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    Urban Bliss Life » All Recipes » Holiday Recipes » Small Thanksgiving Dinner at Home

    Published: November 13, 2020 / Updated: November 3, 2022 by Marlynn Jayme Schotland · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Small Thanksgiving Dinner at Home

    5 shares

    Planning a small Thanksgiving dinner at home? You'll find all of the Thanksgiving essentials for a holiday menu for four to six people right here!

    Thanksgiving dinner table with turkey, stuffing, wine, green beans, rolls and cheese.

    Thanksgiving is such a special time for so many families. This year, we're planning to enjoy a quiet evening at home, just the four of us. Many of our friends and family are doing the same. We'll have Zoom calls with our family around the world. I know that even though it won't be the same as everyone gathering together in one spot for a huge family feast, it can be just as special. And, we still have so much to be thankful for this season.

    If you're planning a small Thanksgiving dinner at home too, I've got you covered! This post contains a simple holiday menu, with options for homemade and store-bought dishes.

    Jump to:
    • 🍽 A small Thanksgiving dinner
    • 🦃 Let's talk turkey!
    • 🍞 Stuffing or dressing
    • 🥔 Super side dishes
    • 🥧 Delicious Thanksgiving desserts
    • 🍷 Best Thanksgiving wines
    • 🛒 Holiday meal shopping tips
    • 🦃 More Thanksgiving recipes

    🍽 A small Thanksgiving dinner

    wine and turkey on table

    Whether you're planning a Thanksgiving dinner for two, four, or six people in your household, you can create a beautiful, delicious holiday meal of what I call Thanksgiving essentials:

    • Roast turkey (either full turkey or a turkey breast)
    • Stuffing or dressing
    • Veggie side dish
    • Dinner rolls
    • Dessert

    You can feel free to build from there if you want to make a more elaborate meal. But these five dishes can all be made in one day – or even store-bought! – so you're spending more time with loved ones instead of in the kitchen.

    🦃 Let's talk turkey!

    side of Thanksgiving turkey

    For small gatherings, you can opt for a full turkey or a turkey breast. If your gathering is for two people, a turkey breast might be the best way to go. You'll probably even still have leftovers, depending on the size of the turkey breast.

    If you are feeding three to eight people, I suggest making or buying a full turkey. You'll want to plan for approximately 1.25 pounds per person. Here's a quick and easy turkey serving chart:

    4 people – 5 lbs
    6 people – 8 lbs
    8 people – 10 lbs

    Be sure to read our guide: How to Spatchcock a Turkey. This is the method we use to cook our family Thanksgiving turkey. We've found it's the best way to cook a turkey that has crispy skin with juicy, tender meat. And, it's the fastest way to cook a turkey!

    If you're opting for a turkey breast instead, try my recipe for Citrus Herb Turkey Breast.

    Got leftovers? Make Crockpot Turkey Tetrazzini or Turkey Pesto Sandwiches.

    🍞 Stuffing or dressing

    cranberry stuffing with wild rice and cherries in a casserole dish.

    No turkey is complete without stuffing or dressing! This can be a polarizing dish, with some people on Team Stuffing, while others are dedicated to Team Dressing. Wherever your loyalties lie, this is something you can easily make ahead of time, or buy and finish while the turkey is cooking.

    If you want to make a dressing from scratch, try my Wild Rice Dressing with Cranberries, Cherries, and Pecans. You can also purchase pre-packaged stuffing and dressing at the store. I bought a bag of pre-made stuffing from Safeway for the stuffing in the photo above. It took me just a few minutes to make and a few extra basic ingredients that I already had on hand.

    🥔 Super side dishes

    When we gather as extended family for holidays, there are usually SO many side dishes. When it'll just be you and your household bubble for a small Thanksgiving dinner at home, scale back on the sides. I like to choose one veggie side dish, and one carb side dish.

    Instant Pot Garlic Mashed Potatoes in a bowl
    green beans with bacon and shallots
    garlic bread rolls with parmesan cheese and parsley stacked on top of a white plate and bed of greens.

    Mashed potatoes are a classic Thanksgiving side dish. And these Instant Pot Garlic Mashed Potatoes are fast, easy, and super creamy!

    These Green Beans with Bacon and Shallots are simple, yet sophisticated. They're a hearty way to get some greens on your Thanksgiving menu!

    Bread is a great side dish to serve to soak up that delicious turkey gravy. Try my Air Fryer Biscuits or Garlic Parmesan Knots. Both are perfect for smaller Thanksgiving dinners and you can reheat leftovers the next day!

    🥧 Delicious Thanksgiving desserts

    bourbon pecan pie

    Dessert is one dish that I usually stick to the same servings as I would if we were serving a crowd. Because I know: whatever we don't gobble up during the main meal, my family will happily enjoy for days to come!

    For a simple twist on traditional Thanksgiving pecan pie, try my Chocolate Pecan Pie recipe. It's really easy, and you just need a few basic ingredients that you can easily find at your local grocery store.

    Another great dessert option for smaller parties: Mini Pecan Pies. These are so easy and fun to make, and they were even featured on The Drew Barrymore Show!

    🍷 Best Thanksgiving wines

    bottle of sokol blosser wine with brie cheese and grapes

    Two wine varietals are as traditional as turkey at the Thanksgiving table: Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.

    Oregon Chardonnay and Oregon Pinot Noir in particular both pair beautifully with standard Thanksgiving turkey.

    Pinot Noir also pairs well with side dishes like mashed potatoes, mushrooms, and green beans.

    Chardonnay also pairs well with buttery rolls, stuffing, and yams.

    🛒 Holiday meal shopping tips

    Holiday meal shopping doesn't have to be stressful. Try these holiday grocery shopping tips that have helped me throughout the years:

    • Plan ahead. Write out your menu, and go through your pantry, fridge, and freezer to find what you already have. Then create your shopping list based on what you still need.
    • Beat the crowds and shop online. You can find the best deals and get your Thanksgiving shopping done early online. Be sure to get any essentials and items that can be stored early. Safeway also offers Grocery Delivery and DriveUp & Go™ for convenient ways to shop. I've used and love both options!
    • If you do decide to do your Thanksgiving shopping in-store this year, shop during quieter business hours. My local store tends to be less busy mid-week, between 9am and 11am. Friday night, and all day Saturday and Sunday tend to be the busiest times. You can always call your local grocery store to find out what time might be less crowded at that particular store.

    🦃 More Thanksgiving recipes

    • Crockpot Turkey Tetrazzini
    • Apple Pie Bars
    • Turkey Charcuterie Board
    • Air Fryer Corn Ribs

    Did you make any of these recipes? Don't forget to leave a 5-Star 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 rating and comment below letting us know which one you made and how it turned out. Thank you!

    « Green Beans with Bacon and Shallots
    Citrus Herb Turkey Breast »
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      1. Harry Roy says

        November 30, 2020 at 2:41 am

        Thanks for the yummy recipes.
        Happy cooking. ^^

        Reply

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      Marlynn Jayme Schotland 2021 profile pic

      Hi! Thanks for stopping by! I'm Marlynn - a cookbook author, writer, photographer, and mom of two teenagers + a lovable lab retriever. Here you'll find my fast, easy, and delicious recipes, wine pairings, and travel guides. I hold a WSET 2 with Distinction in wine, and am a member of Society of American Travel Writers (SATW) and the International Food, Wine, and Travel Writers Association (IFWTWA).

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