Serving up a roasted turkey with all the fixings is tradition for many on Thanksgiving, but cooking an entire bird can be intimidating. Take the hassle out of holiday meal prep by getting a ready-to-eat turkey from one of these top sources. With so many options for fully cooked turkey available locally and for mail order delivery, you’re guaranteed to find the perfect pre-made turkey for your gathering.
Grocery Store Deli Counters
Grocery store deli sections are go-to spots for grabbing cooked turkey. Many major chains like Costco, Sam’s Club, Albertsons, and Kroger sell whole roasted turkeys and heat-and-serve turkey breasts for the holidays. For example
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Kroger, Safeway, Publix – Carry Cajun seasoned fried turkey and roasted boneless turkey breasts
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Costco – Offers large smoked, honey glazed, or lemon herb turkeys fully cooked for under $3/lb.
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Albertsons – Sells ready-to-eat roasted and smoked whole turkeys
Availability and lead times vary by location. Order 1-2 days ahead to reserve yours. On average, pre-cooked grocery store turkeys cost $2.99-$5.99 per pound. Getting your turkey from the grocery store also lets you easily purchase side dishes, pies, rolls, and anything else needed to complete your Thanksgiving feast.
Cracker Barrel
Stop by a Cracker Barrel to pickup a convenient heat and eat turkey dinner for 4-10 people. Their Roast Turkey Breast Feast includes two carved turkey breasts, cornbread dressing, gravy, cranberry relish, country sides, rolls, and pumpkin and pecan pies for $54.99. Just reheat and serve for an easy holiday meal.
Boston Market
Swing through Boston Market to grab a whole oven-roasted turkey or individual boneless turkey breast meal starting at $12.99. Turkey pot pies, sides, desserts, and more are available to round out your Thanksgiving menu. Order online for quick pickup or delivery. With 450+ locations, Boston Market is a solid bet for finding cooked turkey near you.
HoneyBaked Ham
Despite the name, HoneyBaked Ham also sells delicious fully-cooked whole turkeys ideal for Thanksgiving. Their roasted, smoked, and cajun seasoned turkeys range from $56-$150 depending on size. Order online for pickup or nationwide shipping. Allow thawing time for frozen turkeys.
Harry & David
Go gourmet with a pre-cooked Diestel turkey from Harry & David. Their 10-14 lb oven-roasted birds cost $139.99. Or get an entire Turkey Dinner Feast for 4-6 with turkey and trimming starting at $199.99. Harry & David ships overnight nationwide.
Omaha Steaks
Omaha Steaks provides fully cooked turkey seasoned with brown sugar and honey. Choose between whole turkeys ($99.99), turkey breasts ($59.99), and boneless turkey breasts ($49.99). Order online for delivery direct to your door in an insulated cooler.
D’Artagnan
For organic, free-range options, D’Artagnan offers humanely raised cooked whole turkeys ($149.99+), turkey breasts ($89.99+), and full Thanksgiving feasts. Their turkeys arrive frozen; order by the cutoff date to receive in time for Thanksgiving.
Local Farms & Butchers
Don’t overlook local turkey providers like family farms and butcher shops that may cook turkeys fresh to order. Check farmers markets or search for “Thanksgiving turkeys to go near me”. Buying local supports small businesses.
Restaurant Take-Out
For maximum simplicity, call ahead and pickup a fully cooked Thanksgiving turkey dinner from a restaurant near you. Cracker Barrel, Boston Market, Bob Evans, and local family owned eateries are great options for ordering holiday meals to go.
Williams-Sonoma
Buy natural turkey from family-owned Willie Bird Ranch through Williams-Sonoma. Their pre-brined whole roasted turkeys ($149.95+) come fresh in 3 sizes – 7-16 lbs. Order online for delivery.
Gobble Meal Kits
Meal kit services like Gobble can send you a complete Thanksgiving dinner with pre-cooked turkey breast and tasty sides for heating and serving. Very convenient but order early to reserve your holiday meal kit.
Benefits of Buying Pre-Cooked Turkey
Opting for an already cooked turkey simplifies Thanksgiving. Reasons to go for a pre-made turkey:
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Saves oven space for side dishes
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Provides peace of mind – no worrying about undercooking
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Lets you skip tricky turkey preparation
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Allows more time to focus on other meal components
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Offers portion control with boneless turkey breasts
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Enables easy take-out from restaurants
Take the turkey off your Thanksgiving to-do list by getting a ready-to-eat pre-cooked bird. With appetizing options available everywhere from grocery store delis to gourmet outlets, enjoy hassle-free turkey day!
