Preparing a Thanksgiving feast can be daunting, especially when timing multiple dishes while cooking the perfect turkey.

Your tasks include peeling and mashing the potatoes, making gravy without lumps, assembling the green bean casserole, baking dinner rolls, and confidently removing the neck and slimy giblet packet from inside the turkey.

Justin Cucci, founder and CEO of Edible Beats restaurant group in Denver, said preparing a Thanksgiving feast is laborious.

“It takes a lot to make it all come together and the expectations are high,” he said. “You have to go over the top.”

Nate Lawrence, owner of Law’s Chophouse at Orchard Town Center in Westminster, said no one is thankful for spending the day cooking and cleaning.

Instead, ordering a Thanksgiving meal is “pushing the easy button.”

“It gives you more time to hang out with family, watch football and enjoy the day,” he said. “That’s the true spirit of Thanksgiving.”So this year, why not let the professionals cook for a no-stress (and, even better, giblet-free) Thanksgiving dinner?

Order a take-out meal from one of these Denver-area restaurants and enjoy more quality time with your friends and family. (Note: This is not a comprehensive list, so check others in your area. Listed in alphabetical order.)

The Bindery

Menu: Barber all-natural turkey and gravy, sourdough stuffing (gluten-free quinoa stuffing option), shallot mashed potatoes, bourbon mashed sweet potato, fresh cranberry relish with orange, lime, and jalapeño, roasted acorn squash, and roasted Brussels sprouts. Add-on options priced a la carte to serve 6-8 include butternut chipotle soup for $29, truffled quatro formaggio mac + cheese for $39, and kale + frisée salad for $30. Bakery items: sourdough $9, a dozen sweet potato rolls for $29, apple pear caramel pie for $36, pumpkin ginger pecan pie for $36, chocolate chess pie for $37, My Mother’s pumpkin cookies $21 per dozen. Price: $440 for up to 8 people, plus taxes and any add-ons.

To order, visit: thebinderydenver.com Address: 1817 Central St. in Denver Pick up: Nov. 27 or 28

Bonanno Concepts

Mizuna: 225 E 7th Ave. in Denver Pick up: Noon to 2 p.m. Nov. 27 Menu: Sliced turkey breast with garlic thyme gravy, hand-tossed stuffing, truffle whipped potatoes, roasted bacon Brussels sprouts with apples and caramelized onions, Mizuna’s lobster mac and cheese, and a pumpkin sage tart with cranberry caramel and cinnamon chantilly cream. Price: $195 for two, plus tax and a 22% creating happy people fee.

Luca: 711 Grant St. in Denver Pick up: 3-4:45 p.m. Nov. 27 Menu: Roasted sweet potatoes, green bean casserole, three-cheese cavatelli, Porchetta with au jus, and pumpkin pie cheesecake. Price: $130 for two or $65 for one, plus tax and a 22% creating happy people fee.

Osteria Marco: 1453 Larimer St. in Denver Pick up: Noon to 2:15 p.m. Menu: Roasted pork loin with garlic and herb crust and honey Dijon glaze, roasted delicata squash, grilled asparagus with sage and citrus compound butter, Panzanella stuffing made with LoDough sourdough and Italian sausage, baked rigatoni and pumpkin cannoli. Price: $130 for two or $65 for one, plus tax and a 22% creating happy people fee.

To order, visit: bonannoconcepts.com/thanksgiving-2024

Edible Beats

Menu: The 5th annual Thanksgiving at Home menu features culinary remixes from the Edible Beats Universe, including Root Down, Linger, and El Five. Options include a complete Thanksgiving feast, everything but the turkey side dishes, vegan meals, and gluten-free bakery items. You can also add wine and Family Jones pre-mixed cocktails to orders. Thanksgiving meal: Barber all-natural turkey, marble rye stuffing, roasted turnip and garlic mashed potatoes, green bean and delicata squash, whipped sweet potatoes and cranberry relish. Price: $64 per person, plus tax and a 15% packaging fee. Everything but the turkey: Serves four and includes marble rye stuffing, roasted turnip and garlic mashed potatoes, green bean and delicata squash, whipped sweet potatoes, cranberry relish, and six sweet potato rolls. Vegan, gluten-free, and nut-free options. Price: $95, plus tax and a 15% packaging fee. Vegan meal: Roasted acorn squash, parsnip and turnip mashed potatoes with celery root gravy, roasted vegetables with smoked almond pesto, cranberry orange chutney, rolls with maple butter, and sweet potato pumpkin pie. Price: $47, plus tax and a 15% packaging fee. Holiday pies and baked goods: Layered pumpkin and whiskey pecan pie for $35, rye whiskey pecan pie for $33, pumpkin pie for $29, Honeycrisp apple pie with English cheddar streusel for $34, gluten-free rye whiskey pecan pie for $37, gluten-free pumpkin pie for $33, gluten-free Honeycrisp apple pie with English cheddar streusel for $38, vanilla bean whip for $7 and 6-pack sweet potato rolls for $9.

