These grocery stores offer Thanksgiving prepared meals in Coachella Valley

Brian Blueskye
Palm Springs Desert Sun

Thanksgiving is going to look different this year amid the coronavirus pandemic, with many residents opting for a quieter affair instead of packing their homes with extended family members. If you're looking to pare down on cooking, too, several local grocery stores are offering carry-out meals with a variety of side dishes and desserts. 

As California public health officials advise against non-essential travel and encourage residents to gather with no more than two other households, intimate gatherings may drive up demand for smaller turkeys. While there's doesn't appear to be a shortage in the local area yet, it's best to order or pick up a turkey as soon as possible.

Local grocery chains such as Vons, Albertsons, Whole Foods Market in Palm Desert, Calif. are offering prepared Thanksgiving meals.

More:Coachella Valley restaurants to offer Thanksgiving dine-in service, carry-out

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More:Food Now in Desert Hot Springs holds Feed the Need Thanksgiving food drive

Melissa Hill, the director of public affairs and government relations for Albertsons, Vons and Pavilions said the company purchases its turkeys a year in advance based on sales from the previous year. 

"I don't anticipate that we'll run out, but I don't know what that's going to look like as more people shop," Hill said. 

Aside from turkey, local grocery retailers are also offering prime rib, ham and vegetarian options for a Thanksgiving entrée. Here are some of the prepared meal options offered throughout the Coachella Valley.

Albertsons and Vons

Albertsons and Vons are offering a turkey dinner for six to eight people with sides such as stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy and cranberry sauce for $59.99. 

There's also a spiral ham dinner at $69.99 for eight to 10 people, and a prime rib dinner at $79.99 for five to six people. Both dinners include the sides of scalloped potatoes, sweet potatoes, spiced apples and green bean casserole.

Orders must be placed in store or by phone by Nov. 24. Stores will be open from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Thanksgiving. More information is available at albertsons.com and vons.com.

Albertsons

  • 40-101 Monterey Ave., Rancho Mirage (760) 674-4769
  • 74-590 Highway 111, Palm Desert (760) 346-2566
  • 42-095 Washington St., Palm Desert (760) 360-6322
  • 1751 N. Sunrise Way Ste. 1, Palm Springs (760) 864-1141

Vons 

  • 14-200 Palm Dr., Desert Hot Springs (760) 251-1636
  • 78-271 Highway 111, La Quinta (760) 564-2001
  • 4733 E. Palm Canyon Dr., Palm Springs (760) 324-4502

Gelson's Market

Gelson's Market in Rancho Mirage has a variety of pre-made Thanksgiving dinners available. Prices for roasted turkey dinners range from $50 to $180. There's also sliced spiral ham from $50 to $130. Both dinners include mashed potatoes, turkey gravy, cornbread stuffing, green bean casserole, sweet mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce and butter-flake dinner rolls.

For beef lovers, there's a prime rib dinner from $60 to $160. There's also a slow-roasted brisket dinner available from $80 to $160. Both dinners include mashed potatoes, creamed spinach, roasted Brussels sprouts, cornbread stuffing, mushroom and beef gravy, horseradish sauce and butter-flake dinner rolls. 

Plant-based options include a choice between a roast with traditional bread stuffing and mushroom gravy, or a hazelnut cranberry roast. Sides included are Brussels sprouts, mashed cauliflower and vegan baklava. Both meals are $100 and serve four. 

Orders must be placed by Nov. 24 and picked up by 1 p.m. on Nov. 26. Store hours on Thanksgiving are 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Gelson's Market: 36-101 Bob Hope Dr., Rancho Mirage. (760) 770-0010. gelsons.com 

Jensen's Finest Foods

Jensen's Finest Foods is sold out of turkeys at all three local stores. But the market is still offering side dishes and bakery items at its stores in Palm Springs and Palm Desert. 

Some side offerings include Brussels sprouts tossed with onions and smoked bacon for $8.99 per pound, candied yams at $6.99 per pound and green beans for $6.99 per pound. Bakery items include a variety of dinner rolls, pies and a mincemeat pie. 

Order online or in-store by Nov. 23. All locations will be open from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. on More information is available at jensensfoods.com

Jensen's Finest Foods 

  • 73-601 Highway 111, Palm Desert. (760) 346-9393
  • 2465 E. Palm Canyon, Palm Springs. (760) 325-8282

Ralphs 

Ralphs has Thanksgiving bundles and a la carte sides and entrées available. Bundles include bone-in and boneless turkey and ham meals for $50 to $70. All bundles include the sides of green bean casserole, sweet potato casserole, old fashioned stuffing, mashed potatoes, Hawaiian rolls, turkey gravy and a pumpkin pie.

Order online or in-store by Nov. 25. Ralphs locations will be open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Thanksgiving. More information is available at ralphs.com.

Ralphs

  • 42-150 Washington St., Bermuda Dunes. (760) 200-0272 
  • 49-908 Jefferson St., Indio. (760) 771-4373 
  • 74-884 Country Club Dr., Palm Desert. (760) 776-9821
  • 1733 E. Palm Canyon Dr., Palm Springs. (760) 325-5664 
  • 425 S. Sunrise Way, Ste A., Palm Springs. (760) 327-4370

Stater Bros.

Stater Bros. has three meal options for turkey, ham and prime rib that serve up to six people. The turkey dinner is $54.99 and comes with cornbread stuffing, mashed potatoes, homestyle gravy and cranberry sauce. The spiral sliced ham is $54.99 and the prime rib dinner is $99.99 — both come with scalloped potatoes, mashed sweet potatoes, green bean casserole and spiced apples. 

  • 69-255 Ramon Rd., Cathedral City (760) 770-9950
  • 67-800 Vista Chino, Cathedral City. (760) 327-9295
  • 13-200 Palm Dr., Desert Hot Springs. (760) 329-1533 
  • 81-056 Highway 111, Indio. (760) 347-5823.
  • 78-630 Highway 111, La Quinta. (760) 564-5388 
  • 1717 E. Vista Chino, Palm Springs. (760) 416-2551 
  • 78-210 Varner Rd., Palm Desert (760) 772-7508

Orders must be placed in-store or by phone Nov. 23. Stater Bros. will be open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Thanksgiving. More information is available at staterbros.com.

Whole Foods Market

Whole Foods Market in Palm Desert is offering several options for turkey with classic or organic roasts and an apple-brined smoked recipe for $69 to $279, serving four to 12 people, with sides such as green beans with roasted shallots, creamed spinach and kale, mashed potatoes and more. 

There's a prime rib dinner available for $229 and a spiral sliced ham dinner at $139 — both dinners serve eight. For those who prefer a plant-based Thanksgiving, chef Chloe Coscarelli’s vegan meal is available for $39.99 and serves two. 

All holiday orders must be placed online or in-store a minimum of 48 hours ahead of pick-up date and time. Amazon Prime members must select a window for in-store pickup on or before Nov. 22 for member pricing. 

Store hours on Thanksgiving are 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

Whole Foods Market: 44-459 Town Center Way, Palm Desert. (760) 797-8200. wholefoodsmarket.com 

Desert Sun reporter Brian Blueskye covers arts and entertainment. He can be reached at brian.blueskye@desertsun.com or on Twitter at @bblueskye. Support local news, subscribe to The Desert Sun.