11 Small Thanksgiving Dinners for 2 to 4 People That Still Feel Like a Feast
Not every Thanksgiving is a crowd of twenty cousins and a 22 pound turkey. Maybe it is just you and your partner this year, or a few close friends, or a cozy table for the family at home. Small Thanksgiving dinners can be just as special, and honestly a lot less stressful. You get all the warm flavors and the holiday feeling without days of cooking or a fridge full of leftovers you cannot finish. Here are the best mains to make it feel like a real feast..
Roasted Cornish Hens, the Star of Small Thanksgiving Dinners
Cornish hens are small chickens, about one to two pounds each, so every person gets their own whole golden bird. That feels fancy and fun. They cook in about an hour and stay juicy, which makes them one of the best choices for small Thanksgiving dinners. Roast them on a bed of potatoes and carrots so the whole meal comes out of one pan. Would you rather have your own little bird or share a big one?
You will need: 2 Cornish hens, 3 tbsp soft butter, 2 cloves garlic minced, 1 tbsp chopped rosemary and thyme, 1 lemon halved, 1 lb baby potatoes, 3 carrots, 1 red onion, 1 tbsp olive oil, salt and pepper.
How to make it: Pat the hens dry. Mix butter, garlic and herbs and rub it under and over the skin. Season with salt and pepper and put a lemon half inside each. Toss the vegetables with oil and salt in a roasting pan and set the hens on top. Roast at 425F for 50 to 60 minutes until the thigh reaches 165F. Rest 10 minutes.
Herb Roasted Turkey Breast for Small Thanksgiving Dinners
If you want real turkey without a whole bird, a bone in turkey breast is the answer. It feeds four to six people, cooks in about two hours and gives you plenty of juicy white meat and crispy skin. Rub it with herb butter and roast it on onions for an easy gravy. It is the most classic of all small Thanksgiving dinners. Quick poll: A) White meat B) Dark meat C) Both please.
You will need: 1 bone in turkey breast (5 to 7 lb), 4 tbsp soft butter, 3 cloves garlic, 1 tbsp each chopped sage, thyme and rosemary, zest of 1 lemon, 1 onion sliced, 1 cup chicken broth, salt and pepper.
How to make it: Mix butter, garlic, herbs and zest. Loosen the skin and rub the butter under and over it. Season well. Place on sliced onions in a roasting pan with the broth. Roast at 325F for about 1 3/4 to 2 1/2 hours, until the thickest part reads 165F. Rest 15 minutes and make gravy from the drippings.
Turkey Tenderloin With Cranberry Glaze
Turkey tenderloins are the small, tender strips from inside the breast, and they cook in under 30 minutes. That makes them perfect for a Thanksgiving for two, or for anyone who wants holiday flavor on a busy weeknight. A shiny cranberry and orange glaze brings all the festive taste. Slice it and serve with mashed potatoes and green beans. Who said a holiday dinner had to take all day?
You will need: 2 turkey tenderloins (about 1 1/2 lb), 1 tbsp olive oil, 1 tsp dried thyme, salt and pepper. Glaze: 1/2 cup whole cranberry sauce, 2 tbsp orange juice, 1 tbsp honey, 1 tsp Dijon mustard.
How to make it: Season the turkey with thyme, salt and pepper. Sear in oil in an oven safe skillet 2 minutes per side. Whisk the glaze ingredients and brush half over the turkey. Roast at 400F for 18 to 22 minutes until 165F, brushing with the rest of the glaze halfway. Rest 5 minutes and slice.
Spatchcock Small Turkey, Faster and Juicier
Spatchcocking means cutting out the backbone and pressing the bird flat. A small 10 to 12 pound turkey cooked this way roasts in about 90 minutes instead of four hours, and the skin gets crispy all over. It is a great choice for a table of four who still want that big turkey moment. The leftovers will make amazing sandwiches too. Need ideas? See our Thanksgiving leftover recipes.
You will need: 1 small turkey (10 to 12 lb) thawed, 2 tbsp kosher salt, 1 tsp baking powder, 4 tbsp melted butter, 1 tsp black pepper, 1 tbsp chopped sage, 1 tbsp thyme, 2 onions and 2 carrots for the pan.
How to make it: Cut out the backbone with kitchen shears and press firmly on the breast to flatten. Pat dry and rub with salt and baking powder, then chill uncovered overnight. Place on a rack over the vegetables. Brush with butter, herbs and pepper. Roast at 450F for 80 to 100 minutes until the breast is 165F. Rest 20 minutes.
Roast Duck, Elegant Small Thanksgiving Dinners for Two
A whole duck is about the right size for two to four people, and it feels like something from a fine restaurant. The secret is slow roasting so the fat melts away and the skin turns shatteringly crisp. Save the duck fat to roast potatoes, which might be the best potatoes you will ever eat. It is one of the most elegant small Thanksgiving dinners you can make.
You will need: 1 whole duck (about 5 lb), 1 orange quartered, 4 cloves garlic, few sprigs thyme, 1 tbsp salt, 1 tsp pepper, 1 tsp Chinese five spice (optional). Glaze: 1/4 cup orange juice, 2 tbsp honey, 1 tbsp soy sauce.
How to make it: Prick the skin all over without piercing the meat. Rub with salt, pepper and five spice and stuff with orange, garlic and thyme. Roast breast up at 300F for 3 hours, pouring off fat every hour. Brush with glaze, raise to 400F and roast 15 to 20 minutes until crisp and 165F in the thigh.
Brown Sugar Glazed Ham, Holiday Without the Bird
Not a turkey fan? You are not alone. A small spiral ham is already cooked, so you only need to warm it and brush on a sweet glaze. It feeds a small crowd, makes the house smell wonderful and gives you leftovers for breakfast and sandwiches. For many families, ham is now the main event for small Thanksgiving dinners. Tell us: A) Turkey B) Ham C) Both on the table.
