Do you need to have Thanksgiving with friends or family? No! You can have a solo Thanksgiving! If you are unsure how to have a solo Thanksgiving, some essential recipes are below to help you get started!

Solo Thanksgiving 

 

You can have a solo Thanksgiving and enjoy the holidays by yourself. There is nothing wrong with celebrating holidays solo. You can use it as a time to learn to enjoy solitude.

 

Related – What Is The Difference? Solitude Versus Loneliness

Related – Alone Versus Lonely

 

Frozen Meals 

 

The stereotype of people having holiday meals alone is often eating frozen microwave dinners. You can buck this stereotype by cooking your own Thanksgiving Dinner. After all, you want it to taste good. It will also be healthier. You can visit your local grocery store or butcher to see if they sell individual turkey legs, wings, breasts, and thighs so that you don’t have to cook a whole turkey. Since it is just for you, you can choose your favorite Thanksgiving dinner meal items.

 

Solo Thanksgiving Recipes 

 

Roasted Turkey Leg 

 

Are you a dark-meat person? Here is a slightly modified version of a roasted turkey leg recipe for one:

 

Ingredients 

  • 1 celery stalk, cut into thirds
  • 1 turkey leg
  • 2 tablespoons of butter
  • Salt to taste
  • ¼ cup of water, or as needed

 

Directions 

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Rinse the turkey legs and pat dry.
  2. Stand the turkey legs upright (as if the turkey were standing). Press a knife down into the deep tissue, creating 2 or 3 long pockets. Press a piece of celery into each opening. Pull back the skin on the legs, rub it with butter, and season with a bit of salt. Put the skin back into place, rub with more butter, and season lightly with salt. Lay the turkey legs in a roasting pan.
  3. Roast uncovered for 1 1/2 to 2 hours until the legs are golden brown and the internal temperature is 180 degrees F (82 degrees C) when taken with a meat thermometer. Add more water if needed while roasting, and occasionally baste with the juices or butter.
  4. Roast until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the turkey leg meat reaches 165 degrees F (74 degrees C), about 1 hour. Cooking time may vary depending on the size of your turkey leg.

 

Easy-Baked Turkey Wing 

 

Do you prefer wings to legs? Here is an easy-backed turkey wing recipe modified for one portion:

 

Ingredients 

  • 1 turkey wing
  • ¼ quarter of a small onion, chopped (optional)
  • ¼ teaspoon season salt
  • ¼ teaspoon poultry seasoning
  • ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper or, to taste
  • ¼ teaspoon minced garlic
  • ½ cups water
  • 2 ounces can of cream of mushroom soup

 

Directions 

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
  2. Place turkey wing and onion in a casserole dish; sprinkle with seasoned salt, poultry seasoning, black pepper, and garlic on both sides of the wing. Pour ¼ cup water into the casserole dish and cover.
  3. Bake in the preheated oven until browned, about 1 hour.
  4. Stir cream of mushroom soup and ¼ cup water together in a bowl (or follow the directions on the can); pour over turkey wing in the casserole dish and return to the oven, uncovered.
  5. Continue baking until brown and tender, about 1 more hour.
  6. Roast until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the turkey wing reaches 165 degrees F (74 degrees C), about 1 hour. Cooking time may vary depending on the size of your turkey wing.

 

Oven-Roasted Turkey Breast 

 

Are you more of a breast person? Here is an oven-roasted turkey breast recipe modified for one portion:

 

Ingredients 

  • ½ cup softened butter
  • ½ clove garlic, minced
  • ½ teaspoon paprika
  • ½ teaspoon
  • Italian seasoning
  • ¼ teaspoon salt-free garlic and herb seasoning blend (such as Dash®)
  • Salt and ground pepper to taste
  • 1 turkey breast with skin
  • ½ teaspoon minced shallot
  • ½ tablespoon butter
  • 1 splash of dry white wine
  • ½ cup chicken stock
  • 5 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 1 tablespoon half-and-half (optional)

 

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
  2. Mix 1/4 cup butter, garlic, paprika, Italian seasoning, garlic and herb seasoning, salt, and black pepper in a bowl. Place turkey breast with skin side up into a roasting pan. Loosen the skin with your fingers; brush half the butter mixture over the turkey breast and underneath the skin. Reserve the remaining butter mixture. Tent turkey breast loosely with aluminum foil.
  3. Roast in the preheated oven for 1 hour; baste the turkey breast with the remaining butter mixture. Return to oven and roast until the juices run clear, and an instant-read meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the breast, not touching bone, reads 165 degrees F (65 degrees C), about 30 more minutes. Let turkey breast rest for 10 to 15 minutes before serving.
  4. While the turkey is resting, transfer the pan drippings to a skillet. Skim off excess grease, leaving about 1 tablespoon in the skillet. Place skillet over low heat; cook and stir shallot in turkey grease until opaque, about 5 minutes.
  5. Melt 1 tablespoon butter in a skillet with shallot and whisk in white wine, scraping any browned bits of food from the skillet. Whisk in chicken stock and flour until smooth. Bring to a simmer, constantly whisking, until thickened. For a creamier, lighter gravy, whisk in half-and-half.
  6. Roast until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the turkey breast meat reaches 165 degrees F (74 degrees C), about 1 hour. Cooking time may vary depending on the size of your turkey breast.

