Publix Thanksgiving Dinners Go on Sale Today, Starting at $69.99. 5 Things Floridians Should Know Before They Order

Think a ready-made Publix dinner means no cooking on Thanksgiving?

You still have work to do. Publix sells its premade holiday meals cold.

Publix Thanksgiving dinners go on sale today, with Florida Today’s list starting at $69.99.

Here’s what you need to know before ordering.

1. Publix’s Fully Cooked Turkey Dinner

Publix’s Fully Cooked Turkey Dinner serves about 8 people for $69.99.

The centerpiece is a 10 to 12 pound Butterball turkey.

Around it, you get 2.5 pounds of dressing, 2.5 pounds of mashed potatoes, and 32 ounces of gravy.

Two 14-ounce marshmallow delights and a 16-ounce cranberry-orange relish finish the box.

You won’t peel a potato.

If your table seats more than 8, the bigger dinners are worth a look.

2. Large, Breast and Ham Dinners

Florida Today’s rundown of Publix’s Thanksgiving dinners lists three more beside the $69.99 turkey box.

To feed about 15, Publix lists the Large Fully Cooked Turkey Dinner at $139.99.

Its Butterball turkey weighs 16 to 18 pounds.

The sides double, which means two portions each of dressing and mashed potatoes, two gravies, four marshmallow delights, and two relishes.

The Fully Cooked Turkey Breast Dinner, at $79.99, serves about 8 with a 4 to 7 pound Butterball turkey breast.

It comes with the same sides as the standard turkey dinner, so only the bird shrinks.

That’s $10 more than the whole-turkey dinner for the same crowd.

At $69.99, the Publix Ham Dinner feeds about 7.

You get a Smithfield spiral-sliced boneless brown sugar ham, a 2.25-pound sweet potato casserole, a 2-pound green bean casserole, and two 14-ounce marshmallow delights.

It costs the same as the turkey dinner but feeds about one fewer person.

Pick by headcount.

3. What Each Dinner Costs Per Person

Divide each price by its serving count, and the four dinners on Florida Today’s list land between about $8.75 and $10 a person.

If you’re feeding 8, the $69.99 turkey dinner is the cheapest at about $8.75 a person.

The turkey breast and ham dinners each come to about $10.

At $139.99, the Large dinner costs one cent more than two $69.99 dinners, and it comes to about $9.33 a person for 15.

The sides break down the same way, at about 5 ounces of dressing, 5 ounces of mashed potatoes, and 4 ounces of gravy per person in the $69.99 dinner.

The $69.99 box works out to roughly 1.25 to 1.5 pounds of turkey for each person.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) guide for roasting a whole turkey says to allow 1 pound per person.

Publix’s 16 to 18 pound turkey for about 15 people comes to roughly 1.1 to 1.2 pounds each.

The 4 to 7 pound turkey breast in the $79.99 dinner comes to roughly half a pound to just under a pound each.

Because the bigger box stretches thinner, the $69.99 dinner leaves more room for leftover turkey sandwiches.

Divide before you order.

4. Order and Pickup Dates

Publix opens online ordering for its Thanksgiving dinners today, Oct. 27.

Monday, Nov. 23, is the last day to order, which gives you nearly four weeks from today to decide.

Publix’s holiday meals page says orders need at least 48 hours before pickup.

Publix also says it needs a couple of days to prepare orders, so it suggests ordering at least three days before your feast.

You place the order through Publix’s Order Ahead for In-Store Pickup service.

Florida Today also names Instacart as an option where it is available.

Pickup runs from Saturday, Oct. 31, through Wednesday, Nov. 25, so you can collect your dinner before the holiday.

Publix stores are closed on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 26, so Thursday is too late.

Mark your calendar.

Publix’s in-store pickup FAQ says changes are always welcome, even after you submit your order.

To change an order, call the store at the number in your order summary or email confirmation.

Publix says in-store pickup carries no additional fees or charges, and you can choose “Pay now” or “Pay in-store” when you order.

5. Reheating at Home

Publix’s Thanksgiving dinners are fully cooked, but you still heat them at home.

Publix sells its premade holiday meals cold, with heating instructions included.

Some items take up to 2 or 3 hours to heat, while others are faster, so a fully cooked dinner can still keep your oven busy.

Publix says you heat the premade meals at home, and all heating instructions are included.

Publix says the turkey should be cold, thawed and a bit icy, but not frozen.

Read those instructions first.

Leftovers From Your Publix Dinner

At 10 to 12 pounds for about 8 people, the turkey in the $69.99 dinner can leave you with leftovers.

The USDA says to refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours of cooking or of coming off a warmer, and to cut turkey into smaller pieces first.

They keep in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days, or in the freezer for 3 to 4 months.