The short answer
Thanksgiving dinner to go in 2026 ranges from a $30 Target grocery bundle you cook yourself to a $220 hot carryout bundle at Maggiano’s. Decide first whether you want groceries, a cold meal to reheat, or hot food, because that choice sets both the price and the deadline.
- Earliest deadline: Costco’s $199.99 online dinner for eight closes for preorder on November 13.
- Lowest cost per person: Walmart’s $35 basket feeds 10, but you do all the cooking.
- Easiest reheat: Cracker Barrel’s Heat & Serve meals, about $119.99 and $189.99, take two hours or less.
- Hot on the day: Maggiano’s hot bundle ($220, feeds 4 to 5) is picked up on November 26.
- Before you go: call your location, because prices, hours and cutoffs vary by store.
In this article
A Thanksgiving dinner to go, in plain terms, is a holiday meal you buy from a restaurant or grocer rather than cook from scratch. Thanksgiving falls on Thursday, November 26, 2026, and this page lists only 2026 details, drawn from brand pages and releases, with any news-report exceptions named. Where a brand has not published a detail, the table says so, instead of repeating last year’s price.
Thanksgiving Dinner To Go Compared: Price, Deadline and Pickup
Check the “what you get” column first, since the cheapest offers are uncooked groceries.
| Brand | What you get | Feeds | Price | Order deadline | Pickup | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Walmart | Holiday Meal Basket: 26 grocery items, including a frozen Butterball turkey (10 to 16 lb). You cook it. | 10 | $35 before fees (fees of $0 to $19.95 may apply). Not offered in AK, HI, OK, PR or WI. | No cutoff listed; price valid through Dec. 24 | Stores, curbside, Express Pickup or delivery | Walmart release |
| Target | Thanksgiving meal: groceries, including a Butterball turkey up to 10 lb. You cook it. | 6 | $30 before tax. Not valid in AK or HI. | No cutoff listed; price valid Nov. 8 to 29 | Not announced as of November 7, 2026 | Target release |
| Sam’s Club | Member’s Mark meal: hickory smoked turkey, carver ham, sides, charcuterie tray and two pumpkin pies. About two hours to prepare. | Up to 16 | Just under $160 before tax; varies by club | Not announced as of November 7, 2026; orders opened Oct. 28 | In club, curbside or delivery | Sam’s Club release |
| Costco | Complete Gourmet Thanksgiving Turkey Dinner: 5 lb turkey breast, gravy, five sides, yams, rolls, cobbler and pie. Ships frozen. | 8 | $199.99 after $70 off, through Nov. 30 | Preorder closes Nov. 13 | None: online only, delivered Nov. 4 to 20 | FOX Local and Costco listing |
| Cracker Barrel | Heat & Serve Turkey Family Dinner, or Turkey Feast with two turkey breasts and two pies. Two hours or less to heat. | 4 to 6, or 8 to 10 | Typically about $119.99, or about $189.99; varies by location | Not announced as of November 7, 2026 | Nov. 21 to 29; preorder online or in the app | Cracker Barrel release |
| Whole Foods Market | Catering meals: roast turkey breast or whole turkey meals, and a larger Thanksgiving Extravaganza. Delivered cold; may need reheating. | 4, 8 or 12 | US price not confirmed as of November 7, 2026; check with your store selected | Page says order by 11/23, and 48 hours before pickup (no year printed) | Choose a store and time when ordering | Whole Foods catering page |
| Black Angus | Turkey dinner to go | 4 | $89.99 ($99.99 in Hawaii) | Nov. 24, 6 p.m.; 24 hours before pickup | From Nov. 14 | Black Angus page |
| Metro Diner | Holiday Feast, pre-cooked and handed over cold, with heating instructions | 1, 4 or 8+ | $17.99, $67.99; the 8+ size shows both $133.99 and $139.99 | Nov. 24 for Thanksgiving Day | Pickup only | Metro Diner page |
| Maggiano’s | Carryout bundle, cold or hot; $50 sides-only bundle also sold | 4 to 5 | $210 cold, $220 hot | 24 hours before pickup; order by phone | Cold Nov. 25, hot Nov. 26 | Maggiano’s page |
| Ruth’s Chris | Take-home Thanksgiving bundle | 4 | Ask your restaurant | Nov. 23 | Nov. 25, noon to 4 p.m. | Ruth’s Chris page |
| Luby’s | Family Feast To Go, fully cooked: turkey breast or ham (Select); whole roasted, smoked or fried turkey, or ham (Signature) | 4 to 6, or 10 to 12 | $109.99 or $159.99 | Not announced as of November 7, 2026 on the flyer | Not announced as of November 7, 2026 on the flyer | Luby’s 2026 flyer |
When Do You Have to Order?
