Where to get prepared Thanksgiving meals and sides in Bloomington

You don't have to do all the cooking yourself this Thanksgiving. Bloomington restaurants and bakeries can help with the main course, sides and desserts, whatever will make the day better.

Here's a list of some of what's available:

Which Bloomington restaurants are serving Thanksgiving meals?

For the 17th year, FARMbloomington will offer dine-in and to go options on Thanksgiving. This year, FARM is serving both turkey with all the regular sides or a vegetarian option of stuffed Turkish vegetables with tofu dressing and mashed sweet potatoes. Drink specials will include hot spiced cider, a cranberry orange sangria and a pumpkin old-fashioned.

To-go orders must be placed by Nov. 16.

FARM's turkey hangover menu will be available Nov. 24-26 and includes turkey and wild rice soup, Hot Browns, and Thanksgiving turkey Manhattan. On Nov. 23, the evening of the downtown lighting ceremony, the restaurant will offer free mulled cider outside for everyone. Adults can get a stronger version from bartender Doug Spradley inside.

Roasted chicken is the start of Hive's Thanksgiving meal. The restaurant also will offer stuffing and other side dishes as well as pies (Hive, chocolate brownie, pumpkin, and chicken pot). Preorders are taking place now, and will be accepted through Nov. 17. Pickup is by appointment during regular business hours Nov. 20-22.

Phat Daddy's, at 4747 Ind. 46, has a range of items including smoked turkey that's infused with a Cajun or garlic and herb blend before it's deep fried. People can order just meat, a side or a whole meal. All meals have to be ordered by Nov. 20. Call 812-327-6151 to order or send a message.

Available meats are maple-glazed smoked whole spiral ham, $45; Cajun smoked deep-fried turkey, whole bird, $89.99; brisket for $20 per pound; Mississippi pot roast for $25 per pound. Sides are camp mac and cheese; Southern green beans with bacon and onion; greens with bacon, peppers and onions; baked beans; stuffing with apple slices; Grandpa-style or mustard potato salad; and mashed potatoes with either brown or turkey gravy. Sides are available in pints for $9, half-pan for $25 and full-pan for $50. Deviled eggs are $7 per dozen. Cornbread is $25 for half-pan and $50 for whole pan. Homemade yeast rolls are $10 for 15, $18 for 30 and $40 for 50 rolls.

Tossed salad is $25 for half-pan and $50 for a pan. People can add in bacon, egg slices, seedless cucumbers, spinach, cherry tomatoes, croutons, onion slices, green onion, carrot, broccoli, and bell peppers. Dressings are Italian, ranch, French or Thousand Island.

For dessert there's carrot cake, pumpkin pie, apple pie, a tray of cookies in a variety of flavors, cheesecake bites and peanut butter pie. Prices are: whole pies, $15; whole cakes, $45; cookies, $28; cheesecake bites, $28.

Chefs Table Catering, 3860 W. Third St., plans to offer items for your Thanksgiving day meal, from turkey to sides and desserts. For more, check out their Facebook page or call 812-287-8016.

One World Catering is offering Thanksgiving meals. Pick-up is Nov. 22. Email catering@bloomington.com for more information.

Cracker Barrel has heat and serve meals that feed between 4 and 10 people. Pick-up dates are Nov. 18-25 with 24-hour notice. The meals are intended to be eaten within 72 hours of pick-up. Payment is due at the time the order is placed; meals are on first-reserved, first-served basis, while supplies last. To choose and place an order online, go to https://www.crackerbarrel.com/menu. Bloomington's Cracker Barrel is at 380 N. Jacob Drive.

Bob Evans has Thanksgiving meal options that serve 4-10 people and cost $79.99 to $154.99 for complete meals to heat at home. The meals are available for delivery, take-out or curbside pickup when ready. The Bloomington restaurant is at 3233 W. Third St. For more information, call 812-334-2515 or go online to https://tinyurl.com/489ymsb8 to choose and place an order.

Where to get pies and desserts in Bloomington for Thanksgiving

Two Sticks Bakery will be closed Nov. 23-27. Pre-orders are full, but Two Sticks Bakery plans to have the bakery case full on the Nov. 22 with whole pies, pumpkin cheesecakes and whole pumpkin cakes with cream cheese frosting.

Piccoli Dolci's market cafe will be open 3-6 p.m. Nov. 22 for people to pick up preorders and look at what's available in the store at 223 Pete Ellis Drive, Suite 27. The café will be closed Nov. 23-26. What's available before then includes holiday kringles (with brown sugar with raspberry filling), boxes filled with an assortment of holiday cookies (different sizes, with a combination of different kinds of sablé, and special dessert cookies). There is a possibility the first shipment of Panettone from Italy will be at the café. The Panettone will be available by the slice or whole throughout December.

Crumble Coffee and Bakery, with three Bloomington locations at 532 N. College Ave., 1567 S. Piazza Drive and 16 S. Swain Ave., will be closed Thanksgiving Day but will be open in the days before with many dessert options, from pies (pumpkin, pecan, and apple cranberry for $25 each; chocolate pecan, blueberry, and key lime for $28), cakes (ranging from $30 to $50), cookies ($30 a dozen, $20 for dozen mini cookies) and other options including bar cookies ($50 a dozen or $30 for mini bar) and a dozen assorted dessert items for $50. The special order menu is online at https://crumblecoffee.square.site or you can order by email at laura@crumblecoffee.com or call the North College shop at 812-287-8056 or the South Piazza Drive location at 812-334-9044.

If you want something a little different, Bloomington Bagel Company has its made-from-scratch cranberry walnut bagels available at its three shops: 113 N Dunn St., 913 S. College Mall Road and 238 N Morton St.

Cardinal Spirits offering Thanksgiving cocktails to go

Cardinal Spirits will offer three special Thanksgiving cocktails-to-go kits that can be preordered now. The kits will be available for pick up from 4 to 7 p.m. Nov. 21 and 22 at 922 S. Morton St. The kits pair a full-size bottle of spirits with house-made cocktail mix that people combine at home for a batch of six to seven signature Cardinal Spirits cocktails. Pre-order at cardinalspirits.com by Nov. 18.

The three kits are: Cherry Bomb, with a choice of vodka or Creekbend Brandy, paired with cherry, orange, lemon, sage, and Chinese five spice; Mr. Pitiful, with Tiki Rum, accompanied by orange, chipotle, lemon, smoke, and maple; and Mulled Apple Cider, with a choice of Lake House Spiced Rum, Creekbend Brandy or Single Malt Whiskey, along with apple cider, maple syrup, orange and lemon peel, cinnamon, clove and star anise.

Contact Carol Kugler at ckugler@heraldt.com or 812-331-4359.

This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: Thanksgiving meals to take home in Bloomington, Indiana, in 2023