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Best credit cards for Thanksgiving groceries (November 2024)
Grocery shopping makes up a big portion of many Americans’ budgets — in fact, the average cost of food at home is $5,703 each year, or nearly $500 monthly.
But during the holidays, your grocery bills may jump even higher. Whether you’re hosting a Thanksgiving meal yourself, preparing a side dish for family dinner, or contributing to a Friendsgiving potluck, it can pay to have a credit card with grocery rewards this holiday season.
Below, we've rounded up the best credit cards for supermarket shopping for your Thanksgiving feast, weeknight dinners, and everything in between.
Best grocery credit cards for November 2024
- Annual fee$0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95.
- Welcome offerEarn a $250 statement credit after spending $3,000 in eligible purchases in the first 6 months
- Card type(s)Cash-back, Rewards
- Introductory Purchases APR0% on purchases for 12 months
- Ongoing Purchases APR18.49%-29.49% Variable
- Introductory Balance Transfer APR0% on balance transfers for 12 months
- Ongoing Balance Transfer APR18.49%-29.49% Variable
- Recommended credit scoreExcellent,Good
- Rewards rate
- 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $6,000 in purchases annually, then earn 1%)
- 6% cash back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions
- 3% cash back on transit and U.S. gas stations
- 1% cash back on all other purchases
- *Cash Back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout
- Benefits
- Generous intro APR on purchases and balance transfers
- Receive a monthly statement credit of $7 when you spend $9.99 or more each month on an auto-renewing Disney Bundle subscription (valid only at Disney Plus.com, Hulu.com or Plus.espn.com in the U.S.)
- Enjoy $0 intro plan fees for the first 12 months when you use Plan It® to split up large purchases into monthly installments
Why we like it: At 6% cash back, the Blue Cash Preferred is the ultimate rewards card for U.S. supermarket shoppers. There is a $6,000 annual cap (after which you’ll earn 1% cash back in the category), which averages out to around $500 in grocery purchases per month. If you have a large family and eat mostly at home, you may exceed that annual limit — but it is still within Americans’ average spending of just over $5,700. If you are able to meet the 6% spending limit, you’ll get up to $360 in cash back, far exceeding the card’s ongoing $95 annual fee.
The Amex Blue Cash Preferred can bring a lot of value to your other regular spending with additional cash-back categories for streaming, transit, and U.S. gas stations — as well as annual partner statement credits. Plus, you can enjoy plenty of outsized value over the first year between the intro $0 annual fee, generous introductory APR, and welcome bonus.
Read our full review of the Amex Blue Cash Preferred Card
- Annual fee$0
- Welcome offerEarn $250 cash back after spending $500 on purchases in the first 3 months
- Card type(s)Cash-back, Rewards
- Purchase APR19.74% - 29.74% variable
- Introductory APR0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months, then variable 19.74% - 29.74% APR
- Recommended credit scoreGood, Excellent
- Rewards rate
- 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases
- 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- 3% cash back on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services, and at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart and Target)
- 1% cash back on all other purchases
- Benefits
- Get a 0% APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 15 months
- No foreign transaction fees
Why we like it: The Capital One Savor has a lot of potential value for shoppers who spend a lot on groceries. Unlike other cards on our list, there’s no cap to the amount of grocery purchases you can earn 3% cash back on each year. If you spend around the national average of $5,703, you can earn a total of $171.09 annually, even before accounting for your savings across other categories.
Those other categories make this no annual fee card a great option overall for anyone who budgets money for both staying in and going out, with the same 3% cash back on dining, streaming services, and entertainment (which includes concert tickets, amusement parks, movie theaters, and tourist attractions).
