Let’s be real for a second: You’re juggling work deadlines, soccer practices, Girl Scout meetings, and trying to remember if you signed that permission slip. Now add preparing an entire Thanksgiving feast to that list? No wonder more families are calling in reinforcements this year.

Here’s something that might make you feel a whole lot better about your holiday plans: According to a recent industry report, a whopping 53% of Americans are planning to order at least part of their Thanksgiving meal from restaurants this year. That’s up from 37% last year and 32% in 2023. Translation? You’re definitely not alone if you’re thinking about letting someone else handle the mashed potatoes this year.

Another 5% are taking it a step further and planning to enjoy their entire Thanksgiving dinner at a restaurant. And honestly, can you blame them? No dishes, no post-dinner kitchen disaster zone, and someone else worries about whether the turkey’s done.

Why Smart Families Are Embracing Restaurant Help

The numbers tell an interesting story about what really matters during the holidays. When researchers asked people why they’re turning to restaurants for Thanksgiving help, 63% said they simply want to actually enjoy the holiday instead of being stressed in the kitchen all day. As working moms, we get maybe one or two days off for Thanksgiving, and spending eight hours cooking might not be how we want to use that precious time with family.

Here’s another surprising finding: 40% of people believe ordering from restaurants costs about the same as buying all the ingredients and cooking from scratch. When you factor in the time, energy, and the inevitable last-minute grocery store runs for that one ingredient you forgot, they might be onto something.

About 35% just don’t want the hassle of doing everything themselves (and there’s absolutely zero shame in that), while 26% would rather have a professionally cooked meal. Let’s face it—not everyone inherited grandma’s cooking skills, and that’s perfectly fine. Meanwhile, 19% said they’re simply too busy to prepare everything, which probably resonates with most of us trying to balance work and family responsibilities.

Making Thanksgiving Work for Your Family

The beautiful thing about Thanksgiving in 2025 is that there’s no one “right” way to do it anymore. Maybe you want to cook your famous green bean casserole but let a local restaurant handle the turkey and sides. Perhaps you’re hosting extended family and need backup on a few dishes. Or maybe this is the year you say “forget the cooking” and make a reservation.

Whatever you decide, remember that Thanksgiving is about gratitude, family, and making memories—not about proving you can single-handedly recreate a Norman Rockwell painting. Your kids will remember laughing around the table and playing games after dinner, not whether you made the cranberry sauce from scratch or opened a can.

For local Elkhart County families looking for restaurant options this Thanksgiving, many area establishments offer special holiday menus and takeout packages. It’s worth calling your favorite spots soon, as these tend to book up quickly as we get closer to the big day.

This Thanksgiving, give yourself permission to accept help, whether that’s from a restaurant, the bakery section at Martin’s, or family members bringing dishes. You deserve to actually enjoy the holiday too.

Source: Based on industry restaurant data and consumer surveys regarding Thanksgiving dining trends for 2025