Where to Order a Cooked Turkey for Thanksgiving Dinner

Thanksgiving is right around the corner, which means it’s time to start planning your holiday menu. The centerpiece of any Thanksgiving meal is usually a juicy, tender turkey. However, cooking a whole turkey can be intimidating, especially if you’re hosting Thanksgiving dinner for the first time. From thawing the frozen bird to trussing to basting, there are a lot of steps involved in roasting a turkey. Plus, ovens vary, so it’s hard to know exactly how long to cook it to ensure it turns out perfectly moist and delicious.

Fortunately, there are several places you can order a fully cooked Thanksgiving turkey so all the hard work is done for you This makes Thanksgiving dinner easy and stress-free Here are some of the best places to order a cooked turkey for your Thanksgiving feast.

Grocery Store Deli Sections

One of the easiest and most convenient places to buy a pre-cooked Thanksgiving turkey is your local grocery store’s deli section. Major grocery store chains like Publix, Kroger, Safeway, Albertsons, and more have delicious cooked turkeys available every Thanksgiving.

The benefit of ordering from your grocery store is you can usually place your order a few days or weeks in advance but pick it up on whatever day is convenient for you. Grocery store turkeys are typically smoked, roasted, or deep fried. You can order a whole turkey or just a turkey breast. Sizes range from feeds 2 people up to 18 people.

Grocery stores also let you order just the turkey or get an entire Thanksgiving meal with sides like mashed potatoes, gravy, green bean casserole, cornbread stuffing, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pie. This takes the guesswork out of side dishes!

HoneyBaked Ham Stores

While HoneyBaked Ham is known for its glazed spiral-cut hams, they also sell delicious fully-cooked turkeys every Thanksgiving. You can order smoked or roasted whole turkeys, turkey breasts, ready-to-eat turkey dinners with sides, and even smaller turkey lunch meats.

HoneyBaked turkeys tend to be pricier but very high-quality Their stores have later and more flexible order pick-up times than grocery stores You can even order as late as the day before Thanksgiving if needed.

Local Butcher Shops or Delis

In addition to large chains, many local butcher shops and delis offer fully cooked turkeys for Thanksgiving. The turkey will be locally sourced and prepared fresh in-house. Local butchers can offer unique cooking methods like cajun deep fried or smoked with applewood.

The benefit of ordering from a local shop is you’re supporting a small business. You can also customize your order more. For example, requesting a 10-pound turkey roasted with garlic and rosemary. Just be sure to order 1-2 weeks early as their availability is limited.

Meal Delivery Kits

Meal kits like HelloFresh and Home Chef offer Thanksgiving dinner boxes with a pre-cooked turkey breast, sides, sauces, and dessert. All you have to do is reheat everything on the big day.

These kits are shipped frozen directly to your door. So you can order whenever is convenient, store them in your freezer, and don’t have to pick anything up. They take the guesswork and grocery shopping out of Thanksgiving dinner!

Catering Companies

Hire a professional catering company to do Thanksgiving dinner for you. Most caterers offer fully-cooked turkeys, hams, or other proteins along with a complete menu of Thanksgiving sides and desserts.

Catering lets you customize your menu and serving sizes. It takes all the cooking and cleanup off your plate. Just specify delivery date/time and relax. This option tends to be pricey but is great for large groups, busy families, or not wanting to cook at all.

Ordering Tips

• For the most convenience, order your fully cooked Thanksgiving turkey from your local grocery store deli section. This lets you pick it up on your schedule.

• Order 1-2 weeks in advance from local butchers or catering companies to secure availability. Order from national chains like HoneyBaked a few days before Thanksgiving.

• Allow 1-1.5 pounds of turkey meat per person. Order a little extra since people tend to go back for seconds of turkey.

• Reheat fully cooked turkeys low and slow at 300°F covered in foil to prevent drying out. Use a meat thermometer to confirm it reaches 165°F.

• Let your guests know you’re ordering a cooked turkey so no one shows up planning to cook their family heirloom recipe.

• Tell the deli clerk or caterer the date/time you want to pick up your order. Ask if they can give you an estimate for when it will be ready.

• Eat turkey within 3-4 days and carve off pieces as needed rather than all at once. Slice breast meat thinly against the grain. Keep leftovers in air-tight containers.

By ordering your Thanksgiving turkey fully cooked and ready-to-go, you’ll save yourself hours in the kitchen. You’ll also eliminate the stress of wondering if the turkey will cook thoroughly or be dry. Take the guesswork out of your Thanksgiving centerpiece and let the professionals handle it! With more free time, you can focus on spending quality time with loved ones and reflecting on what you’re thankful for this holiday season.