QUARTERLY RESULTS (UNAUDITED) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended												12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 24, 2017	Jun. 25, 2017	Mar. 26, 2017	Dec. 25, 2016	Sep. 25, 2016	Jun. 26, 2016	Mar. 27, 2016	Dec. 27, 2015	Sep. 27, 2015	Jun. 28, 2015	Mar. 29, 2015	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 25, 2016	Dec. 27, 2015	Sep. 08, 2017	Jan. 06, 2017	Jun. 29, 2015
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 2,742,352	$ 2,793,885	$ 2,752,286	$ 2,479,340	$ 2,370,883	$ 2,495,281	$ 2,551,990	$ 2,460,410	$ 2,533,348	$ 2,112,529	$ 2,053,876	$ 2,052,919	$ 10,767,863	$ 9,878,564	$ 8,752,672
Gross profit	261,804	478,584	474,838	256,388	228,870	253,060	337,796	284,257	205,040	284,544	432,020	377,120	1,471,614	1,103,983	1,298,724
Net income attributable to PPC common stockholders	$ 134,337	$ 232,680	$ 233,641	$ 93,921	$ 70,618	$ 98,657	$ 152,886	$ 118,371	$ 63,148	$ 137,062	$ 241,489	$ 204,215	$ 694,579	$ 440,532	$ 645,914
Net income per share amounts - basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.54	$ 0.94	$ 0.94	$ 0.38	$ 0.29	$ 0.39	$ 0.60	$ 0.46	$ 0.25	$ 0.53	$ 0.93	$ 0.79	$ 2.79	$ 1.74	$ 2.50
Net income per share amounts - diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.54	$ 0.93	$ 0.94	$ 0.38	$ 0.28	$ 0.39	$ 0.60	$ 0.46	$ 0.25	$ 0.53	$ 0.93	$ 0.79	$ 2.79	$ 1.73	$ 2.50
Impairment charges, assets held for sale											$ 4,800
Alabama Processing Plant | Discontinued Operations, Held-for-sale
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Impairment charges, assets held for sale			$ 3,500										$ 3,500
Dallas Processing Plant | Discontinued Operations, Held-for-sale
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Impairment charges, assets held for sale					$ 800
Louisiana Processing Plant | Discontinued Operations, Held-for-sale
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Impairment charges, assets held for sale					300
GNP
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Transaction costs				$ 600													$ 600
Percentage of equity acquired																	100.00%
Net sales of acquiree since acquisition date													433,900
Net income (loss) of acquiree since acquisition date													30,400
Moy Park
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Transaction costs	$ 4,500	$ 15,000											4,500			$ 19,600
Percentage of equity acquired																100.00%
Tyson Mexico
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Percentage of equity acquired																		100.00%
Net sales of acquiree since acquisition date					121,700	$ 128,900							141,400	$ 250,600
Net income (loss) of acquiree since acquisition date					$ (10,800)	$ (2,900)							$ 6,300	$ (13,700)