each chain. Many run app-only and rewards promotions, so it's always a good idea to see what’s available before placing an order.
- Order early. Limited-time menus often sell out quickly, so ordering within the first few weeks it's available will save you from having to look for alternatives.
- Use a coupon code when ordering delivery or pickup. Keep your eyes peeled for delivery-app discounts, which can help offset those pesky service and delivery fees.
- Pay us a visit. Our dedicated team makes sure our Restaurant page always has the latest offers available for a wide range of your favorite restaurants. Applying an eligible offer could help lower the cost of your next holiday meal.
