Welcome to The Cheater’s Guide to Thanksgiving. While there are plenty of tips out there for folks making scratch desserts and artisan loaves, the Cheater’s Guide focuses on the person who could use a helping hand—even from some unconventional sources. Some might call it “cheating” (like that’s a bad thing), but there’s nothing wrong with using modern technology and supermarket know-how to help you make a bangin’ traditional feast—with much less of the traditional work.
In any well-rounded Thanksgiving feast, the turkey is the focal point. It should be delicious, no doubt, but that doesnt necessarily mean you have to be the one cooking it. Wouldnt it be nice to take a break from brining? Or stop worrying about the amount of seasoning necessary? Maybe even save a few bucks? That’s why I’d like to encourage you to do something a little bit different this year and buy a pre-cooked turkey.
Can You Buy A Cooked Turkey? The Best Places To Get A Pre-Cooked Bird
As Thanksgiving approaches, you may be wondering where you can buy a pre-cooked turkey to save time and effort on the big day. With the right planning, you can find delicious cooked turkey options at many grocery stores, restaurants, local farms, and online retailers.
Buying a fully cooked turkey offers multiple benefits. It frees up your oven space for all the side dishes You won’t have to worry about undercooking the bird or dealing with the mess of prep and clean up And you’ll have more time to focus on appetizers, desserts, and holiday decorating.
So where are the best places to purchase an already roasted turkey? Here are your top choices for picking up convenient pre-made turkey this Thanksgiving season:
Grocery Store Deli Counters
Head to the deli section at supermarkets like Safeway Kroger Costco, Sam’s Club, and Albertsons. Many have whole cooked turkeys or turkey breasts available during the holidays. Call your nearby stores to ask about availability and order ahead if possible. On average, pre-cooked turkey from the grocery store deli costs $2.99 to $5.99 per pound.
Opting for a turkey from your supermarket deli lets you also easily grab side dishes, desserts, and anything else you’ll need for Thanksgiving dinner. It’s a one-stop shop.
Cracker Barrel
Cracker Barrel’s Heat & Serve Roast Turkey Breast Feast feeds up to 5 people for $54.99. The meal includes two carved turkey breasts, cornbread dressing, turkey gravy, cranberry relish, your choice of three country side dishes, sweet yeast rolls, and pumpkin and pecan pies. Just heat and serve for maximum convenience.
Boston Market
Boston Market sells entire oven-roasted holiday turkeys starting at $54.99. You can also order individual turkey breast meals starting at $12.99. Sides like mashed potatoes, mac and cheese, vegetables, and more are available too. Boston Market has over 450 locations nationwide, so check to see if they deliver or you can grab take-out.
Honeybaked Ham
In addition to ham, Honeybaked sells delicious fully cooked whole turkeys ranging from $56 to $150 depending on the size. You can choose roasted, smoked, or Cajun flavored turkey. Allow enough time to thaw Honeybaked’s frozen turkeys before Thanksgiving day.
Harry & David
For premium turkey, Harry & David provides a 10-14lb pre-cooked, oven-roasted Diestel turkey for $139.99. It serves 8-10 people. They also offer complete Turkey Dinner Feasts with sides starting at $199.99 for 4-6 guests.
Omaha Steaks
Omaha Steaks provides mail order turkeys infused with brown sugar and honey. You can order whole turkeys ($99.99), turkey breasts ($59.99), or boneless breasts ($49.99). The turkeys ship in an insulated cooler right to your doorstep.
D’Artagnan
D’Artagnan sells organic and free-range pre-cooked turkeys like organic whole turkeys ($149.99) and turkey breasts ($89.99). Their Feast of the Seven Fishes for Thanksgiving is $179.99. D’Artagnan ships nationwide but has order deadlines to receive your turkey in time for the holiday.
Local Farms & Butcher Shops
Don’t forget about local food providers like family-owned farms, butchers, and farmer’s markets. Many will cook fresh turkeys to order for Thanksgiving. Support your community by shopping local.
Restaurant Take-Out
For ultimate simplicity, call your favorite local restaurants to see if they offer complete Thanksgiving meals to-go. Cracker Barrel, Bob Evans, Boston Market, and family-owned eateries are good options.
The Benefits of Buying Pre-Cooked
Here are some of top reasons to purchase an already cooked turkey:
- Saves oven space for increased food capacity
- Provides peace of mind about proper cooking
- Avoids the work of messy turkey prep
- Allows more time to focus on other holiday tasks
- Offers portion control with individual turkey breasts
- Enables convenience through delivery or take-out
- Lets you try premium turkeys from top brands
This Thanksgiving, give yourself the gift of convenience with a delicious pre-cooked turkey. Take the guesswork and stress out of roasting your centerpiece bird. With so many excellent options at grocery store chains, local markets, restaurants, and online retailers, you’re sure to find the perfect turkey to make your Thanksgiving feast easy yet still impressive.
The turkey that changed my mind
I’ve hosted a few Friendsgivings and I would always prepare the raw turkey myself. I was pretty much sold on the flavor of dry brining and the even, speedy cooking of the spatchcock method. Last year rolled around and I had received two turkeys from Diestel Family Ranch—a frozen raw turkey and a frozen smoked turkey. I’d never had a smoked turkey for Thanksgiving before, and I was thrilled. Moreover, it was completely cooked—it just needed to be thawed and warmed through.
