If the thought of juggling a turkey, gravy, three different side dishes and a toddler who suddenly needs a snack while you're trying to get everything on the table makes you want to pour another cup of coffee, you're not alone.

The good news is you absolutely do not have to cook Thanksgiving from scratch to have a very good Thanksgiving. Charlotte restaurants are doing a lot of the work for us this year, whether you want to hand over the entire meal, pick up a few really good sides, or just outsource the pie.

I've rounded up the 2026 Thanksgiving meals, takeout options, sides and pies you can order ahead, plus the restaurants that are open on Thanksgiving Day.

One thing to know before you scroll: some of the earliest order deadlines are already coming up. I've put everything in deadline order so you can see what needs your attention first.

Find your kind of Thanksgiving

I want someone else to handle the whole thing: Hickory & Heart, Firebirds, A La Minute, Noble Smoke, The Improper Pig and Sullivan's. Mimosa Grill counts too, but you still have to cook the turkey. Napa also has a full dinner for four.

I'll make the turkey. You do the rest: ET Catering, Chef Alyssa's Kitchen, Yafo, Reid's and Community Culinary School. The Capital Grille is a good one if you just need sides.

We're not feeding 14 people: Metro Diner has a one-person option, Jim 'N Nicks feeds four, Napa has a dinner for four, The Capital Grille's sides bundle serves four, and Yafo sells turkey by the 2 pounds.

I want Thanksgiving, but make it a little fancy: Reid's, Renaissance Pâtisserie, BrickTop's, Sullivan's and The Capital Grille.

I would like to eat something other than the exact same turkey dinner I've had every year since childhood: Yafo, Noble Smoke, Copain, Renaissance Pâtisserie and the barbecue spots.

We need vegan or gluten-free options: Chef Alyssa's Kitchen, Thoughtful Baking Co., Earth Fare, Whole Foods and Something Classic, which has a vegan menu from Fern.

🥧 Takeout, Sides & At-Home Feasts

Maybe you're happy to roast the turkey but would rather never see another mashed potato again. Maybe you're bringing a dish to someone else's house. Maybe you're going to the beach and would rather pack a cooler than a casserole dish.

Whatever your level of Thanksgiving ambition, these are the Charlotte spots that can help.

Read the fine print: Some are hot and ready, some are meant to be heated at home, and a couple involve an uncooked turkey that still needs your attention.

Order by Sunday, Nov. 15 to Friday, Nov. 20

ET Catering

Delivery to your door

This is the build-your-own option. Pick your turkey, then mix and match sides like five-cheese mac and cheese, green bean casserole, brown butter and sage stuffing, maple-oat sweet potato puree, roasted Brussels sprouts and garlic butter mashed potatoes. You can add salad, biscuits, gravy and cranberry sauce too.

📅 Order by: Sun, Nov. 15
🚚 Delivery: Wed, Nov. 25, in two-hour windows
💰 Turkey $7/person; sides $18/quart serving 4–5 or $60/half pan serving 15–18

McKoy's Smokehouse and Saloon

4630 Old Pineville Rd

If you would like your turkey to taste like somebody actually knew what they were doing with a smoker, McKoy's has a fully cooked smoked turkey weighing 10–14 pounds.

📅 Order by: Mon, Nov. 16 at 3pm
💰 $99.99

Copain

SouthPark

Copain is keeping things à la carte this year, with turkey breast, salmon, sides and appetizers. This is a nice one if you don't need an entire Thanksgiving dinner but would still like someone else to make some of the good stuff.

And yes, this is the same Copain bakery I've talked about before.

📅 Order by: Tue, Nov. 17
📦 Pickup: Tue, Nov. 24 or Wed, Nov. 25
💰 Turkey breast $85, salmon $145, sides $34

Noble Smoke

2216 Freedom Dr

Noble Smoke is skipping the traditional oven-roasted turkey and going with smoked turkey breast instead. The Family Feast includes five pounds of turkey plus mac and cheese, green beans, sweet potato puree, collards, stuffing, cranberry relish and smoked turkey gravy.

You can also order sides and whole pies separately.

📅 Order by: Tue, Nov. 17
📦 Pickup: Tue, Nov. 24 and Wed, Nov. 25
🚚 Delivery available
💰 $295, serves 6–8

Mac's Speed Shop

The Family of 8 package is not messing around: a whole turkey, two pints of gravy, three half pans of sides and two pounds of brisket.

