We kept our Thanksgiving meal fairly small at home again this year — there were six adults and our two little gals. I don’t *love* to cook on a regular basis, but I have done a pretty good job of honing my holiday meal dishes so the recipes I’m sharing are tried-and-true favorites.
That said, I absolutely outsourced some components to keep things simpler and stress-free for myself.
STARTERS
Charcuterie
We offered a super simple charcuterie station for everyone to nibble on while the meal elements were cooking. I chose a few pre-sliced types of cheese, meats, and crackers. I know these aren’t the most gourmet options, but it worked well for our group this year!
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Rolls
We picked up a package of our favorite dinner rolls from the store and toasted them up a bit (we popped them in a 350°F oven for 5-10 min). I served them with classic butter this year, but I love the idea of whipping up some cheesy garlic butter as a spread option for a bit of pizzazz.
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MAIN COURSE
Turkey & Gravy
I absolutely adore this turkey recipe and it’s especially perfect for us this year because we’re such a small group. I’ve made this recipe every time I’ve cooked turkey and it always comes out perfectly.
*Any turkey leftovers will be used to make these turkey sliders (omg, I dream about these — they’re so delicious!).
One thing of note: this recipe’s cooking method makes for a deliciously yummy and juicy turkey, but it doesn’t provide much in the way of drippings to use for making a gravy, so buying a pre-made gravy base is an element that I will definitely be outsourcing.
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SIDES
Mashed Potatoes
We opted for classic mashed potatoes this year. It’s the easiest for our group and a classic for a reason!
If your group is more adventurous, we have loved this potato gratin and these potato stacks in years past!
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Roasted Brussel Sprouts
I kept it easy by choosing this brussel sprout recipe. It’s such a simple preparation, but the roasted flavor is just incredible. I love a charred veggie — the acidity really pumps up the flavor and I love the crispy outer leaves! I could honestly eat the entire tray… they’re so yummy!
Bourbon Maple Carrots
The bourbon maple carrots are always present for holidays meals at my husband’s request — they’ve become a family favorite! This dish is really easy to make and I love that they’re cooked on the stovetop which means one less dish that needs to compete for oven time.
If you have reservations about cooking with liquor (even though the alcohol completely cooks off) you may want to check out this recipe alternative!
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DESSERT
Pumpkin Cheesecake
Dessert was definitely another element that I outsourced this year. One of our favorite local restaurants will sometimes sell a select few of their famous pumpkin cheesecakes and we were fortunate enough to get our hands on one! They’re always a hit and I highly recommend outsourcing dessert to the pros to cut down on your workload.
If you’re feeling ambitious or just want to bake your own, I’d recommend these mini pumpkin cheesecakes!
If you are looking for more recipe options, I have an extensive collection of Thanksgiving meal recipes here. But if you’re also creating a meal for a small group, for you and your partner, or even just for yourself (no shame!! I’ve totally been there) I have a roundup of holiday recipes here that are specifically curated for smaller portion sizes.
I hope this helps you with your Thanksgiving meal-planning. Having a plan of action ahead of a holiday meal always helps to lower my stress levels and maybe it will do the same for you!
Happy Thanksgiving, friends!
Sending hugs —
xx, Natalie
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