Skip the lines and limited selection at your grocery store this November. You can order turkey for Thanksgiving and get a fresh, tasty bird without leaving home.
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Thanksgiving will be here before we know it. And ahead of watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, shopping for Black Friday sales and gathering with loved ones, there’s an important detail on the to-do list: Buy the turkey for Thanksgiving. If you’d prefer to skip the grocery store lines, try ordering one of these delicious birds directly to your door. We found juicy, flavorful options for every feast.
While you’re waiting for your turkey to arrive, brush up on our best-kept turkey tips. Learn how to brine, season and spatchcock your bird for extra flavor. Or, discover why it’s not the best idea to cook your turkey with stuffing. At a bare minimum, consult our chart on how long to cook a turkey.
Our Top Pick: Free-Range Pre-Brined Organic Turkey
Your favorite store for buying table settings and stocking up on cookware also sells turkey. Williams Sonoma partnered with Willie Bird to bring a variety of free-range options to your holiday table. Whether you prefer your turkey plain, brined, organic, pre-roasted, smoked, boneless or even stuffed, there’s a Willie Bird for every home cook. You can also find a wide variety of sizes, ranging from petite 10- to 12-pound birds to monstrous options weighing more than 20 pounds.
For stuffed options, choose from focaccia or cranberry and sausage. Boneless breast picks span smoked, pepper smoked and honey pepper for those who prefer a sweeter flavor. For a fancier presentation, consider one of the spatchcock turkeys, which also comes in an organic version. There’s also a bone-in turkey breast for smaller gatherings.
Our Top Pick: Narragansett and Bourbon Red Heritage Turkey
There’s a reason why highly rated D’Artagnan turkeys taste so good: They’re raised free-range on American farms, without any antibiotics or hormones. The focus is on treating birds well, and the Taste of Home staff considers D’Artagnan turkeys a Thanksgiving essential.
Their heritage turkeys are non-hybrid Narragansett and Bourbon Red breeds that are raised free-range and grow at their own pace. The Green Circle label is certified by Humane Farm Animal Care and also raised free-range on a diet of grains and vegetables. In addition, the brand’s USDA-certified organic turkey, like the other two options, uses zero antibiotics, growth hormones or arsenicals. The company sells whole, unseasoned turkeys, as well as ground turkey and breast-only options.
Our Top Pick: The Original Turkey
If you want to stray from tradition, Goldbelly turkey delivery has your back. This mail-order service allows you to order iconic eats from all across America. Whether you’re in the mood for fusions like turkey and brisket or a full-on traditional Thanksgiving spread, you’re bound to find the perfect feast for the family here.
Try cajun deep-fried turkey from Uncle Ray’s or smoked turkey legs from Alewel’s Country Meats. Feel like a stuffed bird? There’s a cheesy broccoli turkey that’s bound to be the talk of the table. Or, snag one that’s pre-sliced for the ultimate time saver. There’s even a turducken, if you’re feeling adventurous! Whatever you choose, it’s sure to be memorable.
Our Top Pick: The Wow Holiday Meal
Harry & David is one of our favorite places to find gourmet gifts, so naturally, we had to take a peek at their turkey offerings. For a classic holiday feel, they offer standard smoked and roasted birds. Or, splurge on oven-roasted and smoked turkeys from the Diestel Family Ranch in California, which also made our list. Where Harry & David really shines, however, is in its complete meal packages. Secure a full turkey feast complete with sides like black truffle and almond green beans and New York-style pumpkin cheesecake, or build your own spread.
For folks who don’t want a lot of fuss but want to enjoy a gourmet option, there’s also turkey and stuffing wellington. Prefer ham for holidays? Pick up a sliced ham and turkey sampler or a ham and turkey brunch for a twist on the classic Thanksgiving meal.
Our Top Pick: Holiday on the Farm Bundle
Wrangling the main course for Thanksgiving has never been easier, thanks to Perdue Farms. The company offers turkey breasts, whole turkeys and bundles that include both turkey and ham. This is ideal for families looking to hold on to tradition and try their hand at a new one all at once.