Because apparently one meat wasn't enough.

📅 Order by: Wed, Nov. 18 for a $20 gift card, or at least 48 hours ahead through Nov. 25
💰 $195, serves 8

Chef Alyssa's Kitchen

4001-C Yancey Rd, Ste 100

This is a good pick if you want to build your own meal without buying a giant preset package. There are sides, sauces, rolls and pies, plus a lot of gluten-free and vegetarian options.

📅 Order by: Thu, Nov. 19 at 3pm
📦 Pickup or delivery: Nov. 24 and 25
💰 $10–$38 per item

A La Minute

3509 David Cox Rd, Ste H

Turkey, ham, three sides, peppercorn gravy, citrus cranberry relish and cornbread with honey butter. In other words, most of Thanksgiving without most of the work.

📅 Order by: Thu, Nov. 19
📦 Pickup or delivery: Wed, Nov. 25
💰 $159.99 serves 4–6, $299.99 serves 8–12

Hickory & Heart

10822 Providence Rd

Turkey, three sides, gravy and rolls. This is probably the closest thing on this list to "someone else is making Thanksgiving and I just need to show up."

📅 Order by: Fri, Nov. 20 at 9pm
📦 Pickup: Tue, Nov. 24 or Wed, Nov. 25
💰 $110 serves 5–7, $175 serves 8–10

Something Classic

You can pick up at The Morehead Inn in Dilworth or have it delivered to your Charlotte home. There are a few different Thanksgiving dinner packages, a Charles Dickens Turkey Feast, a roasted turkey, separate sides and desserts, plus a vegan menu from Fern.

Everything needs to be heated in your oven, so this is more "I don't want to make it" than "I don't want to turn on the oven."

📅 Order by: Fri, Nov. 20 at midnight
📦 Pickup: Tue, Nov. 24 or Wed, Nov. 25

Order by Saturday, Nov. 21 to Tuesday, Nov. 24

Renaissance Pâtisserie

SouthPark

This might be my pick for the person who wants Thanksgiving but would like it to be just a little more interesting. The Family Pack includes turkey breast, stuffing, ravioli, green beans, cranberry relish and gravy, plus your choice of soup, salad, bread and pie.

📅 Order by: Sat, Nov. 21
💰 $199 serves 4, with a 6-person option

Mimosa Grill

Uptown

One important disclaimer: you still have to cook the turkey. Mimosa Grill's package comes with an uncooked brined turkey, gravy, cranberry relish, two sides, rolls and a pie, so you're doing the actual roasting.

📅 Order by: Sun, Nov. 22
📦 Pickup: Wed, Nov. 25
💰 $185 serves 4–6

New South Kitchen & Bar

8140 Providence Rd

For something a little different, New South has deep-fried turkey breast filet, dark turkey meat, mashed potatoes, sweet potato casserole, dressing and apple crisp, all available à la carte.

📅 Order by: Sun, Nov. 22 at 8pm
📦 Pickup: Wed, Nov. 25 from 11am–9pm
💰 Turkey filet $72, dark meat $35, sides $17, apple crisp $30

Napa

If you want something a little nicer without actually going out, Napa has a Thanksgiving Dinner for Four for $165. Everything is served cold with reheating instructions, so you get the restaurant meal without having to cook the whole thing yourself.

📅 Pickup: Wed, Nov. 25 from 10am–8pm
⏰ Order by: 48 hours before pickup
💰 $165 serves 4

Reid's Fine Foods

Myers Park, SouthPark and Ballantyne

This is the one for the person who doesn't want a preset Thanksgiving package. Reid's lets you build the whole thing à la carte, with turkey, beef tenderloin, ham, sides, rolls, deviled eggs, pie and more.

And I have a little real-life intel on this one: my neighbor is ordering Reid's for Thanksgiving and taking it to their beach house. She compared a few options and liked being able to pick exactly what she wanted rather than buying a set meal.

She's ordering a cooked bone-in turkey breast, mashed potatoes, mac and cheese, sweet potato soufflé, broccoli casserole, gravy, rolls and an apple pie.

📅 Order by: Sun, Nov. 22
📦 Pickup: Tue, Nov. 24 or Wed, Nov. 25, 7am–3pm
🚫 No Thanksgiving Day pickup

BrickTop's

SouthPark

This is a good option if you want the whole meal handled but still want it to feel like Thanksgiving dinner rather than a catered tray of food.