Read our full review of the Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card
- Annual fee$325
- Welcome offerEarn 60,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases in the first 6 months
- Card type(s)Travel, Rewards
- Ongoing Purchases APRSee Pay Over Time APR
- Recommended credit scoreExcellent/Good
- Rewards rate
- 4x Membership Rewards Points at restaurants worldwide (on up to $50,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1x)
- 4x Membership Rewards points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1x)
- 3x Membership Rewards points on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com
- 2x Membership Rewards points on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com
- 1x Membership Rewards points on all other eligible purchases
- Benefits
- Earn up to $10 in statement credits each month when you pay with your American Express Gold Card at Five Guys, Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, and Wine.com (enrollment required)
- Up to $100 in annual statement credits ($50 semi-annually) when you use your American Express Gold Card on eligible purchases at U.S. restaurants on the Resy app or Resy.com
- Up to $84 per year ($7/month) in statement credits after you enroll and pay with your American Express Gold Card at more than 9,000 U.S. Dunkin’® locations
Why we like it: With 4x Membership Rewards points at U.S. supermarkets, the American Express Gold Card is one of the best options for turning your grocery purchases into travel rewards. It’s unlikely that most shoppers will reach the $25,000 annual spending cap — which averages out to a monthly supermarket bill over $2,000. But if you do, you could earn a whopping 100,000 Membership Rewards points from this bonus category. If your supermarket purchases are closer to the average $5,703 annually, you can still rack up 22,812 points each year.
Beyond that, the Amex Gold can also help you maximize restaurant spending and flight purchases — in line with many other travel card options today. While it does carry a $325 annual fee (see rates and fees), the annual dining credits and Uber Cash cover part of the cost. Just remember to think about whether you already spend that money each month. If you’re spending money simply to earn a monthly statement credit, you could end up paying more than you save over the long run.
Check out all the new Amex Gold card features and benefits
- Annual fee$0
- Welcome offerEarn a $200 statement credit after spending $2,000 within the first 6 months
- Card type(s)Cash-back
- Ongoing Balance Transfer APR18.49%-29.49% Variable
- Introductory Purchases APR0% on purchases for 15 months
- Introductory Balance Transfer APR0% on balance transfers for 15 months
- Ongoing Purchases APR18.49%-29.49% Variable
- Recommended credit scoreExcellent, Good
- Rewards rate
- 3% cash back at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%)
- 3% cash back on U.S. online retail purchases (on up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%)
- 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations (on up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%)
- 1% cash back on all other purchases
- Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit or on Amazon.com at checkout
- Benefits
- Generous intro APR on purchases and balance transfers
- Get a $7 monthly statement credit after spending $9.99 or more on a streaming subscription to the Disney Bundle, plus earn up to $15 in monthly statement credits after purchasing a Home Chef subscription
Why we like it: For no annual fee (see rates and fees), the Amex Blue Cash Everyday’s 3% cash back at U.S. supermarkets can translate to a big rewards return each year. There is a $6,000 annual cap (after which you’ll earn 1%) — but if you spend around the average $5,703 on groceries each year you’ll be able to maximize the category and get around $171.09 back.
If you also spend much of your monthly budget filling up the gas tank or shopping online, you can get even more value from this card. Each of these categories has the same $6,000 annual spending limit. If you reach the max across all three, that’s a potential $540 in annual cash back. Plus, if you already have subscriptions to Disney+ and Home Chef, count on more savings in the form of monthly statement credits.
Read our full review of the Blue Cash Everyday card
- Annual fee$0
- Welcome offerEarn a $150 bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in the first 3 months
- Card type(s)Rewards, Cash-back
- Purchase APR19.99% - 28.74% variable
- Introductory APR0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 19.99%-28.74%
- Rewards rate
- 5% cash back on up to $1,500 on combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter you activate
- 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠
- 3% on dining, including takeout and drug stores
- 1% on all other purchases
- Benefits
- Get 5% cash back on Lyft rides through March 31, 2025, plus select DoorDash discounts
- Enjoy perks like extended warranty protection, trip cancellation insurance, cell phone protection, and auto rental collision damage waiver
- Redeem your cash back rewards as a statement credit, direct deposit, gift card, on Amazon purchases, or to book travel through Chase
- Use the introductory 0% APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 15 months, after which the standard APR will apply
Why we like it: The biggest bonus rewards category from Chase Freedom Flex offers 5% cash back in rotating quarterly categories, up to $1,500 in combined purchases each quarter. As a result, you may only earn 5% grocery rewards during one quarter each year — over the past few years, grocery stores have consistently shown up as a quarterly bonus category.
