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These Thanksgiving menu ideas for 4 include recipes that are perfect for serving small families or hosting intimate dinners. This includes everything from Thanksgiving classics to holiday-worthy comfort food. Just because the guest list is short doesn't mean you can't make an impressive meal!
Thanksgiving Dinner Recipes For 4
If you plan on keeping the guest list small this year, these are the ideal Thanksgiving recipes for serving 4 people! Not only that, but you have options to choose from.
That means you can take these suggestions and build your perfect holiday menu! From appetizers to desserts, we have you covered.
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- Thanksgiving Dinner Recipes For 4
- Delicious Thanksgiving Dinner Recipes For Serving 4 People
- 1. Traeger Smoked Turkey
- 2. Roasted Pheasant
- 3. Whole Roasted Duck
- 4. Creamy Yellow Squash Soup
- 5. Honey Roasted Acorn Squash
- 6. Creamed Corn Cornbread
- 7. Mashed Sweet Potatoes
- 8. Baked Sweet Potatoes
- 9. Easy Stuffing
- 10. Bacon Cheddar Green Bean Casserole
- 11. Skillet Brown Sugar Glazed Carrots
- 12. Southern Baked Macaroni and Cheese
- 13. Bacon Wrapped Asparagus
- 14. Jiffy Corn Casserole
- 15. Baked Apples
- 16. Pumpkin Dump Cake
- 17. Butternut Squash Risotto
- 🦃 More Thanksgiving Recipes
- 📖 Recipe Card
- Thanksgiving Menu Ideas For 4: Bacon Cheddar Green Bean Casserole (+ More Incredible Recipes!)
- IngredientsUS CustomaryMetric
- Instructions
- 💬 Reviews
Whether you're a pro at hosting Thanksgiving dinner and holiday parties or giving it a try for the first time this year, you're sure to find my ultimate guide to planning Thanksgiving a help! Don't forget to safely thaw your holiday turkey early, too!
Delicious Thanksgiving Dinner Recipes For Serving 4 People
Every family is different, and some like to keep the holiday get-togethers small. There's no shame in that- especially when your food is this good!
1. Traeger Smoked Turkey
This year, why don't you try smoking your turkey? The smokey flavor is absorbed deep into the meat, and you still get the crispy skin that everyone loves.
This recipe also makes your job as a host so much easier. Just set it and forget it while it smokes!
Traeger Smoked Turkey
Traeger Smoked Turkey is the perfect main course! This tasty turkey is simply seasoned and smoked to perfection. This recipe will make the holidays as easy and delicious as possible!
Check out this recipe
2. Roasted Pheasant
One great thing about having a smaller guest list is you can branch out with your entree! Try roasted pheasant instead of traditional turkey, and you won't be disappointed.
This recipe serves about 4 people. It's made on top of a bed of tender potatoes, so that takes care of 1 side!
Roasted Pheasant
Roasted pheasant is cooked along with potatoes for an incredibly hearty dinner the whole family will enjoy! Whether you purchase yours at the store or you enjoy hunting for wild game, this pheasant recipe will quickly become a classic at your house! It's simple, comforting, and perfect for any occasion!
Check out this recipe
3. Whole Roasted Duck
Another elegant entree option would be roasting a whole duck. It's especially tasty if you are celebrating Thanksgiving for the 2nd or 3rd time and you are a bit tired of turkey.
This duck is juicy and tender, with a rich flavor that you only get with duck. It's pretty darn easy to make, too!
Whole Roasted Duck
A wonderful Whole Roasted Duck is an amazingly tasty centerpiece of any special occasion or holiday meal! The deliciously spiced duck that my family and I enjoy is also terrifically easy to make too! This roast duck features crispy skin on a perfectly tender, juicy duck that will be enjoyed by everyone!
Check out this recipe
4. Creamy Yellow Squash Soup
This soup makes a great starter or side dish! It only requires a handful of ingredients and it's fairly light so you can still fill your plate after.
