7 Best Thanksgiving Dinner Delivery for Seniors 2024

Choosing the right Thanksgiving dinner delivery for seniors can be overwhelming. With so many options out there, it's challenging to know how much food to order.

I've reviewed all the major services to find the best fit for your Thanksgiving celebration. I’ve checked the menu size, portion size, dietary accommodations, and more. After extensive research and testing – here are my top picks for this year.

Overall, Green Chef gets my vote with its Thanksgiving meal kits and sides. These are suitable for as few as 2 people with sides coming in larger portions (but you don’t need to eat them all at once). Green Chef isn’t the only great choice on my list this year – read on to find out more!

The Best Thanksgiving Dinner Delivery for Seniors Reviewed

1. Green Chef – Best Artisan Thanksgiving Dishes

Green Chef caters to smaller gatherings. Many seniors prefer a quiet holiday with close family. Green Chef gets that and focuses on accommodating 2 to 6 people.

What’s on the Menu?

You'll find gourmet options like Turkey with Cranberry-Bacon Pan Sauce on Green Chef's Thanksgiving menu. This is perfect if you want to impress your guests with something other than the usual turkey and stuffing. 

Your options also include Beef Tenderloin with Herb Jus or even the plant-based Maple Butternut Squash Risotto”. You can order from the full menu even if you don’t fancy the Thanksgiving-specific dishes. Find out more about Green Chef’s recipes in our tested Green Chef review.

For Thanksgiving side dishes, check out the add-ons section. You’ll find options such as Apple Crumble, Orange-Cranberry Sauce, Homemade Gravy, Mashed Potatoes, Maple Butternut Squash, Broccoli Gratin, and Cranberry Brioche Stuffing. These come with 8-10 servings but can likely be refrigerated if that sounds like too much.

What You Need to Know 

Each Thanksgiving meal from Green Chef takes 30 to 35 minutes to prepare. As a senior, you might prioritize spending quality moments with family over laboring in the kitchen. Green Chef lets you do just that, offering meals that require less time to prepare.

Green Chef has flexible order sizes, with a minimum of 3 meals for 2 people. This flexibility allows you to scale the menu according to your guest list. You're not locked into a one-size-fits-all package, so you can choose up to 4 meals for 6 people for your Thanksgiving dinner.

Is It Good Value?

The pricing starts at $9.99 per serving for the largest orders. Smaller orders will have a higher price per serving. Thanksgiving meals and sides are ordered as part of a normal weekly box and don’t incur any additional charges.

2. HelloFresh – Best Overall Thanksgiving Boxes

HelloFresh is offering 2 main Thanksgiving options: Roast Turkey and a Turkey Cutlet. The roast turkey dinner serves 8-10 people, making it perfect for a large family dinner. The Turkey Cutlet option is for 2-6, ideal for a smaller get-together.

What’s on the Menu?

The turkey dinner can be purchased from the Market section as a complete meal with the sides and dessert, or items can be purchased separately. Included are Creamy Mashed Potatoes, Brioche Stuffing, Classic Gravy, Fresh Cranberry Sauce, and Ginger Roasted Carrots. An Apple Crisp rounds off the meal as dessert.

The Turkey Cutlet is part of the main menu and is easily spotted with the Thanksgiving label. It features a complete meal of turkey cutlets, gravy, mashed potatoes, Brussels sprouts, and candied pecans. This is ideal if you’re hosting a smaller crowd.

If you or your family are a fan of the TV series “Friends”, there’s a limited edition Thanksgiving box available from November 4th through 7th. The box features ingredients and full recipes to recreate Rachel Green’s infamous Beef Sheperd’s Pie and English Trifle. Boxes are on a first-come, first-served basis with a set number available each day.

What You Need to Know

Orders must be placed by November 19, with the final recommended delivery day being November 24. You can choose your preferred delivery date within this range as well. This gives you enough time to plan and prepare for the celebration.

The cooking time for the meat is around 4 hours in total. During this time, you can prepare the less time-consuming sides and dessert. This makes managing your time easier, especially if you're also looking after grandkids. Find out more about prep times in our tested review.

Is It Good Value?

