10 Tennessee BBQ Joints Smoking Whole Turkeys For Thanksgiving So You Don’t Have To
A perfectly smoked Thanksgiving turkey sounds wonderful until you remember everything involved in preparing one. The thawing, seasoning, cooking, and constant attention can turn a relaxing holiday into an exhausting kitchen marathon.
Fortunately, Tennessee has barbecue restaurants willing to handle the hardest part.
For Thanksgiving 2026, several smokehouses are offering whole smoked turkeys, while others have complete holiday meals with dressing, gravy, casseroles, and desserts.
Some let you collect your turkey the day before Thanksgiving and reheat it at home. Others offer hot pickup options, so you can spend even less time worrying about the main course.
The important part is ordering early. Several restaurants have November deadlines, and holiday availability can disappear once the smokers reach capacity.
Here are ten Tennessee barbecue spots with published holiday turkey offerings that could make your Thanksgiving dinner considerably easier.
1. Jack Cawthon’s Bar-B-Que
A whole hickory-smoked turkey for $74.99 sounds like a pretty good reason to put away the roasting pan. That’s exactly what Jack’s Bar-B-Que is offering Nashville families for Thanksgiving 2026.
The restaurant has been part of Nashville’s barbecue scene since 1976. Its holiday menu includes a fully smoked whole turkey weighing approximately 14 to 16 pounds.
Everything comes packaged cold with reheating instructions, so you can warm the bird at home before serving. There’s no need to prepare or smoke a turkey yourself.
Orders must be placed by Sunday, November 22, and picked up no later than 8 p.m. on Wednesday, November 25.
For families wanting more than turkey, Jack’s has two holiday packages. The smaller option costs $139.99 and feeds approximately six to eight people, with turkey breast, sides, dressing, cornbread, pie, gravy, cranberry sauce, and tea.
The larger package costs $259.99 and serves approximately 12 to 14 guests. It includes a whole smoked turkey, sides, dressing, two pies, drinks, cornbread, gravy, and cranberry sauce.
That’s an impressive amount of Thanksgiving cooking to cross off your list with one order.
The restaurant accepts holiday orders through its Charlotte Avenue and Trinity Lane locations. Both are convenient options for Nashville residents looking to simplify their holiday preparations.
I especially like that you can choose between buying only the turkey and ordering almost everything for dinner.
Just remember that pickup happens before Thanksgiving Day, not on Thursday morning. Plan some refrigerator space and follow the restaurant’s reheating directions.
Address: 1601 Charlotte Ave, Nashville, TN 37203, United States
2. Martin’s Bar-B-Que Joint
Feeding fifteen people is much easier when somebody else handles the turkey, dressing, and dessert. Martin’s Bar-B-Que Joint has a Thanksgiving 2026 menu designed for exactly that situation.
The Nashville barbecue favorite is known for its West Tennessee-style whole-hog cooking. For the holiday, its menu includes whole smoked turkey, turkey breast, sliced turkey, ham, and several other smoked meats.
A whole smoked turkey costs $99.99 and is listed as serving approximately 12 to 15 guests. That’s a straightforward choice if your family already has its favorite side dishes covered.
The Major Feast package takes things further. Priced at $289.99, it includes a whole smoked turkey, mashed potatoes, green beans, broccoli salad, another side of your choice, dinner rolls, pie, barbecue sauce, gravy, and a gallon of tea.
That package also serves around 12 to 15 people.
Smaller gatherings have alternatives. The $169.99 Small Gathering includes sliced smoked turkey or ham and serves four to six guests.
There’s also a $219.99 Holiday Supper built around a whole smoked turkey breast, with enough food for approximately 10 to 12 people.
All Thanksgiving orders are provided cold, with warming instructions included.
Pickup is advertised from November 23 through November 29, between 10 a.m. and 9 p.m., although Martin’s is closed on Thanksgiving Day itself.
The Belmont Boulevard location sits near Belmont University and the 12 South neighborhood, making it a familiar stop for Nashville barbecue fans.
One particularly appealing detail is the flexibility. You can buy just the main course, add a few sides, or order an entire holiday dinner.
Martin’s doesn’t publish a firm ordering deadline on its holiday page, so confirm availability and your pickup appointment before making plans.
Address: 3108 Belmont Blvd, Nashville, TN 37212, United States
3. Puckett’s Restaurant
Choosing between a small Thanksgiving dinner and a twenty-person gathering shouldn’t mean changing your entire cooking plan. Puckett’s Restaurant in Franklin has options for both.