Choose between a Roast Turkey Dinner with turkey, gravy and cranberry sauce, or a Prime Rib Dinner. Every meal includes house salad, creamy whipped potatoes, fresh sautéed corn, herbed stuffing and Hawaiian rolls.

📅 Order by: Sun, Nov. 22 at 5pm
📦 Pickup: After 2pm Wed, Nov. 25 or Thanksgiving Day
💰 Roast Turkey Dinner: $225 serves 4 or $450 serves 8
💰 Prime Rib Dinner: $425 serves 8–10

Community Culinary School of Charlotte

9315 Monroe Rd, #5

This one is à la carte too, with whole turkey, gravy, stuffing, casseroles, sweet potatoes, cranberry, rolls and pies. The food comes cold with reheating instructions.

📅 Order by: Mon, Nov. 23 at noon
📦 Pickup: Wed, Nov. 25, 9am–1pm
💰 Whole turkey $70, sliced $75; sides $12–$40

The Capital Grille

Uptown

Already have your turkey handled? This is your sides option. The bundle includes sage stuffing, sweet potatoes, green beans, chutney, mashed potatoes, rolls and gravy. You can add pumpkin cheesecake too.

📅 Order by: Tue, Nov. 24
📦 Pickup: Wed, Nov. 25 or Thanksgiving Day, 9–11am
💰 $140 serves 4; cheesecake $13

No order-by date listed, but don't wait

Firebirds Wood Fired Grill

The Thanksgiving Feast comes with a 4-pound turkey, 4-pound ham, or a turkey-and-ham combination, plus mashed potatoes, mac and cheese, asparagus, green beans, bread, bread pudding, cranberry and gravy.

📦 Pickup: Nov. 24 or 25
⚠️ Limited availability
💰 $169.95 serves 6

The Improper Pig

A whole smoked turkey, four quarts of sides, relish, gravy and dessert. Basically, Thanksgiving with a barbecue smoker.

📦 Pickup: Tue, Nov. 24 and Wed, Nov. 25
💰 $190

Midwood Smokehouse

Party packs come with two proteins, two sides and bread, all served cold with reheating instructions.

📦 Pickup: Tue, Nov. 24 and Wed, Nov. 25
💰 $55–$195, feeds 4–24

Yafo Kitchen

Yes, YAFO is doing a Thanksgiving turkey, and yes, it is shawarma-spiced. You can order turkey breast by the 2 pounds and add Greek yogurt mac and cheese, Brussels sprouts, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, gravy, relish and caramel apple cake.

📦 Pickup: Wed, Nov. 25
💰 Turkey $35 per 2 pounds; sides $45, feeds 8–10; gravy and relish $10; cake $20

Sullivan's Steakhouse

A three-course meal that's ready to warm at home, with options for five or ten people.

📦 Pickup: Wed, Nov. 25 or Thu, Nov. 26, 9–11am
💰 $249 serves 5, $475 serves 10

Fleming's Steakhouse

The Turkey Bundle has herb-roasted turkey, salad, stuffing, potatoes, green beans, cranberry sauce and carrot cake.

📦 Pickup or delivery: Nov. 20–29
💰 $265 serves 6

The Smoke Pit

One of the few options here that you can actually pick up on Thanksgiving morning. They have whole turkey, brisket, honey ham, mac and cheese, creamed corn, hashbrown casserole, apple crisp and pies.

📦 Pickup: Thu, Nov. 26, 8am–noon
💰 Turkey $150, brisket $225, ham $90, sides $40/half pan

🥧 Just Need a Little Something?

Maybe you already have the turkey handled and just want a really good pie. Or you're bringing something to someone else's house. Or you would like to wake up on Thanksgiving morning to a breakfast you didn't have to make.

I've got you.

Team Rose Bread

I love Team Rose Bread's cinnamon rolls, so I was very happy to see they're doing them for Thanksgiving morning this year. Their Thanksgiving menu also includes stuffing bags, take-and-bake brioche dinner rolls, pumpkin monkey bread with maple glaze, pound cake and other breads.

But honestly, I'm here to tell you about the cinnamon rolls. Fresh-baked on Thanksgiving morning. You're welcome.

