Thanksgiving-to-go in Baton Rouge

Love Thanksgiving, but can’t bear the burden of cooking the turkey? Baton Rouge has dozens of places that serve up a brag-worthy bird, without all the hassle of defrosting, stuffing, and baking or frying the thing yourself. Here are a few of your many options—just make sure you order early! Bellue’s serves up your choice of smoked or fried turkey, with cornbread dressing. ($69.99) They also offer their signature Bellue’s Holiday Feast, where they’ll cook up absolutely everything you could possibly want for your holiday meal, including smoked turkey, pork tenderloin, dressing, boudin and chicken and andouille gumbo. ($199.99) Honey Baked Ham is known for their succulent and eponymous dish, but they also offer a whole smoked turkey or Cajun-rubbed turkey ($39.99), as well as their own take on the holiday feast with sweet potato soufflé, cornbread dressing, gravy and pecan pie. ($69.99) Chef Don Bergeron, along with other local caterers, offer up a selection of turkey treats. Bergeron has an option of whole roasted bone-in turkey ($45) or a partially de-boned turkey ($125) that’s much larger while being a little easier on the carving knife. Hi Nabor has a selection of baked, smoked or fried turkeys, served alone or with a dinner that includes cornbread dressing, giblet gravy, green peas, yams, a dozen bread rolls and cranberry sauce. Prices range from $26.99 for a plain baked turkey, to $59.99 for a deluxe fried turkey dinner. Piccadilly Cafeterias’ venerable restaurants are once again offering a full Thanksgiving meal with all the trimmings ($59.95). The feast includes a whole baked turkey a quart of giblet gravy, a pint of cranberry sauce, two quarts of cornbread dressing, rolls and your choice of pecan or pumpkin pie. Tony’s Seafood is a local institution that offers fried turkeys on their holiday menu. If you’ve ever tasted their fried seafood, you know their birds are just as good. ($34.99)