For Thanksgiving 2026, its holiday to-go menu includes whole smoked turkeys in two sizes, along with complete meals and individual side dishes.
A small whole smoked turkey costs $115, while the large version costs $145. Both are available without purchasing a complete dinner package.
The small whole-turkey meal costs $275 and is advertised for 12 to 15 people. It features a 10-to-14-pound smoked turkey, mac and cheese, cornbread dressing, mashed potatoes, green beans, yeast rolls, and peach cobbler.
Hosting an even bigger gathering? The $375 large package includes a 20-to-24-pound smoked turkey and larger portions of the same holiday favorites.
That meal is listed as feeding 18 to 20 guests.
For smaller households, there’s a $120 smoked turkey breast meal serving four to six people.
Thanksgiving orders must be submitted by 2 p.m. on Saturday, November 21.
Pickup is available November 24 and 25, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. There’s also a Thanksgiving morning pickup window from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m.
All holiday to-go dishes are fully cooked and provided chilled with heating instructions, including orders collected on Thanksgiving morning.
Puckett’s also offers Thanksgiving Day dining from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The restaurant meal is a separate option, featuring choices such as oven-roasted turkey and smoked brisket.
Located in historic downtown Franklin, this restaurant gives families plenty of ways to celebrate without spending the entire day cooking.
I particularly like that you can order the smoked turkey separately and still make your grandmother’s favorite dressing at home.
Address: 120 4th Ave S, Franklin, TN 37064, United States
4. Sweet P’s Uptown Corner
Knoxville families can put a whole smoked turkey on the Thanksgiving table for $75 this year. Sweet P’s Uptown Corner has published its 2026 holiday ordering information, complete with turkey sizes and a firm deadline.
The restaurant is offering whole smoked turkeys weighing approximately 12 to 14 pounds. Each is advertised as feeding around 10 to 12 people.
That’s a convenient size for a family gathering without needing to purchase several different meats.
There’s also a smoked turkey breast option priced at $80. These breasts weigh approximately six to eight pounds and are likewise listed as serving 10 to 12 guests.
The whole bird is particularly appealing for families who want the traditional Thanksgiving presentation, complete with carving at the table.
Orders must be placed by Sunday, November 15, 2026.
The final pickup deadline is Wednesday, November 25, at 4 p.m. Unless another arrangement has been made, turkeys and sides are provided cold with reheating instructions.
Holiday extras are available too. The menu includes sausage and cranberry stuffing, green bean casserole, and mashed potatoes, each priced at $6 per person with a ten-person minimum.
Dessert lovers can also order pumpkin spice bread pudding, priced at $80 for a half pan serving approximately 10 to 12 people.
Sweet P’s has been part of Knoxville’s barbecue scene since 2009, and its Uptown Corner location sits along Tazewell Pike.
The Thanksgiving menu makes it possible to keep the cooking simple without giving up a traditional centerpiece.
My favorite part is the flexibility. You can handle dessert yourself, order the turkey and a few sides, or build a larger meal around the restaurant’s holiday offerings.
Call (865) 437-3974 to place your order before the November 15 deadline.
Address: 3029 Tazewell Pike, Knoxville, TN 37918, United States
5. Smoked Pickle Barbecue
Picking up a hot smoked turkey on Thanksgiving Day sounds considerably better than spending Thursday morning monitoring an oven. Smoked Pickle Barbecue in Knoxville is offering that possibility for Thanksgiving 2026.
The locally owned barbecue business has announced a special holiday ordering period running from October 4 through Sunday, November 22.
Its advertised Thanksgiving menu includes a whole smoked turkey weighing approximately 16 pounds for $100.
Customers can choose between hot and chilled pickup options. Chilled orders are scheduled for Wednesday, November 25, between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Hot turkey pickup is also offered on Thanksgiving Day, November 26. Customers should confirm their exact Thursday collection time when ordering.
For smaller gatherings, the restaurant lists a three-pound boneless smoked turkey breast for $75.
Another holiday option combines a three-pound smoked turkey breast with an approximately nine-pound ham. That package costs $190 and is advertised as feeding about twenty people.
The menu includes additional smoked meats and holiday sides, including turkey gravy and larger portions for groups.
A quart of turkey gravy is listed at $16, while half pans of sides are advertised at $80 and serve approximately fifteen people.
Smoked Pickle’s barbecue reflects owner and pitmaster Eric Pickle’s interest in traditional wood-fired cooking, developed through visits to barbecue restaurants around the country.
Its Knoxville operation is located on Ebenezer Road, where the business also offers catering services.
I like the hot pickup option because it removes another step from Thanksgiving dinner preparations.