Not looking forward to the stress of managing a holiday meal? No matter—just opt for the full holiday dinner bundle and skip the tricky timing. This quick-cook behemoth feast brings two holiday roasts, plus green beans, gourmet mashed potatoes and apple desserts to the table fast. We love that this bundle means there’s no need to think about how much turkey to make per person!
Our Top Pick: Whole Turkey
After thorough expert testing, we named Porter Road the best overall spot to order meat online. So, of course, it’s on our Thanksgiving turkey list, too! While we haven’t enjoyed their turkey yet, we tried a wide assortment from the brand. Our favorites include ground chorizo, chicken breasts, pork chops, ribeye steaks, bacon, burgers and breakfast sausage. Each cut was deeply flavorful and cooked up beautifully, so we have high hopes for these turkeys!
Choose from three sizes: 10-12.5 pounds, 13-15.5 pounds or 16-19 pounds. These pasture-raised birds are free from hormones and antibiotics, and they’re just begging for a herby brine or flavored butter rub.
Our Top Pick: Jaindl Grand Champion Turkey
These pasture-raised turkeys from Blackwing Farms in Northern Indiana are raised without antibiotics or hormones, ensuring high-quality meat. Available exclusively through Crowd Cow, these turkeys range from 10 to 22 pounds, depending on the size chosen. They’re also the turkeys served at the White House, so you know they have to be good!
Pre-order begins on October 27 to allow plenty of time for thawing and preparation before Thanksgiving. While the turkeys do come with a custom Crowd Cow apron, they don’t arrive pre-brined, so they’re not the best choice for saving time. However, Jaindl turkeys are specifically bred for their juiciness and flavor, so they’re well worth the prep!
Our Top Pick: Turkey Feast Box
Our ButcherBox review explains that, yes, this mail-order meat service really is worth the hype. We love the brand’s quality standards and ethical sourcing, and their turkey box is ready to wow everyone at your holiday table. It features a humanely raised 14- to 18-pound turkey. Each turkey box comes with everything needed to DIY a delicious roasted turkey spread, including a whole turkey, ground pork, turkey breast, bacon, brining mix and a brine bag. Plus, shipping is free!
If you’re craving a different kind of poultry, ButcherBox is also one of our favorite spots for buying chicken online. “ButcherBox’s chicken roasts up wonderfully without much help,” says tester Allison T.S. Robicelli. “Simply seasoned and roasted atop a bed of vegetables in my Great Jones Dutch oven, it came out tender and juicy, with the sort of flavor that makes rotisserie chickens look downright depressing in comparison.”
Our Top Pick: Whole Brown Sugar Basted Turkey
Omaha Steaks is also a favorite for ordering Easter and Christmas dinner, so of course, it’s one of the best places to find festive turkeys. From whole basted turkeys to smoked birds and breast cuts, the brand is bound to have exactly what you need. Each of the brown-sugar-and-honey pre-basted birds comes with a cooking bag and pop-up timer, so there’s no need to run out for supplies.
But that’s not all—the butcher also brings full meals to the table with an assortment of pre-made packages. Choose from cozy traditional meals, ham and turkey dinners and even options with wine included! You can also choose from several sides and desserts when you build your own dinner. For those who don’t like brown sugar bastes, there’s also a homestyle breast dinner that’s ideal for small families.
Our Top Pick: Amish Turkey
Meat N’ Bone turkeys are hatched, grown, and processed in the Midwest by local Amish family farmers in Troy, Michigan. The farm is committed to ethical animal rearing, so buying from them is an investment you can feel good about. As such, the turkeys are raised without any antibiotics, hormones, crowding or cruelty—and you can definitely taste the difference.
Choose from uncooked or prepared turkeys , which come prepped with Chef Chucho’s special brine and slow roasted for phenomenal flavor. You can even add specialty sides to the order, for a full meal that works out to around $38 per person. Additionally, there’s also the option to pick up a turkey breast for smaller gatherings. Brine your bare turkey with your own concoction, or opt for Chef Chucho’s special brine, available separately.
