Thanksgiving Recipes That Are Perfect For A Party Of 2 Slideshow

From stuffed turkey breast to Cornish game hens, there is more than one way to enjoy a scaled down Thanksgiving feast. Beyond main dishes, consider stuffing baked into individual muffin tins for easy portioning, and storage for leftovers. You can also scale back on mashed potatoes or sweet potato casseroles with baked and smashed potatoes that can easily be made for a smaller crowed.

Finish the meal with a delicious Thanksgiving pie or consider an alternative pumpkin dessert that breaks the classic pie mold.

This year, instead of spending extra money and time in the kitchen, consider these delicious Thanksgiving dinners designed for two.

For a fresh take on Thanksgiving turkey, try a turkey roulade. Lemon and orange zest, mixed in with fresh herbs like rosemary, tarragon, marjoram, sage, and parsley bring bright flavors to the holiday meal. — Robert Irvine

For the Citrus and Herb Stuffed Turkey Breast recipe, click here.

This recipe is a spin on traditional cornbread muffins and Thanksgiving stuffing. — Emily Jacobs

For the Cornbread Stuffed Muffins recipe, click here.

Serve this roasted turkey breast as a main course with D'Artagnan's Braised Wild Turkey Ragu recipe as an appetizer. — D'Artagnan

D'Atagnan's Roasted Wild Turkey Breast with Fall Vegetables recipe, click here.

Roasted sweet potatoes are simple and delicious, but to make your sweet potatoes even better this Thanksgiving, roast them with the skin on, mash them, then bake them again. Your mashed sweet potatoes will be smooth and have a citrusy kick from the orange juice and sherry vinegar. — Alex Guarnaschelli

For the Mashed and Oven-Dried Sweet Potatoes recipe, click here.

Cornish hens aren't game birds, but small, young chickens — the French call them poussins — that are extremely tender and flavorful. You can also make this recipe with one 4-5 pound chicken, just cooking it at 450 degrees F for 15 minutes, then turning the temperature down to 375 degrees and cooking for an additional 30 minutes, or until the chicken is done. — Michael Chiarello

For the Oven-Roasted Cornish Hens with Panettone Stuffing recipe, click here.

In the mood for a Thanksgiving meal, but can't wait until the big day? Try making turkey tenderloins for dinner. This roasted turkey tenderloin recipe takes one third of the time of a big Thanksgiving turkey, but promises to have all of the flavors. This savory dish is all you need for a mini Thanksgiving dinner. — Lauren Gordon

For the Roasted Turkey Tenderloins recipe, click here.

Since wild turkeys are leaner than conventional turkeys, it helps to know how to cook them properly so that you still end up with a moist and tasty bird. — D'Artagnan

For the Roasted Wild Turkey with Bourbon-Pecan Stuffing recipe, click here.

A chestnut bread stuffing is rolled up tightly in a turkey breast, and served with pan gravy and cranberry compote (page 26). Throw all of the stuffing vegetables into a food processor for a faster prep time! — Danielle Walker

For the Stuffing Filled Turkey Breast recipe, click here.

Roasting the turkey at 325 degrees F and allowing it to rest for 15 minutes ensures that it will be very moist. — Ina Garten

For the Barefoot Contessa's Herb-Roasted Turkey Breast recipe, click here.

This healthier version of Shepherd's Pie combines turkey, cranberries, and green beans for a tasty filling that's topped off with creamy sweet potatoes. — Chef Glenn Lyman

Turkey and Cranberry Shepherd's Pie with Sweet Potato Topping recipe, click here.

For a twist on the traditional Thanksgiving main dish, this cranberry-apricot stuffed turkey is a great recipe to try, without the mess of dealing with a whole turkey carcass. — Food Network

For the Turkey Roulade with Cranberry-Apricot Stuffing recipe, click here.