Where to Buy Fresh, Frozen, and Cooked Thanksgiving Turkeys

While there's certainly an argument to be made for purchasing a turkey for your Thanksgiving dinner early, many people wait until the holiday gets closer. If you're planning on cooking a turkey and wonder which stores to purchase from, we have the scoop. Keep reading to find out where you can snag a fresh, frozen, or cooked turkey. We even included meat-free options for vegetarians and vegans!

Fresh or Frozen Turkey

Some consumers prefer fresh turkeys because they don't need to thaw before going in the oven, and they tend to be juicier than frozen birds. On the other hand, fresh turkeys may be pricier than their frozen counterparts and need to be cooked shortly after they're purchased, whereas frozen turkeys can stay in the freezer for months at a time.

Aldi

The German chain—which rivals Trader Joe's for its inventive and well-priced products—sells frozen, whole Butterball turkeys. While the weight of the turkeys varies (as does the price), the premium birds tend to weigh between 10 and 32 pounds and are typically very well priced. Additionally, the Grade A turkeys are raised without hormones or steroids, contain no artificial ingredients, and are minimally processed.

If you prefer a fresh turkey, in the past, Aldi has had two birds to choose from. The first—a Honeysuckle White Turkey—is pre-basted and raised without growth-promoting antibiotics, added hormones, or steroids. The second option—Simply Nature Fresh Organic Turkey—includes giblets and is certified organic, non-GMO, antibiotic-free, and humanely raised.

Trader Joe's

TJ's stocks three different fresh turkeys. The All Natural Antibiotic Free Brined Fresh Young Turkey is soaked in a sweet-savory brine that adds flavor to the meat and comes in two sizes. The smaller birds weigh 12 to 16 pounds, while the larger turkeys weigh 17 to 22 pounds. Both may contain giblets.

The All Natural Glatt Kosher Fresh Young Turkeys are giblet-free and are soaked and salted using a kosher-certified method instead of being brined. Lastly, the Organic Young Turkeys are humanely raised and given access to the outdoors. They are also fed a vegetarian diet that is purely organic. These birds are not brined and do contain giblets.

Whole Foods

The Amazon-owned chain's whole, frozen turkeys are normally offered until they run out of stock. The birds weigh eight to 16 pounds. Pro-tip: There are fresh turkeys available for pick-up in Whole Foods stores, but size, price, and availability vary by location.

Pre-Seasoned or Cooked Turkey

Don't want the hassle of preparing an entire turkey? We get it. Luckily, several retailers do too. Keep reading to find where you can purchase a pre-seasoned or cooked turkey and save yourself several hours in the kitchen.

Costco

While the big-box store isn't selling fresh or frozen turkeys this year, Costco members can purchase an Antibiotic-Free Turkey Breast Roast Turkey Dinner from Rastelli's. The spread, which includes turkey and an array of sides, serves eight to 10 people and costs $249.99. It includes a 5-pound pre-seasoned turkey breast roast that you can pop straight into the oven, 4 pounds of crème fresh mashed potatoes, 4 pounds of traditional stuffing, 4 pounds of Brussels sprouts casserole, 2 pounds of green beans almondine, 2 pounds of cranberry, apple, and orange relish, 2 pounds of gravy, a pre-baked 10-inch pumpkin pie, and an unbaked 10-inch apple pie.

Goldbelly

Yes, the online marketplace that ships cakes, crab legs, and more directly to your door has multiple Thanksgiving spreads (with turkey!) to choose from. One of the most popular options is the Cajun Spicy Deep Fried Turkey from Uncle Ray's Fried Turkeys in Dallas, Texas. Each turkey is hand-selected, deep-fried, and seasoned with a mouthwatering blend of Cajun spices. The turkeys are fully cooked and shipped frozen, and feed up to a dozen people. Each bird costs $110, but ships for free.

Whole Foods

In addition to its fresh turkeys, the chain also sells cooked birds—both à la carte and as part of larger Thanksgiving spreads. While availability depends on your location, most Whole Foods stores have plenty of options to choose from. Turkey-only choices include a Classic Roast Turkey that comes in three different sizes or an Apple-Brined Smoked Whole Turkey that can feed eight. Both birds are cooked but will need to be reheated.

Vegan "Turkey"

If you don't eat meat, finding a plant-based substitute for turkey can be tough. However, given that more consumers are embracing vegan, vegetarian, and flexitarian diets, the meat-free options for Thanksgiving are much tastier than they used to be.

Trader Joe's

TJ's strikes again! The turkey haven has a vegan option called the Breaded Turkey-less Stuffed Roast, found in the frozen foods section. This dish comes with vegan gravy and is (mostly) made from wheat gluten. It's stuffed with wild rice, cranberries, celery, and onions and coated in a breading seasoned with herbs and red pepper flakes to give it that classic crispy texture. The best part? It's only $12.99.

Just don't wait until the last minute to pick this dish up, because all Trader Joe's stores are closed on Thanksgiving Day.

Myrtle Greens

This plant-based brand sells whole vegan "turkeys" made from non-GMO soy protein. These meat-free birds even come with vegan gravy and vegan stuffing, so you can enjoy a completely meat-free Thanksgiving feast for $69.99.