The Perfect Thanksgiving Menu for Two [with Recipes] - A Food Lover's Kitchen (2024)

Recipes, Dessert, Fall Dishes, Main Dishes, Side Dishes

Last updated on by Laura Lynch

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For Thanksgiving dinner this year, you might find yourself wanting to make a smaller meal, perhaps even just for two people. This post will provide you with a fantastic way to make a small Thanksgiving menu for two.

» You might like these 20 Easy Dinner Recipes for Two.

The Perfect Thanksgiving Menu for Two [with Recipes] - A Food Lover's Kitchen (1)

Thanksgiving is one of those meals that are often served for multitudes of people, but there’s no rule that says you have to cook for more than two people.

With our recipes for turkey, stuffing, green beans, sweet potatoes, and pumpkin cheesecake mousse, you can have a wonderful meal without tons of work or too many leftovers.

» You might also like these 25 Thanksgiving-Inspired co*cktails for the Holidays.

Create a Streamlined Menu

One of the best things to do when creating a Thanksgiving menu for 2 is to focus on the dishes you really like and skip the rest.

A streamlined menu is important for not overdoing it. So pick your 4 top dishes and one dessert and focus on making those dishes spectacular.

I recommend you focus on the dishes below, but you can certainly add something new or different. Why not serve Rack of Lamb or a Pork Roast instead?

With just two people, it’s not necessary to serve a large turkey, so we always make a roast turkey breast, instead. The recipe for this is below.

  • Turkey (a small turkey or a turkey breast)
  • Mashed Potatoes & Gravy
  • Green Beans
  • Stuffing
  • Pumpkin Cheesecake Mousse

Thanksgiving Menu for Two

This Thanksgiving dinner menu serves 2-4 people. We like to have some left overs from the meal that we can eat the next day, or to create other dishes from (like leftover turkey casserole).

Instant Pot Turkey Breast

This Instant Pot Turkey Breast comes out perfectly moist and delicious in just 35 minutes. It’s the fastest and easiest way to cook a turkey breast for your holiday meal or even for a weekend.

See the recipe

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The Ultimate Thanksgiving Turkey Sandwich

Wondering what to do with all the leftovers from your Thanksgiving dinner? You are going to love this ultimate Turkey sandwich, stuffed with brie cheese, turkey slices, stuffing, and cranberry sauce, then slathered with rich turkey gravy.

See the recipe

Simple Roast Turkey Breast

This simple Roast Turkey Breast recipe requires just a few simple spices and about 90 minutes of cook time, cutting down on your typical holiday meal prep and setting you up with the perfect meal for 2.

See the recipe

Air Fryer Turkey Steaks

These Air Fryer Turkey Steaks can be cooked in the air fryer in less than 11 minutes to make a perfectly tender and moist turkey breast.

See the recipe

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Air Fryer Turkey Breast

This Air Fryer Turkey Breast recipe is a great way to cook a smaller amount of turkey that turns out perfectly tender and moist in just 35 minutes without the hassle of the oven.

See the recipe

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Keto Turkey Casserole

Keto Turkey Casserole combines all the flavors of Thanksgiving in a simple, keto casserole. It’s a fantastic way to use up leftover turkey, plus it’s low-carb, full of flavor, and ready in less than an hour.

See the recipe

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Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes

These creamy and smooth Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes can be made in as little as 13 minutes, smashing the record for how quickly you can make this dreamy side dish.

See the recipe

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The Best Keto Mashed Cauliflower Recipe

This Keto Mashed Cauliflower is a great low-carb alternative to mashed potatoes. They have only 5 net grams of carbs per serving and are just as creamy and smooth as mashed potatoes.

See the recipe

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Easy Keto Turkey Gravy

This Keto Turkey Gravy has just three ingredients but it turns out incredibly silky with a ton of taste, and without any carbs.

See the recipe

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Low-Carb/Keto Cranberry Sauce

This Low Carb Cranberry Sauce is made with fresh cranberries and a sugar substitute and it turns out just like the cranberry sauce you’re used to, but without all the extra sugar.

See the recipe

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Roasted Green Beans and Mushrooms

Roasting green beans brings out the sweetness and heightens the natural flavors of the beans.

See the recipe

Low Carb Green Beans with Pesto and Feta

Low carb Green Beans with Pesto and Feta are a great side dish blending the bright flavor and aromatics of pesto with crunchy green beans and delicious feta cheese.

See the recipe

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Easy Air Fryer Green Beans

Air Fryer Green Beans are so simple to make and they turn out perfectly crispy and tender when cooked in the air fryer. So why not save yourself a few steps and cook your green beans with a tasty seasoning in the air fryer.

See the recipe

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Buttery Sausage and Cranberry Stuffing

You won't believe how good this stuffing tastes. The butter and cranberry meld with the pork sausage to create amazing flavor.

See the recipe

Best Keto Stuffing Recipe

You might think that on a keto diet you can’t enjoy stuffing, but that’s not true. This Keto Stuffing Recipe is buttery and delicious – just the way you expect it to be.

See the recipe

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Smoked Stuffing With Sausage

A quick and easy way to make a delicious side dish on the smoker, this Smoked Stuffing with Sausage is the perfect pairing for your smoked turkey.

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Pumpkin Shaped Dinner Rolls

Pumpkin Shaped Dinner Rolls will be the star of the show at Thanksgiving dinner this year. By tying kitchen string around bread dough you get a pumpkin shaped dinner roll.

See the recipe

Pumpkin Cheesecake Mousse Desserts

These no-bake Pumpkin Cheesecake Mousse Desserts are a fun alternative to the typical pumpkin pie that you can serve at Thanksgiving.

