50 Thanksgiving Recipes for Two
Updated: Nov. 21, 2022Having a small Thanksgiving this year? Find scaled-down versions of your holiday favorites in these Thanksgiving recipes for two.
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Speedy Cream of Wild Rice Soup
Add homemade touches to a can of potato soup to get comfort food on the table quickly. The result is a thick and creamy treat textured with wild rice and flavored with smoky bacon. —Joanne Eickhoff, Pequot Lakes, Minnesota
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Cornbread-Stuffed Pork Chops
Tart apple adds a delicious flavor to the moist stuffing that fills these savory chops. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
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Mashed Garlic Potatoes
I infuse creamy mashed potatoes with the subtle taste of garlic, which makes them a welcome addition to any meal. —Myra Innes, Auburn, Kansas
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Li'l Pecan Pies
These tempting little tarts have all the rich traditional taste of a full-size pecan pie in a much smaller package. The tarts are perfect for two. —Christine Boitos, Livonia, Michigan
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Brussels Sprouts with Leeks
THIS is a dish I’ve tried a few times for my husband and me. Since we both love Brussel sprouts, I often experiment with different combinations to enhance the taste. We found leeks give the sprouts a special flavor.
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Parmesan Pork Tenderloin
I am of Danish descent and love all things pork, both old recipes and new. Here's a dish I came up with myself. —John Hansen, Marstons Mills, Massachusetts.
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Poached Pears with Orange Cream
End the meal with a flourish with this easy and elegant dessert. A hint of orange lends just enough sweetness to temper the wine's bold taste. —Julianne Schnuck, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
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Creamy Twice-Baked Potatoes
With a yummy cream cheese filling, these rich potatoes tucked into their own skins are sure winners. They look fancy but are not tricky to make. —Linda Wheeler, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
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Cauliflower Broccoli Cheese Soup
Even my husband, who's never been a big fan of broccoli, digs in to this creamy soup. It's a perfect way to enjoy the produce from our vegetable garden. —Betty Corliss, Stratton, Colorado
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Goat Cheese and Spinach Stuffed Chicken
This spinach-stuffed chicken breast recipe is special to me because it has so much flavor, yet not too many calories. I love Italian food, but most of the time it is too heavy. This is a healthy twist on an Italian dish! —Nicole Stevens, Mount Pleasant, South Carolina
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Cinnamon Apple Dumplings
WHEN Mom made pies to feed the crew during wheat harvest, she always had plenty of dough left over, so she treated us kids to apple dumplings. I've carried on this tradition in my own family. Now my husband and I enjoy this special dessert even when I'm not baking pies.
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Microwaved Poultry Dressing
Homemade stuffing in 15 minutes? You bet! Thanks to your microwave oven and this easy recipe. It is lower in sodium than packaged mixes and has ingredients you can tailor to suit your own taste. —Evelyn Clark, Sauk City, Wisconsin
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Pumpkin Pie Latte
Enjoy this espresso drink during the holidays or all year round! With just the right amount of spice, it tastes just like the popular version found at gourmet coffee shops.—Taste of Home Test Kitchen
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Turkey Breast Tenderloins with Raspberry Sauce
Sweet and tangy raspberry sauce is a perfect complement to versatile turkey tenderloins. In fact, this sauce is so good, you’ll be tempted to eat it with a spoon. —Deirdre Cox, Kansas City, Missouri
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Sausage and Spinach Tortellini Soup
My husband’s grandmother made this soup with her own homemade sausage and tortellini. We don’t make those ingredients these days, but we’re so happy to have the passed-down recipe—this version is almost as good as hers. It's also an excellent way to get the kids to eat spinach! —Joyce Lulewicz, Brunswick, Ohio
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Maple Pork Ribs
A luscious maple-mustard sauce will take your next plate of ribs to a new level. —Phyllis Schmalz, Kansas City, Kansas
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Creamy Butterscotch Pudding for 2
One day when I had a craving for something homemade, I tried from-scratch pudding. It’s much better than the store-bought kind! —EMR, tasteofhome.com
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Steak Strips with Dumplings
Take in a parade on the Fourth or spend a day by the lake and come home to this slow-cooked specialty all ready to eat! The recipe’s from John Smalldridge of Princeton, Idaho.
