Thanksgiving Recipes for Two That Won’t Leave You with Leftovers

Having a small Thanksgiving this year? Find scaled-down versions of your holiday favorites in these Thanksgiving recipes for two.

Thanksgiving is prime time for pumpkin spice treats, cozy fall decor and a fridge (and freezer!) full of leftovers.

Avoid stuffing your kitchen to the brim by turning to these Thanksgiving for two recipes, instead. This list of dishes includes small-scale mains like roasted hen and turkey tenderloins, classic side dishes like dressing and mashed potatoes and, of course, lots of dessert recipes.

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Herb-Stuffed Roasted Cornish Hens

If you’re looking for an elegant dinner for two, we suggest these Cornish hen recipe. As a bonus, the crisp, tasty potatoes cook right alongside the meat. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
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Orange Rosemary Carrots

Our whole family loves rosemary, and I grow it along with carrots in my garden every year. This is a delicious recipe to use them both together. —Arlene Butler, Ogden, Utah
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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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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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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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Pecan-Crusted Salmon

The combination of the nutty coating and the cool sauce in this pecan-crusted salmon recipe from Cheryl Bykowski of Punta Gorda, Florida turns ordinary salmon into something special. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
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Air-Fryer Bread Pudding

This air-fryer bread pudding is a fun dish because the chocolate makes it different from traditional recipes. It’s a rich, comforting dessert. —Mildred Sherrer, Fort Worth, Texas
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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

I can't wait for fall to arrive so my favorite coffee shops will bring back pumpkin lattes. The rest of the year, I have to make my own version. With the right amount of spice, it tastes just like the popular version found at gourmet coffee shops.—Ellen Riley, Murfreesboro, Tennessee
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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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Sunflower Broccoli Salad

This crisp salad is so refreshing that we always eat every bit. —Marilyn Newcomer, Sun City, California
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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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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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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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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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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

Katie Bandurski
As Senior Shopping Editor, Katie connects Taste of Home readers with the best gifts, deals and home products on the market. An avid foodie and a holiday enthusiast, Katie is an expert at cultivating meaningful moments. When she’s out of the office, you’ll find her exploring Wisconsin, trying out new vegetarian recipes and watching Christmas movies.