Pricing varies between the options. The Turkey Box is $179.99 if you order it with all the sides and dessert. Individual items vary, with the turkey alone costing $149.99. Dessert is $14.99, stuffing is $19.99, and the veg sides are $9.99 each. The special “Friends” box is priced at $34.99 with free shipping.

The Turkey Cutlet is part of the main menu and will be ordered as part of a larger box rather than a standalone item. The smallest box which can be ordered is 2 meals for 2 people.

3. Factor – Best Thanksgiving Box for Couples

Factor’s Thanksgiving Feast for 2 is perfect for couples who are having a quiet Thanksgiving. This fully prepared meal requires no effort other than placing it in the microwave, so you can enjoy a fuss-free Thanksgiving meal.

What’s on the Menu?

To order the Thanksgiving items, you need to check out the menu for 23-29 November. The Thanksgiving selection is part of the add-ons menu rather than the main menu. Note that you’ll need to order at least 6 Factor meals to be able to purchase add-ons.

The feast comes with Sliced Turkey Breast, Brown Butter Mashed Potatoes, Butternut Squash Mac n’ Cheese, Green Bean Casserole with Portobello Mushrooms, gravy, and cranberry sauce. No Thanksgiving is complete without dessert, and Factor delivers a Pumpkin Pepita Cheesecake. You can order items individually if the feast sounds like too much.

Factor’s add-ons can only be purchased as part of a larger box of main meals. There are 40 dishes to choose from every week with options for various diets, including keto, low-calorie, low-carb, and vegetarian.

What You Need to Know

All Factor’s meals arrive fully prepared, leaving you with no option to make any ingredient substitutions either before ordering or after they arrive. Check the ingredient list carefully for each meal before ordering to make sure it suits your needs.

Factor delivers its meals fresh and states on its website that you can safely keep them in the refrigerator for 7 days. We tried Factor and found that the meals do freeze; however, this changes the texture a little and may affect the taste.

Is It Good Value?

Factor is one of the more expensive services, but new customers can enjoy a great discount and receive the largest box for just $103.41 with our code. The minimum order is 6 meals and the maximum is 18. Shipping is added separately.

4. Home Chef – Best Mix-And-Match Thanksgiving Options

Home Chef offers 4 Thanksgiving-specific dishes this year that you can mix and match. You can easily find them on its main menu by navigating to the week of November 25th. These dishes allow you to build your Thanksgiving dinner around the main turkey dish as you see fit.

What’s on the Menu?

The menu includes the main centerpiece, Turkey Breast Roast. The side dishes include White Cheddar and Sage Biscuits with Honey Butter, Loaded Mashed Potatoes with Bacon, and Brussels Sprouts with Caramelized Onions and Maple Bacon Glaze. There’s no special tag on these options, but the serving sizes are for 6, and they appear at the top of the menu, making them stand out.

You can also find an assortment of dessert choices on Home Chef’s menu. Although there aren’t any Thanksgiving-specific desserts, you might like to try the Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookie Skillet, which serves 6. All desserts have an orange label. Find out more about the desserts and sides in our tested review.

What You Need to Know

For seniors concerned about gluten, Home Chef provides gluten-smart options. The Loaded Mashed Potatoes, Brussels Sprouts with Caramelized Onions and Maple Bacon Glaze, and the Turkey Breast Roast are all gluten smart.

Home Chef dishes come with varied preparation times. White Cheddar and Sage Biscuits can be ready in about 20 minutes, while the Turkey Breast Roast might take over an hour. This is useful information for seniors who need to plan their cooking schedule.

Is It Good Value?

Pricing for Home Chef starts at $9.99 per serving, with the minimum order being 2 recipes for 2 people, up to 6 recipes for 6 people. And don’t worry – you can still add non-Thanksgiving items to your order. This is great for seniors who might want to try something new along with traditional dishes.

5. Purple Carrot – Best Vegan Thanksgiving Meals

Purple Carrot offers a Thanksgiving menu that’s fully vegan. It’s your best bet if you’re a senior committed to a vegan lifestyle. With vegan options being a rare find during the holiday season, this is a blessing. You can read more about its unique approach to plant-based cooking in our Purple Carrot review.

What’s on the Menu?