See the recipe

Delicious Keto Pumpkin Roll

This delicious Keto Pumpkin Roll uses almond and coconut flour, with pumpkin puree and eggs to create a lovely low-sugar, low-carb version of this much loved dessert.

See the recipe

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Mini Personal Pumpkin Pies

Mini pumpkin pies have just five simple ingredients plus those aromatic spices we all love at the holidays. And they're just so darn cute! These pies are a great way to serve individual desserts.

See the recipe

Delicious Instant Pot Pumpkin Pie Bites

These delectable little pumpkin pie bites are made in the Instant Pot quickly and easily and they turn out so moist and delicious.

See the recipe

The Perfect Thanksgiving Menu for Two [with Recipes] - A Food Lover's Kitchen (22)

Other Recipe Compilations You Might Like

  • 16 Delicious Pumpkin Recipes for Fall
  • 15 Fantastic Fall Crock Pot Recipes
  • 10 Unique Ways to Make Scalloped Potatoes

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Laura Lynch

Laura is a home cook, with 25 years experience behind the stove, who spends an extraordinary amount of time in the kitchen cooking. She loves making new recipes and finding wonderful new things to eat, both at home or abroad. She spends a lot of time researching, crafting, and perfecting her recipes and currently has a cookbook in development.

The Perfect Thanksgiving Menu for Two [with Recipes] - A Food Lover's Kitchen (2024)

FAQs

How do you make Thanksgiving special for two people? ›

Make a Meal Of Only Sides

So skip the bird and make a bunch of the smaller Thanksgiving classics instead. It'll still feel festive, and you won't run out of Tupperware. “I often prefer sides like stuffing and sweet potatoes and roasted vegetables.

What are the 12 most popular Thanksgiving dishes? ›

Scroll through to take a look at our most popular Thanksgiving recipes.
  • 01 of 24. Perfect Turkey. ...
  • 02 of 24. Roasted Brussels Sprouts. ...
  • 03 of 24. Cranberry Sauce. ...
  • 04 of 24. Homemade Mac and Cheese. ...
  • 05 of 24. Sweet Potato Pie. ...
  • 06 of 24. Granny Kat's Pumpkin Roll. ...
  • 07 of 24. Slow Cooker Turkey Breast. ...
  • 08 of 24. Cream Corn Like No Other.
Oct 26, 2023

How do you plan a romantic dinner for two? ›

Create an Ambient Experience. Before your dinner, create a playlist together of gentle, romantic music you both love. Then, the evening of your big date, dress to the nines. Dim the lights in the dining room and light a few candles on the table, or hang twinkly string lights if open flame isn't your thing.

How many sides should you serve for Thanksgiving? ›

How many dishes should I serve with the turkey? For 4 people, choose 1-2 appetizers and 3 sides. For 8 people, choose 1-3 appetizers and 3 sides. For 16 people, choose 2-3 appetizers and 3 or more sides.

What is a traditional menu for Thanksgiving dinner? ›

Traditional Thanksgiving dinner includes Roast turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, cranberry sauce, stuffing (or “dressing”), and some kind of pie for dessert, typically pumpkin, apple, or pecan. Common sides are green bean casserole, scalloped corn, and roasted sweet potatoes.

How many sides should you have for Thanksgiving? ›

For sides like mashed potatoes and stuffing, you should have at least one dish for every five people and at least two dishes for 10 people or more. If you're serving a salad, one should be enough unless you're serving 20 people or more.

What is the most loved Thanksgiving dish? ›

The 10 Most Popular Thanksgiving Dishes
  • Roast turkey. We've already filled you in on how to carve a turkey like a chef. ...
  • Stuffing. Good stuffing is key to a successful Thanksgiving dinner. ...
  • Mashed potatoes. ...
  • Green bean casserole. ...
  • Corn casserole. ...
  • Sweet potato casserole. ...
  • Honey-glazed Brussels sprouts. ...
  • Cranberry sauce.
Nov 2, 2022

What is the most popular side dish served at Thanksgiving? ›

Traditional side dishes for Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners in America often include roasted turkey stuffing, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, green beans, sweet potato casserole, and gravy. Additionally, dishes like cornbread, Brussels sprouts, and pumpkin pie are commonly enjoyed during these festive meals.

What is the most popular side dish served on Thanksgiving Day? ›

Mashed Potatoes

And the winner is... mashed potatoes! Rising from second place in 2022, mashed potatoes take the crown for America's favorite Thanksgiving side dish. Creamy, rich, and comforting, they're the perfect accompaniment to turkey and gravy, so it makes sense that mashed potatoes came out on top.

What is the least favorite side dish for Thanksgiving? ›

According to the poll by Tastes Better from Scratch, green bean casserole and sweet potato casserole were the least-liked Thanksgiving side dishes.

What is the least favorite dish for Thanksgiving? ›

"For the third year in a row, cranberry sauce takes first place as the most disliked traditional Thanksgiving food. Over 31% of respondents, 82 million American adults, do not want cranberry sauce for their Thanksgiving dinner.

How do you host a small Thanksgiving dinner? ›

I make the pies, gravy, stuffing, and mashed potatoes ahead. Then all I have to do is stuff the bird and roast it. Another fun idea is to host a Thanksgiving hors d'oeuvres party. Instead of a meal, serve lots of finger food and amazing drinks!

What are the two most popular Thanksgiving side dishes? ›

The Top 5 most popular Thanksgiving side dishes in the U.S., according to the “State of the Sides Report 2023,” are:
  • Mashed potatoes (up from 2nd place in 2022)
  • Stuffing / dressing (down from 1st place in 2022)
  • Mac & cheese (up from 5th place in 2022)
  • Yams / Sweet potatoes (down from 3rd place in 2022)
Nov 21, 2023

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