Holiday Menu Planning: Thanksgiving for a Small Group

by alichava | Nov 22, 2020 | Kosher, Menu Plan, Thanksgiving

This year like every holiday, things are most likely much smaller than normal. If you celebrate Thanksgiving and are doing something smaller, here are some ideas on how to not have two large meals, but size down for your immediate family.

Order from a Restaurant or Caterer

This might be a great way to support small businesses. It might be too late to place an order, but you should check. You might also decide to order for Shabbat and cook for Thanksgiving.

Just Do Appetizers

An idea from Busy in Brooklyn, is to do a Thanksgiving Grazing Board. This seems like a fun idea to minimize the feast but still have a festive meal. Think about all of the appetizers you just love and have a fun meal based on that.

Meal Planning Ideas

Simple Menu Plan

Here are a couple of simple menu plans.

Menu Plan #1

• Turkey Breast
• Rolls
• Cranberry Sauce
• Brussel Sprouts
• Sweet Potatoes
• Pie

Menu Plan #2

• Turkey Roast
• Cranberry Apple Crisp
• Green Beans
• Mashed Potatoes
• Brownies
• Fruit Salad

Turkey Recipes

You might want to consider not doing a whole bird, but doing a Turkey breast.

• Roast Turkey (Chabad.org) – MEAT
• Rosemary Braised Turkey Breast (Israeli National News) – MEAT
• Roast Turkey Breast (The Spruce Eats) – MEAT
• Home Roast Turkey Breast (Empire Kosher) – MEAT
• Turkey Breast, Southwest Style (Jamie Geller) – MEAT
• Roast Turkey Breast (The Jewish Kitchen) – MEAT
• Oven Roasted Turkey Breast (The Kosher Eye) – MEAT
• Slow Cooker Turkey Breast (Taste of Home) – MEAT
• Turkey Breast with Caramelized Topping (Kosher.com) – MEAT

Cranberry Sauce

• Cranberry Sauce (Kosher.com) – PAREVE
• Cranberry Sauce (OU Kosher) – PAREVE
• Perfect Cranberry Sauce (The Jewish Kitchen) – PAREVE
• Cranberry Sauce (The Kosher Cowboy) – PAREVE
• Apple-Orange Cranberry Sauce (William Sonoma) – PAREVE
• Cranberry Pear Sauce (Skinny Taste) – PAREVE
• Boozy Orange Blossom Cranberry Sauce (Tori Avey) – PAREVE
• Classic Cranberry Sauce (Kosher by Gloria) – PAREVE

Cornbread

• Cornbread Challah (Chabad.org) – PAREVE
• Pareve Cornbread (Chick in the Kitchen) – PAREVE
• Cornbread Muffin (The Kosher Channel) – PAREVE
• Cornbread (OU) – PAREVE
• Cornbread (Couldn’t be Pareve) – PAREVE
• Dairy-Free Cornbread (The Taste of Kosher) – PAREVE
• Sweet Cornbread without Milk (The Taste of Kosher) – PAREVE
• Moist Pareve Cornbread (Busy in Brooklyn) – PAREVE
• Kosher Cornbread Muffins (The Spruce Eats) – PAREVE

Stuffing

• Chestnut Stuffing (Kosher in the Kitch) – PAREVE / NUTS
• Caramelized Onion, Mushroom, & Challah Stuffing (Challah Connection) – PAREVE
• Challah Chestnut Stuffing (Tori Avey) – PAREVE / NUTS
• Kale & Caramelized Onion Stuffing (Smitten Kitchen) – PAREVE
• Cornbread Stuffing (Kosher by Gloria) – PAREVE / VEGAN

Greenbeans

• Greenbean, pistachio, and beet salad (Tori Avey) – PAREVE / NUTS
• String Bean Casserole (Kosher by Gloria) – PAREVE
• Traditional Green Bean Casserole (Kosher Everyday) – PAREVE / GLUTEN FREE

Brussel Sprouts

• Roasted Brussel Sprouts with Pomegranate Molasses (Tori Avey) – PAREVE
• Roasted Brussel Sprouts with Cinnamon Butternut Squash, Pecans, & Cranberries (Julias Album) – PAREVE / VEGAN / GLUTEN FREE
• Roasted Carrot, Brussel Sprout, & Cranberry Salad (Epicurious) – PAREVE
• Brussels Sprouts with Walnuts & Dill (Kosher by Gloria) – PAREVE / NUTS

Potatoes

• Saffron Mashed Potatoes (Tori Avey) – PAREVE
• Pareve Mashed Potato Recipes

Squash / Pumpkin

• Stuffed Acord Squash (Tori Avey) – PAREVE / VEGAN
• 30-Minute Butternut Squash Soup (Head of Thyme) – PAREVE / VEGAN / GLUTEN FREE
• Pumpkin Recipes

Drinks

• Thanksgiving Cider Sangria (Tori Avey)

Desserts

• See the Pareve Desserts for Thanksgiving