Thanksgiving for Two

Cooking for just a couple this year? Skip the roast turkey and prepare a pair of Cornish hens with stuffing. I’ve also scaled down the most important side dishes, and you can complete your meal with two mini pumpkin pies. It’s a perfectly proportioned feast for you and your plus one.

 

Thanksgiving for Two was a big deal during the pandemic, but long before that, cooks were preparing a small Thanksgiving meal. Maybe you work on the holiday (as so many do), or your family isn’t close by, or you’re in a country that doesn’t celebrate Thanksgiving at all.

There are so many reasons why a table for two at Thanksgiving makes sense (and it might even be a table for one with ample leftovers). My passion (and my job) is to connect you to your favorite food memories or help you build new ones. And if a 20-pound turkey or a bone-in roast turkey breast isn’t on the menu, perhaps a couple of Cornish hens could be.

Cornish Hens with Stuffing

This recipe was designed for two and features a pair of Cornish hens, a generous amount of stuffing, and a delicious savory apple glaze. And even though the hens and stuffing have different cooking times in the oven, I did all the work to ensure they cook at the same temperature and finish at the same time.

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Mashed Potatoes for Two

Creamy mashed potatoes make the perfect moat to hold all that butter and turkey gravy on the plate, plus they taste great with everything. Even cranberries! For some, it’s a canvas to add flavors like fresh herbs, garlic, or rosemary, for others, it’s the best part of the dinner. Of course, there are a million recipes out there, but in case you’re looking for an old-school, classic mashed potato recipe with a creamy texture that really lets the flavor of the potato shine, make this one.

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Green Bean Casserole for Two

I didn’t grow up eating Green Bean Casserole at Thanksgiving, but based on the recipe I see in Campbell’s magazine ads, I’m not sorry about it. Canned green beans with canned mushroom soup? I’m not a food snob, but that just doesn’t sound like my kind of thing.

So when I made Green Bean Casserole the first time, I kicked the cans. I make Slow Cooker Green Bean Casserole too, but this version with fresh beans is the absolute best.

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Cranberry Sauce for Two

Tart, sweet, and spiced, my Grandma’s “famous” homemade cranberry sauce brightens up the plate and cleanses your palate in between bites of mashed potatoes and gravy. And it cooks fast! No long simmering is required.

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Mini Pumpkin Pies for Two

Did you know that one standard 9-inch pie crust can be broken down into two 6-inch smaller pies? How great is that? Eat one pumpkin pie all by yourself for dessert, and give the other to someone you’re thankful for. And keep scrolling for a whole slew of scaled-down Thanksgiving recipes designed just for two.

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More scaled-down mains

These recipes are smaller than a full-size turkey for cozy gatherings with friends and family.

Chicken and Turkey Recipes

Roasted Turkey Breast

Chicken and Turkey Recipes

Slow Cooker Whole Chicken

Fish and Seafood Recipes

Baked Salmon

Main Dishes

Surf and Turf

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More Thanksgiving side dishes for two

These recipes can easily be scaled down for your fun-sized feast (just use the servings slider in each recipe card).

Vegetable Recipes

Harvest Roasted Vegetables

Casserole Recipes

Vegetable Casserole

Casserole Recipes

Sweet Potato Casserole

Casserole Recipes

Baked Mac and Cheese

Side Dish Recipes

Rice Stuffing

Side Dish Recipes

Cornbread Dressing with Sausage

Casserole Recipes

Baked Mac and Cheese

Vegetable Recipes

Roasted Butternut Squash

Vegetable Recipes

Roasted Asparagus Recipe

Vegetable Recipes

Green Beans and Bacon

Vegetable Recipes

Roasted Root Vegetables

Side Dish Recipes

Mashed Sweet Potatoes

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Big batch bread-making (freezer friendly!)

From-scratch bread-making is always easier in a full batch (or a double batch). Luckily, the extras can be frozen for future meals.

Bread Recipes

Soft Yeast Dinner Rolls

Bread Recipes

Homemade Crescent Rolls

Bread Recipes

No-Knead Bread

Bread Recipes

3-Ingredient Homemade Biscuits

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Drinks and cocktails for a small Thanksgiving dinner

If you’re craving something more labor-intensive than opening a bottle of wine, these delicious cocktails are made by the glass. You and your partner can each toast with your favorite.

Drink Recipes

Apple Cider Recipe

Drink Recipes

Slow Cooker Cranberry Apple Cider

Drink Recipes

Hot Chocolate Recipe

Drink Recipes

Lemon Spezi

Cocktail Recipes

Hot Toddy

Drink Recipes

Mulled Wine Recipe

Drink Recipes

Mulled Cider

Cocktail Recipes

Eggnog

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Thanksgiving appetizers for two

Choose appetizers where you’ll enjoy the leftovers, or make a small version of a grazing board like a Charcuterie Board, Cheese Board, Veggie Platter, or Fruit Platter.

Candy Recipes

Candied Pecans

Appetizer Recipes

Baked Brie

Appetizer Recipes

Mushroom and Leek Tart

Appetizer Recipes

Deviled Eggs

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How to Set a Table

Whether it’s a quiet supper for one or a dinner party for 12, learning How to Set a Table can make any occasion more noteworthy. Break out your best china and polish the glassware; here’s a breakdown of how to do it.

View Recipe

I hope wherever you are and whoever you are with, you have a wonderful, safe, and happy Thanksgiving!