I told my friends we’d be having pre-made smoked turkey that year, and not only did no one tsk-tsk or question the reason that I wasn’t preparing it myself, but this news was met with excitement. I spent the hours leading up to the feast cooking sides, arranging cheese platters, and plating desserts with an extra layer of calm—I didn’t have to cook a turkey. Cool.
When the time came, I unwrapped the thawed smoked turkey, set it up on a roasting pan like the instructions indicated, and heated it through in a 325°F oven. Granted, it took an hour, but that’s still a lot faster than a raw turkey. I checked the temperature to make sure it was hot, but I didn’t have to worry about it being raw or an unsafe temperature inside. I carved it, and served it nestled among a dozen sides.
I think I knew just from the aroma wafting up from the plate that I would no longer be cooking my own Thanksgiving turkeys. This was it. The turkey was gorgeously browned, stupendously flavorful, and perfectly juicy. Clearly the feeling was shared around the table because there was absolutely no turkey left for sandwiches the next day.
Save yourself time and doubt
Having a turkey that had been completely prepared and cooked by professionals took a load off of my shoulders. Not just in regard to timing, but there’s a lot of pressure to make the “perfect” turkey. And if it’s your first time hosting, even the pressure of making an edible turkey can be stifling. There are numerous methods of brining to consider, whether to truss or spatchcock the bird, and the simple act of roasting (let alone smoking or frying) the turkey for hours can be overwhelming. Oh, and then you have to make an entire lineup of side dishes. Right.
If you’re going to cheat just one thing about the Thanksgiving meal, I say, order your turkey. Whether it’s from a turkey farm that specializes in cooking and shipping ready-to-reheat turkeys, or having it catered from your favorite restaurant, it’s absolutely worth it. The professionals have the space and resources to marinade, season, and cook a tasty bird, plus they’ve likely figured out the best way to pack the turkey so it gets to you in the best possible shape.
Possibly the most surprising thing, at least to me, is cost. Many companies sell equal weight seasoned and cooked frozen turkeys for around the same price, or less, as the raw frozen birds they offer. If youre dropping $100+ anyway, then you might as well have the hard part taken care of.
At home, you’ve potentially saved yourself from having to store a frozen turkey or the mess of brining a bird in the fridge (no accidental raw poultry leaks this year). You don’t have to worry about cleaning up raw bird parts. Heating up the catered roast happens in a fraction of the time it takes to cook one from a raw state. This means your oven space is more available for everyones true favorites—side dishes and desserts.
Butterball Fully Cooked Smoked Turkey Breast Review
FAQ
Can you get turkey already cooked?
Frozen Fully Cooked Oven Baked Whole Turkey. Butterball fully cooked whole turkey is always juicy, tender and full of oven-roasted flavor. This baked whole turkey requires no brining or seasoning and less time in the oven than uncooked whole turkeys.
Can I buy a ready cooked turkey?
You can buy a whole, fully cooked smoked turkey frozen from butterball. Just heat it up, or thaw and carve if you want to eat it cold.
Can I buy a cooked turkey from Costco?
Costco’s turkey breasts are sold by weight, and they vary in size. I bought the smallest package I could find, which was about 3 pounds. Mine cost $14.42. The price per pound is $4.79, which is “good” for pre-cooked turkey, and “great” for deli-meat turkey.
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.
Where can I buy a full cooked turkey?
Alongside their signature steaks, Omaha Steaks sells fully cooked turkeys infused with brown sugar and honey. Options include whole turkeys ($99.99), turkey breasts ($59.99), and boneless breasts ($49.99). Order online for delivery in an insulated cooler to your doorstep. For organic and free-range turkeys, check out D’Artagnan.
Where can I buy precooked turkey breast?
You can also find precooked whole turkeys turkey breasts and other cuts that just require reheating. Pick up a turkey and add your own favorite sides for a semi-homemade Thanksgiving dinner. Grocery stores like Kroger, Publix, Whole Foods, Safeway, Stop & Shop, and more offer precooked turkeys during the holidays.
Where can I buy a roasted turkey?
Check the deli section of your local supermarket or specialty grocer. Many have holiday meal packages that include a roasted turkey along with side dishes and desserts. You can also find precooked whole turkeys turkey breasts and other cuts that just require reheating.
How much does a roasted turkey cost?
Prices range from $56-$150 depending on size. Choose roasted, smoked, or Cajun turkey. Honeybaked turkeys arrive frozen, so be sure to allow enough thawing time before Thanksgiving day. Order online for pickup or nationwide shipping. For premium gourmet turkey, Harry & David offers a 10-14lb pre-cooked, oven-roasted Diestel turkey for $139.99.
How many pound turkey do you need for a Thanksgiving dinner?
You can order a complete pre-cooked holiday feast that serves 10-12, to be delivered right to your door. The meal comes with an 11 to 13 pound turkey, gravy, cornbread stuffing, sweet potato souffle with pecan topping, and a pecan pie. The gourmet food retailer offers a 10-pound oven-roasted turkey with two-day shipping.
How much does a pre cooked turkey cost in Boston?
Order online for pickup or delivery. With over 450 locations across the country, there’s likely a Boston Market near you to supply a convenient pre-cooked turkey. Despite the name, Honeybaked Ham sells delicious fully-cooked whole turkeys too. Prices range from $56-$150 depending on size. Choose roasted, smoked, or Cajun turkey.