13 Thanksgiving Recipes for a Small Gathering

A small Thanksgiving gathering is anywhere from two to six people, and it does not need a whole turkey, four kinds of pie or a table that seats twelve. It needs one good main, a handful of sides, and a lot less cleanup.

This is a scaled down Thanksgiving menu built from my own recipes plus a turkey breast and a mini pie for when a whole bird and a full size pie make no sense. Pick one main, three or four sides, and call it done.

Fewer dishes done well beats a table full of half eaten casseroles.

A Small Gathering Main

Skip the whole turkey unless you actually want the leftovers. Any of these feeds two to six comfortably.

Roasted Turkey Breast

An approachable turkey breast that needs no basting or brining, scaled down from a full holiday turkey recipe for a smaller table.

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Photo credit: tastesbetterfromscratch.com

Best-Ever Honey Glazed Ham with Brown Sugar and Mustard

A honey glazed ham with brown sugar and mustard, an easy centerpiece with almost no hands on time.

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Roasted Chicken Thighs and Vegetables (with BBQ Sauce!)

Roasted chicken thighs and vegetables on one sheet pan, a relaxed option for a very small or casual table.

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Dry Brined Roasted Turkey (Extra Juicy with Rosemary & Garlic)

A dry brined roasted turkey with rosemary and garlic, for the years a real turkey is worth it even at a small table.

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Sides Worth the Table Space

Pick three or four of these rather than all six. A small table does not need a full buffet.

Carrots In Air Fryer

Carrots glazed in honey and finished in the air fryer, a quick side with almost no cleanup.

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Garlic Green Beans

A simple garlic green bean side, done in one pan on the stove.

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Copycat Red Lobster's Cheddar Bay Biscuits Recipe

Soft, fluffy cheddar biscuits, a copycat of the Red Lobster favorite, easy to make a half batch of.

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Green Bean Casserole (No Mushrooms)

A fresh green bean casserole without the canned soup, easy to make in a smaller dish for a smaller table.

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Old Fashioned Sweet Potato Casserole (Without Marshmallows)

Sweet potato casserole with a pecan streusel instead of marshmallows, halves well for a smaller pan.

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Sugared Cranberries

Sparkling sugared cranberries, a simple garnish or a small sweet bite alongside the rest of the table.

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A Small Dessert

A whole pumpkin pie is a lot of pie for four people. This solves that.

Easy Mini Pumpkin Pies

Individual pumpkin pies baked in a muffin tin, all the flavor of the full pie without a giant dish of leftovers.

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Photo credit: crazyforcrust.com

Individual No Bake Cranberry Cheesecake Jars

No bake cranberry cheesecake jars, portioned individually so there is exactly enough for a small table.

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Pumpkin Cheesecake Roll

A pumpkin cheesecake roll that slices into neat rounds, easy to make a half batch for fewer guests.

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Tips for a Smaller Thanksgiving

• Pick one main and stop there – a small table does not need both a turkey and a ham, and one done well beats two done rushed.
• Halve casserole recipes into an eight by eight pan – most sweet potato and green bean casseroles scale down cleanly and bake faster in a smaller dish.
• Use a turkey breast instead of a whole bird for four or fewer people – it cooks in half the time and there is no carcass to deal with after.
• Make dessert individual portions instead of one big pie – mini pies or a small pan of bars means less waste and no pressure to finish a whole pie.
• Set the table the night before – with fewer dishes to cook, use the extra time on the small things that make a small dinner feel special.

Small Thanksgiving Questions

How many sides do I actually need for a small Thanksgiving?

Three to four is plenty for two to six people. One starch, one green vegetable, one sweet side and a bread covers the table without a mountain of leftovers.

Is a turkey breast worth it instead of a whole turkey for a small group?

Yes, for four people or fewer. It cooks faster, there is less waste, and you still get the classic Thanksgiving flavor without buying a bird sized for twelve.

How do I scale down a casserole recipe?

Most casseroles halve cleanly into an eight by eight or nine inch pan. Cooking time usually drops by ten to fifteen minutes, so start checking it early.

Choose the main that fits your group, three sides you actually want to eat, and one small dessert. That is a full Thanksgiving for a small table.

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