You still need to coordinate the trip and serving time, but the smoking is handled by the restaurant.
Orders close November 22, so arrange your pickup in advance and confirm that the turkey option you want remains available.
Address: 920 Ebenezer Rd, Knoxville, TN 37923, United States
6. Buddy’s Bar-B-Q
More than fifty years of East Tennessee barbecue experience is a reassuring thing to have behind your Thanksgiving dinner. Buddy’s Bar-B-Q has been serving the region since 1972, and whole smoked turkeys are part of its holiday offerings.
For Thanksgiving 2026, Buddy’s advertises whole-smoked turkeys starting at $59.99.
That’s one of the more affordable advertised starting prices among the Tennessee restaurants offering whole birds for the holiday.
Families who want additional dishes can choose the Holiday Feast with Turkey, starting at $159.99.
The package includes a turkey, three one-quart sides, dressing, a pint of gravy, two dozen dinner rolls, a pie, and a gallon of tea.
Customers can select sides such as baked beans, green beans, coleslaw, potato salad, mashed potatoes, or mac and cheese.
For dessert, the feast offers a choice between pecan and pumpkin pie.
There’s also a holiday feast featuring spiral-sliced ham, starting at $179.99.
Prices can vary by location, so the advertised starting prices aren’t necessarily the final cost at every restaurant.
Buddy’s operates numerous restaurants throughout East Tennessee, including its Bearden location on Kingston Pike in Knoxville.
The company says its barbecue meats are hickory-smoked on-site, continuing a tradition that has helped make the chain a regional favorite.
One thing worth checking before ordering is the pickup schedule. The published Thanksgiving page doesn’t specify a universal holiday pickup date or ordering deadline.
Contact your preferred location to confirm both details, along with the whole turkey’s size and current availability.
I especially like this option for families who want familiar Southern sides included without ordering from several different places.
A complete feast with rolls, gravy, dessert, and drinks could eliminate quite a few items from your grocery list.
Address: 5806 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, TN 37919, United States
7. Morgan Brothers BBQ
A 21-to-24-pound smoked turkey isn’t something you casually squeeze into the refrigerator. Morgan Brothers BBQ in Pikeville is offering birds that size for Thanksgiving 2026, and the advertised price is $80.
The restaurant’s holiday preorder menu lists whole smoked turkeys weighing approximately 21 to 24 pounds, with an estimated serving count of 15 to 20 people.
That’s an appealing choice for large family gatherings, church groups, or anyone expecting a particularly busy Thanksgiving table.
A smaller alternative is available in the form of smoked turkey breast, weighing approximately eight to twelve pounds and priced at $75.
There’s also an interesting option for customers who have already purchased their own turkey.
Morgan Brothers will smoke a customer-supplied bird for $1 per pound, with seasoning and brining available for another $1 per pound.
The turkey must be completely thawed before drop-off, so this service still requires a little preparation at home.
The holiday menu doesn’t stop with smoked meat. Customers can order mashed potatoes, sweet potato casserole, baked mac and cheese, broccoli casserole, green bean casserole, cornbread dressing, gravy, and cranberry sauce.
Desserts include pumpkin pie, pecan pie, cobblers, and cheesecake.
For Thanksgiving 2026, all orders must be submitted by Friday, November 13. The restaurant warns that smoker space is limited.
Pickup scheduling is arranged through the preorder form, where customers select their preferred date and time for confirmation.
Morgan Brothers operates along US-127 in Pikeville, surrounded by the scenery of Tennessee’s Sequatchie Valley.
Its regular restaurant schedule is Thursday through Saturday, but holiday arrangements should be confirmed separately.
I especially like the bring-your-own-turkey option for families who already bought a bird but don’t want to manage the smoker themselves.
With such a substantial whole-turkey offering, this restaurant deserves consideration from anyone feeding a large Thanksgiving crowd.
Address: 38408 US-127, Pikeville, TN 37367, United States
8. Corky’s Ribs & BBQ
A hickory-smoked whole turkey with gravy and holiday casseroles sounds like a pretty convincing Thanksgiving shortcut. Corky’s Ribs & BBQ in Memphis has a dedicated 2026 holiday menu built around that idea.
The longtime Memphis barbecue restaurant offers whole smoked turkey separately or as part of a complete holiday feast.
Its advertised whole turkey is intended to serve approximately eight to ten people. The bird is provided cold, with instructions for reheating at home.
The Smoked Whole Turkey Feast includes a whole smoked turkey, giblet gravy, and a choice of two holiday sides.