The first firm cutoff is November 13, so Costco is the only meal on this list that needs a decision this week. After that, most restaurant cutoffs cluster around November 23 and 24.
- November 13: Costco preorder closes.
- November 23: Ruth’s Chris, plus the date shown on the Whole Foods catering page.
- November 24: Metro Diner for Thanksgiving Day, and Black Angus by 6 p.m.
- 24 hours before pickup: Maggiano’s.
- No published cutoff: Cracker Barrel and Sam’s Club, so order early rather than assume stock will last.
Costco, Cracker Barrel, Walmart and Whole Foods: What to Know
Costco Thanksgiving dinner
Costco’s dinner is an online order, not a warehouse pickup, and it arrives frozen by second-day FedEx. It also centers on a 5 lb turkey breast rather than a whole turkey. In addition, Costco’s own holiday page says warehouses close on Thanksgiving Day, so do any top-up shopping by November 25. Keep freezer space free, since deliveries end November 20.
Cracker Barrel Thanksgiving
Cracker Barrel’s release gives two sizes and a November 21 to 29 pickup window, but it does not publish an order cutoff, so call before you assume a Thanksgiving Day slot is open. The Feast adds mashed potatoes and two pies to the Family Dinner menu. Separately, Food Network reports that the restaurants serve a traditional Thanksgiving meal from 11 a.m. local time.
Walmart Thanksgiving meal
Walmart’s basket is the cheapest per person at $3.50, although it is a cooking project rather than a takeout meal. Also, the release offers free Express Delivery on the basket through November 30 with code THANKFUL, subject to its conditions. Remember that Walmart stores close on Thanksgiving, so you need to collect everything earlier. If you go this route, start with our guide to how long to thaw a turkey, because a frozen bird needs days in the fridge.
Whole Foods Thanksgiving
Whole Foods sells meals for four, eight and twelve through its catering page, and each order must go in 48 hours before pickup. However, the page we could read showed prices in another currency and printed no year beside its 11/23 banner. So select your store to see the real US price, and confirm the deadline there before you plan around it.
Which Thanksgiving Dinner To Go Is the Best Value?
Cost per person is the fairest comparison, although it hides the work involved. We divided each published price by its stated servings, so treat these as rough figures before tax and fees.
| Meal | Cost per person | Work on your side | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walmart basket | About $3.50 | Full cook, plus thawing | Large family on a tight budget |
| Target meal | About $5 | Full cook, plus thawing | Six people, simple menu |
| Sam’s Club meal | Under $10 | About two hours in the oven | Big group, members only |
| Luby’s Signature | About $13 to $16 | Heat and serve | Whole bird for 10 to 12 |
| Metro Diner for 4 | About $17 | Heat from cold | Small table, pickup nearby |
| Cracker Barrel Feast | About $19 to $24 | Two hours or less | Eight to ten with pies included |
| Black Angus to go | About $22.50 | Check at pickup | Four people, early pickup |
| Costco dinner | About $25 | Thaw, then heat per the pack | Eight people, no store trip |
| Maggiano’s bundle | About $42 to $55 | None if you pick the hot bundle | No oven time at all |
Which Restaurants Are Open on Thanksgiving 2026?
These restaurants are confirmed or reported open for Thanksgiving Day 2026, but always call ahead, because franchise locations can set their own hours. The brand-page entries come from the chains themselves, while the others come from Food Network’s November 3, 2026 list, which does not always cite the chain.
| Restaurant | Thanksgiving Day 2026 | Source type |
|---|---|---|
| Black Angus | 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; turkey dinner $29.99 ($31.99 in Hawaii), dine-in or takeout, while supplies last | Brand page |
| Metro Diner | Open until 2:30 p.m. | Brand page |
| Maggiano’s | Family-style Thanksgiving menu; book early. Hours not listed | Brand page |
| Cracker Barrel | Traditional meal from 11 a.m. local time | Food Network |
| Denny’s | Most locations open 24 hours; Turkey and Dressing meal | Food Network |
| IHOP | Open, per a spokesperson; hours vary | Food Network |
| Waffle House | Open 24 hours | Food Network |
| Shoney’s | Many locations, not all; feast from 11 a.m. at participating restaurants | Food Network |
| Ruth’s Chris | Open; three-course turkey meal, prices vary | Food Network |
| Seasons 52 | Open; traditional dinner, plus a take-home box for four to six | Food Network |
| The Capital Grille | Open; full dinner menu all day | Food Network |
| Eddie V’s | Open; Thanksgiving menu from $52, children $20 | Food Network |
| Yard House | Thanksgiving plate at select locations, dine-in or takeout | Food Network |
Watch out. Reservations and turkey specials can sell out, and Black Angus says its special runs only while supplies last. So confirm the menu as well as the hours.