Yellow squash soup is savory yet subtly sweet. Though it may be called summer squash, this recipe is perfect for fall!
Creamy Yellow Squash Soup
Creamy yellow squash soup is an incredible side dish or appetizer that can be whipped up in just 30 minutes! It can be gluten-free, vegan, and vegetarian-friendly. This soup is perfect for fall and makes a fun and festive addition to any Thanksgiving menu!
Check out this recipe
5. Honey Roasted Acorn Squash
Acorn squash screams fall, particularly when it is roasted with honey and cinnamon! It's a unique side dish that you don't see often, which is odd because it is so simple!
Don't worry, it isn't overly sweet. It's the perfect balance of sweet and savory!
Honey Roasted Acorn Squash
This honey roasted acorn squash is a sweet and savory side dish that is fork-tender and perfect for any meal! It is simple to make and a great way to mix up your standard side dishes. Plus, this tasty winter squash recipe is also super healthy!
Check out this recipe
6. Creamed Corn Cornbread
Making your cornbread with canned creamed corn adds a subtle sweetness and plenty of moisture. It might just be the best cornbread you've ever had!
There's no boxed cornbread mix here, and you won't even miss it. Give this must-try side dish a place on your Thanksgiving table this year!
Creamed Corn Cornbread
Once you try this easy creamed corn cornbread recipe you will want to make cornbread without using a cornbread mix from here on out! The canned creamed corn, butter, and a touch of honey give it plenty of sweetness while the bits of corn throughout the fluffy bread add great texture. This creamed corn cornbread is a must-try side dish this summer!
Check out this recipe
7. Mashed Sweet Potatoes
Mashed sweet potatoes with butter are one of my all-time favorite Thanksgiving sides. They are creamy and rich, while still maintaining a touch of sweetness.
These potatoes don't take much effort or time. They don't even need that much seasoning, they are naturally tasty!
Mashed Sweet Potatoes
These mashed sweet potatoes are the perfect sweet side dish to accompany all of your favorite holiday meals! They are creamy, rich, and have just the right amount of added sweetness to make them completely irresistible! This is going to become your new favorite sweet potato side dish!
Check out this recipe
8. Baked Sweet Potatoes
If you prefer baked to mashed, these sweet potatoes are super simple! Grab however many potatoes you need and top them with your favorite potato accouterments.
I like serving them with just a touch of butter, salt, and pepper. That's all they need!
Baked Sweet Potatoes
Baked sweet potatoes are a delicious and versatile side dish that bakes to fluffy perfection in your oven! Serve them sweet or savory—it’s up to you! However you decide to make them, they’re certain to be amazing!
Check out this recipe
9. Easy Stuffing
It's not Thanksgiving without stuffing but that doesn't mean it has to be complicated. You just mix some diced veggies and chicken broth with ready-to-use stuffing cubes and bake!
This recipe is so easy, you can spend your time with your family instead of slaving in the kitchen.
Easy Stuffing
Easy stuffing is a cornerstone recipe to Thanksgiving dinner, holiday meals, and amazingly tasty family dinners all year long! Classic ingredients including celery, onion, and ready-to-use stuffing cubes combine with tasty herbs to complement so many dishes!
Check out this recipe
10. Bacon Cheddar Green Bean Casserole
This classic green bean casserole with bacon is comfort food at its finest. This classic recipe has all the good stuff: crispy fried onions, bacon, and cheddar cheese!
Canned green beans and cream of mushroom soup make this recipe even easier. You'll be lucky to have leftovers.
Bacon Cheddar Green Bean Casserole
Serve this amazing bacon cheddar green bean casserole for a tasty upgrade to the easy classic recipe that everyone is sure to love! The traditionally used cream of mushroom is enhanced with grated cheddar then topped with crisped bacon along with the fried onions - and it's so tasty!!
Check out this recipe
11. Skillet Brown Sugar Glazed Carrots
Fork-tender carrots have always been one of my favorite vegetables. These skillet brown sugar glazed carrots are at the top of the list!
