This year, Thanksgiving looks a little different. As people have been encouraged to stay home, big feasts aren't going to be quite as common. But that doesn't mean you still can't celebrate.
Luckily, there are plenty of great ways to make a Thanksgiving feast for your immediate family that won't require a mountain of leftovers. While you may be tempted to opt for takeout, or just hit up a drive-thru instead of making a meal at home, it's important to remember that a home-cooked feast may actually put your mind at ease. Even if we can't share stories around the dinner table with loved ones, we can at least feel comfort from the flavors of the holiday. Good food also helps you reflect when thinking about what you're really thankful for this year.
Here are eight easy and fulfilling Thanksgiving recipes you can incorporate in your feast.
Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes
You can't celebrate the holiday without mashed potatoes of some sort. This recipe from Love & Lemons is ideal for your small gathering this year. Plus, the ingredients list is pretty simple. Aside from the potatoes, you'll need olive oil, roasted garlic, and salt and pepper. Of course, this mashed potato recipe can also be customized to include the toppings of your choice. As home chef Jeanine states, she prefers to use "a sprinkle of chives, minced fresh rosemary, and a pat of butter."
Slow-Cooked Green Beans With Harissa and Cumin
This recipe, which was featured in Bon Appetit, is by Claire Saffitz. It makes six servings and uses a limited amount of ingredients. It's perfect for the veggie fan who wants to take it up a notch and add some more comforting flavors to the mix. All you need is garlic, olive oil, cumin seeds, kosher salt, sherry vinegar, harissa paste, and — of course — green beans. Most of the ingredients are tossed together before baking, with the vinegar added at the end.
Honey Butter Skillet Corn
When you think of comfort foods, butter and honey are often involved. This cozy little corn recipe from Together As Family is bound to be a hit at your small table, and it might even get your kids to rethink vegetables. You can use frozen corn, which makes it easier. It also only requires one skillet pan, meaning that it'll be easy to whip up if your other burners are already in use. The secret ingredient? Two ounces of cream cheese.
Three-Cheese Mac and Cheese
Mac and cheese is one of the most popular comfort foods. And the more cheese, the better. That's why this recipe from The Glasgow Diet is a standout. It uses butter, flour, paprika, and even Dijon mustard. The cheeses used include gruyere, mature cheddar, and applewood smoked cheese. It's enough to make any dinner guest feel welcome.
Cinnamon Sugar Pumpkin Bread
If you're looking for a quirky side to bring to a small family event, why not pumpkin bread? It's doubtful you'll have leftovers, and even better, this bread happens to be gluten-free. The recipe is from The Loopy Whisk, which is in the midst of promoting a 2021 cookbook. While it's unclear if this particular recipe will be included, it's definitely available on the website. In total, this bread takes only an hour and 40 minutes from start to finish.
Fresh Green Bean Casserole
One of the best things about this delicious green bean casserole recipe from Isabel Eats is that it doesn't yield a large portion. So if your Thanksgiving gathering is just for four people, it'll be ideal. This recipe includes minimal ingredients, but one of them is store-bought fried onions — which add a wonderful home-cooked element to them all by themselves. If you're missing your family, this casserole may be the best way to pay homage to your mom and dad's old recipes. You can also make it ahead and store it in the fridge before baking.
Mini Pumpkin Pies
If you like pumpkin pie but don't want to invest in a large dessert, these mini pumpkin pies from Spend Pennies are sure to please. They'd also make nice and comforting gifts, if you're a pro with sending baked goods in the mail. These cupcakes use pumpkin puree and pumpkin pie spice that both add to the flavor. These take just minutes to prepare, but they'll taste like they took much longer.
Ultimate Cranberry Sauce
Sure, the canned version may be a classic. But the homemade version may make you realize you actually love cranberry sauce. It's a great complement to many Thanksgiving sides and might remind you of family Thanksgivings of the past. This recipe from Meal Diva couldn't be easier. All she uses to create the dish are fresh cranberries, a juiced and zested orange, some sugar, and a cinnamon stick. Once you make it, you might bump cranberry sauce up to an anytime side and not just a Thanksgiving dinner side.
