Thanksgiving Menu for Four
We’ve partnered with Mariano’s for this simple, yet delicious Thanksgiving Menu for Four. Relying on Mariano’s everyday low prices with bone in chicken thighs, baby spinach, sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce and mini lemon pies, this holiday menu relieves all the stress and is perfect for even a beginner cook.
The most expensive item we bought for this menu was the maple syrup for the chicken dish at $6.49. Since we only used two tablespoons of the maple syrup, while our total grocery shop was $35.34, the total “cost” of the menu is $31.22 for four people, or approximately $7.80 per person.
The Menu
- Maple Dijon Chicken Thighs
- Baked Sweet Potatoes with Cinnamon Butter
- Apple Cranberry Salad with Cranberry Vinaigrette
- Mini Lemon Pies with Cranberry Sauce and Orange Zest
Apple Cranberry Spinach Salad
Love the colors of this salad and this dressing is 10/10!
Ingredients
- For the dressing:
- 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1/8 cup honey
- 2 tablespoons cranberry sauce
- 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- For the salad:
- 4 cups baby spinach
- 1 large apple, sliced thin
- 1/3 cup craisins
- 1/3 cup pecans, roasted and salted
Instructions
- Mix the dressing ingredients together.
- Place the spinach in a serving dish, top with apples, craisins, and pecans.
- Toss with dressing right before serving.
Maple Dijon Chicken Thighs
This simple recipe is company worthy, yet perfect for a weeknight dinner anytime of year.
Ingredients
- 1 cup chicken bone broth (or chicken broth)
- 1/4 cup Dijon mustard
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup
- 2 tablespoons cranberry sauce (canned)
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 2 teaspoons soy sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 4 bone-in chicken thighs
- 3 sprigs rosemary
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
Instructions
- Heat oven to 425.
- Mix the chicken broth, mustard, maple syrup, cranberry sauce, vinegar, soy sauce, salt and pepper together and whisk until combined.
- Place the chicken thighs in an oven safe dish. Season with salt and pepper, Pour the liquid mixture into the dish and add rosemary sprigs.
- Bake for 40-45 minutes, or until it reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees.
- Place liquid in a small sauce pan. Mix 1 tablespoon water with 1 tablespoon cornstarch. Add to gravy and cook over medium low heat until thickened. Serve with chicken.
Baked Sweet Potatoes with Cinnamon Honey Butter
These sweet potatoes are delicious with this cinnamon butter, that reminds me of the cinnamon butter at Texas Road House.
Ingredients
- 4 sweet potatoes
- 4 tablespoons butter, softened
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- pinch of salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Bake sweet potatoes for 45-60 minutes, depending on how big they are.
- Mix the butter, honey, cinnamon and salt together.
- Slice the sweet potatoes and divide the butter between the potatoes.
- Enjoy!
Mini Lemon Pie Bites
The easiest dessert you'll ever make! Mariano's sells mini lemon pies, and we simply added a bit of cranberry sauce on top with orange zest. So delish!
Ingredients
- 1 package mini lemon pie
- 4 tablespoons cranberry sauce
- zest from one orange
Instructions
- Place mini lemon pies on a serving tray.
- Top with cranberry sauce and orange zest.
- That's it!
Mariano’s Bakery
Mariano’s bakery truly comes through when you need something delicious without making everything from scratch. We picked up their mini lemon pies bites and gave them the easiest flavor glow-up with just a spoonful of cranberry sauce and a little orange zest on top. Suddenly you’ve got the perfect bite of sweet and tart, no baking required. Sometimes the best holiday shortcuts are the simplest ones.
Thanksgiving = Thankful
Thanksgiving is such a good reminder to slow down and appreciate what we already have. It’s easy to overlook the simple gifts such as a warm house, food in the fridge, a seat at a table with people we love. But so many are struggling this year, and if you’re in a position to help, I hope you’ll consider donating to your local food pantry. A good meal is a comfort, but creating a table where others can gather, feel seen, and feel cared for… that’s the true heart of this season.