Let’s say you spend the average $5,703 on groceries annually, and you’re able to max out the $1,500 limit when Chase Freedom Flex offers groceries as a 5% category (the rest of your grocery shopping would earn 1% throughout the year). You could earn $117.03 on groceries annually, before accounting for any other quarterly or standard bonus categories.
Read more: Current Chase Freedom bonus categories
- Annual fee$0 for the first year, then $95
- Welcome offerEarn a $250 bonus after spending $2,000 within the first 120 days
- Card type(s)Cash-back, Rewards
- Purchase APR19.74% - 29.74% variable
- Recommended credit scoreGood, excellent
- Rewards rate
- 6% cash back on the first $1,500 in combined purchases each quarter with two retailers of your choice
- 5.5% cash back on hotel and car reservations booked directly in the Rewards Travel Center
- 3% cash back on the first $1,500 in purchases each quarter on one everyday category of your choice (like wholesale clubs, gas and EV charging stations, bills and utilities)
- 1.5% cash back on all other purchases
- Benefits
- Retailers eligible for 6% cash back include Target, Walmart, and Amazon.com
- Categories eligible for 3% cash back include bills and utilities, gas and EV charging stations, and wholesale clubs
- Access to ExtendPay® Plans, which allow you to pay off balances in fixed monthly payments over time and avoid paying interest charges on eligible purchases
Why we like it: This card takes some strategy to maximize, but the potential value of the U.S. Bank Shopper Cash Rewards may be worth it. To start, you’ll earn 6% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined spending across two retailers you choose each quarter. Superstores like Target and Walmart are included among these choice retailers (unlike most grocery rewards cards), and this is a great option if you prefer to go grocery shopping there.
And that’s not all: The added option to choose wholesale clubs as your 3% category (up to $1,500 in spending each quarter) means you can further maximize your grocery spending up to $3,000 in purchases each quarter. Plus, you’ll earn a minimum of 1.5% cash back on all non-category spending, even after exceeding the quarterly spending limits.
But let’s say you just spend the average $5,703 each year on groceries, and fit all of your spending into the 6% category with merchants that sell groceries as your choice retailers. You’ll get a total $342.18 in cash back with this card each year — and even more if you take advantage of other categories.
- Annual fee$0
- Welcome offerEarn $200 in cash back after spending $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months (bonus offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back)
- Card type(s)Cash-back
- Purchase APR19.24% - 29.24% variable
- Introductory APR0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 15 months
- Recommended credit scoreGood to Excellent
- Rewards rate
- 5% cash back on purchases in your top eligible spend category each billing cycle (up to the first $500 spent, 1% cash back after that)
- 4% cash back on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked on Citi Travel℠ through 6/30/2025
- 1% unlimited cash back on all other purchases
- Benefits
- No annual fee
- As your spending changes, your earn adjusts automatically when you spend in any of the eligible categories each billing cycle
Why we like it: This card is our choice for regular monthly grocery spending because it can be ideal for grocery shoppers who have a set amount of money to put toward groceries each month. There is a $500 monthly spending cap, but it’s hard to beat the 5% you can earn up to that limit with the Citi Custom Cash. Over a year of maxing out the 5% with grocery stores as your category, you can earn up to $300 cash back. With the average $5,703 spread over a year, you could potentially earn $285.15. Just be aware of your spending and spread your grocery purchases out to not meet the monthly caps.
Unlike some other customized cash-back credit cards, the Citi Custom Cash makes it easier to maximize these categories. Instead of opting into your choice category each billing cycle, you’ll automatically earn 5% on purchases in the eligible category where you spend most. So if you want to use this as your grocery rewards card, you may want to designate it solely for your regular trips to the supermarket to ensure you’re getting the max 5% rewards when you spend.
