Let's plan a small Thanksgiving feast for this year's holiday. There's no need to spend all day cooking large dishes and ending up with leftovers for a week. Whether you're cooking for two, a small group, or just some dishes to pass for a bigger gathering, no 20-pound turkeys need apply.
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Our smaller holiday feast is traditional, with a Roasted Turkey Breast, Sausage Stuffing, Sweet Potato Casserole, and Broccoli Slaw Salad.
🦃 Smaller Entrée
Smaller meals begin with a smaller entrée, and you have many options with these small or scalable recipes.
🍠 Side Dishes For Your Feast
Every family has its traditions, so here are some of ours and hopefully some of yours. This recipe group is full-size, but most include specific small-batch instructions for making it smaller (except the last one).
This delicious salad is already as small as it can be (8 servings) without much waste.
🍞 Bread Recipes You Will Love
I do love great bread. Here are some easy homemade options—except for Julia Child's bread, but it's worth the effort.
Now, a full-size choice, but it is worth trying at least once.
🥧 Easy Desserts Recipe – From Small to Large
We need something sweet to end the feast. Here are some simple treats.
Full-size Dessert Recipes
If you need to bring a dish to a bigger gathering, I’ve included these larger recipes that are easier than they seem.
🍬 Candy Recipes – Make a Little or a Lot
It's time to embrace the holiday spirit. Serve at the gathering or give gifts of love.
⚕️ Food Safety
When I was still practicing medicine, I saw several kids with food poisoning, primarily minor after every major holiday. After only a few questions, the cause was almost always apparent and preventable with little care.
Gatherings are ready-made for food safety issues and leftovers at the party. Let's plan for food safety and get it right. Check out the USDA Food Safety recommendations.
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🐕 Don't forget the dogs
Are you feeling like a bit of holiday shopping early? Check out the new Holiday Shopping section in THE SHOP.
Have a great Thanksgiving from Wifo, Molly, Lilly, and DrDan!
Editor's Note: Originally Published November 17, 2016. Updated yearly with current recommendations and discussion.
Diane Bouton says
What size crockpot do you recommend for a household of two??
Love your recipes
Thank you
Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan says
Hi Diane,
Welcome to the blog.
If I only have one crock pot, I would get a 3-4 quart that is digital.
I have a lot of recipes that will also work in a 2-qt mini, but they are notorious for temperature control issues (not always). However, with recipes that small, you can end up with lots of partly used ingredients... what to do with a half can of beans, for example. The work for most crockpot recipes is generally the same, regardless of the size. So cook a little more, use all the ingredients, and freeze or have more leftovers.
So, the mid-size 3–4 qt is the sweet spot for me. Lighter to handle and store, it will handle most recipes (except hambones).
Hope that helps.
Dan
Jerri Altman says
Happy Thanksgiving to you, Dr. Dan! Thank you for your wonderful recipes!
Kathy Mitchell says
Thank for the smaller recipes, it is a royal pain trying to cut recipes down for one person. I certainly appreciate them. Love hearing about your dogs.
Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan says
Hi Kathy,
Welcome to the blog.
Cooking for one is tough and I'm glad I'm at least some help.
Please let me know if you have any questions.
Dan
(PS—you might want to check the 2-quart mini-crock recipe category if you have not already.
Elisabeth Wasslen says
Hello Dr. Dan,
It isn't Thanksgiving here right now, being in Canada, but I want to say I hope you and your family and your beautiful dogs have a Happy Thanksgiving. We have a lot to be thankful for, including your blog. Life is good.
Jean Rawlings says
Hi Dr. Dan,
You'll get a chuckle out of this..I wanted to make your recipe for Sweet potato Casserole before the big day Thanksgiving to see if my husband of 50 years would enjoy it. Well he whined a bit when I told him there were no marshmallows going on top. He offered a half a dozen times to go to the store and get some because he was certain it would be a total failure without them. He loved your recipe. He had seconds and is waiting for the left overs for dinner tonight.
Thank you..thank you!
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving.
Warmly
Jean Rawlings
DrDan says
Thanks Jean,
You can feel free to change the topping but I want the nuts.
I'm republishing that recipe Sunday.
Have a good holiday.
Dan
Leslie says
Thanks for posting your menu ideas, makes cooking a special dinner easier (keeps me from getting anxious) thank you Leslie
DrDan says
Thanks Leslie,
Have a good holiday.
Dan
laurajay says
Thanks Dr Dan, I always love the blog, recipes and pictures. Happy thanksgiving to you and your family.
DrDan says
Thanks for the note.
Dan
Joan says
How I use leftover turkey
This is not a recipe although I am sure it started as one and is how my family uses some leftover turkey. My family calls it High Turkey Sandwich. It is really a form of a club sandwich and I first had it at Gilmore's Tea Room in Kalamazoo, Michigan and I think it may have been served at Marshall Field's in Chicago.
So here is my non recipe which I would like to share with you. One slice of white bread, a slice of cheese, cold turkey meat, a slice of bread, bacon, tomato, lettuce, a slice of bread, slices of hard boiled egg, and to top it off, Thousand Island dressing made from mayonnaise, ketchup, and sweet pickle relish. Once, I ate the whole thing, but now I leave out the center slice of bread and can't really get through that.
You are welcome to make it into a recipe if you wish, Have a wonderful Thanksgiving.
DrDan says
Thanks for sharing and Happy Holidays.
Dan