You will need: 1 small spiral cut ham (4 to 6 lb), 1/2 cup brown sugar, 1/4 cup honey, 2 tbsp Dijon mustard, 2 tbsp orange juice, 1/2 tsp cinnamon, pinch of ground cloves.
How to make it: Place the ham cut side down in a baking dish, add 1/2 cup water and cover with foil. Bake at 325F for about 12 minutes per pound. Simmer the glaze ingredients for 3 minutes. Uncover the ham, brush with glaze and bake 15 minutes more at 400F, brushing again, until sticky and golden.
Apple Cider Pork Loin Roast
A pork loin roast is lean, budget friendly and cooks in about an hour. Roasting it with apples, onions and a splash of apple cider gives it all the cozy flavors of fall. Slice it thin and spoon the sweet pan sauce over the top. It is a lovely choice for small Thanksgiving dinners, and it pairs perfectly with stuffing and roasted squash. Would you try pork instead of turkey this year?
You will need: 2 1/2 lb boneless pork loin, 2 tbsp olive oil, 1 tbsp chopped rosemary, 2 cloves garlic, salt and pepper, 2 apples in wedges, 1 onion in wedges, 1 cup apple cider, 1 tbsp Dijon mustard, 1 tbsp butter.
How to make it: Rub the pork with oil, rosemary, garlic, salt and pepper and sear on all sides. Place apples and onion around it and pour in the cider. Roast at 375F for 50 to 60 minutes until 145F. Rest 10 minutes. Simmer the pan juices with mustard and butter into a sauce and serve with the apples.
Beef Tenderloin Roast for a Special Holiday
For a really special small holiday, beef tenderloin is hard to beat. It is the most tender cut of beef, it cooks quickly and it slices like butter. A simple crust of garlic, herbs and pepper is all it needs. Serve it with horseradish cream and roasted vegetables. It costs more per pound, but a small roast goes a long way for four people and feels like a fancy steakhouse dinner at home.
You will need: 2 lb center cut beef tenderloin trimmed and tied, 2 tbsp olive oil, 3 cloves garlic, 1 tbsp chopped rosemary, 1 tbsp coarse black pepper, 2 tsp salt. Sauce: 1/2 cup sour cream, 2 tbsp prepared horseradish, lemon juice.
How to make it: Rub the beef with oil, garlic, rosemary, salt and pepper and rest 30 minutes. Sear on all sides in a hot oven safe pan. Roast at 425F for 20 to 25 minutes until 125F for medium rare. Rest 15 minutes, then slice. Mix the sauce ingredients and serve on the side.
Maple Dijon Salmon, a Lighter Holiday Main
Some families want something lighter, or have a pescatarian at the table. A side of salmon brushed with maple syrup and Dijon mustard looks beautiful on a platter and cooks in about 20 minutes. The sweet and tangy glaze tastes right at home next to cranberry sauce and roasted vegetables. It is a smart pick for small Thanksgiving dinners with mixed diets. Do you think fish belongs on a holiday table?
You will need: 2 lb salmon fillet, 3 tbsp maple syrup, 2 tbsp Dijon mustard, 1 tbsp soy sauce, 2 cloves garlic, 1 tbsp olive oil, salt and pepper, lemon slices, fresh dill or parsley.
How to make it: Place the salmon on a lined baking sheet and season with salt and pepper. Whisk maple syrup, mustard, soy sauce, garlic and oil and brush it over the fish. Top with lemon slices. Bake at 400F for 15 to 20 minutes until it flakes easily. Garnish with herbs.
Thanksgiving Roast Chicken With Sage Stuffing
A whole roast chicken is the easiest bird of all and it is just the right size for a family of four. Rub it with sage butter, roast it next to a pan of stuffing, and you have a holiday plate in under two hours. Everyone gets crispy skin and juicy meat. You can make your sides ahead too with our make ahead Thanksgiving sides.
You will need: 1 whole chicken (4 to 5 lb), 4 tbsp soft butter, 1 tbsp chopped sage, 1 tsp thyme, 1 lemon, 1 onion, salt and pepper. Stuffing: 6 cups bread cubes, 1 onion, 2 celery stalks, 4 tbsp butter, 1 1/2 cups broth, 1 tbsp sage, 1 egg.
How to make it: Rub the chicken with sage butter, salt and pepper and stuff with lemon and onion. Roast at 425F for 70 to 80 minutes until 165F in the thigh. For the stuffing, cook onion and celery in butter, toss with bread, sage, broth and egg and bake in a dish for 35 minutes alongside the chicken.
How to Plan Small Thanksgiving Dinners Without Stress
The secret to small Thanksgiving dinners is to pick one main and just three or four sides you truly love. Make cranberry sauce and dessert a day ahead, buy good rolls, and roast your vegetables in the same oven as the main. Set the table early with candles and a few mini pumpkins. Less cooking means more time to enjoy the people around you. Mini poll: which side can you not live without? A) Stuffing B) Mashed potatoes C) Green bean casserole D) Mac and cheese.
You will need: 1 main from this list, 1 bag fresh cranberries, 3/4 cup sugar, 1 orange, 3 lb potatoes, butter and milk, 1 lb green beans, dinner rolls, 1 pie or dessert.
How to make it: Two days before: shop and thaw. One day before: make cranberry sauce by simmering cranberries, sugar and orange juice 10 minutes, and bake dessert. On the day: roast the main, boil and mash the potatoes, roast the green beans in the last 20 minutes, warm the rolls and serve.
