7 Denver restaurants offering to-go Thanksgiving meals this year

The Thanksgiving jitters are real. When you’re responsible for cooking a whole meal for a group of family members or friends, anything can happen.

Let local restaurants take the stress out of a burned pie, a fried turkey explosion, a new in-law with a long list of dietary restrictions, or a particularly picky nephew.

Here’s a list of seven spots in town that offer to-go meals and desserts to alleviate your worst Thanksgiving fears:

Yardbird

Make it a Southern Thanksgiving with Yardbird’s herb-roasted turkey, mashed potatoes, biscuit stuffing, spiced honey-glazed Brussels sprouts and bourbon brown butter-glazed yams. Order a small size ($310) for two to four people or a large ($590) for six to eight. For some more finger-licking goodness, try a full fried chicken for ($150) and a brown butter bourbon pumpkin pie ($40).

2743 Blake St., Denver; runchickenrun.com/denver

American Elm

American Elm will do all the heavy lifting for you with its traditional $245 meal. Place your online pre-order for a 14-pound butterflied turkey and gravy, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole and biscuit stuffing, which can feed up to six people, by Nov. 17. All you have to do is pick it up on Nov. 22 or 23 and pop it in the oven. You can even convince the in-laws you did it all yourself.

4132 W. 38th Ave., Denver; amelm.com

Restaurant Olivia

Shake up the usual Thanksgiving lineup by turning to Restaurant Olivia for your holiday takeout meal. For $175, feast on a classic beef Wellington, confit potatoes and beef gravy. Make it extra saucy with chef Ty Leon’s beef bolognese or vegetarian lasagna ($30 for the small option, $55 for the large). Online orders will be available for pick-up on Nov. 21 and 22 between 12 and 3 p.m.

290 S. Downing St., Denver; oliviadenver.com

Vital Root

If you’re not prepared to make a separate meal for those vegan relatives, Vital Root could be your savior. The plant-based restaurant is offering a vegan and gluten-free meal for one with roasted acorn squash, parsnip and turnip mashed potatoes, roasted vegetables, cranberry and orange chutney, dinner rolls and sweet potato pumpkin pie for $44 a person. Order here by Nov. 19 and pick up on Nov. 21 or 22.

3915 Tennyson St., Denver; ediblebeats.com/vital-root

J Street Food Truck

Have a Friendsgiving that needs catering? J Street Food Truck will help you out in a pinch with its $200 Thanksgiving setup for four to six, including 5 pounds of roasted turkey breast and seven sides, like roasted vegetable cornbread stuffing, challah pull-apart rolls and creamy garlic mashed potatoes. Upgrade it with a whole turkey for $275 if you want to feed 10 to 12 friends.

3600 E. 40th Ave., Denver; jstreetfoodtruck.com

Noisette

Impress your friends and family with some pies and charcuterie boards from Michelin-recommended Noisette this year. For something sweet, pick up a fresh-baked pumpkin, apple or pecan pie, plus truffles, bonbons, cookies and macarons from the bakery. Or if you’re looking for a quick appetizer, try a duck confit pot pie or cheese plate.

3254 Navajo St., Denver; noisettedenver.com