📅 Pickup: Tue, Nov. 24 from 12:45–5:30pm; Wed, Nov. 25 from 9:30am–1pm; Thanksgiving Day from 9–10am
🚚 Delivery: Available Tuesday and Wednesday, but not Thanksgiving Day
📍 Pickup: Trinity Presbyterian
💰 Sourdough Cinny Rolls, box of 4: $20

Order the Cinnamon Rolls

Buttermilk Sky Pie Shop

Huntersville

Apple, pecan, key lime, pumpkin, chess, sweet potato and peanut butter.

📅 Pickup: Nov. 17–25
💰 Most $35; apple $38

Suarez Bakery

4245 Park Rd

Apple, bourbon pecan, Dutch apple, chocolate cream, pumpkin and pecan.

📅 Pickup: Through Nov. 25
💰 $30 each

Thoughtful Baking Co.

There are several Thanksgiving options here, including a gluten-free brown butter apple crisp, vegan Dutch apple, triple-layer pumpkin, maple pecan and turkey dinner pie.

📅 Pickup: Tue, Nov. 24 and Wed, Nov. 25
💰 $35 each

More easy options

Sometimes you don't need a local hidden gem. You just need somebody to sell you a turkey and give you back your afternoon.

Jim 'N Nicks: Turkey Value Feast feeds 4 for $39.99.

Metro Diner: Holiday At Home Feast serves 1, 4 or 8.

Whole Foods Market: Classic Whole Roast Turkey Meal serves 8 for $169.99, with plant-based options.

The Fresh Market: Ultimate Holiday Ham and Turkey meal serves 12–14.

Bob Evans: Premium Farmhouse Feast serves 8–10 for $174.99 and includes two pies.

Harris Teeter: Turkey Dinner serves 8–10 for $79.99.

Publix: Complete Turkey Dinner serves 8 for $69.99.

Golden Corral: Whole Roasted Turkey Meal serves 6–8 for $139.99.

City BBQ: Medium Holiday Turkey Meal serves 8–10 for $114.99.

Cracker Barrel: Heat & Serve Feast serves 8–10 for $189.99.

Earth Fare: Classic Turkey Dinner serves 6–8 for $134.99, with vegan options.

Popeyes: Pre-cooked Cajun-style turkey for $59.99.

🦃 Restaurants Open on Thanksgiving Day

Maybe cooking is not the problem. Maybe you would simply prefer to eat Thanksgiving somewhere that has staff whose job it is to refill your water glass.

The Capital Grille

Uptown

The full dinner menu is available, plus a special Thanksgiving plate with turkey, stuffing and sides. Dine in or take out.

Chima Steakhouse

Uptown

Choose between the salad bar and full rodizio.

🕙 11am–9pm
💰 $42 salad bar, $72 full rodizio, $82 with dessert

Church & Union

Uptown

Three-course prix fixe with family-style sides available separately.

🕙 11am–9pm
💰 $65 adults, $30 kids

Eddie V's Prime Seafood

Uptown

A Thanksgiving turkey dinner, with the regular menu also available.

🕙 11am–9pm
💰 $52 adults, $20 kids

Fleming's Steakhouse

Uptown

Prix fixe Thanksgiving dinner with a children's menu.

🕙 11am–8pm
💰 From $64

La Belle Helene

Uptown

Three-course prix fixe.

🕙 11am–9pm
💰 $80 adults, $35 kids

Napa

Three-course prix fixe. Reserve through OpenTable and choose the location closest to you.

💰 $60

Sullivan's Steakhouse

South Blvd

Three-course dinner.

🕙 11am–8pm
💰 $55 adults, $30 kids

The Ballantyne Hotel

Ballantyne

A Thanksgiving ballroom buffet, with the last seating at 3pm.

🕙 10:30am–4pm
💰 $109 adults, $59 kids, plus tax and service charge

🍂 Make Thanksgiving Easy (and Delicious)

You do not need to make every dish yourself for it to count as Thanksgiving.

Maybe you order the whole dinner. Maybe you make the turkey and buy the sides. Maybe someone else gets assigned pie and you take full credit for knowing where to order it.

Whatever your version looks like, Charlotte has plenty of people willing to do some of the cooking for you. And personally, I think that's a pretty good way to spend Thanksgiving with little kids.

One last thing: put your order-by date in your phone before you close this tab. Some of these deadlines are coming up fast.