Alternatives for a Quick and Easy Thanksgiving Menu For Any Number of Guests

Easy Thanksgiving Meals

Having a few guests or all 50 of your family members over for Thanksgiving dinner? Stressed about what to prepare? Well, you don’t have to worry!

Every year my family gathers on Thanksgiving evening for a wonderful, thankful meal together. When we're all together, we reach numbers of 20 to 25. My aunts spend a few bucks at the grocery store, and then it takes about 30 minutes max to cook and prepare all the food, and there’s enough for everyone to go around for seconds or thirds! Even with a family of two or four, it’s easy to create a great meal. Let me share how YOU can also enjoy an easy Thanksgiving meal that’s quick and easy to make, yet still tastes delicious.

The one traditional meat you have at Thanksgiving is…. Turkey! I wouldn’t dream of having a Thanksgiving dinner without a plump, juicy turkey. You can either roast it or fry it. Once you have your turkey, make sure it is defrosted and unwrapped.

To roast: Before you clean the bird, go ahead and adjust the oven rack to the low center of the oven. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Set a wire rack in a sturdy, open roasting pan. Roughly chop 1/2 cup each of onion, celery, and carrots and have them ready to toss into the roasting pan (for tasty pan drippings). Now, check the body and neck cavities, remove any packaged giblets, and put them aside (if you want them, if not you can throw them out). Now rinse the bird inside and out with cold running water. Pat dry with paper towels. Pull out and discard any large pieces of fat from the cavity. Close the cavities, and bend the wing tips to the back and under the body. Cross the drumsticks and tie their ends with kitchen string.