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Find 21 of the best small batch Thanksgiving sides for one or two. From creamy mashed potatoes to tangy cranberry sauce, these easy recipes bring big holiday flavor in smaller portions. Visit our Thanksgiving for One recipes for even more perfectly portioned holiday dishes designed to make your meal simple and satisfying.
Potatoes are a Thanksgiving essential! These single serving potato side dish recipes let you enjoy your favorites – mashed, baked, or sweet – without making a big batch.
Mashed Potatoes For One
4.70 from 13 votes
These single serving mashed potatoes are made from scratch with Yukon Gold potatoes cooked in garlic-infused milk and cream, then mashed with butter and stone-ground mustard until creamy.
This single serving twice baked potato casserole is made with one russet potato, sour cream, bacon, and cheddar. It’s a loaded baked potato, mashed and baked in a ramekin for one person.
This mini sweet potato casserole bakes spiced mashed sweet potatoes under pecans and toasted marshmallows. A from-scratch holiday side made for one or two.
Thanksgiving vegetable sides don’t need to be made in large dishes. These small batch recipes add fresh flavor and vibrant color to your holiday table in perfectly portioned servings.
Sautéed Green Beans For One
5 from 7 votes
These single serving sautéed green beans are a classic green beans almondine, blanched until crisp-tender and finished in butter with garlic and toasted slivered almonds.
This baked creamed spinach is made from scratch for two, with softened cream cheese as the creamy base and a golden breadcrumb and Parmesan topping. It’s a rich holiday side that’s just as easy for a weekday dinner.
This small green bean casserole is the classic holiday side made from scratch, with tender green beans in a creamy, cheesy mushroom sauce and crispy fried onions on top. The sauce simmers in one skillet with no canned soup.
This mini carrot soufflé is a small batch version of the Piccadilly classic, made with carrots, butter, sugar, and vanilla and baked for one or two people. It comes out light and fluffy and sweet enough to serve as a side dish or dessert.
These small batch roasted Brussels sprouts are made for one or two, with edges that turn crisp and nutty in the oven and whole garlic cloves that roast soft and sweet right beside them.
These roasted carrots are lightly sweetened with honey, seasoned simply, and roasted until tender with golden edges. A final toss in melted butter adds extra richness and flavor.
This single serving roasted broccolini recipe is a simple, flavorful side dish. Roasting brings out its natural sweetness while creating crispy edges and tender stems. It's tossed with red onions, kalamata olives, and a drizzle of olive oil for added depth and flavor.
Thanksgiving isn’t complete without stuffing. Enjoy all the flavor you love with these perfectly portioned small batch recipes.
Small Batch Sausage Stuffing
4.86 from 7 votes
This small batch sausage stuffing is a scaled down version of the classic holiday side, made with Italian sausage, fresh herbs, and crusty bread. It serves one or two people.
This small batch cornbread dressing is a classic Southern side made from scratch for one or two people. Homemade cornbread, sautéed vegetables, and a little cream bake into a dressing with a golden top and a rich, savory center.
Bring a touch of sweetness to your Thanksgiving meal with these small batch fruit-based sides. From cranberry sauce to applesauce, they add a bright and flavorful balance to your holiday table.
Small Batch Cranberry Sauce For One
5 from 7 votes
This single serving cranberry sauce is made from scratch with fresh cranberries, sugar, orange juice, water, and a cinnamon stick. It’s a sweet-tart whole berry sauce made for one or two people.
This Pineapple Lime Jello Salad is a no-cook recipe made with lime Jello, crushed pineapple, cottage cheese, and chopped pecans. A vintage family favorite scaled down to one or two servings.
This single serve applesauce is made from scratch on the stove with one apple and no preservatives. It cooks in about 20 minutes and makes about ½ cup, enough for one.
These fresh-baked small batch dinner rolls, biscuits, and hush puppies are perfectly portioned for one or two and bring a warm, homemade touch to your Thanksgiving meal.
Small Batch French Bread Rolls
5 from 5 votes
These small batch French bread dinner rolls bake up with a crisp golden crust and soft, fluffy center. This easy homemade yeast roll recipe makes 8 bakery-style rolls, perfect for dinner, soups, or sandwiches.
Small batch butter swim biscuits are buttermilk biscuits that are baked in melted butter for a crisp, golden crust and soft, fluffy center. Makes 4 biscuits in 20 minutes.
Make a small batch of crispy, golden brown hush puppies with this easy Southern recipe. Light, fluffy, and perfectly seasoned, they’re ready in minutes!
I'm Joanie, a chef with over 35 years of cooking experience, author of The Ultimate Cooking for One Cookbook, and creator of One Dish Kitchen. For the past 15 years, I've developed and tested 700+ single serving and small batch recipes. Every one is made from scratch and built for one from the start, so nothing goes to waste. I'm so glad you're here.
Your recipes have changed my life. I’m 74, live alone and I’m cooking up a storm. THANKS!!
That’s so wonderful to hear! I’m thrilled my recipes have brought joy back into your kitchen — thank you for sharing this with me!