Christmas Dinner To Go (2026): Prices, Comparison & Ordering Guide
Christmas Dinner To Go lets you serve a full holiday meal without spending the day in the kitchen. This guide compares four widely available options — Cracker Barrel, Bob Evans, HoneyBaked Ham, and Publix — with verified prices, serving sizes, pickup windows, and ordering advice so you can pick the right fit for your table.
Quick Price Comparison: Christmas Dinner To Go
| Meal | Serves | Price | Per Person | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Publix Deli Turkey Dinner | 8 | $69.99 (excludes tax) | About $8.75 | Southeast stores only; advance ordering required |
| Bob Evans Ham Feast | 4 | $89.99 | $22.50 | Packed cold, heat-and-serve |
| Bob Evans Turkey Feast | 4 | $99.99 | $25.00 | Packed cold, heat-and-serve |
| HoneyBaked Ham 3 lb Small Boneless Ham Dinner | — | $111.99 | — | Delivery price, single location; see notes below |
| Cracker Barrel Ham Dinner | 4–6 | $114.99 | $19.17–$28.75 | Pickup Dec 21–28, 2026; 12-hour notice |
| Bob Evans Ham Feast | 8 | $122.99 | $15.37 | Packed cold, heat-and-serve |
| Bob Evans Turkey Feast | 8 | $132.99 | $16.62 | Packed cold, heat-and-serve |
| Cracker Barrel Prime Rib Dinner | 4–6 | $139.99 | $23.33–$35.00 | Pickup Dec 21–28, 2026; 12-hour notice |
| Bob Evans Premium Feast | 8–10 | $164.99 | $16.50–$21.87 | Packed cold, heat-and-serve |
| Cracker Barrel Ham Feast | 8–10 | $174.99 | $17.50–$21.87 | Pickup Dec 21–28, 2026; 12-hour notice |
| Bob Evans Pot Roast Feast | 8–10 | $174.99 | $17.50–$21.87 | Packed cold, heat-and-serve |
| Publix Deli Mojo Pork Dinner | 8 | Under $10/person | Under $10 | Southeast stores only; advance ordering required |
Per-person figures are simple division of the listed price by the stated serving size. HoneyBaked Ham prices below are delivery prices from one location and are not directly comparable to the pickup prices above. Publix prices exclude tax.
Cracker Barrel Heat n Serve Christmas Dinner
Cracker Barrel’s Heat n Serve line is built around pickup: you collect a cold meal and heat it at home. The Ham Dinner (4–6) is $114.99, the Prime Rib Dinner (4–6) is $139.99, and the Ham Feast (8–10) is $174.99. These are verified 2025 prices from a third-party menu page checked Oct 17, 2026; Cracker Barrel has not announced 2026 Christmas prices yet.
Pickup runs Dec 21–28, 2026, with 12-hour notice required, according to Cracker Barrel’s official site (checked Oct 17, 2026). Meals should be served within 72 hours of pickup. Cracker Barrel is closed on Christmas Day at all locations (long-standing policy; confirm locally). On Christmas Eve, stores are open with reduced hours — confirm your store’s hours locally, as no closing time is stated here. For more on this chain’s holiday meals, see our Cracker Barrel Christmas Dinner page and our Cracker Barrel Thanksgiving page.
Bob Evans Farmhouse Feast Christmas Dinner
Bob Evans sells its Farmhouse Feast as a packed-cold, heat-and-serve meal. The six verified 2025 options are: Ham Feast for 4 at $89.99 ($22.50/person), Turkey Feast for 4 at $99.99 ($25.00/person), Ham Feast for 8 at $122.99 ($15.37/person), Turkey Feast for 8 at $132.99 ($16.62/person), Premium Feast for 8–10 at $164.99 ($16.50–$21.87/person), and Pot Roast Feast for 8–10 at $174.99 ($17.50–$21.87/person). These figures match our verified 2025 prices and also appear on a third-party menu page updated Oct 2026; Bob Evans has not announced 2026 Christmas prices yet.
Bob Evans is closed on Christmas Day (confirm locally). On Christmas Eve, restaurants are open with reduced hours and typically close in the early evening — confirm locally. No specific Bob Evans Christmas pickup window or order deadline has been verified for 2026, so order several days ahead and confirm pickup dates when ordering. Delivery for Christmas dinner has not been separately verified — check delivery availability when ordering. See also our Bob Evans Thanksgiving page for this chain’s other holiday feast.
