Thanksgiving Dinner for Two: Simple Recipes That Don’t Waste Food

While being around loved ones is nice, having your own little Thanksgiving meal can be the perfect end to autumn. How can you make a small dinner without a ton of leftovers? Here are five simple Thanksgiving recipes for two.

1. Roasted Cornish Hen 

Turkey is typically the centerpiece of Thanksgiving meals, but the giant birds occupy a lot of room. If you want an alternative, get a Cornish hen for your Thanksgiving. They’re much smaller, and one easily feeds two people. Here’s a recipe using about 1.5 lbs of Cornish hen to feed you and another person.

Cornish Hen Ingredients

• 2 Cornish hens
• 1 large onion quartered
• 1 lemon sliced
• 6 cloves garlic
• 2 sprigs rosemary
• 4 sprigs thyme
• 2 tbsp olive oil

Dry Rub Ingredients

• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp pepper
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• ¼ tsp red pepper flakes
• 2 tsp smoked paprika
• 1 tbsp Italian seasoning

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Mix the dry rub ingredients in a bowl.
3. Dry the Cornish hens with paper towels and season the birds inside and outside.
4. Fill a roasting pan with half the garlic, onion, thyme, rosemary and half the sliced lemon.
5. Place the birds on top and cover with olive oil.
6. Roast for 50-60 minutes or until the internal temperature is 165 degrees F.
7. Let the hens rest for 20 minutes before slicing.

2. Creamy Mashed Potatoes

While the entree is the centerpiece of Thanksgiving, the side dishes are where the holiday truly shines. One complementary dish you should make is mashed potatoes, so get about 1.5 lbs of potatoes for the following recipe.

Ingredients

• 1.5 lbs Yukon gold potatoes
• ½ cup whole milk or heavy cream
• 1 tbsp unsalted butter
• 1 oz cream cheese or sour cream
• Kosher salt and black pepper to taste

Directions

1. Boil water in a medium saucepan over high heat and season with salt.
2. Take the cream cheese or sour cream from the refrigerator and let it come to room temperature.
3. Peel the potatoes and chop them into quarters.
4. Add the potatoes to the boiling water and let them cook for 15-20 minutes.
5. In the meantime, warm your milk in the microwave.
6. When the potatoes are done, drain them and return them to the saucepan. To make the job easier, use a hand mixer.
7. Add the milk and cream cheese or sour cream to the potatoes. Stir until incorporated.

3. Savory Deviled Eggs

Deviled eggs are among the most beloved Thanksgiving appetizers because they’re flavorful and easy to eat. Plus, they’re a good source of protein with each bite. You’ll need a dozen eggs for these bites, though you can scale it to accommodate your Thanksgiving recipes for two.

Ingredients

• 12 eggs
• ½ stalk celery
• ½ bell pepper
• ½ cup mayonnaise
• 1 tbsp mustard
• 1 tbsp Cajun seasoning
• Smoked paprika to taste
• Chopped scallions to taste

Directions

1. Fill a large saucepan with water and begin boiling the eggs.
2. Once the eggs are cooked, remove the shells and rinse.
3. Halve the eggs and scoop the yolks into a mixing bowl.
4. Add the mayonnaise and mustard and stir.
5. Incorporate the Cajun seasoning, celery and bell pepper.
6. Garnish with paprika and scallions.

4. Baked Acorn Squash

Squash stands out because of its sweet and nutty flavors, making it a terrific addition to the table. One acorn squash can serve about four people, so splitting this fruit is ideal when making Thanksgiving recipes for two. Here’s a recipe with one medium acorn squash split in half.

Ingredients

• 1 medium acorn squash, halved and seeded
• 1 tbsp butter
• 2 tbsp brown sugar

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Halve the acorn squash and place them face-down on the cookie sheet.
3. Bake for 30-45 minutes.
4. Remove the squash from the oven and place into a deeper baking dish.
5. Spoon brown sugar and butter into one of the squash halves. Place the other half on top to seal it.
6. Bake for about 30 minutes or until the flesh is soft.

5. Mini Pecan Pies

Entrees, appetizers and sides are great, but you shouldn’t forget dessert. Sweet Thanksgiving recipes for two are easy to make if you find scaled-down versions. For example, this miniature pecan pie recipe yields two servings and is great for small gatherings.

Ingredients

• 3 tbsp shortening
• ½ cup all-purpose flour
• ⅛ tsp salt
• 4 tsp cold water

Filling Ingredients

• ⅓ cup pecan halves
• ⅓ cup brown sugar
• ⅓ cup corn syrup
• 1 large egg
• ½ tsp vanilla extract
• Whipped cream

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
2. Combine the flour and salt in a small bowl.
3. Add shortening until the mixture becomes crumbly.
4. Slowly add water and toss with a fork. Your dough should look like a ball.
5. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes for best results.
6. Remove the dough from the refrigerator and split it in half.
7. Use a rolling pin to flatten the dough into a 6-inch circle.
8. Place pecan shells on the pastries and move them to two tart pans.
9. Mix the egg, brown sugar, vanilla extract and corn syrup in a small bowl. Then, pour over the pecans.
10. Bake for 35-40 minutes. Stick a toothpick in the center to check doneness. If the toothpick comes out clean, the pies have finished cooking.
11. Top with whipped cream and serve.

Thanksgiving Side Recipes for Two Worth Trying

Your Thanksgiving dinner can be as short or long as you please. With the numerous entree and side dish ideas, you can get creative with your dinner table. Here are a few more recipes worth your consideration:

• Pumpkin macaroni and cheese: This dish gives mac and cheese an autumn twist by combining 15 oz of pumpkin puree and smoked gouda. Plus, it’s a vegetarian-friendly side.
• Sweet potato maple brown butter gnocchi: Gnocchi is a fan favorite, so try this recipe needing only 20 minutes to serve two people.
• Herb-roasted turkey breast: If you can’t resist turkey, you can downsize with individual breasts. This recipe uses about 4 pounds of halved turkey breasts with garlic, oil and herbs.

Planning a Smaller Holiday Meal

If your Thanksgiving dinner is smaller this year, you don’t have to change your plans entirely. Instead, find your favorite recipes and scale them down for two people. You can have your favorite entrees, sides and desserts with careful planning.