Thanksgiving meal kits include Sage Butter Gnocchi with Butternut Squash and G. O. A. T Thanksgiving Leftover Sandwiches featuring sweet potatoes, Brussels sprouts, and cranberry sauce in a pretzel roll.

You can view the Thanksgiving Sandwiches all year round. These are available in the recipes section of the website under Holiday Recipes and feature a Roasted Brussels & Classic Gravy sandwich. This recipe takes roughly 30 minutes to go from the box to your table. It’s unavailable to purchase, so you’ll need to go grocery shopping or use up your Thanksgiving leftovers.

The prepared meals section has some Thanksgiving sides such as Sweet Potato Casserole with Vegan Marshmallows, Green Beans Casserole, and Chiabatta Savory Stuffing. These are all tagged as shareable which means they come in a larger size. For an appetizer, you could try Fireside Butternut Bisque. 

What You Need to Know

Being a fully vegan service, all meals are dairy, egg, and meat-free. As well as this, Purple Carrot offers several menu tags so you can see meals that are soy, nut, and gluten free as well as high protein, high fiber, under 600 calories, and low sodium.

The grocery section gives you a great selection of items, including hummus, vegan burgers, juices, coffees, donuts, vegan cheese, and dips. These can be added to any meal kit or prepared meal order, but the items are priced separately.

Is It Good Value?

Pricing for Purple Carrot's meals starts at $11.00. The minimum for meal kits is 3 meals of 2 servings each for the week. For prepared meals, the minimum order is 6 single-serving meals weekly. This applies to the Thanksgiving menu as well.

6. Blue Apron – Best Range of Thanksgiving Boxes

Blue Apron offers 3 Thanksgiving boxes. The Classic, Prepared & Ready Family Sides, and Add-Ons: Thanksgiving Family Sides. The boxes with just sides and desserts don’t require any cooking. This is beneficial for seniors with limited cooking facilities or time.

What’s on the Menu?

The Classic Box feeds 6 to 8 people. It contains Butter Roasted Turkey Breast, Garlic & Herb Gravy, and Cranberry Sauce with a spicy kick. Sides include Brussels Sprouts with Fried Rosemary and Brown Butter & White Cheddar Mashed Potatoes. For dessert, you get an Apple Crumb Pie with Almonds.

The Prepared & Ready Family Sides box comes with 3 fully-prepared dishes. This year, you’ll get Cheesy Mashed Potatoes, Loaded Mashed Potatoes, and Family-Style Cavatappi Pasta & Beef Meatballs. This type of box is ideal if you need to take a dish to a larger gathering (dishes are 36-38 oz). The food arrives prepared but does require heating.

The Add-Ons: Thanksgiving Family Sides is a larger box with 6 sides and a dessert. Each side serves 4 and the dessert serves 6-8. Everything is fully prepared. This year your box contains Brown Butter Mashed Potatoes with White Cheddar & Chives, Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Fried Rosemary & Pumpkin Seeds, Roasted Delicata Squash with Pickled Peppers, Almonds & Labneh, Orange & Cucumber Salad with Pistachios & Mint, Creamy Mac & Cheese with Truffle Breadcrumbs & Spinach, and Apple Crumb Pie with Almonds.

What You Need to Know

Each box comes with recipe cards, make-ahead tips, and a prep checklist. Expect your cooking time to be around an hour. This is convenient for seniors who want a simplified cooking process. 

There is an order deadline – orders have to be placed by 12 pm EST on Friday, November 15th for deliveries during the week of November 18th, and 12 pm EST on Friday, November 22nd for deliveries during the week of November 25th. This is crucial for seniors who need to plan their holiday meals in advance.

Is It Good Value?

Pricing depends on which box you choose. The Classic Box costs $94.99, the Prepared & Ready Box is $63.97, and the Add-Ons is priced at $69.94.

If you like the sound of Thanksgiving, have a look at the rest of the menu. Most of Blue Apron’s dishes are pretty simple to prepare. It also even offers a selection of prepared meals each week – learn more in our tested Blue Apron review.

7. Dinnerly – Best Affordable Thanksgiving Dishes

Dinnerly offers budget-friendly Thanksgiving meals. If you're a senior looking to host a small Thanksgiving gathering without breaking the bank, Dinnerly has you covered. Main dishes, sides, and desserts are all on offer and can serve between 2 to 8 people. Learn more about the very low prices in our tested Dinnerly review.

