The 22 Best Turkeys To Buy For Thanksgiving Dinner, According To Reviews

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Turkey is delicious all year round, but when Thanksgiving arrives, it truly comes into its own. It's by far the most popular meat served at this holiday meal, with sales skyrocketing around the festive period. 

Turkey can be very difficult to prepare correctly, though, largely due to its size and the diversity of the meat. The dark and white meat sit side by side and yet require different times and temperatures to be cooked to perfection. This has led chefs and home cooks to try a range of methods to keep it juicy, from endless basting to covering and uncovering it at seemingly random intervals, to brining it for days on end before cooking it.

But the truth is that to nail a turkey, it all starts with getting the right bird for your purposes. No two turkeys are created equally, and they can vary significantly in terms of size, how they were raised, preparation, and price. And just as no two turkeys are the same, no two needs are the same either. Whether you're hosting a small dinner, need to prepare a feast, or just want the easiest route, it can be tricky to determine the best turkey for your needs. That's why we've taken all the guesswork out of which turkey you should pick for your Thanksgiving dinner. ‌

For a classic roast turkey at Thanksgiving, Fossil Farms is a must. Its whole turkey is far and away the best out there. The all-natural turkeys are fed a vegetarian diet, allowed to roam free, and raised without antibiotics, hormones, or steroids. This results in a bird that is almost absurdly juicy and flavorful. 

Fossil Farms turkeys do not have any seasoning or brine, meaning you can customize them to your specifications. Sizes range from 9 to 27 pounds.

Purchase a Fossil Farms Turkey Whole Bird at Fossil Farms starting at $138.

D'Artagnan's organic turkeys were raised in free-range outdoor conditions and adhered to a strict, nutritious diet. They are USDA-certified and non-GMO. No harmful chemicals were used in their upbringing, and the farmers maintained humane practices.

The result is a turkey that's not just virtuous but tastes excellent. D'Artagnan turkeys are full of flavor and don't dry out like many commercially-raised birds. They come in a selection of sizes, from 10 to 16 pounds, and are frozen to retain freshness until they arrive at your door.

Purchase a D'Artagnan Organic Turkey online at D'Artagnan starting at $98.99.

Meat N' Bone has a lot to be proud of with its Amish Turkey. Its birds have plenty of space to roam, their food is sourced from community-focused farms, and there are no steroids or hormones in the poultry. The freezing process that the turkey undergoes allows it to retain its freshness.

Meat N' Bone's Thanksgiving Amish Turkey's strict standards around its rearing means that it exudes pure quality. Multiple customers have noted the juiciness of the bird, even after defrosting it and placing it straight in the oven with little preparation. It bronzes up beautifully and looks a treat.

Purchase Meat N' Bone Thanksgiving Amish Turkey at Meat N' Bone starting at $109.99.‌

Burgers' Smokehouse Hickory Smoked Whole Turkey is brined for several days before being smoked over hickory chips, giving it a savory, complex flavor that's hard to replicate in your own kitchen. Because the turkey is cooked, all you have to do is reheat it in the oven (or simply eat it cold). 

The slow cooking process makes the meat ultra-tender and moist, with it practically falling away from the bone . These turkeys are shipped frozen to maintain freshness and are available in sizes ranging from 8 to 14 pounds.

Purchase Burgers' Smokehouse Hickory Smoked Whole Turkey from Amazon, starting at $99.99.

Heritage turkeys are raised naturally, which results in a succulence and depth of flavor that commercial turkeys can't reach. To sample these birds at their best, pick up a D'Artagnan Heritage Turkey. 

These turkeys are from the Narragansett and Bourbon Red breeds and are particularly notable for their richly flavored dark meat. D'Artagnan's heritage turkeys are grown in free-range conditions, fed with a non-GMO diet, and aren't given any antibiotics. Each turkey comes frozen with its giblets. 

