Stress-Free Small Thanksgiving Dinner Menu
This small Thanksgiving dinner menu is the perfect way to entertain a smaller group of friends or immediate family this holiday season. To make it easy and customizable, I give you a few great options for a main course, side, and dessert, and you just pick and choose your favorite recipes! So gather your loved ones and share this comforting holiday feast!
Who says you can’t have a traditional Thanksgiving feast with a small gathering?!
I’ve rounded up a collection of my all-time favorite recipes for Thanksgiving and given you a simple way to plan your Thanksgiving menu!
Simply choose (1) main course, (2) side dishes, and (1) dessert.
The best part is that these are all easy recipes and many of them can be prepped the day before your Thanksgiving meal.
If you are preparing dinner for just 2, these recipes are still perfect–they are all easy to adjust or cut in half.
SMALL THANKSGIVING DINNER MENU OPTIONS
Don’t need a huge Thanksgiving feast this year? These small Thanksgiving dinner ideas and options will make pulling together your menu a breeze! Just choose 1-2 items from each category and let your holiday celebration begin!
All *starred items can be made ahead! (the day before).
Main Course Options (Choose 1)
Air Fryer Turkey Breast
Roasted turkey breast is a great option for a smaller crowd vs. roasting a huge turkey! And cooking a turkey breast in the air fryer is life-changing!!! This air-fried turkey breast is rubbed with softened butter and delicious spices and then air-fried to perfection. The turkey breast is juicy and tender and cooks in no time at all!
Air Fryer Cornish Hen
Another perfect and festive option for smaller gatherings...and air frying is the best way to get super crispy skin! These Cornish hens are rubbed with lemon and fresh herbs and look gorgeous on your holiday table. The best part is the cook time is only about 30 minutes! #winning
Side Dish Options (Choose 2)
Perfect Mashed Potatoes and Gravy
Buttery, creamy potatoes are mixed with a little sour cream and a secret ingredient! Take a little help from the grocery store with turkey gravy seasoning mix that makes a rich, delicious gravy that's an absolute cinch and comes together in about 2 minutes!
Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Sweet Potatoes
Perfectly roasted brussels sprouts and tender sweet potatoes are drizzled with a sinful bacon and maple glaze, then topped with crispy bacon and pomegranate seeds for a little crunch-- baked on a sheet pan for easy clean up!
Velveeta Green Bean Casserole*
Shake up your traditional green bean casserole with a layer of creamy Velveeta cheese, a sprinkle of cheddar cheese, and crispy fried onions, all baked to bubbly perfection. Perfect make-ahead recipe to keep things stress-free!
The Best Italian Sausage Stuffing*
Bacon is the secret ingredient in this beloved classic side dish, and is perfect for the holiday table! Tip: Half the recipe, then spoon it into muffin tins to bake individual servings for a small group.
Semi-Homemade Cranberry Sauce*
This recipe will make that canned stuff *SHINE BRIGHT* on your holiday table! Just a few simple ingredients and about ten minutes is all it takes to make a can of cranberry sauce taste fresh and homemade!
Old Fashioned Pea Salad*
Super easy make-ahead side dish! Full of bold flavors from cheddar and red onion with the calming flavor of peas and sour cream…and don’t forget about the bacon!
Crack Green Beans*
Smothered in a delicious sweet and savory glaze, then topped with lots of bacon, this green bean recipe can easily be made in the crockpot for a totally hands-off side dish!
Cheesy Broccoli Au Gratin*
This delicious, cheesy Broccoli Au Gratin recipe combines tender broccoli florets tossed in a creamy cheese sauce, then topped with a crunchy breadcrumb and Parmesan cheese topping.
Green Beans with Pineapple and Bacon
These green beans are such a beautiful, unexpected combo for your Thanksgiving table! The green beans are tossed in a sweet and savory bacon, rosemary, and pineapple glaze, then topped with more crisp bacon and slivered almonds for crunch! A little sweet, a little savory, and 100% delish!
Dessert Options (Choose 1)
Perfect Pumpkin Pie with Condensed Milk*
This Pumpkin Pie with Condensed Milk recipe is where warm, rich fall flavors come alive! A perfectly sweet twist on a classic dessert that’s a lot easier to make than you think!
Maple Pecan Pie*
Pure maple syrup is used in place of corn syrup in this pecan pie and the result is a delicious, luscious pie that everyone will go *NUTS* over!
Caramel Apple Pie*
This is going to be your new favorite apple pie recipe! Delicious, caramel-y apples are topped with a buttery crumble topping. An extra drizzle of caramel sauce and a big scoop of vanilla ice cream will take this pie over the top!
Old Fashioned Sweet Potato Pie *
This recipe is super simple, just like my grandma used to make hers, but with a few “modern” twists! Wonderful warm spices are combined with fresh sweet potatoes and sweetened with brown sugar and a touch of maple syrup.
No-Bake Double Layer Pumpkin Pie*
Try this Double Layer Pumpkin Pie–it will be your new go-to holiday dessert! This delicious dessert combines one light, creamy “cheesecake” layer and one layer of decadent, perfectly spiced pumpkin. The best part?! It’s a no-bake pie so it won’t crowd your holiday oven!
Easy Cherry Fluff*
If you want EASY, you can never go wrong with this Cherry Fluff Salad Recipe! It only takes a handful of simple ingredients to make and it’s super quick to toss together.
TIPS FOR YOUR SMALL THANKSGIVING GATHERING
1. Mix homemade and store-bought ingredients: Taking some “shortcuts” from the store can make your holiday dinner hassle-free. For example, the gravy mix in my perfect mashed potatoes and gravy recipe is a godsend, Such HUGE time savers! Less time in the kitchen, means more quality time with your guests!
2. Prep ahead of time: So many of the side dish ideas AND the desserts I listed above can be made the day before and just warmed up in the oven before you’re ready to eat.
3. Dress up your table: Simple decorations from the dollar or craft store can go a long way when dressing up your holiday table! I also love fresh flowers from Trader’s Joes or your local grocery store.
4. Give thanks: **THE** most important part of the holiday! Don’t forget to take a few moments throughout the day to give thanks for health, family and friends, amazing food, and whatever else makes your heart happy! We still have a long-standing tradition of going around the holiday table and saying what we’re thankful for!
I hope you love these options for a Small Thanksgiving Dinner Menu! If you make any of these recipes be sure to leave a comment and let me know how you liked it! Enjoy, xo!
Well doesn’t that all look YUMMY!! I have been looking at air fryers- what do you recommend? I would like something that is big enough to cook a turkey breast or a roast!
Thanks! I have TWO air fryers! LOL! So I cooked this turkey breast in my Cosori L501 which is s drawer-style air fryer. I LOVE the way it cooks things so easily. We also have the Cosori 12 in 1 which we use EVERY SINGLE day for air frying, baking, toasting, etc. It’s bigger, so it works if I am cooking for my whole family. In most of my air fryer recipes, this is the one I use. Feel free to message me with any other questions, Mary! xo