Thanksgiving meals to-go: Where to pre-order your family dinner if you don't want to cook
Thanksgiving is a time when many of us eagerly await a day filled with delicious feasting. However, cooking the turkey and preparing side dishes such as mashed potatoes, collard greens, stuffing and pie can be consuming and overwhelming for those who may not have the physical or mental space this holiday.
If there is more dread than cheer around cooking this year, there are other ways to enjoy a Thanksgiving dinner.
Whether it's just your family or others joining in, here are some leads on where to pre-order Thanksgiving dinners to-go. (And you get to skip the dishes.)
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Bob Evans
Bob Evans offers different to-go meal options for up to six people.
For more than 30 years, Bob Evans has been perfecting its slow-roasted turkey that comes with "house-made bread & celery dressing, cranberry relish, mashed potatoes & gravy, green beans & ham, buttered corn, 12 freshly baked dinner rolls and a whole pumpkin pie," the restaurant's website states.
If you want to dine in, most locations are open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Check your local restaurant for hours and availability.
Boston Market
Since 1985, Boston Market has always been open on Thanksgiving. From now until Dec. 31, you can preorder premium turkey or ham ($18.49 per person up to 10 people) or deluxe turkey or ham ($16.99 per person up to 10 people) and throw in some sides.
Place your order online or call 303-317-6900 to speak with a holiday expert to place an order.
Cracker Barrel
Cracker Barrel says it will have your Thanksgiving meal ready to go in two hours.
"Browse our meal options to find the right size for your gathering or build your own from our a la carte menu. Spend less time in the kitchen and more time creating memories with friends and family," the restaurant's website states.
There are options for smaller and larger gatherings and options for preheating at home or ordering hot and ready to go.
Harry and David
Harry & David will deliver fully cooked turkeys, sides, and wine-and-cheese baskets to your doorstep, but you have to get your orders in by Nov. 11 for the guarantee that it will arrive on time.
The gourmet turkey feast with sides and dessert will feed up to 10 people for $269.99 plus tax and shipping. You can also order just the turkey for $129.99 plus tax and shipping.
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HoneyBaked Ham Co.
Not only is this retailer renowned for its succulent HoneyBaked hams, but they also offer HoneyBaked turkey breasts and full Thanksgiving meals that can be ordered online and for pickup.
There are six options for holiday meals to go, including Thanksgiving brunch-style.
Costco's
Pre-order a Costco's Turkey Dinner that serves up to eight people. What's included and prices will vary depending on location.
Most meals include a 5-pound turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes and turkey gravy, macaroni and cheese and two pies.
Denny's
Denny's is open 24/7 and serves Thanksgiving dinner in-house or will prepare one for pickup for up to four people.
"The Turkey & Dressing Dinner Pack is prepared ready to heat and serve, and features holiday staples including tender carved turkey breast, savory bread stuffing, red-skinned mashed potatoes, turkey gravy, cranberry sauce and a choice of fresh steamed broccoli or corn," the restaurant's website states.
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Hello Fresh
HelloFresh has a great Thanksgiving meal with ciabatta stuffing, apple ginger crisp, and peppercorn-crusted beef tenderloin. Choose from the Turkey + Sides Box (which serves 8-10 people) or the Beef Tenderloin Sides Box (which serves 4-6 people).
Trader Joe's
Trader Joe's doesn't offer a fully prepared Thanksgiving meal, but they do have a 40-ounce turkey and stuffing, which consists of turkey tenderloin and cornbread stuffing wrapped in puff pastry dough.
You can also purchase a fully cooked turkey so you won't have to worry about making your own. Note, Trader's Joe's does not allow pre-orders or pick-up.
Popeyes
The chain brought back its popular Cajun-style turkey, which sold out last year in the fall. It will be offered alongside chicken, biscuits, mashed potatoes, mac and cheese and cinnamon apple pie.
The meal feeds approximately 8-12 people, according Popeyes' website, and can be ordered to go.
Whole Foods
Choose between the Thanksgiving Feast with turkey, mashed potatoes, herb stuffing, and more, or the Prime Rib Meal with prime rib roast, truffled parmesan mashed potatoes, and other sides.
You can order a meal to-go up until Nov. 21.
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Blue Apron
For you vegetarians out there, Blue Apron's Vegetarian Holiday Box is a fulfilling plant-based option with delicious add-ons like truffle and parmesan knots, pancetta stuffing, and a charcuterie board.
The kits are available for order the three weeks leading up to Thanksgiving and will feed up to 10 people.
FreshDirect
There are two ways to get a Thanksgiving dinner from FreshDirect. You can order by plate ($9.99 each), or you can order a small, medium or large family meal.
"Let us do the work on Thanksgiving," the company website reads. If you don't need a full meal, you can preorder just your Thanksgiving turkey.
Buca di Beppo
Buca di Beppo is serving a Thanksgiving dinner with sliced turkey, mashed potatoes, vegetables, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pie.
Dine-in, or order for pickup. Small family meals are $105 plus tax and tip and large family meals are $160 plus tax and tip.
Omaha Steaks
Omaha Steaks, known for its mail-order beef, also offers a yearly promotion where it will send a whole-basted turkey to your doorstep just in time for Thanksgiving.
"Pick 6" to custom build a Thanksgiving meal with sides and dessert also sent to your front door.
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Gold Belly
Goldbelly ships Thanksgiving dinners nationwide. Choose from a wide variety of mains and sides based on your region.
There are themes to choose from like a Cajuan-style Thanksgiving dinner, a Lebanese-inspired feast or a non-traditional barbeque dinner.
Brio Italian Grille
Brio Italian Grille offers dine-in and to-go orders for Thanksgiving. From roasted turkey to mashed potatoes, they have all the classics.
They will also have their Italian favorites available for order, such as Pasta Brio, Lobster & Shrimp Fettuccine and Gorgonzola Beef Medallions. For kids 12 and younger, they're offering a Thanksgiving kids menu.
Ruth Chris
Dine-in or pre-order from Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse for Thanksgiving. You can get a turkey dinner for for four served with homemade gravy, cornbread-herb stuffing and cranberry relish, and a side and dessert of your choice to go with.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Thanksgiving to-go: Where to pre-order turkey dinner with sides
