
Photo: Ashley Zapata
Even if the holidays are different and your party is smaller this year, you can still enjoy a delicious Thanksgiving dinner—without even cooking. Local grocery stores and restaurants throughout the metro have you covered. And if you do want to cook the feast, I have tips to help you prepare a delicious dinner. This year, Thanksgiving is on November 26.
Grocery Store Thanksgiving Options
A great selection of cooked and ready meals that you just need to heat and serve are a saving grace for the holidays—and include pie. Keep in mind that while the meals are fully cooked, the elements are cold from refrigeration and will need time to heat, so factor that into your planning. A fully cooked turkey will still need about an hour in the oven to heat before serving. Meals should come with heating instructions. Meals are available while supplies last at select stores and need to be ordered in advance. Here are highlights; stores offer additional selections and a la carte items.
HyVee
Turkey Party Pleaser (Serves 8) $89.99
Ham or Turkey Dinner $29.99 (Serves 2); $49.99 (Serves 4)
Orders can be placed up to 25 days prior to pick up
Kowalski’s
Small Turkey Dinner (Serves 4-6) $109.99
Turkey Dinner (Serves 10-12) $169.99
Thanksgiving meals are available for curbside pickup, in-store pickup or delivery on November 24 or 25, only. There will be no deliveries after 4 p.m. If ordering with less than 48 hours, call your local market.
Lunds & Byerlys
Dinners come complete with side dishes, buns, dessert and step-by-step cooking instructions. Additional side dishes also available for order. Place your order by November 18. Items will be available for in-store pickup on November 24 after 10 a.m. or by 8 p.m. November 25.
Turkey Dinner $99.99 (Serves 3-5), $169.99 (Serves 8-10)
Whole Foods
All orders must be placed 48 hours ahead of pick up date and time.
Classic Whole Roast Turkey Breast Dinner $79.99 (Serves 4)
Classic Whole Roast Turkey Dinner $129.99 (Serves 8)
Festive Feast for 12: Includes both a turkey and ham as well as sides and two desserts $279.99

FireLake Grill House
Restaurants
Birch’s on The Lake, Long Lake
Pre-order a family style feast that includes oven roasted turkey, giblet gravy, cranberry cherry chutney, smoked ham, brown mustard sauce, gruyere whipped potatoes, brown butter sage stuffing, mac and cheese casserole, trout Caesar salad, parmesan spaghetti squash, roasted Brussels sprouts, dinner rolls and dessert pie platter. Guests can also add on beer and wine. Orders must be placed by November 21 for pickup November 25 12 p.m. – 4 p.m. $220 (Serves 4-6). For dining in, Birch’s offers the same menu as the family style Thanksgiving feast November 26 11 a.m.– 6 p.m. Order online at birchsonthelake.com or make a reservation for dining in. Adults $45, Kids 4-12 $22, Free for 3 and under.
Buca di Beppo
The popular Italian eatery knows a thing or two about cooking for a crowd. The restaurants will feature Thanksgiving classics—sliced white meat turkey, homestyle gravy, roasted garlic mashed potatoes, spicy Italian sausage stuffing, green beans, cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie—available for dining in or ordering online for takeout. Their regular menu of Italian favorites is also available.
Thanksgiving Dinner To Go:
Small: $68.99 (Serves 3) • Large: $138 (Serves 6)
Thanksgiving Hours: 10 a.m. available for order pick up / Dining rooms open at 11 a.m.
The Buttered Tin Bakery, St. Paul
The Buttered Tin has branched out and will be offering frozen pies this Thanksgiving. The Freshly Frozen pie flavors are Peach Streusel, Blueberry Crumble, French Apple, and Cherry Almond. Available to order and pick up at five locations throughout the Twin Cities. Now through Nov. 23. Pre-baked pies such as Pumpkin, Key Lime, Banana Cream five other flavors can also be ordered online and picked up at The Buttered Tin.
D’Amico Catering
This freshly prepared Thanksgiving meal features turkey breast and thighs, mashed potatoes, gravy, salads, cranberries, sweet potatoes, green bean casserole, dressing and pumpkin pie. Order by November 23, pickup at Edinburgh USA golf course in Brooklyn Park or Metropolitan Ballroom & Clubroom in Golden Valley 3-6 p.m. November 25. $195 (Serves 6).
FireLake Grill House, Mall of America
A Thanksgiving feast features dishes made with local ingredients: green salad, Local Cider-Cured Wild Acres Farm Turkey, Eichten’s White Cheddar Herb Mashed Potatoes, Cranberry Orange Relish, Minnesota Wild Rice Stuffing; Cider Gravy; Maple-Glazed Yams and Apples; and Green Bean Casserole with cremini mushrooms and crispy shallots. Top it off with Pumpkin Praline Pie topped with cinnamon whipped cream for dessert. $150 (Serves 4). Order by November 23. Available for carside pickup November 25. Dine-in reservations for November 26 also available.