That package is listed at $126.99 on the East Memphis holiday ordering menu.
The sides are provided frozen, with reheating instructions included.
Choices include cornbread dressing, sweet potato casserole, baked potato casserole, mac and cheese, and broccoli cheese rice casserole.
Those who prefer to prepare their own side dishes can purchase the turkey separately.
Additional holiday items are available too, including dinner rolls, banana pudding, fudge pie, pecan pie, and peach cobbler.
The restaurant is accepting Thanksgiving preorders through Friday, November 20, with pickup scheduled for Tuesday, November 24, or Wednesday, November 25.
Corky’s website directs customers to its local holiday ordering system, where menu prices and available items can be checked for the selected restaurant.
The Poplar Avenue location has been a familiar Memphis barbecue destination for decades, making it a convenient option for East Memphis families.
I like that the feast covers the turkey and gravy while still leaving room to choose the sides.
You can also buy a few extras without replacing every family recipe on the table.
Just remember that the holiday food isn’t advertised as ready to serve straight from pickup. Allow time for proper reheating before guests arrive.
Address: 5259 Poplar Ave, Memphis, TN 38119, United States
9. One & Only BBQ
Some Thanksgiving tables need an entire turkey, while others need a little ham alongside it. One & Only BBQ gives Memphis-area families both options through its holiday catering menu.
For the 2026 holiday season, the restaurant advertises whole smoked turkeys weighing approximately 12 to 16 pounds.
The listed price is $64.99, making it a relatively affordable way to put a smoked centerpiece on the table.
Spiral-sliced hams weighing approximately 11 to 13 pounds are also available for $84.99.
Customers can request hot or cold pickup, although the specific collection time should be arranged with the restaurant.
That flexibility is useful for families deciding whether to serve their turkey shortly after pickup or reheat it at home.
The holiday menu also includes traditional sides such as sweet potato casserole, cornbread stuffing, and giblet gravy.
For something sweet, there’s Millie’s homemade banana pudding, a dessert that fits comfortably into a Southern holiday spread.
Larger gatherings have additional catering options. One & Only advertises holiday buffet packages beginning at $17.99 per person, with boxed meals also available.
The restaurant asks for at least 24 hours’ notice for holiday turkey orders, although ordering earlier is recommended when demand increases.
Delivery is also advertised in the Memphis area for a $15 fee, subject to the restaurant’s arrangements.
The Timber Creek Drive location serves the Cordova area, while another Tennessee location operates on Kirby Parkway.
What I like most about this menu is the ability to keep the order focused. You can buy the whole turkey without committing to a complete catered meal.
Add dressing and gravy if needed, or leave those dishes to the family members who insist on making them every year.
Call the restaurant to confirm availability, your pickup preference, and any holiday scheduling changes before placing the order.
Address: 153 Timber Creek Dr, Cordova, TN 38018, United States
10. Germantown Commissary
A smoked turkey with cornbread dressing and gravy sounds like the kind of Thanksgiving shortcut worth considering. Germantown Commissary has a holiday catering menu built around exactly that combination.
The well-known Memphis-area barbecue restaurant has operated in Germantown since 1981, building a reputation for smoked meats and Southern comfort food.
For Thanksgiving 2026, its holiday menu lists a whole smoked turkey with dressing and gravy for $89.95.
That’s an appealing option for families who want a traditional main course without managing the smoker themselves.
The restaurant also lists a Basic Holiday Meal for $13.95 per person and a Complete Holiday Meal for $19.95 per person.
The larger meal includes smoked turkey or ham, cornbread dressing, giblet gravy, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, green beans, rolls, butter, and serving supplies.
That complete package has a minimum order of 25 people, making it more appropriate for large gatherings than a small family dinner.
Those planning a smaller celebration can focus on the whole turkey or ask about other available holiday items.
Thanksgiving orders require 36 hours’ notice, and the published final ordering date is Monday, November 23.
The restaurant will be closed on Thanksgiving Day, November 26, so customers must arrange collection or delivery ahead of the holiday.
One important availability detail needs checking before committing: the restaurant’s online whole-turkey product page currently displays an out-of-stock notice.
That means the holiday menu is published, but you should call to find out whether new turkey orders are actually being accepted.
Germantown Commissary also operates a location in Collierville, providing another option for customers in the eastern Memphis suburbs.
I like the simplicity of ordering turkey, dressing, and gravy together, especially when the rest of the meal is already planned.
Confirm availability directly rather than assuming the advertised deadline guarantees an open preorder slot.
Address: 2290 S Germantown Rd, Germantown, TN 38138, United States