Our Top PicksBest Overall:
- Farm-raised heritage birds
- Wild and organic available
- Smoked breasts available
What We Dont Like
DArtagnan has earned a reputation as one of the best places to buy mail-order turkeys and other gourmet meats, and after our Associate Editorial Director, Mary Kate Hoban, prepared one of the Green Circle birds for her familys Thanksgiving dinner, we knew the brand was deserving of our best overall spot.
“I sampled a Green Circle turkey from DArtagnan for my familys Thanksgiving dinner. Everyone agreed it was one of the best turkeys weve ever had. Plus, ordering it ahead of time and receiving it frozen in enough time to thaw in the refrigerator before the big day was so convenient,” Hoban says. Additional at-home testing resulted in a fresh, flavorful turkey with a good mix of light and dark meat that was easy to carve.
DArtagnans turkeys are all farm-raised. In fact, each farmer DArtagnan works with signs an agreement saying they will never use antibiotics or added hormones. The Green Circle label means the turkeys are certified by Humane Farm Animal Care. These turkeys are fed a diet of vegetables (surplus from markets) and whole grains. The turkey that was sent as a sample arrived on the specified day, packaged frozen in a box with insulated foam. The flavor of the cooked bird impressed everyone, and the whole process was incredibly easy. The Green Circle turkeys are currently sold out, however.
“You really cant go wrong when you order from DArtagnan,” says Julia Warren, VP. “Any of the meats you can choose from are high quality and the shipping process is pretty seamless. Ive ordered a few things and have yet to be disappointed.”
Size: 4-12 pounds | Serves: 4-12 people | Shipping: Delivery available up to Tuesday, November 26 for Thanksgiving
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Best Turducken
- Well seasoned
- Easy preparation
- Fast shipping
What We Dont Like
- Free shipping only in selected states
This turducken came to fame thanks to former NFL coach and sportscaster John Madden. Dubbed the official food of the 1997 “All-Madden Team,” this hefty dish features two layers of sausage stuffing and one layer of cornbread dressing jam-packed inside a chicken inside a duck inside a turkey. That may sound like a lot—because it is. Weighing in at 16 to 18 pounds, this monster bird can serve 20 to 25 people.
We were impressed with the quick and smooth delivery process as well as the ease of preparation. Turduckens take a minimum of 18 hours to defrost at room temperature and up to five days in the fridge, so plan accordingly. One thing to note is that it arrives without directions, but there are ample instructions on the Goldbelly website for storage, defrosting, and roasting. We roasted the turducken according to those instructions, and the meat came out perfect. We recommend adding about 2 cups of water to the roasting pan in the last hour—combined with the pan drippings this creates a gorgeous, flavorful sauce and makes for easier cleanup.
We appreciated the fact that you do not have to deal with any bones, aside from the wings (which you can save to make turkey stock). Then, you simply cut in half lengthwise and carve to reveal all three types of meat and stuffing.
“If you find the typical Thanksgiving roast turkey bland, this is a great alternative. The Cajun seasoning is tasty with subtle peppery-ness but not overpowering. And the turkey breast came out moist without my having to do anything to it,” says our tester Adriana Velez.
Size: 16-18 pounds | Serves: 20-25 people | Shipping: Two-day shipping is available in 16 states, and scheduled delivery is available up to Wednesday, November 27
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Trying the Costco Pre Cooked Turkey
FAQ
Can you buy turkey already cooked?
Butterball Oven Baked Whole Turkeys are fully cooked and ready to eat. They can be used in recipes calling for cooked turkey without prior heating.
Can you buy ready cooked turkeys?
A ready-to-serve roast turkey infused with herbs for a fragrant and delicate flavour, expertly prepared and cooked by our chefs. The whole turkey is slowly cooked, using a medium sized bird, bred to high welfare standards.
Do supermarkets sell cooked turkey?
Tesco Finest Slow Cooked Turkey with all the Trimmings 3.48kg (Serves 4) – Tesco Groceries.
Does Costco sell fully cooked turkeys?
This the 2nd year in a row I tried Costco’s Kirkland brand Whole Smoked Turkey! One of my close friends put on onto buying this smoked turkey and it’s so worth it. The Turkey is fully cooked and only needs to be heated in the oven. It’s my go too for the holidays.