Purhcase a D'Artagnan Heritage Turkey from D'Artagnan starting at $175.99.‌

Jaindl's Grand Champion Whole Turkeys are antibiotic-free and were fed a vegetarian diet consisting of many grains, soybeans, and corn that were grown on the same farm. These young turkeys are available in sizes ranging from 8 to 12 pounds. Price-wise, they're very affordable, while not compromising on the meat's quality. 

"This was the most beautiful turkey! The meat was plump and juicy!! Worth the price," commented one reviewer. Another pointed out the high quantity of meat on the bird, as well as its ease of cooking and great taste.

Purchase Jaindl's Grand Champion Whole Turkey at Farm Foods starting at $65.95.‌

Thanksgiving can be extraordinarily stressful, and the amount of side dishes to prepare can be overwhelming. So why not take some of the hassle out of it? That's definitely Mackenzie Limited's mindset, with its offering of a Stuffed Turkey Roast.

This product, which is well-suited to smaller groups, consists of a butterflied turkey breast rolled around a stuffing full of holiday flavors, including apple, sage, cranberry, and almonds. Its cylindrical shape makes it a dream to cut and serve, taking all of the work out of carving. Its smaller size also means it cooks quickly, taking just over an hour from frozen.

Purchase Mackenzie Limited's Stuffed Turkey Roast from Mackenzie Limited starting at $56.95. ‌

The mighty turducken has had a lot of criticism in its time, but the fact remains that it's a favorite for a lot of people at Thanksgiving. And if you want the best, choose Gourmet Butcher Block's. These giant creations come in a 16 to 18 pounds and are infused with an array of Cajun-inspired flavors. This specific turducken recipe was the one that opened John Madden's eyes to the food, contributing to its popularity.

While turduckens are sometimes at risk of becoming just a solid mass of meat, the quality of Gourmet Butcher Block's products means that each flavor is distinct. "Very tender and juicy meat, you could taste every layer," said one happy customer.

Purchase The All-Madden Turducken at Goldbelly starting at $199.95.

To make an ethical choice with your Thanksgiving turkey, opting for a free-range option is smart. And Bowman & Landes Free Range Whole Turkey is a bird that's as delicious as it is wholesome.

The turkeys from the New Carlisle, Ohio-based producer are allowed to roam with pasture access and fed an antibiotic-free diet with no meat products or byproducts. All of this amounts to turkey meat that customers praise for its juiciness and freshness. When purchased online, its turkeys are frozen before shipping, locking in the flavor and ensuring no deterioration before its arrival. Folks who are feeding a crowd will also be pleased to hear that as well as having medium-sized options, Bowman & Landes also offers a massive 27-pound bird.

Purchase a Bowman & Landes Free Range Whole Turkey from Bowman & Landes starting at $68.80.‌

Buying a turkey from a family supplier gives you, more often than not, a bird that's been nurtured with love and care. This is the case with Mary's Organic Turkey. This organic turkey is produced by the Pitman family, who have made raising turkeys their business since the 1950s. Every step of the turkey's production is focused on keeping things as simple and humane as possible, with its birds roaming on a massive plot.

Its Organic Turkey is the cream of the crop, being raised antibiotic-free on an organic diet, with no added hormones or preservatives. As a result of this careful process, its meat is moist and tender and brimming with quality, and as good roasted in the oven as it is grilled.‌

Buy a Mary's Organic Turkey from Paisano's Butcher Shop, from $87.89.

People who like stuffing in their Thanksgiving turkey won't be disappointed by Hebert's Specialty Meats' offering. The Maurice, Louisiana-based company specializes in bringing Cajun flavors to the festive table, and its Large Turducken with Cajun Pork Cornbread Stuffing offers something for everyone.

This turducken layers its stuffing between each of the three types of meat and tops the whole affair with a bespoke seasoning blend. The combination of red pepper, paprika, parsley, and the Cajun holy trinity of onions, celery, and green bell peppers gives the stuffing and meat a savory depth. While it may all sound overwhelming, customers are quick to note the deliciousness of this joint of meat, and Hebert's gets extra bonus points for reliable delivery.

Buy the Hebert's Specialty Meats Large Turducken With Cajun Pork Cornbread Stuffing from Goldbelly for $199.95.