I Am Going To Attempt To Make A Thanksgiving Casserole For Thursdays Dinner....

[global1]

Only three of us will be eating so making a big turkey with a bunch of sides just seems like it might be too long a day.

So I decided to make a casserole - layering it like lasagna.

I'll be getting a small turkey breast and add sweet potatoes as a base along with green beans, stuffing made with some ground pork and dried cranberries. I'll add corn. Top it with some mashed potatoes. Melt some cheese on it the last few minutes in the oven. I'll hydrate the casserole with 'turkey broth' and we'll have some turkey gravy on the side - as desired and as needed.

I'm going to attempt a four pie sheet pan - apple, cherry, pumpkin and pecan.

We'll have some french vanilla ice cream to top it.

Just curious if anyone has done this before and if you have any tips or inside info I can use in my attempt.

Any suggestions or tips will be appreciated,

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. Sounds wonderful! Save me some, will ya???

I'm kidding! We have plans to eat elsewhere.

It really does sound good, though.

[BaronChocula]

2. One suggestion

Just do the damn thing and enjoy whatever comes of it. It's Thanksgiving.

[fierywoman]

3. Sounds delish and fun!

[chillfactor]

4. I will be alone for Thanksgiving

I am making a turkey breast with all of the sides. I freeze leftovers and will have 3 or 4 leftover dinners for later meals.

[tishaLA]

10. Pretty similar situation except

I made a whole turkey last night already just so I could take the meat off for future endeavors like soups, curries, and pot pies and then use the carcass for stock, then on Thanksgiving proper, I'll make the turkey breast, eat a big of it, then use the leftovers for sandwiches, rewarmed mashed potatoes, etc. Turkey is just too cheap with the Thanksgiving discounts to pass up

[japple]

5. Cook the turkey first.

[hippywife]

7. Agree!

[global1]

14. Always Intended On Cooking Up The Turkey Breast First.....

Then I'll cut slices and place them in the casserole.

[steventh]

6. This Food Network 4 flavor sheet pan pie has recipe and video.

It looks like the 4 flavors don't merge into each other, even without crust barriers between them.
https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchen/four-flavor-sheet-pan-pie-3885733

[global1]

12. That's Where I Got The Idea & The Recipe.....nt

[hippywife]

8. Your idea sounds doable...

but I agree with japple that the turkey should be roasted first, not put into it raw.

There are only two of us, but I still make the whole meal. We love leftovers, especially holiday leftovers, so I've always made our own full turkey dinner even when we were going to family gatherings pre-COVID.

[MissMillie]

17. we're in the same boat--just 2 of us

And we'll be making turkey dinner. We just don't go crazy with sides.

We'll roast the whole bird and make stuffing and gravy. There will be mashed potatoes, an orange vegetable (carrots), a green vegetable (probably green beans, but maybe broccoli), cranberry (from a can), and "pop-n-fresh" dinner rolls.

Two pies: traditional pumpkin, and North Carolina Lemon Pie. (I'll bring some pie over to Dad and Sis for their holiday dessert.)

[hippywife]

18. Exactly.

I'm baking a small bone-in glazed ham shank, sweet potatoes, cranberries, Brussels sprouts, homemade wheat rolls, one pie, the Mrs. Smith's dutch apple I baked last night. (I did buy a smallish turkey since they were only .98/lb, but am leaving it in the freezer for some other time.)

We'll eat the leftovers all week, so it really does save a lot of money, which is the thing we celebrate this time of year - all the sales on groceries!

Also making a few deviled eggs since husband HAS to have them.

Hope you and Al enjoy!

[MissMillie]

19. a kind family member bought us a turkey

and of course, a lot of the ingredients are stuff we usually have (onions, carrots, potatoes) so for us it's mostly the stuffing and the pie ingredients that are an added cost. But because of all the leftovers, it definitely seems worth it in the end.

For me, the holidays are about family and food. We'll have dessert w/ family. The food speaks for itself.

[Scrivener7]

9. Doing a big Thanksgiving this year. For the last few years we had only

small ones. The family went through a number of tragedies and disasters that kept us from getting together.

But I got out the big Irish linen tablecloth this year and we can get together for the first time in a while.

Feels like this Thanksgiving is us coming out on the other side of a dark valley.

Best of luck with your casserole. May it be a new tradition that you enjoy.

[IbogaProject]

11. Oven ready noodles

My wife just tried them. W actual lasagna you need to add a little moisture. Saves a big step.

[Freddie]

13. We are being sacrilegious

I already made a turkey last week for Thanksgiving Part I with my brother & family. Now we’re in Florida to celebrate “real” Thanksgiving with both our kids and their kids (4 ages 12, 8, 4 and an infant). Son & wife had a turkey Friendsgiving last week. So we decided we’re having ham with the usual sides (stuffing etc). on Thursday.

[Warpy]

15. And I immediately thought of this

I can imagine my dad giving it one of his looks and asking "Should I or did I?"

Seriously, though I think your idea is a decent one, just make sure you can turn it out on a platter so it can be sliced, otherwise the first comers will get the beans and mash, the middle ones the stuffing, and the last served will get the turkey on the bottom.

[MissMillie]

16. can't say that I've ever attempted that, but my suggestion...

is that with that many ingredients, they won't all cook at the same rate.

You may need to cook all the ingredients first, and then assemble and warm in the oven.

And honestly--that seems to be about as much work as cooking a turkey and a few sides.