As the holidays approach, visions of perfectly roasted turkeys may be dancing in your head. But the reality of tackling the large bird can be daunting for many. If you want to skip the hassle of thawing, prepping, and cooking a raw turkey this Thanksgiving, purchasing a pre-made turkey is the convenient solution. With so many options from grocery stores to restaurants to mail order, you can easily buy a ready-to-eat turkey without sacrifice in taste and quality. Read on for the best places to purchase prepared whole turkeys and turkey breasts this Thanksgiving season.
Grocery Store Deli Counters
One of the easiest local options is to check your grocery store’s deli counter. Many major chains like Kroger, Safeway, Albertsons, Publix, and H-E-B sell whole roasted turkeys and boneless turkey breast roasts ready for heating.
Lead times and availability vary by location, so call your nearby stores 1-2 weeks ahead to order. Expect to pay around $2.99-$4.99 per pound. Opting for a pre-cooked grocery store turkey lets you grab all your Thanksgiving sides, drinks, and other essentials in one convenient stop.
Whole Foods Market
All Whole Foods Market locations provide fully cooked turkeys and complete Thanksgiving meals through their catering menu. Sizes range from 6-14 pound whole turkeys and 5-7 pound turkey breast roasts. You can order by visiting the store or online at least 48 hours prior to your desired pickup date. Prices start around $49.99.
Whole Foods offers broad options including free-range, organic, and brined turkeys to suit your preferences. You can also add on ready-to-heat sides like mashed potatoes, green beans, cornbread stuffing, cranberry sauce, gravy, and more.
Boston Market
Boston Market is a go-to chain for hassle-free holiday meals. They sell fully cooked whole turkeys from 8-16 pounds as well as boneless turkey breast roasts from 3-7 pounds. Simply place your order online or visit your nearest location 24 hours prior to pickup. Reheat and serve!
Whole turkeys start at $64.99 and breast roasts are $49.99 and up. Broths and sides like mashed potatoes, veggies, mac and cheese, cornbread, and cranberry sauce are also available to complement your turkey.
HoneyBaked Ham
Despite the name, HoneyBaked Ham offers delicious ready-to-eat whole turkeys too Available sizes range from 10-20 pounds, with prices from $5999-$139.99 depending on the weight.
HoneyBaked turkeys arrive frozen so be sure to allow enough thawing time. Order online 48 hours in advance for pickup at your designated store. HoneyBaked also sells heat-and-serve ham and side dishes for a full holiday spread.
Cracker Barrel
Cracker Barrel’s Heat & Serve Roast Turkey Breast Feast feeds up to 5 people for $5499 The complete meal includes two carved turkey breasts, cornbread dressing, turkey gravy, cranberry relish, choice of three country side dishes, sweet yeast rolls, and pumpkin and pecan pies. Simply reheat and enjoy!
Cracker Barrel also provides convenient family Thanksgiving feasts to-go. Order online for pickup 1-2 days in advance.
Grocery Delivery
Consider grocery delivery services like Instacart and Shipt which partner with local stores. Browse their apps to check availability of prepared turkeys in your area. Schedule delivery 1-2 days ahead to get the size you need. While fees apply, it’s convenient to order a turkey and all your sides in one online order.
Restaurant Take-Out
For maximum simplicity, call ahead to reserve a complete Thanksgiving meal from a local restaurant! Options like Boston Market, Cracker Barrel, and Bob Evans commonly offer holiday catering. Check with family-owned restaurants too.
Local Farms & Butchers
Don’t overlook smaller local sources like farms, butchers, and caterers advertising pre-made turkeys. Search platforms like Facebook, Craigslist, Google, Yelp, Nextdoor, and farmers’ market listings. Ordering through a local provider supports small businesses in your community.
Mail Order & Delivery Services
Several online retailers ship ready-to-cook turkeys nationwide:
- Harry & David – Diestel heirloom turkeys $139.99, serves 8-10
- Williams Sonoma – Free-range Willie Bird turkeys $149.95, 7-16 pounds
- Hickory Farms – Honey cured smoked turkey $89.99, 8-10 pounds
- D’Artagnan – Organic & free-range turkeys $149.99+
Meal kits like HelloFresh and Blue Apron also offer smaller prepared turkey breast meals for Thanksgiving.
Benefits of Buying Pre-Made
Purchasing a pre-cooked turkey provides multiple perks:
- Saves oven space for sides
- Avoids thawing/handling raw meat
- Prevents worrying about undercooking
- Allows more time to focus on other dishes
- Provides portion control with turkey breasts
- Offers effortless heating with restaurant take-out
- Supports local farms and eateries
This Thanksgiving, give yourself the gift of convenience and buy a delicious prepared turkey. With so many excellent options from grocery stores to delivery services, you can serve an amazing holiday meal without the fuss. Focus instead on enjoying time with loved ones – that’s what the holidays are really about!
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We Rated
- Delivery Process: The first step of this taste test wasnt cooking the turkey or tasting it—instead it was getting the package delivered and inside our testers homes. They noted if they had to sign for the turkey or if it was left out, and whether it came fully frozen or not. Then it was time for the thawing process.
- Taste: After thawing, cooking according to the instructions, and carving, our testers finally got to taste their turkey. Conclusions were drawn about the flavor, moistness, tenderness, and how it compares to other turkeys theyve tested and some theyve had before.
- Value: After plates were finished and our testers digested, we asked them about the price of the turkey and whether or not they think it is a valuable option for a holiday meal.
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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Comparing grocery stores’ premade turkey dinners
FAQ
Can you buy a fully cooked turkey for Thanksgiving?
Whole Foods sells Thanksgiving meals with a whole cooked turkey, stuffing, and a bunch of typical thanksgiving sides. You have to order it a bit in advance and it’s expensive, though.
Can you buy ready cooked turkeys?
Pre Cooked Turkey Roast Dinner. A delicious Christmas dinner with all the trimmings without the hassle! Lovingly prepared by our expert chefs just for you. Ideal for people who struggle to cook or elderly people.
Does Costco sell cooked turkeys for Thanksgiving?
The Costco Turkey
Costco sells both frozen and fully cooked turkeys ahead of the big day, along with a variety of other meats (who doesn’t love options).
Do supermarkets sell cooked turkey?
Delicious served hot or cold, this succulent cooked turkey is perfect for Christmas lunch or for feeding a crowd. Product legal description: Cooked and roasted formed turkey breast topped with stuffing and bacon.