Read our full review of the Citi Custom Cash Card
Grocery retail credit cards
A co-branded grocery credit card may offer even more savings if you tend to shop at the same store each week. That’s especially true if you do most of your grocery shopping at superstores or wholesale clubs — which are often excluded from earning bonus rewards with regular grocery credit cards.
Here are a few store credit cards for groceries to consider:
For no annual fee beyond your Costco membership price, you can use the Costco Anywhere Visa to earn 4% cash back on eligible gas station and EV charging station purchases (up to $7,000 per year, then 1%), 3% cash back at restaurants, 3% cash back on eligible travel spending, and 2% cash back on purchases at Costco and Costco.com. Everything else earns 1% cash back. If you already have a Costco membership and do much of your monthly shopping there, this card can help you maximize that grocery spending as well as other regular expenses.
However, you will redeem your Costco card rewards differently than other cash-back credit cards. Each year, you’ll receive a rewards certificate which you can use in one transaction at a Costco warehouse location. As with any card, ensure you understand the details of how to best earn and use your rewards before you sign up.
Related: How to save on travel with your Costco credit card
Target recently revamped its Target Circle rewards program — and part of the relaunch included the Target Circle Card, which offers a lot of potential savings for frequent shoppers. You’ll earn 5% cash back at Target stores and on Target.com with the no annual fee card and, if you’re approved for the Target Mastercard version, also earn 2% cash back on dining, 2% at gas stations, and 1% cash back on all other non-Target purchases.
Other Target benefits include free two-day shipping on eligible purchases, a longer window for returns or exchanges, and other deals for cardholders that vary throughout the year. As a bonus, you can get $50 toward a future purchase after you’re approved.
Read more: Target Circle 360 vs. Walmart+ and Amazon Prime
The Prime Visa card may not be top of mind when you think of grocery credit cards, but for some shoppers, it can be a great way to maximize food spending. The card’s top 5% cash back rate doesn’t only apply to Amazon.com purchases — you can earn the same amount at Whole Foods Market and Amazon Fresh. So if Whole Foods is your supermarket of choice or Amazon Fresh is the grocery delivery service you use most often, you could get an unlimited 5% back on groceries (rather than work around the spending caps set by many grocery rewards cards).
In addition to grocery rewards, you’ll also get 5% back on Chase Travel spending; 2% back at gas stations, restaurants, and local transit and commuting (including rideshares); plus 1% back on all other spending. There’s no annual fee for the Prime Visa, but you’ll need an eligible Prime Membership to open the card and earn rewards.
Read our full review of the Prime Visa credit card
How to save on Thanksgiving grocery shopping
If you’re hosting Thanksgiving dinner this year, you can use grocery rewards and other credit card perks to help save on the cost. Here are a few things to keep in mind, whether you have a great grocery rewards card already or you plan to open a new card this season:
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Make your list in advance. Avoid overspending by knowing exactly what you need for each recipe before you shop. If you’re really savvy, you may even want to scan your local supermarket’s coupons to find out what’s on sale ahead of the holiday. Making a shopping list in advance can also help you plan out which stores you need to visit and which card you can use to get the best rewards (you might use a different card for a Costco run than your local grocer, for example).
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Take advantage of an intro offer. If Thanksgiving is just the start of a season of increased holiday spending, you may want to take advantage of a card with a great 0% APR on new purchases. Among rewards credit cards with these offers, you can often score between 12 and 15 months at 0% APR before the card’s ongoing variable APR kicks in. As long as you pay down your balance in full during that period, you can avoid taking on high-interest debt.
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Know your eligible stores. One of the easiest ways to lose out on potential grocery rewards is by shopping at a store that doesn’t count toward your issuer’s grocery rewards category. Most issuers, for example, exclude superstores like Target and Walmart from supermarket categories. These stores may be convenient when food shopping for a large group, but you could forfeit your rewards by shopping there instead of another grocery store. Read your card’s rewards agreement (or look back on past statements) before you shop to ensure you’re earning top rewards.