Shopping on the day? Our list of stores open on Thanksgiving covers retailers, including the big chains that close.
How to Find a Thanksgiving Dinner Near Me
The fastest way to find a Thanksgiving dinner near you is to search your city plus “Thanksgiving dinner to go”, then phone your two best options. National chains vary by location, and independent restaurants often run the best local menus. Ask these questions:
- Is the food hot at pickup, or cold with reheating instructions?
- What is the last order time, and can I change the order after that?
- Does the price include tax, and how many people does it really feed?
Thanksgiving dinner to go for 2 or for one
Small tables have fewer options, so ask for a sliced-turkey plate or a sides-only order. Metro Diner, for instance, sells a one-person size, while Maggiano’s offers a $50 sides-only bundle.
What About Bob Evans, Golden Corral and Boston Market?
We could not confirm 2026 details for these chains on a brand page or release as of November 7, 2026, so we are not quoting a price. Bob Evans’ page blocked our access, and Golden Corral’s results came only from unofficial sites. Meanwhile, we found no 2026 information for Boston Market. Likewise, check Publix, Wegmans, Sprouts, HoneyBaked and Kroger on their own sites or by phone.
How to Reheat a Thanksgiving Dinner To Go Safely
Reheat cooked turkey and sides until they reach 165°F, which is USDA’s safe temperature for poultry and leftovers, and check with a food thermometer. Then plan your oven time around the largest item, since a single oven often cannot hold everything at once.
In addition, cold meals should go straight into the fridge after pickup. According to USDA’s Thanksgiving guide, cooked turkey, stuffing and gravy should not sit at room temperature for more than 2 hours. Want extra dishes without more oven pressure? Pick stovetop or no-cook Thanksgiving side dishes to round out the meal.
Would you rather cook the bird yourself after all? Our guide to how to brine a turkey covers the salt ratios and fridge timing.
Our verdict
Order Costco by November 13 if you want a delivered meal for eight and have freezer space. Otherwise, Cracker Barrel’s Feast is the most straightforward reheat for a mid-size table, while Maggiano’s hot bundle is the choice if you want no oven time. For the lowest bill, Walmart and Target win, as long as you accept that you are still cooking dinner.
Frequently Asked Questions
What restaurants have Thanksgiving dinner to go in 2026?
Cracker Barrel, Black Angus, Metro Diner, Maggiano’s, Ruth’s Chris and Luby’s all publish 2026 Thanksgiving meals to go on their own pages or releases. Seasons 52 and Yard House also offer take-home options, according to Food Network. Offers differ by location, so check with your nearest restaurant before you plan around one.
How much is the Costco Thanksgiving dinner in 2026?
The Costco Complete Gourmet Thanksgiving Turkey Dinner costs $199.99 after a $70 discount, down from $269.99, according to FOX Local’s report on the listing. It serves eight, sells online only and ships frozen. Preorders close November 13, and deliveries run from November 4 to November 20, so order soon if you want one.
How much is the Cracker Barrel Thanksgiving dinner to go?
Cracker Barrel’s release lists the Heat and Serve Turkey Family Dinner at typically about $119.99 for four to six people. The Turkey Feast is typically about $189.99 for eight to ten and includes pumpkin and pecan pies. Pickup runs November 21 to 29, but prices vary by location and no cutoff has been published.
What is in the Walmart Thanksgiving meal for 2026?
Walmart’s $35 Holiday Meal Basket has 26 grocery items for 10 people, including a frozen Butterball turkey, stuffing, cranberries, sweet potatoes, rolls and pumpkin pie ingredients. You still cook it yourself. The price runs through December 24, fees may apply, and the basket is not offered in Alaska, Hawaii, Oklahoma, Puerto Rico or Wisconsin.
Does Whole Foods have Thanksgiving dinner to go?
Yes, Whole Foods sells catered Thanksgiving meals for four, eight and twelve people, along with sides and desserts. Its catering page says to order by 11/23 and at least 48 hours before pickup, and meals are delivered cold. We could not confirm US prices as of November 7, 2026, so select your store to see them.
What restaurants are open on Thanksgiving Day 2026?
Black Angus, Metro Diner and Maggiano’s list Thanksgiving Day service on their own pages. Food Network also reports Cracker Barrel, Denny’s, IHOP, Waffle House, many Shoney’s, Ruth’s Chris, Seasons 52, The Capital Grille, Eddie V’s and select Yard House locations as open. Hours vary by location, so call ahead before you leave home.
