What truly makes the holidays the most wonderful time of the year is the people we spend them with. But if you have a tiny kitchen and even tinier counter space, your instinct may be to avoid inviting loved ones over for a holiday meal.
How to Make a Holiday Dinner in a Small Kitchen
I get it. For more than a decade I entertained family and friends from a kitchen that was less than 50 square feet.
How to Make a Holiday Dinner in a Small Kitchen
Planning is always helpful, no matter your kitchen’s size, but it’s a non-negotiable when you have a small one.
Plan a Strategic Menu
Streamline your offerings. The fewer dishes you have, the easier it will be to manage in the kitchen. Think about cooking one meat and two side dishes including a jazzed-up vegetable for guests.
Plan a Strategic Menu
Opt for dishes that share ingredients. This will help cut down on the ingredients you’ll need to store in your fridge. “There are plenty of holiday recipes that require that same one thing.”
Plan a Strategic Menu
When it comes to holiday cooking, any clear surface large enough to hold a dish should now be considered part of the kitchen or dining area. A coffee table, storage ottoman, media console—they’re all fair game.
Put Your Surfaces—Any Surface—to Work
Clear off your countertop. Move countertop appliances that you’re not using on the big day (blender, coffee maker, toaster) into a closet.
Put Your Surfaces—Any Surface—to Work
Consider investing in a kitchen cart. This was a lifesaver in my kitchen, providing extra room to prep dishes and store plates, frequently used pots and pans, and my small kitchen appliances.
Put Your Surfaces—Any Surface—to Work
Washing and decluttering as I cook keeps me from feeling overwhelmed. It also means I’ll always have a clean utensil or bowl ready to use.
Clean as You Go
Enlist a helper. “Assigning someone with the sole task of washing my dishes as I cook is a must,” Santanachote says.
Clean as You Go
Or take breaks after prepping each dish. This is essential if you’re going it alone. Clean dirty utensils and reorganize the kitchen.
Clean as You Go
Growing up, my family used our toaster oven more than we did our range oven, cooking up everything from lasagna to macaroni pie (read: baked macaroni for my non-West Indian friends).
Use Small Kitchen Appliances
Use the toaster oven for side dishes that need to be baked. “Reheat casseroles or roast vegetables if you run out of space in your main oven,” says Tara Casaregola, the program leader for toaster oven testing.
Use Small Kitchen Appliances
I try to make environmentally correct choices throughout the whole year, but when I entertain during the holidays, I can’t help but rely on disposable platters, plates, and utensils.
Opt for Disposable When Possible
Consider recycled or compostable materials. Korenstein is a fan of compostable bamboo when having friends over.
Opt for Disposable When Possible
Even if you want to cook everything on your own, it’s not necessary because guests are almost always willing to help. “People like feeling helpful, and they’re sympathetic if you have to cook in a small kitchen,” Hope says.
Cheat a Little
Answer strategically when someone asks “What can I bring?” Respond with items that will make it easier for you to cook what’s most important to you, Hope says.
Cheat a Little
Consider store-bought desserts and appetizers. You can never go wrong with chips and dip, which can easily be picked up at the store.
Cheat a Little
Not enough room in your oven? Don’t fret. These countertop cookers will make hosting your next holiday meal that much easier.
Small Kitchen Appliances to Help You Pull Off Your Next Holiday Meal
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