What’s on the Menu?

You'll find an array of delicious options. For example, you can enjoy Cranberry-Glazed Turkey Meatloaf as your main dish. It comes served with mashed potatoes and green beans. Brown Sugar Glazed Ham comes with biscuits and mustard sauce.

But there’s more than just that. Side dishes like Sweet Potato Casserole and Herbed Sausage Stuffing also add a touch of holiday spirit. Desserts include Pumpkin Pie Cheesecake Bars and Spiced Apple Oat Crisp. Let's not forget its Thanksgiving appetizers, such as the Sour Cream and Onion Biscuits.

Check the menu for the week of November 11 onwards to find these special offerings. All the seasonal offerings have “Thanksgiving” in the name and are easy to spot as you browse the main menu.

What You Need to Know

Dinnerly’s menu is suitable for a range of palates. From dairy free, low calorie, spicy, low carb or kid-friendly (if the grandkids are visiting), there’s plenty to choose from. Each meal has helpful tags underneath, so you’ll know if it suits your needs. There’s also full ingredient and nutritional information available if you have additional needs, such as low sodium or low sugar.

One of the ways Dinnerly keeps its costs down is with reduced packaging. When you open your Dinnerly box, all items are packed together rather than being sorted by recipe. It doesn’t take long to sort through them, though. If you like paper recipe cards, you can opt to receive these; otherwise, digital versions are available online.

Is It Good Value?

Ordering is easy and flexible. These Thanksgiving meals are part of Dinnerly's regular menu. You can order a minimum of 2 meals for 2 people per week, all the way up to 6 meals for 4 people. 

The price per serving starts at $2.12 for the largest order, and the prices increase slightly per serving for smaller orders.

Quick Comparison Table

Tips for Choosing the Best Thanksgiving Dinner Delivery for Seniors

Choosing the right Thanksgiving dinner delivery service for seniors can make the holiday more enjoyable and less stressful. Here are some tips to consider for making an informed decision.

• Size of your gathering: It's essential to consider how many people you'll be serving. Some delivery services specialize in larger gatherings and offer bulk discounts. Others may be better suited for intimate settings with smaller packages. Think about portion sizes as well, so you don't end up with too little or too much food. For large gatherings, HelloFresh’s Thanksgiving boxes serve from 4 to 10 people.

• Dietary restrictions: For seniors with specific dietary needs, customization is crucial. Whether it's low-sodium, gluten-free, or diabetic-friendly, you'll want to opt for a service that can accommodate these restrictions. Always read the nutritional information and ingredients list on the menu, or contact customer service for detailed information in case of severe allergies.

• Convenience: Your time is valuable, especially during the holidays. Services offering Thanksgiving options have varying levels of required prep time. For instance, Green Chef offers a few complete meals that take as few as 30 to 35 minutes to prepare. One Green Chef order can also serve up to 6 people. Assess how much time you can devote to food prep and choose a service that fits your schedule.

• Price: Budget plays a critical role in choosing a delivery service for Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving is special, but it doesn't have to break the bank. Compare different services and see which one offers the best value for the quality of food and service you're expecting. Watch for promotions or special holiday deals to make it even more cost-effective. For budget-conscious seniors, I recommend checking out Home Chef as it’s offering individual main, side, and dessert dishes this Thanksgiving.

FAQ

Can you send someone a turkey dinner?

Yes! Numerous meal delivery services offer the option to send turkey dinner as a gift. For instance, HelloFresh is offering a complete Thanksgiving box with roast turkey, sides, and dessert. It can be sent as a gift with HelloFresh’s e-gift cards.

How much turkey should I order per person?

For example, Home Chef is offering a Thanksgiving roast turkey breast dish along with a few sides this year. The turkey takes around an hour to prepare and serves 8 to 10 people.

Does Costco have Thanksgiving dinner?

Blue Apron’s Classic Thanksgiving Box comes with roasted turkey breast, gravy, cranberry sauce, Brussels sprouts, and mashed potatoes. Apple crumb pie is also included for dessert.

Best Thanksgiving Dinner Delivery for Seniors in 2024 — Final Score