Granite City Food & Brewery
A three-course Thanksgiving dinner is available to go that includes: Crispy apple salad, dinner rolls with honey herb butter, sliced turkey breast, stuffing, gravy, cranberry chutney, garlic-mashed potatoes and gravy, sweet potatoes, green bean casserole, mac & cheese, creamed corn succotash and house-made pumpkin pie. $28.99 per person. More info and to order: Eagan, Maple Grove, Roseville.
Plus, every order placed and completed will be entered for a grand prize giveaway of a $100 Granite City Gift Card to be drawn Nov. 27, 2020.
Holman’s Table, St. Paul
Take and Bake meal includes: Fresh herb roasted turkey (sliced white meat and pulled dark meat), green bean almondine, cranberry sauce, dinner rolls, sage stuffing, skin on mashed potatoes, gravy and pumpkin pie. Thanksgiving Take + Bake Meal serves $100 (Serves 4-5) Take & Bake, pick up November 24 or 25. Open for dine-in Thanksgiving.
Jax Café, Minneapolis
Traditional Thanksgiving Dinner: soup or salad, roast turkey, sage dressing, cranberry sauce, potatoes, gravy, roasted yams and vegetable. Choice of pumpkin or pecan pie. $43.95 per person (children’s prices available). Open for in-person dining. Limited take out service 11 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Lake Elmo Inn
A four-course Thanksgiving meal is available for dine-in or Thanksgiving in a Box for curbside pickup. Boxes are sold in twos. Choose one item from each course. Boxes include a bottle of champagne or n/a. Pick-Up 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Call the restaurant to place your order 651-777-8495. $130 (Serves 6) or $225 (Serves 10-12). Dine in $40 adults, $20 children (3-11).
The Lexington, St.Paul
Dine-in or order online by November 18 for curbside pick-up. Those dining in get a 3-course dinner for $49.95. Entrée options include salmon in pastry, herb roasted turkey, sliced beef tenderloin or parsnip risotto. Each entree comes with your choice of one side and dessert options including pumpkin, Dutch apple or pecan praline pie.
Curbside pick-up ($185 Serves 6): Order online by November 18 and pick up at The Lexington between 10-11:30 a.m. on Thanksgiving morning; just heat and serve at home. Includes: herb roasted turkey breast and cider braised turkey leg, roasted Brussels sprout hash, whipped Yukon gold potatoes, dark rum sweet potato casserole, whole wheat brown-butter and sage stuffing, dinner rolls, cranberry chutney, gravy and house made pumpkin pie with salted caramel whipped cream.
Nicollet Island Inn, Minneapolis
This year, the elegant inn along the banks of the Mississippi River is featuring a four-course Thanksgiving feast that is available both in the dining room or for pick-up to enjoy at home. There are three seatings available at 11 am, 1:30 pm and 4:00pm. Each dinner comes complete with a “leftover” turkey sandwich to enjoy the next day. Click here for this year’s Thanksgiving menu.
Red Cow/Red Rabbit, Minneapolis/St. Paul
Thanksgiving dinner comes fully prepared; just heat and serve at home. Meal includes: turkey breast, mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffing, mac n cheese, green bean casserole, cranberries, charcuterie board, pumpkin pie and assorted artisan breads. You can add on additional sides, a bottle of wine or a cocktail kit. Order online and pick up from Red Cow Uptown November 25, 9 a.m-6 p.m. $199 (Serves 4-6).
Union Hmong Kitchen, Minneapolis
This unique dinner features a free-range turkey, egg roll stuffing, and Hmong sides including purple sticky rice, blistered string beans, Hmong Tater Tot Hotdish, Galabao (steambuns) and Matcha Cheesecake Pie. It comes with banana leaves to deck your table out for the feast. Everything is cooked, just needs to be warmed up. $385 (Serves 8-10). Pickup at Republic in Minneapolis. More descriptive list and ordering here.
Travail Kitchen, Robbinsdale
This dinner includes 5 pounds smoked white meat turkey and two turkey legs, mashed potatoes, gravy, sweet potato casserole with marshmallow topping, green bean casserole, Stuffing, Cranberry Sauce, Shrimp Cocktail, dinner rolls and Pumpkin Pie $195 (Serves 4-6). Pick up or delivery November 24 or 25.

Photo: JOSHUA RESNICK - ADOBE
Cooking Tips
Planning to cook your own Thanksgiving feast? Even if it’s something you have never tackled before, it can be easier than you think. I have highlighted some tips on this site that can help you from the planning to preparing and serving here. And creating a festive feast doesn’t need to involve an entire bird; I also share recipes to prepare only part of the turkey for a smaller holiday dinner or to make anytime turkey is sounding tasty.
Jennie-O Hotline
The team at Jennie-O’s 1-800-TURKEYS hotline is available to offer advice on a variety of topics like techniques for cooking a turkey, wine and drink pairings, and even leftover recipe inspiration. You can also text the word Turkey to 77876 or live chat.