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Use your added benefits. If your budget or timeline runs short over the holiday, your credit card may have some added benefits that can help. For example, the Amex Gold’s $10 monthly dining statement credit could help you score a great dessert delivery from Goldbelly or help you stock up for your visitors on Wine.com. Chase Freedom Flex, too, offers a complimentary three-month DashPass subscription (activate by Jan. 31, 2025) and $10 off each quarter on non-restaurant DoorDash orders — both of which could help with any last-minute forgotten ingredients.
Read more about the best 0% APR credit cards available now
Should you get a credit card for groceries?
Keeping multiple credit cards in your wallet can be useful for earning the best rewards and taking advantage of the best benefits on nearly every purchase you make. So if, like many Americans, supermarket spending is among your most common monthly expenses — a credit card for groceries can make a lot of sense.
There are a few reasons you may want to hold off, though. For one, if opening a new credit card encourages you to spend more than you can afford just to earn rewards, it might be more costly than budget-friendly. Many of the best grocery credit cards also require a great credit score — so if you’re still building a solid credit history, you may want to wait to apply.
Overall, comparing the potential value to your own spending at the grocery store is the best way to decide. Here are a few more factors to consider:
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Where you shop most often: If you always do your grocery shopping at the same chain, or a rotation of a few different supermarkets, make sure you can earn rewards there with your grocery credit card. Read the card’s terms before you apply to see whether any exclusions apply that may keep you from maximizing your spending.
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What type of rewards you want to earn: You can find grocery bonus categories among both cash-back credit cards and rewards credit cards that earn points and miles. Narrow down your options by deciding whether you prefer the simplicity of cash back or want to earn points that you can put toward a future travel purchase.
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How much you spend on groceries: Several of the best credit cards for groceries cap the amount you can spend before maxing out top rewards for the month, quarter, or year. Look back at your total supermarket spending over the past year to compare your totals with each card’s spending cap to secure the most value for you over the long term.
Grocery reward limitations
Like any credit card bonus category, the details of your grocery rewards can differ between cards and card issuers.
Types of grocery stores
The language used by the issuer to refer to a card’s grocery rewards can make a big difference in your potential earnings.
For example, many grocery credit cards earn rewards solely at “grocery stores” or “supermarkets” and specify that the same bonus rewards rate does not apply to large superstores like Walmart and Target or warehouse clubs like Costco and Sam’s Club. If you prefer to complete all your shopping at your local Super Target or you’re a loyal Costco member, you’ll probably be better off with a card that earns rewards at those stores specifically.
This is also important if you use online grocery delivery. Whether you prefer Instacart, Amazon Fresh, or another grocery delivery service, you’ll want to make sure you can earn your grocery rewards while using it.
Finally, look for any restrictions on where you spend. Some grocery credit cards only earn rewards at stores within the United States. If you plan to use the card to buy food on trips abroad, you might forfeit some rewards earnings.
Read more
Spending limits
Spending limits are likely one of the first things that stand out when you begin comparing credit cards for groceries. You’ll often see a card offer something like 5% cash back on grocery store purchases up to the first $500 per month or 6% back on grocery store spending up to the first $1,500 per quarter.
While a spending cap can hurt your potential earnings, it’s not a reason to rule out a card altogether. In fact, the cards we compared generally have spending limits well within the amount average Americans spend on food at home each year.
What’s more important is how each card’s restrictions fit your specific grocery spending.
If you have a large family, for example, and spend well beyond the limits each year, you might want to look for a card that doesn’t have any annual limit on what you can earn — even if it does have a lower reward or cash-back rate. Or maybe your grocery spending tends to be much higher at certain times throughout the year when you eat at home more. Then, you might prioritize a card with a more flexible annual limit rather than specific monthly or quarterly limits.