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Spicy Turkey Tenderloin
Here's a full-flavored dish that will really wake up your taste buds.
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Creamy Bow Tie Pasta
Add a little zip to your meal with this saucy pasta dish. It's an excellent accompaniment with almost any meat or seafood. —Kathy Kittell, Lenexa, Kansas
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Turkey Spinach Salad with Maple Dressing
My husband and I love to hike in New England. The maple syrup in Vermont is wonderful, and we always bring some home to extend the vacation spirit. This recipe I created reminds us of those lovely days. —Jessica Gerschitz, Jericho, New York
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Rosemary Pot Roast
Come home to a comforting, ready-to-eat entree with this slow-cooker favorite sized just right for two. It’s so easy, and it fills the house with a wonderful aroma. —Marcia Schroeder, River Edge, New Jersey
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Sweet Carrots
Here's a flavorful way to dress up carrots without a lot of fuss. Simply steam the good-for-you veggies, then season with butter, brown sugar, vinegar and a sprinkling of chives. The carrots are not only colorful, but they're tasty, too. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
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French Onion Soup with Provolone
I adapted a basic recipe to copy the onion soup served at my favorite restaurant. No matter what my entree, I always ordered the soup. Now I can make it at home. It's a meal in itself or an impressive beginning to a full-course meal. —Barbara Brunner, Steelton, Pennsylvania
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Savory String Beans
I love making this dish when I can pick the beans right out of the garden and put them into the pot. The fresh taste is unbeatable. I've also made it with beans purchased at the store. Either way, you'll find this recipe a winner. There's no need for any extra seasonings at the table. —Ina Reed, Kingman, Arizona
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Caramel Apple Float
Who doesn't love the flavors of caramel, apples, and vanilla ice cream together? If I'm feeling fancy, I drizzle caramel syrup around the inside of my glass before adding the apple cider and ginger ale. —Cindy Reams, Philipsburg, Pennsylvania
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Ground Beef Wellington
Trying new recipes is one of my favorite hobbies. It’s also the most gratifying. What could beat the smiles and compliments of the ones you love? This recipe is easy enough for weeknights yet fancy enough to serve for special occasions. —Julie Frankamp, Nicollet, Minnesota
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Scented Rice in Baked Pumpkin
This easy, delicious and healthy side is a showpiece that always delights. You can use grain, squash, fruits and nuts to suit your taste—it's impossible to go wrong! —Lynn Heisel, Jackson, Missouri
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Deviled Chicken Thighs
I make this dish when I invite my next-door neighbor over for supper. It's just enough for the two of us. The tasty chicken is tender and moist with a bit of crunch from the cashews. —Bernice Morris, Marshfield, Missouri
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Pumpkin Pie Smoothie
I wanted pumpkin pie for breakfast but without the effort. This smoothie delivers that wonderful pumpkin-cinnamon combo. Dress it up with a little whipped cream and a sprinkle of granola on top. —Alisa Christensen, Rancho Santa Margarita, California
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Baked Apple Surprise
This sweet-savory recipe is a favorite. Use Brie instead of blue cheese if you like things creamier. My tip? Bake the apples in a muffin tin so they won’t roll around. —Jessica Levinson, Nyack, New York
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Apricot-Ginger Acorn Squash
Sweet and savory flavors come together in this dish that will make a squash lover out of anyone. It’s a treat—but has hardly any butter, and low sodium. For less sugar, we like to use all-fruit apricot preserves. —Trisha Kruse, Eagle, Idaho
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Honey-Pecan Chicken Breasts
We love to entertain, this is one of my favorite 'special' recipes to welcome dinner guests. The nuts add an elegant touch, and it fills the house with a great aroma. —Penny Davis, Newman Lake, Washington
