The 5 Best Pre-Made Thanksgiving Dinners For A Memorable Meal Sans Stress (2024)

Julia Edelstein

Contributor

Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own.

Preparation: Thaw and reheat in oven | What’s Included: Main, 2 sides, 1 dessert | Price Per Serving: $36.25 | Cut-Off Date: November 17 for November 23 delivery

Williams Sonoma’s Complete Pre-Roasted Turkey Dinner includes handcrafted iterations of four Turkey Day classics. The star is a 10 to 13-pound bird, which arrives pre-roasted, fresh and surrounded by ice packs; the rest of the meal arrives frozen and packed in dry ice. Customers also receive two trays of buttery, garlic-laden mashed potatoes and two trays of green beans almondine. And don’t forget dessert: Williams Sonoma is known for its treats, after all, so it makes sense that the included 9-inch pumpkin pie is a bona fide crowd pleaser. If you prefer wider variety, then opt for the “Ultimate” version of this meal, which is pricier at $56 per person but also comes with two trays each of Brussels sprouts with pancetta, maple squash au gratin, sausage cranberry stuffing, plus fixings like cranberry relish and gravy.

Hosting a smaller crowd, or in the mood for something a little more unexpected? There’s also a Deluxe Thanksgiving Dinner, which serves four to six guests and features a varied and adventurous menu. Six frozen, pre-prepared side dishes add to the fun of the turkey—truffle mashed potatoes, corn pudding and mushroom risotto are among the most delicious-sounding. Or with the retailer’s other pre-made meal packages, you can opt to further customize your experience by adding on hors d’oeuvres, sizing down to turkey breasts instead of the full bird or rounding things out with à la carte extras, like fluffy dinner rolls.

Preparation: Thaw and reheat in oven | What’s Included: 2 mains, 6 sides, 3 desserts | Price Per Serving: $20 | Cut-Off Date: November 16 for November 23 delivery

Good news for large families: You can host as many as 20 people for a traditional Thanksgiving feast without hiring a caterer or cooking yourself. The “Wow” Holiday Meal from Harry & David, perhaps the best-known name in gourmet gifts, is enough to feed a whopping 18 to 20 servings.

The meal comes with two mains: a spiral-sliced honey-glazed ham and an oven-roasted turkey with gravy and chutney on the side. You can also treat your guests to six sumptuous side dishes, all of which are clever spins on classics (like apple sausage walnut stuffing, brown sugar sweet potatoes and beyond). Dessert is a buffet unto itself: Apple pie, the company’s signature “Cinnamon Swirl” and baklava are all included.

If you’re in the market for a smaller meal, on the other hand, you can still look to Harry & David. The company’s signature Gourmet Turkey Feast serves eight to 10 people, and it comes entirely frozen. (Note that the turkey in this particular meal needs to thaw for two to three days before reheating.)

Preparation: Thaw and reheat in oven | What’s Included: Main, 3 sides, 1 dessert | Price Per Serving: $25 | Cut-Off Date: Varies by shipping location; order ASAP to ensure timely delivery

If “tried and true” is what you’re after, look no further than Omaha Steaks’ Thanksgiving Turkey Feast. The brand has been serving up their signature holiday recipes for decades, and with everything from mains to sides included, it’s no wonder it’s become a go-to sanity saver for so many families across the country.

An eight-pound turkey is the centerpiece here—it’s smoked over hardwood for up to 14 hours and cured with brown sugar—but don’t sleep on the sides. A freezer-to-oven green bean casserole, stuffed baked potatoes laden with all manner of fixings (sour cream, cheddar, bacon and more) and individual baguettes are all included. Finish things off with Omaha Steaks’ bestselling caramel apple tartlets and a few scoops of vanilla ice cream; then, just wait for the compliments to pour in.

Preparation: Thaw and reheat in oven | What’s Included: Main, 2 sides, dessert | Price Per Serving: $42.50 | Cut-Off Date: Varies by shipping location; order ASAP to ensure timely delivery

Craving pecan pie, sweet potatoes and other down-home fare? Opt for a delivery from Commander’s Palace’s this year. The New Orleans restaurant has earned a whopping seven James Beard Foundation Awards, and while it’s most famous for its garlic bread and gumbo, its Thanksgiving meals have become equally legendary over the years.

For well under $200, customers receive a smoked turkey basted with fragrant herb butter, a side of whipped sweet potatoes with molasses and sea salt, a smoked tasso and andouille stuffing and a perfectly caramelized pecan pie. All of the dishes ship frozen with ice packs, and they’re set to last up to three days in the refrigerator or up to three months in the freezer—just be sure to leave enough time for everything to thaw fully before cooking or serving. Cognac gravy is available as an add-on here.

Preparation: Thaw and reheat in oven and microwave | What’s Included: Main, 4 sides, gravy | Price Per Serving: $25 | Cut-Off Date: Varies by store location; order ASAP to ensure timely delivery

Chef and cookbook author Chloe Coscarelli is known for giving new life to all manner of vegan delicacies, and that’s precisely what she’s accomplished in this exclusive-to-Whole-Foods menu. It’s a pared-down meal, to be sure, but for smaller households and couples (or to satisfy plant-based guests attending a larger Thanksgiving feast), it could be an excellent choice.

Dish offerings include a hearty cremini mushroom roast complete with gravy, miso-creamed greens, a coconut-laden sweet potato casserole, pumpkin curry soup and jalapeño cornbread dressing. Don’t worry about skimping on flavor: There’s plenty of it here, and all for $50. Upon ordering, the entire menu can be picked up from participating Whole Foods the week before Thanksgiving.