Thinking of Ordering Thanksgiving Dinner This Year? Here Are 9 Delicious Options That'll Save You So Much Time

Originally published at realsimple.com

After the last year and a half, people are longing to gather around a table and spend quality time with their loved ones. But due to lingering health concerns, many Americans may host smaller Thanksgiving dinners than in years past. 

If it's your first time cooking a Thanksgiving feast on your own, you may need to learn how to roast a small-sized turkey and you should probably read up on mistakes to avoid when making mashed potatoes. Maybe a pint-sized pie with complicated directions is on the menu (reminder: Trader Joe's isn't open on Thanksgiving Day in case of a disaster).

Head spinning yet? You're not alone. In fact, according to a 2020 surveyby HelloFresh, 53 percent of Americans said their Thanksgiving stress doubled last year, with nearly 20 percent revealing that they were hosting at home for the first time. One in 10 even said they'd skip celebrating entirely. But here's the thing: If you don't feel like spending your holiday—and the entire week before—in the kitchen, you don't have to. 

If hosting a holiday meal intimidates you, having someone else take care of the food may be the way to go. Many restaurants around the country offer catering and takeout, and we encourage you to support local businesses in your area, especially during this time of year. (Remember to tip well. It's the holidays!) But if you'd like to order ahead, full Thanksgiving meals—as well as various meal kits—are available to help make things a little easier. Here's a list of our favorite options for outsourcing Thanksgiving dinner.

Best Services for Thanksgiving Delivery in 2021

• Best Organic Dinner: Sunbasket

• Best Turkey Dinner: HelloFresh

• Best Thanksgiving Sides: Home Chef

• Best Vegan Thanksgiving: Purple Carrot

• Best Thanksgiving Desserts: Goldbelly

• Best Full Thanksgiving Menu: Blue Apron

• Best Thanksgiving Appetizers: Harry & David

• Best Mac & Cheese: Williams-Sonoma

• Best for Hostess Gifts: Hickory Farms

Best Organic Dinner: Sunbasket

Sunbasket has a variety of Thanksgiving offerings that will please the whole family. With menu add-ons like prime rib sleeves, tenderloin roast, turkey breast roast with Tuscan seasoning, and Faroe Island salmon, all from Rastelli's, your plates will be filled. Sunbasket's Thanksgiving menu also includes three prepared sides—green beans with toasted hazelnut gremolata, herb-roasted rainbow carrots with charred lemon, and Yukon Gold potato and cauliflower gratin with gruyere. In addition, there are two Fresh & Ready sides of baked stuffing and sweet potato-maple mash with candied pecans and dried cranberries. For Sunbasket members, the holiday sides cost $25 for three to four servings and the protein options range from $35 to $79. If you are not a subscriber, you can still order many of these dishes through Sunbasket's Instacart storefront. All of these items can be shipped during the weeks of November 25 to December 27.

Best Turkey Dinner: HelloFresh

HelloFresh is bringing back its popular Thanksgiving box this year, known as the Thanksgiving Feast. It's available for preorder starting October 18 with delivery options from November 16 through November 24. This is a one-time order, meaning no subscription is required. The box is available in two versions and features all the fresh ingredients, easy-to-follow recipes, and in-depth meal prep guides you'll need to orchestrate the ultimate holiday feast. The first option, Turkey + Sides ($170 + $9 shipping), serves eight to 10 people. It includes roast turkey with a garlic-herb butter rub and classic gravy, creamy mashed potatoes with garlic and sour cream, roasted delicata and shallots with walnuts, parmesan, and parsley, ciabatta stuffing with chicken sausage and cranberries, and cranberry sauce with orange and cinnamon. For dessert: apple ginger crisp with cinnamon pecan crumble. You can also order an appetizer of cranberry brie crostini for an additional $20.

The second option is Beef Tenderloin + Sides ($135 + $9 shipping), which serves four to six people. Included is a peppercorn-crusted beef tenderloin with sherry thyme jus and all the same sides as the Turkey box, except for the cranberry sauce (and it comes with beef gravy instead of classic). Place your order no later than November 18—the box did sell out in years past, so we recommend ordering now. It should be noted that the turkey needs four days to thaw, so allow for that when setting up your delivery. The food will be transported in a climate-controlled box to ensure freshness and it can be shipped anywhere in the U.S.

Best Thanksgiving Sides: Home Chef

For the first time, Home Chef is releasing an entire Thanksgiving menu, perfect for an intimate gathering of friends and family. Beginning on October 15, you can order a la carte turkey roasts, which serve eight to 10 people, as well as up to five mouthwatering sides. Examples include white cheddar and sage biscuits with honey butter, roasted sweet potatoes and apples with poached cranberries and pears, and loaded mashed potatoes with bacon, cheddar, and green onions. The dessert menu features a delicious apple pie crisp with a brown butter streusel topping and a pumpkin cranberry cake with tart candied cranberries. The sides take between 30 to 50 minutes to cook, and the roasts can be prepared in two to three hours. You must have a Home Chef membership to receive this meal, and plans start at $50 per shipment and can go up to $333 depending on how many servings and recipes you want. All prices include shipping, and you can manage your account to pause or cancel at any time.