 

Stunningly Succulent Turkey Thigh 

 

Do you prefer thighs? You can follow this adjusted turkey thigh recipe for one person:

 

Ingredients 

  • 1 large heat-resistant nylon oven bag (such as Reynolds® Oven Bags)
  • ¼ tablespoon all-purpose flour
  • ¼ onion, cut into 1-inch pieces
  • ½ a celery stalk, cut into 1-inch pieces
  • ¼ of a large carrot, cut into 1-inch pieces
  • 1 turkey thigh
  • ¼ tablespoon olive oil
  • ½ teaspoon seasoned salt, or to taste

 

Directions 

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Sprinkle flour into an oven bag and place it in a 9×11-inch pan.
  2. Spread onion, celery, and carrot pieces on the bottom of the bag. Rinse turkey thigh and pat dry with paper towels. Rub olive oil under the skin and on the outside of the thighs.
  3. Sprinkle seasoned salt liberally on the turkey thigh and rub it under the skin. Arrange thighs on top of vegetables. Close the bag with the tie. Make six slits in the top of the bag with a sharp paring knife. Place the pan in the oven, ensuring the oven bag does not touch the top heating element.
  4. Roast until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the turkey thigh meat reaches 165 degrees F (74 degrees C), about 1 hour. Cooking time may vary depending on the size of your turkey thigh.

 

Basic Mashed Potatoes 

 

A popular Thanksgiving side is mashed potatoes. You can use instant mashed potatoes, or you can make your own. If you use instant mashed potatoes, you can follow the instruction on the box and adjust the positions. Below is an adjusted mashed potatoes recipe for one person:

 

Ingredients

  • 1/4 pound baking potatoes, peeled and quartered
  • 3/4 clove garlic, peeled, or to taste (Optional)
  • 1/4 cup of milk
  • 1/2 tablespoon of butter
  • salt and ground black pepper to taste

 

Directions 

  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add potatoes and garlic, lower heat to medium, and simmer until potatoes are tender, about 15 to 20 minutes.
  2. When the potatoes are almost finished, heat milk and butter in a small saucepan over low heat until the butter is melted.
  3. Drain potatoes and return to the pot. Slowly add warm milk mixture, blending it with a potato masher or electric mixer until the potatoes are smooth and creamy. Season the potatoes with salt and pepper to taste.

 

Best Green Bean Casserole 

 

Love it or hate it, green bean casserole is a classic Thanksgiving dish. Below is an adjusted green bean casserole recipe for one person:

 

Ingredients 

  • 1/2 a can of green beans, drained
  • 2 ounces of condensed cream of mushroom soup
  • 1/6 cup shredded Cheddar cheese, divided
  • ounce of can French-fried onions

 

Directions 

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
  2. Mix green beans and condensed soup in a large microwave-safe bowl until well combined. Microwave on high until warm, about 3 to 5 minutes.
  3. Stir 1/6 cup of Cheddar cheese into the green bean mixture. Microwave on high for 2 to 3 minutes.
  4. Transfer the mixture to a casserole dish and spread it evenly over the bottom. Sprinkle French-fried onions over the top, then sprinkle with remaining Cheddar.
  5. Bake in the preheated oven until the cheese is melted and the onions are just turning brown, about 10 minutes.

 

Pick Up Your Favorite Dessert 

 

You could bake a pie, but buying your favorite dessert from your favorite grocery store or local bakery is easier. Stop by your local grocery store or bakery and pick up a pumpkin, pecan, apple pie, or minced meat pie. Whatever happens to be your favorite Thanksgiving pie!

 

Conclusion 

 

There is no need to have a frozen dinner. You can follow any of these simple solo Thanksgiving recipes to enjoy your Thanksgiving as a single person!

Views expressed in this article are the author’s opinions and do not necessarily reflect the views of Secure Single. It is intended for informational and educational purposes only. It is not investment or financial advice. James Bollen is the author of Thriving Solo: How to Flourish and Live Your Perfect Life (Without A Soulmate). Now available in paperback and for the Kindle on Amazon. Subscribe to Secure Single’s Substack for free!
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
James Bollen is the Founder and President of Secure Single. He is an entrepreneur and a content creator with the goal of helping all different types of singles to learn to thrive as a single person.
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