To order, visit: ediblebeats.com Order deadline: 11:59 p.m. Nov. 24 Pick up: Schedule time on Nov. 26 and 27 at 1600 W 33rd Ave. in Denver. Delivery is also available via DoorDash.

Chook

Menu: Whole rotisserie chicken, 16 ounces of gravy, choice of three sides (stuffing, sweet potatoes, green bean casserole, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, mac & cheese, charred mixed vegetables, brown butter squash, smashed cucumbers, celery apple slaw), salad (choice of one: Caesar, Greek, beets and berries, goddess, chop, grilled carrot) and choice of pumpkin or pecan pie. Price: Serves two adults and two children, $84.95 plus tax and any additional sides.

To order, visit: chookchicken.com Address: 4340 E. 8th Ave. in Denver Pick up: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Nov. 27 or 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 28

FlyteCo Tower

Menu: Select slow-roasted turkey or glazed ham, and choose three sides (whipped potatoes with roasted garlic and gravy, green bean casserole with Wisconsin white cheese curds and crispy onion topping, sweet potato casserole with crumbled streusel and marshmallow topping, cornbread stuffing, spinach salad, honey bourbon glazed carrots, Brussels sprouts, seasonal vegetables roasted with herb butter) and dinner rolls with honey bacon butter. Sides also available a la carte. Bakery items include pumpkin pie for $18 or gluten-free strawberry shortcake for $20. Price: Serves four, $160 plus tax, 18% tip and any additional sides or bakery items.

To order, visit: flytecotower.com/thanksgiving Order deadline: Nov. 24 Address: 3120 Uinta St. in Denver Pick up: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Nov. 26 and 27. Delivery is available within 5 miles.

Kachina’s Cantina

Menu: Turkey plate includes turkey, cranberry sauce, gravy, mashed potatoes, green bean almondine, sausage and apple herb stuffing and French roll. Pumpkin pie with whipped cream. Price: Turkey plate $35, pumpkin pie with whipped cream $9

To order, visit: kacinadenver.com Order deadline: Nov. 25 Address: 1890 Wazee St. in Denver Pick up: Nov. 26 until 5 p.m. Nov. 28

Law’s Chophouse

Menu: Oven-roasted turkey meal, prime rib with au jus and cream horseradish meal, and smoked ham with brown sugar glaze. All meals include mashed potatoes with turkey gravy, green bean casserole, cornbread stuffing, buttered corn, cranberry sauce, sweet potato puree, house-made dinner rolls with honey butter and pumpkin pie. Price: Turkey dinner for two $95, for four $190, for eight $380; prime rib for two $110, for four $220, for eight $440, ham for two $95, for four $190, for eight $380.

To order: email Nate@ngkrestaurants.com or call 720-669-3773 Order deadline: Nov. 21 Address: 14694 Orchard Pkwy. at Orchard Town Center Pick up: Nov. 27

Restaurant Olivia

Menu: Take and bake classic lasagna, turkey Béchamel lasagna, spinach & artichoke lasagna, or small gluten-free beef lasagna for $38. All other lasagnas are $55 for large and $30 for small. Available add-ons: chopped salad for $14, take-and-bake cookie for $5, Focaccia for $5, or pecorino cheesecake for $13.

To order, visit: oliviadenver.com Order deadline: Nov. 23 Address: 290 S. Downing St. in Denver Pick up: noon to 3 p.m. Nov. 27

Seasons 52

Menu: Roasted turkey with gravy, mashed potatoes, stuffing, mashed sweet potatoes, cranberry relish, field greens salad, six mini pumpkin pies, pumpkin mousse, pumpkin cake, whipped cream and ginger snap cookies. Price: Serves four to six for $230 plus tax, gratuity, and any additional sides.

To order, visit: seasons52.com Order deadline: Address: 8325 Park Meadows Center Drive in Park Meadows Mall in Lone Tree Pick up: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 27

Sara Hansen is a Denver-based freelance writer.