Best Vegan Thanksgiving: Purple Carrot

For a completely plant-based Thanksgiving meal, look no further than Purple Carrot. This Thanksgiving box, which serves four, contains quinoa stuffed delicata squash, rustic ciabatta stuffing, roasted brussels sprouts, pear cranberry crisp, and classic gravy and cranberry sauce, all for $75. You must subscribe to Purple Carrot to order this limited-edition feast. Standard pricing starts at $72 per week for three dinners with two servings each. For the Thanksgiving box, all orders have to be placed by 11:59 p.m. ET on November 16.

Best Thanksgiving Desserts: Goldbelly

Consider Goldbelly a godsend for the homesick. Why? Because it ships fully-cooked, fresh restaurant meals from your most beloved spots nationwide. This year, it has a curated shop of Thanksgiving Essentials, which includes smoked turkey breast from Houston and southern side dishes from Kinston, North Carolina. Goldbelly also offers divine treats like a 7-layer caramel cake from Caroline's Cakes in Spartanburg, South Carolina, which is a nostalgic favorite of mine. Other highlights include Boston Creme Pie from Omni Parker House Hotel in Boston, a classic Sweet Potato Pie from Little Pie Company in New York, and delicious Cajun Bread Pudding from Gourmet Butcher Block in New Orleans. Goldbelly has also compiled a genius guide to the country's best pies, including The PieCaken out of New York City, Cootie Brown's Peach Pie, and Wick's Pumpkin Spice Pie. Drooling yet? Between the desserts, southern staples, and full course dinners, Goldbelly has you covered.

Best Full Thanksgiving Menu: Blue Apron

Blue Apron's Thanksgiving Feast meal kit is back. Some of the mix-and-match menu's standout items include a savory butter roasted turkey breast, roasted brussels sprouts with fried rosemary and pumpkin seeds, brown butter mashed potatoes with romano and chives, and apple crumb pie with warming spices and almonds. This box can be delivered during the weeks of November 8, 15, and 22, but you must order it by November 17 to get it in time for Thanksgiving. Vegetarians have a choice of two meat-free alternatives for the main dish—butternut squash and spinach risotto with fried sage and rice or four cheese and truffle honey flatbread with mushrooms and kale. Blue Apron's Thanksgiving menu can feed a party of up to eight people for the regular subscription price of $9 per serving (available for both the signature and signature for 4 subscription plans). If you're not a subscriber, the stand-alone price is $110 for the box.

Best Thanksgiving Appetizers: Harry & David

For a truly gourmet experience, Harry & David provides everything you need for a gorgeous Thanksgiving spread. Offering main courses like oven-roasted turkey, prime rib, beef brisket, spiral-sliced ham, and lobster truffle mac and cheese, your guests will be treated to rich and decadent flavors. Appetizers and sides are also available, including dishes like brown sugar sweet potatoes, creamy brussels sprouts with bacon, cauliflower risotto, and a gourmet cheese assortment. If you still have room, Harry & David has delectable desserts, such as a cheesecake party wheel, deep dish pumpkin pie, chocolate-dipped strawberries, peach and berry pie, and salted caramel apple pie. For those who aren't hosting this year, check out the brand's nice collection of hostess gifts and wine bundles. You should place your order no later than November 19 to make sure it arrives on time.

Best Mac & Cheese: Williams-Sonoma

Consider Williams-Sonoma your one-stop shop for a high-quality Thanksgiving feast—from classic Thanksgiving dinners (roasted turkey, sides, and desserts included) to gluten-free mealsand southern staples. In particular, the lobster mac and cheese served in individual ramekins is a fan favorite. One reviewer described it as "heaven on earth." Customers also rave about the delicious pie offerings like peanut butter mousse pie, caramel apple pecan pie, cherry pie, cranberry mascarpone pie, pumpkin pie, and toasted coconut custard pie. Order by 12 a.m. PT on November 19 to make sure you get your dishes by Thanksgiving. For individual items, prices start around $55 and go up to $650 for full feasts (shipping costs not included).

Best for Hostess Gifts: Hickory Farms

With whimsical options like a premium fall flavors gift basket, autumn entertaining gift set with wine, and charcuterie essentials gift basket, Hickory Farms delivers the perfect harvest baskets right to your door. If you're a guest this year, these farm fresh baskets will make excellent hostess gifts. Of course, Hickory Farms also offers meals. The company has a deluxe holiday ham dinner that comes with parmesan creamed spinach, three-cheese scalloped potatoes, and blueberry peach crisp, as well as a premium turkey dinner with a green bean casserole, brown sugar sweet potatoes, apple and sausage stuffing, and chocolate pumpkin cheesecake. With Hickory Farms, you can order all of these dishes a la carte without committing to a subscription. To ensure their arrival by Thanksgiving, order these items no later than November 18.