HoneyBaked Ham Christmas Dinner
HoneyBaked Ham sells ham and turkey by weight and by the plate, which suits groups that want a centerpiece plus a few extras rather than a boxed feast. The prices below come from a DoorDash listing for one Dallas location, crawled around Sep 2026. They are delivery prices, clearly labeled as such: delivery prices include markup and fees and vary by location, so expect different numbers at your own store or on other ordering channels.
- Bone-in Half Ham, 7–7.99 lb — $109.49
- 3 lb Small Boneless Ham Dinner — $111.99
- Smoked Turkey Breast, 2.5–3.49 lb — $54.19
- Ham by the Slice, 1 lb — $23.39
- Sides (Maple Sweet Potato Souffle, Green Bean Casserole) — $14.79 each
- Ham & Swiss Slider 12-Pack — $34.49
HoneyBaked Ham Christmas Day hours are unverified — confirm locally before planning a Christmas Day pickup.
Publix Deli Christmas Dinner
Publix offers two Deli Christmas dinners, listed on the official Publix Christmas page (current as checked). The Deli Turkey Dinner serves 8 for $69.99 and includes fully cooked turkey, old-fashioned cornbread dressing, homestyle Yukon Gold mashed potatoes, cranberry orange relish, marshmallow delight, and homestyle gravy. Advance ordering is required, and the price excludes tax. The Deli Mojo Pork Dinner serves 8 for under $10 per person and includes Mojo Pork Roast, sweet plantains, rice with pigeon peas, and Dulce De Leche cake.
Publix is Southeast US only — this option is available at Southeast stores only, so check your store. Publix Christmas Day hours are unverified — confirm your store’s holiday hours before ordering.
How to Choose the Right Christmas Dinner To Go
Start with your headcount and your budget per person, then work backward. For a group of eight, the Publix Deli Turkey Dinner ($69.99 before tax) is the lowest per-person price in this guide, but it only works if you have a Publix nearby. For a group of four, the Bob Evans Ham Feast ($89.99) is the lowest total price among the boxed feasts.
Next, decide what kind of main you want. Ham feeds a crowd with little fuss and reheats well; turkey feels more traditional but needs a thermometer check (165°F internal for reheated turkey, per USDA guidance). Prime rib costs more and suits a smaller, more formal table. If your group wants a mix, HoneyBaked Ham’s by-the-pound and by-the-slice options let you add ham or turkey to a meal you are already building.
Finally, match the meal to your pickup plan. Cracker Barrel publishes a clear pickup window (Dec 21–28, 2026, with 12-hour notice). Bob Evans asks you to order several days ahead and confirm pickup dates when ordering. Publix requires advance ordering. Pick the option whose ordering rules fit your schedule, and confirm everything — price, pickup date, and contents — when you place the order.
Ordering Timeline
- Two or more weeks out: Decide on your headcount, your main (ham, turkey, prime rib, or pork), and your budget. Check which of these sellers serve your area — Publix is Southeast only.
- About a week out: Place your order where advance ordering is required (Publix) or recommended (Bob Evans — order several days ahead). For Cracker Barrel, note the Dec 21–28, 2026 pickup window and the 12-hour notice rule.
- A few days out: Confirm your pickup date and time, double-check the contents of your order, and clear fridge space for a cold, heat-and-serve meal.
- Pickup day: Collect the meal, check that everything is included before you leave, and plan to serve within 72 hours of pickup (Cracker Barrel’s official guidance).
- Christmas Day: Cracker Barrel and Bob Evans are closed, so plan pickup for an earlier day. For Publix and HoneyBaked Ham, confirm your store’s holiday hours locally.
Pickup Tips
- Bring a cooler or insulated bags. These meals are packed cold and your drive home is part of the cold chain.
- Check the box before you leave. Count the sides, gravy, and any extras against your order receipt while you are still at the store.
- Ask about the heating guide. Each meal comes with its own heating instructions — keep them handy and follow them rather than guessing.
- Confirm holiday hours. Christmas Eve hours are reduced at Cracker Barrel and Bob Evans, and Christmas Day hours for Publix and HoneyBaked Ham are unverified. A quick call to your store avoids a wasted trip.
- Keep the receipt. If anything is missing or short, the receipt is what the store will ask for.
