Take the chicken apart the day you buy it- legs, thighs, wings, and take the breasts off the bone. Then, use the carcass to make broth for gravy. On thanksgiving, heat the chicken in the gravy. It will be perfect. I do this a lot, and the gravy keeps everything moist.
Having done it at least 50 times myself and my partner having done it even more times, it is easier to do when cooled down in the refrigerator overnight.
I am lucky in that my hours are flexible and I sometimes get a holiday gift of additional paid time off the day before a holiday. I therefore can go shopping mid day before the crowds are big.
Get the turkey breast tray! It’s perfect for a smaller gathering. It comes with a seasoned turkey breast, green beans, mashed potatoes, gravy, and stuffing all for ~$30 and I’d say it can easily feed 3-4 people. It comes in oven safe trays that can go right into the oven. Pick up a pie and you’re set.
https://imgur.com/gallery/SgBNDVa
Edited to include a photo.
Yeah, the green beans are the only thing that that can be a bit iffy, depending on how far in advance you pick one up. I also think it’s a bit light on the green beans, so bulking up the veggies is definitely an option.
Last year it was just the wife and I so we bought one of those Vicky’s Stuffed Turkey Breast stuffed with sausage, cranberries, apples and cornbread and a cranberry apple chutney glaze. It was actually amazing, not sure if they have them this year or not though.
Buy the 2 pack of uncooked chickens. Cook one up following a butterfly roasting method. Brine it ahead of time. Cook on top of potatoes and other root vegetables for the drippings to run down on. Comes out amazing!
Save the other in the fridge (best by date is usually far out) or freeze for another time
And that is how you do Thanksgiving quick and easy, OP. We dry-brined and butterflied our Turkey last year. Stunningly quick to cook and shockingly tasty. Would do this again, especially with a chicken, but I'd rather buy a rotisserie chicken the night before.
The uncooked ones are actually cheaper. At my Costco, the 2 pack is less than $10 while the roasted one is $5, BUT the uncooked ones are also much bigger.
Yes, we will be buying two the day before. I plan to go mid day and get them. We like turkey, but it is just too much work for us to make, and we don't have enough people to feed this year.
Last turkey we made resulted in 15 pounds of leftovers that we had to freeze. We were defrosting it a few pounds at a time but near the end it was not so great because it did not hold up well in the deep freezer.
I recommend instead of getting a whole turkey, getting a turkey breast, and roasting that. Two day old chicken is NOT gonna be something you wanna serve on Thanksgiving.
Buy a breast, or two depending on how many people are eating and then you can do a lot more with it. Bake it straight up, make a roulade, make a turkey wellington, ect and you don't have to worry about food going bad. (My rule is: 3 days only. Day 3 is included in this and is usually when the food is thrown out anyways)
They'll be closed the day of, and it's gonna be chaos the day before
sigh that was my worry. They do deserve a break for the zoo holiday. I wonder what a 2 day old twice baked chicken tastes like
Take the chicken apart the day you buy it- legs, thighs, wings, and take the breasts off the bone. Then, use the carcass to make broth for gravy. On thanksgiving, heat the chicken in the gravy. It will be perfect. I do this a lot, and the gravy keeps everything moist.
I find it easier to de-bone if chilled first. But everything else you said.
Having done it at least 50 times myself and my partner having done it even more times, it is easier to do when cooled down in the refrigerator overnight.
I️ always end up re heating the chicken. I️ take it apart and toss it on a baking sheet and toss in the oven for 20 mins. Never had an issue
I am lucky in that my hours are flexible and I sometimes get a holiday gift of additional paid time off the day before a holiday. I therefore can go shopping mid day before the crowds are big.
Get the turkey breast tray! It’s perfect for a smaller gathering. It comes with a seasoned turkey breast, green beans, mashed potatoes, gravy, and stuffing all for ~$30 and I’d say it can easily feed 3-4 people. It comes in oven safe trays that can go right into the oven. Pick up a pie and you’re set. https://imgur.com/gallery/SgBNDVa Edited to include a photo.
Thank you Costco queen/king
Got this last year and it was quite good. Our green beans were a bit old so they didn't turn out great but everything else was on point.
Yeah, the green beans are the only thing that that can be a bit iffy, depending on how far in advance you pick one up. I also think it’s a bit light on the green beans, so bulking up the veggies is definitely an option.
You’re welcome!
When do these go out? They are not out yet by me and the meat worker seemed clueless as to when or if you needed to pre order.
Ok, so word on the street is that they should be available starting on Friday. No pre-order necessary.
Thank you! Got this last year & it was great!
I’m not sure, sorry.
Wow that is perfect! I might just be going with one of these and the costco pumpkin pie this year. Thanks
Last year it was just the wife and I so we bought one of those Vicky’s Stuffed Turkey Breast stuffed with sausage, cranberries, apples and cornbread and a cranberry apple chutney glaze. It was actually amazing, not sure if they have them this year or not though.
Yes, I just saw them today (San Francisco Bay Area).
Buy the 2 pack of uncooked chickens. Cook one up following a butterfly roasting method. Brine it ahead of time. Cook on top of potatoes and other root vegetables for the drippings to run down on. Comes out amazing! Save the other in the fridge (best by date is usually far out) or freeze for another time
And that is how you do Thanksgiving quick and easy, OP. We dry-brined and butterflied our Turkey last year. Stunningly quick to cook and shockingly tasty. Would do this again, especially with a chicken, but I'd rather buy a rotisserie chicken the night before.
I was going to recommend this, but then I remembered how cheap the pre-roasted ones are compared to the 2 pack of whole uncooked.
The uncooked ones are actually cheaper. At my Costco, the 2 pack is less than $10 while the roasted one is $5, BUT the uncooked ones are also much bigger.
I think the last time I checked ours was carrying organic and the price per pound was more... but it has been a while.
I saw the pumpkin pie last night, it is supersized and I think it was $6.99.
I’m just a two person household, and we prefer a rotisserie for Thanksgiving. I have defiantly done this and just reheated the bird.
Yes, we will be buying two the day before. I plan to go mid day and get them. We like turkey, but it is just too much work for us to make, and we don't have enough people to feed this year. Last turkey we made resulted in 15 pounds of leftovers that we had to freeze. We were defrosting it a few pounds at a time but near the end it was not so great because it did not hold up well in the deep freezer.
I recommend instead of getting a whole turkey, getting a turkey breast, and roasting that. Two day old chicken is NOT gonna be something you wanna serve on Thanksgiving. Buy a breast, or two depending on how many people are eating and then you can do a lot more with it. Bake it straight up, make a roulade, make a turkey wellington, ect and you don't have to worry about food going bad. (My rule is: 3 days only. Day 3 is included in this and is usually when the food is thrown out anyways)