A hint of garlic balances the sweet flavor perfectly. You will never want to eat carrots any other way!
Skillet Brown Sugar Glazed Carrots
These brown sugar-glazed carrots are an easy, quick, and family-approved vegetable side dish that's ready to serve in just 15 minutes! The carrots are caramelized in a brown sugar and butter glaze with the added hint of garlic from the whole cloves for a tasty, sweet, and savory flavor! They're perfect for holiday gatherings or any time you have carrots to use up in your refrigerator!
Check out this recipe
12. Southern Baked Macaroni and Cheese
Nothing beats this 3-cheese Southern baked macaroni! The inside gets ooey-gooey and delicious while the top gets slightly crispy.
Don't be surprised when everyone asks you for this recipe.
Southern Baked Macaroni and Cheese
This Southern baked macaroni and cheese is a wonderfully creamy and extra cheesy side dish that everyone will love! Made with a minimum of three kinds of cheese to make the best mac and cheese that is sure to be a family favorite! You'll be bringing it along to every potluck, cookout, and holiday!
Check out this recipe
13. Bacon Wrapped Asparagus
The theme of this menu is elegant and easy, which perfectly describes this asparagus! Bacon automatically elevates any dish and that is the case here.
Perfectly cooked asparagus wrapped with crispy strips of bacon is one way to get people to eat their veggies.
Baked Bacon Wrapped Asparagus
Everything tastes better with crispy, salty bacon, and this baked bacon-wrapped asparagus recipe proves it! These bacon-wrapped spears of asparagus make a wonderful gourmet appetizer or side dish with very little fuss!
Check out this recipe
14. Jiffy Corn Casserole
Corn casserole is often called corn souffle, corn pudding, or spoon bread. It's a holiday classic around the country and it's easy to see why!
Creamed corn and juicy corn kernels mixed with cornbread- it's as delicious as it sounds.
Jiffy Corn Casserole
This Jiffy corn casserole is a sweet and savory side dish with creamy corn mixed into every bite of your cornbread! Best of all, you only need 5 ingredients and 5 minutes of prep time to put it together. Whether you call it corn casserole, corn pudding, or spoon bread, it's a side that goes with practically anything!
Check out this recipe
15. Baked Apples
The great thing about baked apples is that you can make exactly the number you need (maybe a couple extra for leftovers). These apples are slathered in brown sugar, butter, and cinnamon for a truly flavorful dessert.
Add a scoop of ice cream and you have something truly special that is easy to make.
Baked Apples
Baked apples are a classic and easy comforting dessert that only requires a couple of minutes of prep time! They are packed with a combination of brown sugar, butter, and cinnamon for a truly delicious treat. Eat them by themselves or top them with a scoop of ice cream for some extra sweetness!
Check out this recipe
16. Pumpkin Dump Cake
This cake is practically effortless with all the flavor of a made-from-scratch dessert! Just use your preferred box of spiced cake mix and canned pumpkin pie filling, combine them with some common baking staples, and bake!
Seriously, you very well may prefer this to pumpkin pie.
Pumpkin Dump Cake
This pumpkin dump cake uses spice cake mix for an extra effortless yet extraordinarily delicious fall dessert! It features both pumpkin puree and homemade pumpkin pie spice for a truly warming flavor! As an added bonus, it is completely beginner-friendly, so anyone can make it!
Check out this recipe
17. Butternut Squash Risotto
A creamy risotto filled with chunks of butternut squash, yum! It's cozy and comforting, with plenty of fall flavor.
If you've ever made risotto, this recipe is a breeze. If you haven't, it's still pretty easy and there's no better time to try than now!
Butternut Squash Risotto
Butternut squash risotto is a perfect fall dish that's really creamy and full of great flavors. This dish is great whether you want something small like an appetizer, a side dish, or even a main meal. The roasted squash makes it sweet and goes really well with the creamy rice. It also has garlic, onion, and herbs, plus a little optional white wine to make it extra special.