Frequently asked questions about grocery credit cards
Before you decide on the best credit card for the grocery stores and supermarkets where you shop most, find out more with these frequently asked questions:
What credit cards offer 6% cash back on groceries?
Right now, two credit cards on our list offer 6% cash back on your grocery purchases. Though their reward structures are very different, both of these cards cap the total 6% rewards you can earn.
The Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express offers 6% cash back on the first $6,000 you spend at U.S. supermarkets each year (then 1%), along with other rewards categories. The U.S. Bank Shopper Cash Rewards Visa Signature Card earns 6% cash back on the first $1,500 you spend in combined purchases each quarter with two choice retailers. While this card doesn’t explicitly have a grocery category, eligible 6% retailers do include Target and Walmart — so if you often buy groceries at those superstores, you could earn 6% on eligible spending.
Should I get a credit card for groceries?
When you’re looking for a new rewards credit card, it’s smart to start with your budget. Look back on past expenses over the past several months — if grocery stores and supermarkets make up a significant portion of your spending, a credit card for groceries can be a great way to save.
Many of the best credit cards with grocery rewards don’t only earn rewards on groceries, though. Take time to evaluate the other rewards categories (along with the annual fee, welcome bonus, and other details) to make sure you choose the right one for your overall budget and everyday spending.
Learn more: Which credit card is best for me? A guide to help you choose
What is the best credit card for groceries with no annual fee?
There are several options for grocery rewards credit cards with no annual fee, especially if you’re looking for cash-back rewards. You can find more information about each one via our full list of best grocery credit cards above:
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Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card
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Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express
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Citi Custom Cash Card
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Chase Freedom Flex
What counts as groceries for credit cards?
Credit card issuers often have different parameters for “grocery stores” or “supermarkets,” so it’s always a good idea to read your card’s rewards agreement to ensure you can maximize rewards where you shop most. Rewards categories also often rely on merchant category codes, which can vary by retailer.
An eligible U.S. supermarket as defined by American Express, for example, “offers a wide variety of food and household products such as meat, fresh produce, dairy, canned and packaged goods, household cleaners, pharmacy products and pet supplies.” But it does not include superstores, convenience stores, warehouse clubs, or meal kit delivery services.
Capital One, on the other hand, specifies that purchases at a supermarket, meat locker, freezer, dairy product store, or specialty market can all earn grocery rewards, but explicitly states that superstores like Target and Walmart do not count toward the category bonus. It also clarifies that grocery purchases “made at gas stations, convenience stores, warehouse clubs, discount stores, and superstores (or at grocery stores associated with discount stores or superstores,” will not earn bonus rewards for the grocery category.
While qualifying stores will often overlap, knowing exactly what counts for your specific card (and exclusions that may apply) can help you maximize your card’s rewards.
Our methodology
Our list of the best credit cards for groceries started by compiling all of the credit cards available from major issuers — from cash-back cards to rewards and travel credit cards — that earn grocery rewards. In total, we evaluated nearly three dozen cards for this list.
From there, we determined each credit card’s annual grocery rewards potential based on the average amount that Americans spend on food at home according to the Consumer Expenditures survey from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. As of 2022 — the most recent available data — that amount is $5,703.
We then assigned each of the potential cards a rating. The data points used for this include standard details like APR, annual fee, welcome bonus, security protections, and more. But we also included some features specific to grocery rewards, including the potential cash back earned using the BLS data and actual rewards rate.
The cards that make up our list include both the top-scoring cards overall and the cards with the top potential annual earnings. While we wanted to guarantee each of our options could help maximize grocery spending, we also included a range of annual fees, rewards types, and spending limits so that you can use your individual spending habits and goals to find the best fit for your grocery budget.
Editorial Disclosure: The information in this article has not been reviewed or approved by any advertiser. All opinions belong solely to Yahoo Finance and are not those of any other entity. The details on financial products, including card rates and fees, are accurate as of the publish date. All products or services are presented without warranty. Check the bank’s website for the most current information. This site doesn't include all currently available offers. Credit score alone does not guarantee or imply approval for any financial product.