Reheating Basics
Heat-and-serve meals generally take about 2–3 hours oven-to-table. That is a planning number, not a promise for any single dish — follow each meal’s included heating guide for the exact steps for your order. Serve within 72 hours of pickup (Cracker Barrel’s official guidance). Reheated turkey should reach 165°F internal, per USDA guidance, so use a food thermometer rather than judging by color. No per-item reheating times are listed here, because they vary by meal and portion — the guide packed with your meal is the authority for your order.
Cooking vs Ordering: What Does It Actually Cost?
Cooking a holiday dinner yourself is cheaper on ingredients alone, but the gap is smaller than many people expect once time, waste, and stress enter the picture. Tasting Table puts a homemade holiday dinner at about $60–$70 and describes ordering as costing “almost twice as much.” That matches what this guide shows: a boxed feast for 8 runs roughly $123–$175, while a homemade spread for the same table lands near the $60–$70 range before you count your time.
Ordering wins when your time is tight, your kitchen is small, or your group is large enough that a boxed feast costs less per head than buying every ingredient separately. Cooking wins when you enjoy the process, already own the staples, or want full control over the menu. Either way, decide on the total cost — meal price plus tax, fees, and any delivery charges — not the headline price alone.
Christmas Dinner To Go FAQs
Which Christmas dinner to go is the cheapest?
By per-person price, the Publix Deli Turkey Dinner is the cheapest in this guide at $69.99 for 8 (about $8.75 per person before tax) — but Publix is Southeast stores only. For a group of four, the Bob Evans Ham Feast at $89.99 is the lowest total price among the boxed feasts. HoneyBaked Ham’s delivery prices are not directly comparable to the pickup prices above.
How far ahead do I need to order Christmas dinner to go?
It depends on the seller. Cracker Barrel requires 12-hour notice for pickup within its Dec 21–28, 2026 window. Publix requires advance ordering. For Bob Evans, no specific 2026 pickup window or deadline is verified, so order several days ahead and confirm pickup dates when ordering. Ordering a week out is a safe rule of thumb for all four.
Can I pick up Christmas dinner to go on Christmas Day?
Not at Cracker Barrel or Bob Evans — both are closed on Christmas Day (confirm locally). For Publix and HoneyBaked Ham, Christmas Day hours are unverified, so confirm your store’s holiday hours locally and plan pickup for an earlier day if needed.
What if I have dietary restrictions?
Check directly with the seller before ordering. Ask for the ingredient list and allergen information for the specific meal you want, and confirm whether any item can be left out or swapped. Do not assume a standard feast fits a restricted diet — the seller’s own ingredient information is the only reliable source.
Is Christmas dinner to go worth it vs cooking?
For many households, yes. Tasting Table puts a homemade holiday dinner at about $60–$70 and describes ordering as “almost twice as much” — so you pay more, but you skip shopping, prep, and cleanup. Ordering makes the most sense when time is short, your kitchen is small, or you are feeding a larger group at a reasonable per-person price.
How long does reheating take?
Heat-and-serve meals generally take about 2–3 hours oven-to-table. Follow the heating guide included with your meal for the exact steps — no per-item times are listed here because they vary by meal and portion. Reheated turkey should reach 165°F internal (USDA).
Are Cracker Barrel 2026 Christmas prices announced yet?
No. The Cracker Barrel prices in this guide are verified 2025 prices from a third-party menu page checked Oct 17, 2026, shown for reference until 2026 prices are announced. The pickup window (Dec 21–28, 2026) and 12-hour notice come from Cracker Barrel’s official site.
Does Bob Evans deliver Christmas dinner?
Delivery for Bob Evans Christmas dinner has not been separately verified. Check delivery availability when ordering, and confirm pickup dates at the same time.
How much turkey/ham do I need per person?
Use the serving sizes the sellers state: Bob Evans feasts are sized for 4, 8, or 8–10 people, Cracker Barrel dinners for 4–6 or 8–10, and Publix dinners for 8. Buy to the stated serving size for your headcount, and round up to the next size if you want leftovers or are serving hearty eaters.
Can I freeze leftover heat-and-serve meals?
Check the heating and storage guide included with your meal, or ask the seller when you pick up. Storage guidance varies by dish, so the guide packed with your specific meal — not a general rule — is the right source for your leftovers.
Last checked: Oct 17, 2026. Prices vary by location — confirm at checkout.