If it’s your first time cooking a Thanksgiving feast on your own, you may need to learn how to roast a small-sized turkey and you should probably read up on mistakes to avoid when making mashed potatoes. Maybe a pint-sized pie with complicated directions is on the menu (reminder: Trader Joe’s isn’t open on Thanksgiving Day in case of a disaster). Head spinning yet? You’re not alone. In fact, according to a 2020 survey by HelloFresh, 53 percent of Americans said their Thanksgiving stress doubled last year, with nearly 20 percent revealing that they were hosting at home for the first time. One in 10 even said they’d skip celebrating entirely. But here’s the thing: If you don’t feel like spending your holiday—and the entire week before—in the kitchen, you don’t have to. If hosting a holiday meal intimidates you, having someone else take care of the food may be the way to go. Many restaurants around the country offer catering and takeout, and we encourage you to support local businesses in your area, especially during this time of year. (Remember to tip well. It’s the holidays!) But if you’d like to order ahead, full Thanksgiving meals—as well as various meal kits—are available to help make things a little easier. Here’s a list of our favorite options for outsourcing Thanksgiving dinner.
Best Services for Thanksgiving Delivery
Best Organic Dinner: Sunbasket Best Turkey Dinner: HelloFresh Best Thanksgiving Sides: Home Chef Best Vegan Thanksgiving: Purple Carrot Best Thanksgiving Desserts: Goldbelly Best Full Thanksgiving Menu: Blue Apron Best Thanksgiving Appetizers: Harry & David Best Mac & Cheese: Williams-Sonoma Best for Hostess Gifts: Hickory Farms
The second option is Beef Tenderloin + Sides ($135 + $9 shipping), which serves four to six people. Included is a peppercorn-crusted beef tenderloin with sherry thyme jus and all the same sides as the Turkey box, except for the cranberry sauce (and it comes with beef gravy instead of classic). Place your order no later than November 18—the box did sell out in years past, so we recommend ordering now. It should be noted that the turkey needs four days to thaw, so allow for that when setting up your delivery. The food will be transported in a climate-controlled box to ensure freshness and it can be shipped anywhere in the U.S.
