Thanksgiving turkeys may sell out. Here’s how to reserve yours now

October 21, 2022 Abraham Smith

The USDA has forecast a turkey shortage in 2022. If the mere thought of not having a turkey this Thanksgiving is enough to get your boor excited, take our advice: reserve one now.

Your friends at CBS Essentials have found a variety of retailers where you can buy a turkey online ahead of the holidays. We even found a vendor who will give you a Thanksgiving turkey for free.

Top products in this article:

Harry & David Gourmet Turkey Feast (featuring 10-pound turkey), $250

D’Artagnan Traditional Turkey (minimum 8 pounds), $166

Goldbelly Gourmet Butcher Block Turducken (17 pounds), $200

In its October report, the USDA warns that turkey production will be lower for the remainder of 2022 and the first half of 2023 due to outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). Prices for Turkey have increased significantly compared to last year due to HPAI (PDF).

Thanksgiving is earlier than you think. Remember to give yourself plenty of time while shopping for your Thanksgiving turkey. According to grocery shipping website Goldbelly, frozen turkeys take about three to four days to thaw in the refrigerator, depending on their size. This means your turkey must be delivered at least five days before Thursday, November 24th.

We’ve scoured the web for the best Thanksgiving turkeys to buy online. We’ve found top drool-worthy birds from Amazon, D’Artagnan, Harry & David, Blue Apron and more to buy now and freeze or reserve and have your turkey delivered in time for the holiday.

How do I get a free turkey before Thanksgiving?

Butcherbox is now giving you a free Thanksgiving turkey when you sign up for your first meat box. Plans start at $169 for 9 to 14 pounds of meat every four weeks.

New members who order their first 8-10 pound case of meat will receive a 10-14 pound free range turkey. This deal is a great option for families who eat bacon for breakfast, like their high-protein Thanksgiving sides, and want a free holiday bird.

Burgers’ Smokehouse Hickory smoked whole turkey

You can order your Thanksgiving turkey from Amazon. Yes, really. The online giant sells pre-cooked hickory-smoked birds from Burgers’ Smokehouse. Simply heat and serve.

Turkeys start at 6 pounds and can grow up to 28 pounds.

Burgers’ Smokehouse Hickory smoked whole turkey, $85 and up

Burgers’ Smokehouse Hickory-smoked brisket with bones

For those who want to order a smoked turkey with just white meat, this Burgers’ Smokehouse Breast serves five to 10 people.

This 4.4 star rated bird comes pre-cooked. All you have to do is heat it up.

Burgers’ Smokehouse Hickory Smoked Turkey Bone-In, $80

Crowd cow pasture turkey

Enjoy a 10 pound, free range, antibiotic and hormone free bird for 8 to 10 people from online meat delivery market Crowd Cow – neck and entrails included.

When you pre-order your Blackwing grass-raised turkey from Crowd Cow, you’ll receive a free set of oven mitts (a $30 value) while supplies last.

Grassroots raised whole turkey (10lbs), $110 (usually $150)

Traditional turkey from D’Artagnan

If nothing but the best will do for you on Thanksgiving, order a traditional D’Artagnan turkey. These rare Narragansett and Bourbon Red bird breeds are raised on a grain-fed diet of non-GMO corn and soy.

Can be ordered fresh or frozen.

D’Artagnan Traditional Turkey (minimum 8 pounds), $166

Harry & David Turkey and Stuffing Wellington

Gourmet caterer Harry & David offers a variety of Thanksgiving turkey options.

Looking for an unconventional meal perfect for serving a small party? Try turkey and stuffed Wellington – a pre-made version of the puff pastry dish that cooks in 80 minutes.

Harry & David Turkey and Stuffing Wellington (2 pounds), $60

Uncle Ray’s Cajun turkey fried

Dallas’ famous Uncle Ray’s fried turkey joint serves Southern-style fried turkey. Order a 10- to 12-pound Cajun-style bird from Uncle Ray’s on Goldbelly for a Southern-inspired vacation.

Uncle Ray’s Fried Turkey Cajun Fried Turkey (10-12 pounds), $130

Harry & David Gourmet Turkey Feast

If you don’t have time to make your own Thanksgiving, Harry & David can make one for you.

The meal includes a pre-cooked, 10-pound turkey to warm up. You also get apple sausage filling, creamy Brussels sprouts with bacon, brown sugar sweet potatoes, pumpkin New York cheesecake, classic turkey gravy and spiced cranberry chutney. Doesn’t that sound delicious?

Harry & David Gourmet Turkey Feast (featuring 10-pound turkey), $250

Blue Apron’s Thanksgiving Day

Blue Apron offers an inexpensive Thanksgiving feast that you can make yourself. Recipe cards and just about everything you need for Thanksgiving dinner are included.

The traditional holiday meal is enough for six to eight people. It includes butter seared turkey breast, homemade garlic and herb gravy, fresh cranberry sauce with ginger and spicy maple syrup, roasted Brussels sprouts with roasted rosemary and pumpkin seeds, brown butter and Fontina mashed potatoes with Romano cheese and chives, and apple crumble with warming spices and almonds.

Blue Apron also offers add-ons and additional options for vegetarians.

Blue Apron’s Thanksgiving (for 6-8 people), $140

Omaha steaks whole basted turkey

Omaha Steaks has turkeys. Order now and get 50% off a whole, basted and ready-to-cook bird that includes a cooking bag and pop-up timer.

Omaha Steaks, Whole Turkey (10 lbs), $100 (reduced from $200)

Goldbelly Gourmet Butcher Block Turducken

Why not try Turducken? This Thanksgiving dish is a New Orleans classic—a duck and chicken stuffed turkey layered with sausage stuffing and cornbread dressing.

Order one from Goldbelly from Gourmet Butcher Block – the originator of the dish.