Essentials

You can buy Thanksgiving turkeys online, but order it early

By Leah Groth

November 18, 2021 / 1:49 PM EST / Essentials

We may receive commissions from some links to products on this page. Promotions are subject to availability and retailer terms.

With Thanksgiving just over a week away, now is the time to order your holiday bird. In the past, you probably purchased your turkey at a grocery store or local farm. But these days, you may be missing out if you go that route. Buying your thanksgiving turkey online is not only easy but also a great way to discover a small farm, gourmet grocer or even top restaurants across the country. We're talking Williams Sonoma, Goldbelly, Harry & David and yes, even Amazon.

But know this: You'll need to act fast. A number of our top turkey picks have sold out in recent days -- it's already too late to shop certain brands. And supply chain issues are a concern this holiday as well, so the sooner you lock in your Thanksgiving or Christmas bird, the better. (Some brands offer turkey reservations, so you won't need to keep the bird in your freezer for a month just to make sure you have one on the table.)

No matter what kind of turkey you're looking for -- raw, pre-cooked, smoked, deep fried, organic, cajun, pre-basted, whole, breast or turducken -- there's one still available for you online, ready to be shipped to your door. Make sure to read the fine print and plan ahead: Some turkeys need to be defrosted for several days.

CBS Essentials rounded up Thanksgiving turkeys and meals available to buy online.

Williams Sonoma Willie Bird turkey

A cult favorite, Willie Bird super juicy free-range turkeys and meat products usually sell out at Williams Sonoma quite quickly. Choose from two sizes, 14 to 16 and 18 to 20 pounds. Pre-brined Willie Bird turkeys come in six sizes, from 10 to 22 pounds.

Williams Sonoma Willie Bird free range turkey, $150

$150 at Williams Sonoma

Williams Sonoma Willie Bird pre-brined turkey, $130

$130 at Williams Sonoma

Williams Sonoma Willie Bird stuffed breast

Cooking for a small crowd? Williams Sonoma serves as the exclusive vendor for Willie Bird breasts, stuffed with savory sausage apple cranberry stuffing, and ready to pop in the oven. The 3-pound breast serves six to eight and the 5-pound, 10 to 12.

Willie Bird stuffed turkey breast, $80 and up

$80 at Williams Sonoma

Crowd Cow free-range turkey

For $40, enjoy a 10-pound, free-range, antibiotic- and hormone-free bird for eight to 10 people from online meat delivery marketplace Crowd Cow -- neck and giblets included.

Free-range whole turkey (10 pounds), $40

$40 at Crowd Cow

D'Artagnan heritage turkey

If only the best suffices on Thanksgiving, order up a D'Artagnan heritage turkey, rare Narragansett and Bourbon Red breeds of the bird, that are raised on a grain-fed diet of non-GMO corn and soy.

D'Artagnan heritage turkey (8 pound minimum), $166

$166 at D'Artagnan

Butcherbox free turkey

ButcherBox, known for delivering humanely-raised meats to your doorstep, currently offers a great promo: New members who order their first box of 8 to 10 pounds of meat receive a free 10- to 14-pound turkey.

Free with purchase at ButcherBox

Harry & David turkey and stuffing Wellington

Gourmet food purveyor Harry & David offers a variety of Thanksgiving turkey options. An unconventional meal perfect for serving a small party? Turkey and stuffing Wellington, an already assembled version of the puff pastry dish, which cooks in 80 minutes.

Harry & David turkey and stuffing Wellington (2 pounds), $60

$60 at Harry & David

Harry & David gourmet turkey feast

For a one-and-done Thanksgiving order, Harry & David offer an entire gourmet turkey feast. It includes a pre-cooked, ready-to-heat ,10-pound turkey, apple sausage stuffing, creamy Brussels sprouts with bacon, brown sugar sweet potatoes, pumpkin New York cheesecake, classic turkey gravy and spiced cranberry chutney.

Harry & David gourmet turkey feast (with 10 pound turkey), $230

$230 at Harry & David

Blue Apron's Thanksgiving feast

Blue Apron makes cooking Thanksgiving easy with a number of cooking kit options. The traditional feast serves six to eight and includes butter-roasted turkey breast, homemade garlic and herb gravy, fresh cranberry sauce with ginger and spicy maple syrup, roasted Brussels sprouts with fried rosemary and pumpkin seeds, brown butter and fontina mashed potatoes with Romano cheese and chives, and apple crumb pie with warming spices and almonds. Blue Apron also offers add-ons and additional options for vegetarians.

Blue Apron's Thanksgiving feast (serves 6-8), $110

$110 at Blue Apron

Burgers' Smokehouse hickory smoked whole turkey

Order your Thanksgiving turkey on Amazon. Yes, really. The online giant sells hickory-smoked birds from Burgers' Smokehouse, starting at 8 pounds.

Burgers' Smokehouse hickory smoked whole turkey (8 pounds), $85

$85 at Amazon

Burgers' Smokehouse hickory-smoked, bone-in breast

For those wanting to order a white-meat-only, smoked turkey, this Burgers' Smokehouse breast serves five to 10 people. Heat up the pre-cooked meat in just minutes.

Burgers' Smokehouse hickory smoked bone-in-breast turkey, $70

$70 at Amazon

Omaha Steaks whole basted turkey

Considering a turkey from Omaha Steaks? Order now during the friends and family sale and save 50 percent on everything, including this whole, basted and ready-to-cook bird, which includes a cooking bag and pop-up timer.

Omaha Steaks whole basted turkey (10 pounds), $95 (reduced from $190)

$95 at Omaha Steaks

Goldbelly Gourmet Butcher Block Turducken

Turducken, a turkey stuffed with duck and chicken and layered with sausage stuffing and cornbread dressing, is a New Orleans classic. Order one straight from famed Big Easy butcher Gourmet Butcher Block, which created the cult favorite dish, on Goldbelly.

Goldbelly Gourmet Butcher Block Turducken (17 pounds), $149

$149 at Goldbelly

Uncle Ray's Cajun deep-fried turkey

Famed fried-turkey joint Uncle Ray's serves up deep-fried turkey southern style in its Dallas eatery. Order up a 10- to 12-pound cajun style bird on Goldbelly for a southern-inspired holiday. You'll be in for a treat when this 4.9-star rated bird arrives.

Uncle Ray's Fried Turkey cajun deep fried turkey (10-12 pounds), $109

$109 at Goldbelly