It's plenty of food. I assume you've checked with your guests for any specific items that they really care about - my family would totally revolt if I skipped sweet potatoes, but I know a lot of people don't really care about them.

Turkey: I'm not a huge fan of just doing a turkey breast, because several of us really love the dark meat. But I have cut a turkey in half, roasted half for Thanksgiving, and put half in the freezer for another time. Bonus, it's a lot easier to cook that way without drying it out. Nobody in my family really cares about the presentation of putting a whole roasted bird on a platter.

Salad: love, but only if it's an unusual / festive salad. Not looking for lettuce and cucumbers here. Something with citrus, dried cranberries, pomegranate seeds, etc. Otherwise I'd skip the salad and add a second vegetable instead: roasted Brussel sprouts with lemon, wild rice with cubed butternut squash, or roasted parsnips.

We have our family of 4 + 2 adults. None of us are big eaters. I order the catering for 8-10 from Ruthie’s All Day and it’s just right for dinner + leftovers for everyone for 2ish meals.

If you want to do a big turkey, consider buying sides like Mac and cheese or stuffing where you can get a portion for 4-6 people instead of a whole pan.

When we don’t do catering, I do this:
Cheese plate app
Shrimp cocktail
Marinated olives
Fruit platter - mainly for the kids

Turkey - breast only
Roast potato wedges with rosemary and garlic
Cornbread dressing on the side - because my mom loves dressing
Butternut squash roasted with maple coating
Green beans French style with butter and almonds (husband hates mushrooms)
Cornbread muffins for my kids
Cranberry sauce from a can

I get bakery rolls for next day sandwiches and make homemade Mac and cheese on Friday or Saturday after turkey day.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’d want more carbs but that is because thanksgiving is indulging time.

I can’t imagine wanting more carbs than rolls, mashed potatoes, dressing, and corn casserole…not to mention pie later. Like what else? On the same plate at the same time? Do you not eat any turkey or vegetables?

Not everybody will eat every carb. I know I would not eat dressing or rolls, but a sweet potato dish would be welcome. Optional though.

If people are bummed that their preferred carb is missing, they can make it the next day to eat with their leftovers.

My goodness, people. There is plenty of food and plenty of variety in OP's menu.

I have never had corn pudding but it sounds delicious. Care to share a good recipe?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’d want more carbs but that is because thanksgiving is indulging time.

I can’t imagine wanting more carbs than rolls, mashed potatoes, dressing, and corn casserole…not to mention pie later. Like what else? On the same plate at the same time? Do you not eat any turkey or vegetables?

Not everybody will eat every carb. I know I would not eat dressing or rolls, but a sweet potato dish would be welcome. Optional though.

DP. I think this is what OP is trying to avoid, though. Making so much food that there's tons of leftovers.

I agree that if it were for my family that's four carbs so I'd cut one or two. In my personal case I'd cut the corn pudding and stuffing, but it sounds like you have attendees who really treasure those, so it's worth keeping. Agree that two veggies is important. A tossed salad but maybe dressed up with pear and goat cheese and dried cranberries would be a nice option to balance all the richness.

Otherwise this looks really good. Consider a turkey breast or even two roast chickens if a single turkey is too much leftover for a small group of people.

OP, I'm one who serves a tossed salad with Thanksgiving.

Fifty years ago you never would have seen a tossed salad served. Tossed salad is not traditional Thanksgiving faire. I serve it because I make one every night for all of our dinners.

I've noticed that everyone takes a helping of salad along with everything else.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DH and I are hosting MIL/FIL and one of DH’s cousins in addition to our family of four. I know leftovers are desirable, but as my kids are young and don’t eat a ton, we always have a problematic amount of leftovers, even after sending some home with guests. I’m thinking about scaling back both volume and amount of dishes.

How does this sound, if you were a guest?

Turkey/gravy
Mashed potatoes
Dressing
Cranberry sauce
Green beans
Salad
Corn pudding (special favorite requested by my kids)
Small yeast rolls

There will be appetizers and dessert as well.

That’s more than enough, right?

That is our exactly our menu, including the corn pudding!

Get a small turkey (or do as a PP suggested and go with two breasts) and some to-go plastic ware is the way!

Enjoy!!

This is our exact menu (less the corn pudding). We break out the good china since it is a small group.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’d want more carbs but that is because thanksgiving is indulging time.

I can’t imagine wanting more carbs than rolls, mashed potatoes, dressing, and corn casserole…not to mention pie later. Like what else? On the same plate at the same time? Do you not eat any turkey or vegetables?

Not everybody will eat every carb. I know I would not eat dressing or rolls, but a sweet potato dish would be welcome. Optional though.

We have the same size party and our menu is very similar. Always works for us. With a group that intimate, you probably know everyone's favorites.

Personally, I’d drop the mashed potatoes and salad and add a sweet potato casserole with brown sugar/nut topping. But that’s a family tradition - plus it’s delicious.

I personally would want the salad. I feel sick if I only eat carbs. So having some salad helps balance it out. But it depends on your guests of course.

We'll have a similar number attending this year and our menu is close to what you have, although I'll probably do roasted squash/brussel sprouts. I've had a request for salad from one of my kids, so I'll find a harvest salad recipe. Maybe something with pears, figs, walnuts, and cheese.

Looks great. We do sweet potatoes with marshmallows in lieu of mashed potatoes but if your family doesn’t it’s nbd.

I’d ditch the salad and maybe do some coined sautéed carrots with butter and herbs

I do think another veg would be a good option. Green beans are not everyone's favorite. A simple dish of corn or carrots would be enough.