Small Thanksgiving Menu For Four
Introduction
If you’re looking for a cozy and manageable way to celebrate Thanksgiving, this Small Thanksgiving Menu For Four is the perfect solution. It strips away the stress and overwhelm of preparing a feast for a crowd, focusing instead on classic flavors, easy execution, and shareable portions. Whether you’re cooking for immediate family, roommates, or a small group of friends, this menu ensures everyone enjoys a special, satisfying meal without excessive leftovers.
A Perfectly Balanced Thanksgiving Dinner
This menu features all the Thanksgiving essentials—roasted turkey breast, savory stuffing, creamy mashed potatoes, roasted vegetables, and a simple, decadent pumpkin pie—scaled down for four people. Each dish complements the others, making it easy to prepare and serve a well-rounded holiday meal that feels plentiful, not wasteful. With fewer dishes, you’ll also spend less time cleaning up and more time enjoying quality moments around the table.
Main Course and Sides Simplified
A boneless turkey breast roasts quickly and stays juicy, making it ideal for small gatherings. The stuffing uses rustic sourdough bread for depth of flavor, and classic herbs bring the holiday aroma. Creamy mashed potatoes and honey-roasted carrots round out the sides, and a no-fuss gravy ties everything together. Finish your meal with a personal-sized pumpkin pie that delivers the traditional sweet ending—without days of leftovers.
Strategic Prep for an Effortless Feast
Each dish in this small Thanksgiving menu can be prepped ahead and finished just before dinner. Chop vegetables and bread a day in advance, and bake the pies the night before. On Thanksgiving Day, focus on the turkey and sides for a stress-free and enjoyable holiday cooking experience.
Nutritional Information and Serving Size
This menu is portioned for four adult servings, ensuring everyone enjoys a hearty plate. With vegetable sides, lean protein, and just enough dessert, it delivers balance and satisfaction. Typical calorie counts per serving:
– Turkey breast & gravy: approx. 250 calories
– Stuffing: approx. 200 calories
– Mashed potatoes: approx. 180 calories
– Honey-roasted carrots: approx. 70 calories
– Slice of pumpkin pie: approx. 300 calories
Total: About 1,000 calories for a classic Thanksgiving-style meal.
Ingredients
💡Meal Planning Tip: Save this menu to instantly generate a shopping list sorted by store section, making your holiday grocery trip quick, clear, and stress-free. CookifyAI makes meal planning for the holidays (and every week) remarkably simple!
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F. Allow turkey breast to come to room temperature for even cooking.
- Prepare the stuffing: In a skillet, melt butter; sauté onion and celery until tender. Stir in herbs, then toss with cubed bread in a bowl. Add broth, salt, and pepper. Stir until moist but not soggy. Spoon into a small greased baking dish.
- Roast the turkey: Rub the turkey breast with softened butter, salt, pepper, thyme, and rosemary. Place on a rack in a roasting pan. Set aside.
- Prep mashed potatoes: Place peeled, cubed potatoes in a pot, cover with water, and add salt. Bring to a boil and simmer until fork-tender, about 15 minutes.
- Honey-roasted carrots: Toss carrot slices with olive oil, honey, salt, and pepper on a baking sheet.
- Oven time: Place turkey breast (uncovered), stuffing, and carrots into the oven. Carrots roast for about 20-25 minutes. The stuffing needs 25-30 minutes, and the turkey should cook for 45-55 minutes, or until a thermometer reads 165°F.
- While roasting: Drain boiled potatoes, mash with butter, milk or half-and-half, add salt and pepper.
- Gravy: In a saucepan, melt drippings or butter. Whisk in flour until smooth, then slowly add broth, stirring until thickened.
- Pumpkin pies: Line four ramekins or muffin cups with dough. Whisk remaining pie ingredients in a bowl, fill each crust, and bake at 375°F for 25-30 minutes, until set. Cool before serving.
- Rest the turkey for 10 minutes before slicing. Serve everything hot and enjoy your Thanksgiving feast for four!
Weekly Meal Planning
This easy, small Thanksgiving menu is perfect for planning ahead—no chaos, just organized prep and peace of mind. Save the menu to CookifyAI and let the app auto-generate your full shopping list, grouped by category, and see how you can repurpose extra ingredients (like bread or potatoes) for meals the rest of the week.
Planning Benefits:
– Automatically calculates ingredient totals for menus large or small
– Combines ingredients across all planned recipes—no overbuying
– Sorts your shopping list by grocery aisle for maximum efficiency
– Easily reschedule or swap out dishes for flexibility
Pro tip: Add your week’s recipes to prevent ingredient shortages and streamline Thanksgiving (or any holiday) meal prep.
Cook and Prep Times
Prep Time: 40 minutes
Cook Time: 60 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 40 minutes
Enjoy an intimate Thanksgiving dinner that feels as festive and delicious as a big feast—no compromises needed!