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Thanksgiving celebrations might look a little different this year, but a smaller guest list doesn't have to mean you have to compromise.
Whether you're doing a small dinner at home with your immediate family, a slightly bigger celebration with your bubble, or hosting a virtual gathering over Zoom, there are plenty of ways to enjoy your holiday favourites on a smaller scale.
From roast turkey breast to small-batch versions of the traditional trimmings, here's everything you need to host a scaled down Thanksgiving dinner without being stuck with enough leftovers for the rest of the month.
Main Dishes
These elegant main dishes deliver all your favourite Thanksgiving flavours on a smaller scale, so that you won't be stuck eating leftovers for the next month.
Citrus and Herb Roasted Turkey Breast
Split bone-in turkey breasts are the perfect way to get your holiday turkey fix in just a fraction of the time. This recipe uses a fresh citrus and herb dry brine for a juicy, flavourful turkey breast that's sure to please.
Turkey Breast with Apple-Chestnut Stuffing
Scaled down doesn't have to mean no-frills. This stuffed turkey breast roasted with apples and chestnuts brings some serious wow-factor to your holiday table.
Never-Fail Eye of Round Roast
Turkey may be traditional, but if you're hankering for a change, this easy eye of round roast delivers loads of flavour with minimal effort and a seriously budget-friendly price tag.
Slow Cooker Duck Leg Confit
Photo Credit:pinchandswirl.com
Duck confit may look fancy, but it's actually surprisingly easy. This recipe from Pinch and Swirl lets the slow cooker do most of the work, so there's only 10 minutes of active time including pan searing!
Salmon in Puff Pastry
Photo Credit:www.happyfoodstube.com
This elegant pescatarian entree from Happy Foods Tube features fresh salmon topped with herbed cream cheese and wrapped in rich flaky pastry.
Fall Vegetable Pot Pie with Gouda Biscuit Crust
Who says the star of the show has to be a big hunk of meat? These vegetarian pot pies packed full of seasonal root vegetables and topped off with a cheesy biscuit topping are the perfect option for a meatless feast.
Side Dishes
The sides make the meal, and that goes double when it comes to Thanksgiving. These recipes cover everything from roast veggies to classic casseroles without making enough to feed a football team.
Balsamic Roasted Carrots
It's no coincidence that local carrots are usually at their very best right around this time of year. If you can, try to find a mix of colouful heirloom carrots to make this easy side dish extra-pretty.
Sweet and Sticky Cider-Roasted Parsnips
Parsnips don't get nearly as much love as they should. These easy roasted parsnips boost their natural sweetness by adding a splash of sweet apple cider and maple syrup that cooks down into a sticky glaze that's full of classic fall flavour.
Crispy Rosemary-Parmesan Potato Stacks
Level up your potato side dish game with these golden-brown crispy-edged potato stacks seasoned with fresh rosemary and loads of grated parmesan. Sorry, scalloped potatoes, better luck next year.
Butternut Squash Casserole
This homey butternut squash casserole is topped with a gremolata-inspired pistachio crumble is an elegant alternative to the usual marshmallow-topped casserole.
Homemade Green Bean Casserole Without Mushroom Soup
Photo Credit:www.chocolatemoosey.com
This scaled-down version of the holiday classic from Homemade in the Kitchen makes just four servings, and uses a creamy made-from-scratch cheese sauce instead of the usual canned soup.
Trimmings
It ain't Thanksgiving without the cranberry sauce or the stuffing. These scaled down recipes let you get your fix without all the fuss.
Classic Sausage Dressing
Photo Credit:onedishkitchen.com
This stuffing recipe from One Dish Kitchen makes just enough for one, which means you can easily scale it up to fit the number of guests at your table.
Herbed Farro Dressing with Butternut Squash, Dried Cherries, and Pecans
Photo Credit:beyondmeresustenance.com
This flavourful alternative to the traditional bread stuffing combines nutty farro with classic Thanksgiving flavours like squash, cherries, pecans and thyme.
Homemade Gravy
Photo Credit:www.chocolatemoosey.com
This made-from-scratch gravy from Homemade in the Kitchen is made without pan drippings and makes just 4 servings, so you can still dust off your gravy boat even if you didn't roast a whole bird.
Small-Batch Cranberry Sauce
Photo Credit:www.chocolatemoosey.com
The beauty of making your own cranberry sauce is that you can make a smaller batch. This recipe from Homemade in the Kitchen is perfect because it makes just enough for two to four guests.
Small-Batch Dinner Rolls
Photo Credit:www.dessertfortwo.com
These homemade dinner rolls from Dessert for Two are perfectly light and fluffy, and with just four rolls per batch, you don't have to worry about what to do with the day-olds.
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Reader Interactions
Comments
Shailaja says
Wonderful post and roundup of recipes!
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Lizet Bowen says
Nice! I love having the whole menu in one place!
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