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Apple-White Cheddar Grilled Cheese
On rainy days when we need comfort food in a hurry, I toast sandwiches of cinnamon-raisin bread with white cheddar, apple and red onion. They also are totally tasty made with vegan cheese and olive oil instead of butter! —Kathy Patalsky, New York, New York
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Pineapple-Stuffed Cornish Hens
My mother brought this recipe back with her from Hawaii about 25 years ago. The tender meat, pineapple-coconut stuffing and sweet-sour sauce made it a favorite of my family and friends. I keep copies of the recipe on hand to share. —Vicki Corners, Rock Island, Illinois
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Parmesan Crisp Baked Apples
A dear friend and I wanted to make an easy apple crisp. We made a Parmesan filling, stuffed the apples and baked them whole. They were a hit! —Susan Stetzel, Gainesville, New York
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Beef Tenderloin in Mushroom Sauce
When our kids are visiting Grandma, I make this recipe for just my husband and myself. It's a recipe my mother-in-law has been using for more than 30 years. I especially look forward to preparing it as part of a special Valentine's Day menu. —Denise McNab, Warminster, Pennsylvania
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Cranberry-Sesame Spinach Salad
For a feast or any occasion, we love this snappy fall salad that balances sweet and sour with good crunch from almonds and sesame seeds. —Stephanie Smoley, Rochester, Minnesota
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Maple-Glazed Acorn Squash
With a maple syrup and brown sugar glaze, this squash becomes pleasantly sweet. This is comfort food—easy to prepare and a tasty pairing with a pork entree. —Nancy Mueller, Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin
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Rustic Fruit Tart
My husband and I love pie, but we can't eat a whole 9-inch pie by ourselves. So I make these easy tarts using rhubarb and raspberries picked at home. Sometimes I substitute apples, peaches or our garden blueberries for the rhubarb. —Naomi Olson Hamilton, Michigan
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Amber's Sourdough Stuffing
All my kids and grandkids absolutely love this sourdough stuffing, but especially my daughter-in-law Amber. I usually make a big batch at Thanksgiving so I will have leftovers for my husband. But this recipe is perfect for two. —Kathy Katz, Ocala, Florida
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Creamy Twice-Baked Sweet Potatoes
I like to make these twice-baked sweet potatoes because they can be prepared ahead of time. With the addition of cream cheese, they are very creamy and not overly sweet. It is so easy to increase the quantity to any number. —Linda Call, Falun, Kansas
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Old-Fashioned Honey Baked Apples
My baked apple recipe is very old-fashioned yet tried and true. It's definitely a comfort food. —Rachel Hamilton, Greenville, Pennsylvania
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Spinach Rice
I like to serve this Greek-style rice dish alongside steaks with mushrooms. It makes an elegant side that can be doubled for guests. —Jeanette Cakouros, Brunswick, Maine
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Spiced Pumpkin Warm-Up
Make this drink your own! You can add coffee or even alcohol if you want an extra kick. I’ve also chilled this mixture and blended it with vanilla ice cream to make it a pumpkin shake. —Andrea Heyart, Aubrey, Texas
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Stuffed Cornish Hens
With a golden and flavorful stuffing, these tender hens are a special-occasion entree perfect for two. —Wanda Jean Sain, Hickory, North Carolina
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Day-After-Thanksgiving Turkey Stir-Fry
I work for a priest, Fr. Leo, who loves to cook and shared this recipe with me. Perfect for the day after Thanksgiving, the dish encompasses the holiday spirit, while adding a twist. —Stefen Lovelace, Marriottsville, Maryland
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Cranberry Short Ribs
We live in the Yukon bush, so I pick wild cranberries for this incredibly tender comfort food. I sometimes substitute moose for the beef. —Cathy Wylie, Dawson City, Canada
Originally Published: November 21, 2022
