14 Delicious Ideas for a Small Thanksgiving Dinner

Crockpot Maple-Glazed Turkey Breast — The Spruce/Katarina Zunic

Are you hosting a small Thanksgiving dinner this year? When you're feeding a tinier squad for the holiday, it can be tricky to plan a menu that feels full and festive without being far too much work. We've curated this menu of classic Thanksgiving recipes that serve four to six people generously for just such an occasion. Browse our delicious ideas below for appetizers, side dishes, entrees, and desserts that will make your intimate Thanksgiving feel just as special.

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Illustration of five people gathered around a Thanksgiving table with turkey and other side dishes

01 of 14

Crockpot Maple-Glazed Turkey Breast

Katarina Zunic/The Spruce Eats

Cooking a turkey breast versus a whole bird is a fabulous way to make Thanksgiving dinner for a smaller group. Use your crockpot for this mostly hands-free recipe that spends all day cooking in the appliance to yield tender white meat. Better yet, the cornbread stuffing cooks right alongside the turkey for a one-and-done holiday entree.
02 of 14

Festive Party Cheese Ball With Pecans

The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

Cheesy on the eyes, and delicious on crackers. That's how we describe this fun party cheese ball that shapes grated sharp cheddar and cream cheese into a festive ball, and rolls the whole thing in finely chopped pecans. Make it a day ahead and chill in the fridge until the holiday celebration begins. Retro party appetizers don't get any cheddar than this.
03 of 14

Instant Pot Pumpkin Pie

The Spruce/Diana Rattray

When you have several holiday dishes jockeying for oven space, save room with Instant Pot pumpkin pie. Simply mix up the nicely-spiced pumpkin filling, and pour it into an easy-to-assemble graham cracker or cookie crust. Pop the pie dish right into the Instant Pot to bake, and then remove the pie to chill for a few hours in the fridge.
04 of 14

Roasted Bacon Turkey Tenderloin

The Spruce

Turkey tenderloin is the long, tender strip of white meat hidden beneath the turkey breast. Wrapping this quick-cooking cut in savory bacon strips is a great way to keep the meat moist as it cooks, while infusing it with delicious smoky flavor. Sliced into bacon-wrapped medallions, it is an elegant way to serve turkey to a discerning crowd.

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05 of 14

Sweet Potato Cream Cheese Pie

The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga

For those who love sweet potato pie and also love cheesecake, enjoy the best of both worlds in this delightful dessert. It's a cheesecake-style confection made with fresh or canned puréed sweet potatoes, cream cheese, brown sugar, and cozy baking spices. Plan to make it four hours (or up to five days) ahead, and chill in the fridge until ready to serve.
06 of 14

Pork Rib Roast

Diana Rattray

Surrounded by roasted fingerling potatoes and flavored with a garlicky, herbed white wine sauce, this pork rib roast is special enough to be the centerpiece of your holiday meal. The pan sauce can be drizzled over the sliced, juicy meat and potatoes, plus any other sturdy vegetables you would like to roast alongside them, for a great way to feed everyone at the table without using too many dishes.
07 of 14

Deep-Fried Turkey Breast

The Spruce Eats / Maxwell Cozzi

If you've always wanted to try making deep-fried turkey for Thanksgiving, this is an excellent starter recipe. You don't need much time or any special equipment beyond a Dutch oven and an instant-read thermometer to deep-fry a boneless, skin-on turkey breast to perfection. It makes enough to feed four to six people and is sure to wow your family and friends.
08 of 14

Quick Maple Mashed Sweet Potatoes

William Mahar/E+/Getty Images

Starchy sweet potatoes mash up just as well as russets and don't need to be covered in marshmallows to taste amazing. A little maple syrup, orange juice, and butter jazzes up easily boiled and and mashed sweet potatoes for a holiday mash everyone at the table will want to devour.

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09 of 14

Instant Pot Cranberry Sauce

The Spruce / Julia Estrada

The Instant Pot makes it a snap to prepare and cook the essential Thanksgiving cranberry sauce in about 15 minutes. Sweet, tart, and ruby-red, it is a favorite accompaniment to holiday turkey, and a tasty addition to next-day sandwiches and casseroles with leftovers.
10 of 14

Dairy-Free Bread Stuffing

The Spruce/Katarina Zunic

You don't need to cook your holiday stuffing inside a turkey to get all the poultry flavor you crave. This recipe makes clever use of turkey (or chicken) broth, and is a great way to use up a loaf of bread going on the counter. It is also dairy-free, and includes loads of savory flavor from garlic, onion, and fresh and dried herbs.
11 of 14

Easy Skillet Green Beans and Bacon

The Spruce

Crisp-tender green beans are a favorite holiday side dish that pair equally well with turkey and roasted meat. Coated in bacon drippings and butter, and decorated with crispy bacon bits, these beans are a tasty addition to your menu. Make them in about 30 minutes on the stovetop with fresh or frozen beans.
12 of 14

Creamy Mashed Cauliflower and Leeks

Diana Rattray

Creamy mashed cauliflower is a tasty, low-carb alternative to traditional mashed potatoes. Soft sauteéed leeks add extra flavor to the creamy mash, which finishes in a food processor for a silky-smooth texture. Heavy cream makes this a rich side, but you could sub in half-and-half for a lighter texture.

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13 of 14

Scalloped Corn Casserole

The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

Use fresh, frozen, or canned corn to make this creamy scalloped corn casserole. The soft, buttery corn pudding is held together by an easy white sauce, and chopped bell pepper adds festive bits of color. Topped with a crispy, browned breadcrumb crust, it's a comforting, Southern-style side dish for your Thanksgiving menu.
14 of 14

Gravy Without Drippings

The Spruce Eats / Katarina Zunic

If you're a gravy lover, meet your new favorite easy gravy. It's made with basic pantry ingredients, and tastes just like you want it to. Skipping the turkey drippings means you can make this holiday gravy ahead, instead of rushing to cook it when you've got other dishes on the go.

Sheet Pan Thanksgiving Dinner

14 Festive Ideas for a Small Thanksgiving Dinner