Our Top Pick: Regenerative Pasture Raised Whole Turkey
When you think of Thanksgiving, you’re probably picturing a Diestel turkey. These pasture-raised birds bring so much flavor and juiciness to the table that they’re practically synonymous with Thanksgiving. There are options for every meal and method, from unprepared and organic options that arrive chilled to oven-roasted and brined and seasoned fare.
We especially love the variety of their smoked options, which include slow-cooked, naturally smoked turkeys and a flavorful pecan-smoked option. However, our favorite offering is their Regenerative turkeys, which graze on rotational plots of land to regenerate the soil. Not many folks can say that their Thanksgiving meal is helping the environment!
Plan to order a turkey for Thanksgiving well before the feast to ensure enough time for delivery. Fortunately, turkeys are fairly easy birds to ship, store and prep. Many brands even ship frozen turkeys that can survive in your freezer for months until Thanksgiving.
Just make sure to thaw your turkey in advance. The rule of thumb is to allow one day of thawing for every 4 pounds, so a larger turkey can take five or six days.
When ordering a turkey for Thanksgiving, it’s important to consider key factors like the type of turkey, preparation options, size and delivery to ensure a stress-free holiday meal.
If you prioritize convenience or budget, frozen is a good option, but for superior taste and texture, fresh is the way to go.
There are three common types of turkeys to consider:
Another key consideration is whether to choose a pre-cooked or raw turkey:
A good rule of thumb is to plan for about 1.5 pounds of turkey per guest. If you love leftovers, consider bumping them up to two pounds per person.
For smaller gatherings, opting for turkey breasts might be a better fit. For larger groups, a full bird is usually needed, and you’ll find a wide range of sizes to accommodate your party.
To avoid disappointment on Thanksgiving Day, order your turkey early and check shipping deadlines carefully. Many retailers have delivery cutoffs, so make sure your turkey arrives with enough time to fully thaw (for frozen turkeys) or to season and prepare (for fresh turkeys). Proper planning ensures a stress-free holiday meal.
We researched over 20 vendors, including major retailers, specialty farms and turkey delivery services, evaluating each based on quality, variety, customer satisfaction, price and shipping reliability. Our analysis covered customer reviews, product freshness, flavor and price comparisons to find both budget-friendly and premium options. We also assessed shipping policies—delivery times, fees and deadlines—to ensure vendors could meet holiday demands without delays. After narrowing the list to the top vendors, we selected those offering the best combination of taste, price and reliability for a successful Thanksgiving meal.
The best time to order a Thanksgiving turkey depends on whether you’re getting a frozen or fresh bird:
Plan for about 1.5 pounds of turkey per guest. If you want leftovers for the next day, consider two pounds per person.
Yes! Many vendors offer fully cooked turkeys that can be eaten cold or reheated, saving you time on preparation.
If you want to skip the messy brining and cooking step, there are many places to order a pre-cooked turkey for Thanksgiving. Our favorites are Willie Bird at Williams Sonoma, Goldbelly and Perdue Farms.
Craving crispy skin and succulent, juicy meat—without the fire hazard? Buy pre-cooked fried turkey on Goldbelly via Uncle Ray’s.
Madi Koetting is a former Taste of Home shopping editor. With over five years of experience as a writer and editor, she has reviewed hundreds of home and kitchen products, bringing her expertise to research the best places to order a turkey for Thanksgiving. Madi’s work also appears in publications like Better Homes & Gardens, Stylecaster and Reader’s Digest.
Paul Rankin, Content Updates Editor at Taste of Home, updated and contributed research to this article. Paul is also a product tester and writer at Bob Vila and has written shopping guides since 2021.
For this piece, we also spoke to lifestyle expert, cookbook author and award-winning fashion designer Peter Som. Known for his sophisticated approach to cooking and design, Peter brings his personal sense of style to the holiday season by infusing tradition with creativity, and making entertaining feel both elegant and effortless. From planning a stress-free dinner party to setting an impressive table, Peter’s philosophy for celebrating is about ease, joy, and meaningful personal touches.