Check out this recipe
I'd love to hear how your holiday went! Let me know if you tried any of these Thanksgiving menu ideas for 4 by leaving me a comment below!
🦃 More Thanksgiving Recipes
- Smoked Leg of Lamb - A lamb dinner always feels special and extravagant, especially on Thanksgiving!
- Sour Cream Cornbread - This moist and fluffy cornbread is the perfect addition to any Thanksgiving spread.
- Roasted Butternut Squash - Roasted squash is a super-easy side dish that is full of fall flavor!
- Pumpkin Pie without Evaporated Milk - There's one less ingredient to worry about in this fabulous pumpkin pie recipe!
- Crockpot Apple Cider - Let the crockpot do all the work with this classic apple cider recipe!
- Pumpkin Flan - Instead of pie, impress your guests with this creamy pumpkin flan!
See more Thanksgiving →
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Thanksgiving Menu Ideas For 4: Bacon Cheddar Green Bean Casserole (+ More Incredible Recipes!)
These Thanksgiving menu ideas for 4 include recipes that are perfect for serving small families or hosting intimate dinners. This includes everything from Thanksgiving classics to holiday-worthy comfort food. Just because the guestlist is short doesn't mean you can't make an impressive meal!
Author | Angela
Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 273kcal
Prep 5 minutes minutes
Cooking 40 minutes minutes
Total Time 45 minutes minutes
Pin Recipe
Ingredients
- 10.5 oz condensed cream of mushroom soup (10 ½ ounce can)
- 29 oz green beans (2 14 ½ ounce cans, drained)
- 1 cup milk
- 3 slices bacon (cooked and sliced)
- ½ cup cheddar cheese (+¼ cup additional for the top, optional)
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 â…“ cups fried onions (divided - two â…” cup portions)
Help Us Out!If you love a recipe, be sure to come back and share your ratings. This helps future users, and allows me to continue sharing free recipes! Angela
Instructions
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
Fry your bacon and when cool slice. Set aside.
In a medium mixing bowl combine condensed soup, drained green beans, milk, soy sauce, the first ⅔ cup portion of fried onions, black pepper, and ½ cup of cheese. Mix well.
Pour mixture into a 9x13 baking dish.
Add the optional ¼ cup additional cheese, the second ⅔ cup portion of fried onions, then sprinkle sliced cooked bacon over.
Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 30 minutes.
Remove from oven and enjoy!
Equipment You May Need
Notes
- The amount can easily be adjusted to double the recipe and still serve this dish in a 9x13 baking pan.
- I prefer to use all of my fried onions as a topping, but when you do this you will have a creamier casserole (the onions typically soak up some of the liquid).
- You can mix the ingredients directly in your baking dish if desired.
Nutrition
Calories: 273kcal (14%) | Carbohydrates: 19g (6%) | Protein: 9g (18%) | Fat: 18g (28%) | Saturated Fat: 8g (50%) | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 21mg (7%) | Sodium: 670mg (29%) | Potassium: 345mg (10%) | Fiber: 3g (13%) | Sugar: 5g (6%) | Vitamin A: 785IU (16%) | Vitamin C: 11mg (13%) | Calcium: 153mg (15%) | Iron: 1mg (6%)
Did you try this recipe? Rate it below!I can’t wait to see your results! Mention @bake_it_with_love or tag #bake_it_with_love!
Bacon & Cheddar Green Bean Casserole, holiday menu ideas for serving 4 people, holiday side dishes, Thanksgiving dinner ideas, Thanksgiving Menu Ideas for 4
Course Holiday Recipes, Side Dish, Thanksgiving
Cuisine American
Angela @ BakeItWithLove.com
Angela is an at home chef that developed a passion for all things cooking and baking at a young age in her Grandma's kitchen. After many years in the food service industry, she now enjoys sharing all of her family favorite recipes and creating tasty dinner and amazing dessert recipes here at Bake It With Love!
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