Solo and small Thanksgivings can make for cherished holiday memories
When we think of Thanksgiving, we think of large gatherings with family and friends, huge turkeys, and plates piled high. Big Thanksgivings are wonderful—but so are small, quiet holidays. If you’re planning a quieter holiday, this Thanksgivings Recipes Roundup for solo or small holidays is for you.
I had such a Thanksgiving the first year of the pandemic. While I’d originally intended to take a break from work and eat pizza and watch terrible movies, I wound up cooking myself a multicourse dinner. I cooked all day, and, before sitting down to my sumptuous feast, I spoke aloud what I felt grateful for, and dug in. My peaceful, restorative—and delicious—solo Thanksgiving is one of my favorite memories.
My solo Thanksgiving inspired an early blog post
I had such a good time that my solo Thanksgiving inspired me to go on to do the same for Christmas—indeed, it formed the genesis of the Merry Little Solo Christmas Dinner. While I won’t have a solo Thanksgiving this year, I still love a quiet solo holiday.
Thanksgiving Recipes
Thanksgiving recipes roundup for a solo (or small) holiday
Here are a number of (mostly) small-batch recipes for a small Thanksgiving. The idea is to enjoy your meal and to have some leftovers, but not so much that your refrigerator explodes. This post updates as new recipes get added, so it’s also a great one to bookmark.
Looking for more sides? There’s bonus recipes in the Wonder & Sundry Recipe Box. You can access the Recipe Box for free when you sign up for my (also free) newsletter! Subscribe below today!
Practicing gratitude for a solo Thanksgiving
Many of us have a tradition of saying what we are grateful for on Thanksgiving. For mine, I wrote out a list and read it out loud before beginning my meal. This made for a nice addition to my gratitude journaling practice, and gave a little sense of special ceremony to my meal. I recommend trying it out!
From the Kitchen Shop
Here are some helpful supplies for cooking your Thanksgiving dinner from the Wonder & Sundry Kitchen Shop!
These are affiliate links, meaning that I receive a small commission for sales made through these links. This helps to support me in creating Wonder & Sundry, and I thank you for shopping here!
Versatile mini ramekins are the solo cook’s best friend. Bake single-serving dishes, use them for snacks, or even for food prep. The uses are endless.
Separating the fat can be a time-consuming chore. A fat separator makes it much, much easier. I use this one to make short work of the task.
Use this Le Creuset Oven to roast a chicken or make large-batch soups and stews.
Use this Le Creuset Oven to roast a chicken or make large-batch soups and stews.
A Lodge cast iron skillet is my workhorse. Cook on the stove, put it in the oven (better yet, start on the stove and finish in the oven), this beast works better than my far more expensive Le Creuset skillet. This now comes with a silicone hot handle, that I’ve never used before, but I imagine would be welcome.
A Lodge cast iron skillet is my workhorse. Cook on the stove, put it in the oven (better yet, start on the stove and finish in the oven), this beast works better than my far more expensive Le Creuset skillet. This now comes with a silicone hot handle, that I’ve never used before, but I imagine would be welcome.
This is perfect for making small-batch cornbread and cooking smaller-batch dishes on the stove, in the oven, or both!
These are the best sheet pans for cooking for one. They are excellent quality and just the right size. They fit in apartment ovens.
Not only is this a lovely cutting board, but it’s made with bamboo, which is a more sustainable option than wood. The grooves help to catch any liquids. I’ve had mine for over two years, and, while it has cut marks in it, it has held up very well under regular use. Do make sure to follow the seasoning instructions. This is a two-tone version of the one that I have.
This is a great vegetable peeler, but I’m recommending it for one specific reason: if you need strips of zest without pith, this is your tool. It does a perfect job every time.
Silcone basting brushes are useful not just for basting, but also for pastry. These clean nicely and hold up well. Plus, the colors are cute, and the price is right.
I use this colorful hotpad every single day. They are heat resistant to 600F, so you aren’t going to melt it when you pull something hot out of the oven. I use mine under my pour-over coffee maker every morning. I also use it to stabilize bowls when I’m whipping something. Plus, the colors are fun. Mine’s green!
This is a super simple thermometer/alarm that signals when your meat has reached your designated temperature. It’s also less expensive than the other ThermoWorks models and comes in tons of cute colors.
My mom introduced me to the magic of this little Nordic tool, and I’m in love. This makes whipping cream a breeze, and I use it over a wire whisk for most jobs. This is a similar whip.
What are you looking forward to most this Thanksgiving?
I hope this post helps you as you create a wonderful and memorable solo or small Thanksgiving. I’d love to hear about your plans and what you’re looking forward to the most. Let us know in the comments below!
For more information on affiliate links, please see the Disclosure Statement.
