53 Friendsgiving Recipes That Will Please Even Your Pickiest Friends (2024)

BFFL (Best Friendsgiving For Life).

By Mackenzie Filson
53 Friendsgiving Recipes That Will Please Even Your Pickiest Friends (1)

It's finally the most magical time of the year, especially for eating. Yes, get ready to gather your squad, because it's Friendsgiving! If you're on hosting duty this year, no need to sweat. We've got tons of delicious (and super-easy) Thanksgiving recipes, like classic stuffing, , and pumpkin pie bars. The only thing that's hard about these 35 easy recipes? Making sure you don't fill up on all our favorite side dishes before you can get a slice of pecan pie cheesecake.

We love Friendsgiving so much, not only for the inevitable leftovers, but also that it brings a potluck approach to Thanksgiving. We'll always say yes to less stress in the kitchen, so have everyone bring their favorite dish (and plenty of Thanksgiving desserts). Plus, if you find yourself not in the mood to roast a whole turkey, there's really no need to when you can make turkey tenderloin, a festive turkey roulade, or this air-fryer garlic herb turkey breast that are all perfect for a small crowd. We even have a gravy without drippings recipe, which is perfect for when you're roasting a smaller portion of turkey. Who knows, this might just be the year the turkey steals the spotlight away from the stuffing!

Speaking of Thanksgiving sides, we tested (and tested, and tested) our recipes so you can rest assured you'll be digging into the most perfect mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, and sweet potato casserole ever. Let's just say you'll be very happy you have leftovers for one of our Thanksgiving leftover sandwiches. After Thanksgiving dinner, be sure to toast to all that you're grateful for with one of our favorite Thanksgiving co*cktails! And if you're stumped on how much turkey to serve for your friends, we made a handy size chart for how much turkey to cook per person.

1

Funeral Potatoes

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The story goes that these bubbling beauties were named so after becoming a traditional comfort food for post-funeral gatherings. While we can get behind that—they are basically comfort in a pan—we prefer to eat them on happier occasions too, especially holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Get the Funeral Potatoes recipe.

2

Roasted Turkey Legs

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Slow-cooked turkey legs are this year’s ultimate Thanksgiving hack. No basting, no inevitable dry meat—no fuss at all. All you have to do is make an easy festive herb butter, wrap everything in foil, and let it roast unsupervised.

Get the Roasted Turkey Legs recipe.

3

Gnocchi Stuffing

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Heading to Friendsgiving and need a fun, different dish? This gnocchi stuffing is a creative twist on classic stuffing everyone will love. Using gnocchi instead of bread gives you dumpling-like bites with all the traditional flavors of Thanksgiving.

Get the Gnocchi Stuffing recipe.

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4

Creamed Brussels Sprouts

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We'll take Brussels any which way, but we also love giving them the traditional Thanksgiving treatment—with plenty of butter, cream, and cheese. This method upgrades even the most humble vegetables while still allowing them to be the star of the show—even skeptics will be asking for seconds.

Get the Creamed Brussels Sprouts recipe.

5

Friendsgiving Nachos

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Friendsgiving nachos are the ultimate way to enjoy Thanksgiving leftovers (with minimal effort). It’s all the elements of Thanksgiving—turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, gravy, and cranberry sauce—PLUS cheese served on top of a bed of crunchy nacho chips.

Get the Friendsgiving Nachos recipe.

6

Cranberry Brie Biscuit Dip

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Not only is this dip perfect for fall parties of any kind, it's the best way to use up any extra homemade cranberry sauce! If you don't have any, canned works too. Just make sure you use whole berry—not jellied—canned cranberry sauce.

Get the Cranberry Brie Biscuit Dip recipe.

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7

Sweet Potato Fries

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Sweet potato fries can sometimes have a bad reputation—especially the oven-baked ones. It doesn’t have to be that way! There’s a way to get crisp and savory sweet potato fries fresh out of the oven, and we’ve got a few tips and tricks to get you there.

Get the Sweet Potato Fries recipe.

8

Apple Cheddar Bundles

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Think this sounds like a strange combo? You've gotta trust us on this one. If the aroma of toasted puff pastry, roasted apples, and nutty cheddar cheese doesn’t wake up your spirit… we're not sure what will.

Get the Apple Cheddar Bundles recipe.

9

Apple Pie Stuffed Cupcakes

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Nothing says Thanksgiving like a warm apple pie. Unfortunately, we don't always have time to make and chill pie dough. These cupcakes are the perfect solution!

Get the Apple Pie Stuffed Cupcakes recipe.

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10

Caramelized Brussels Sprouts

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Cheesy green bean lovers, take note: The caramelized Brussels sprouts have arrived. Tossed in a honey and vinegar dressing and roasted until glazed and crisp, these sweet and tangy sprouts will steal the (side) show wherever they go.

Get the Caramelized Brussels Sprouts recipe.

11

Cheesy Kale Orzo With Herbed Bread Crumbs

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To make this side dish, we treat orzo like risotto, then top it with crunchy herbed breadcrumbs for added texture. The orzo soaks up the cheese sauce, and you get an incredible sauce to pasta ratio with multitudes of creaminess in every bite.

Get the Cheesy Kale Orzo With Herbed Bread Crumbs recipe.

12

Pumpkin Lasagna

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In this lasagna, pumpkin adds the ideal sweet touch to this cheesy, comfort food dream. We amp up our creamy pumpkin mixture with maple syrup and fresh nutmeg, resulting in the perfect sweet-savory dinner, whether we're looking for a cozy weeknight main or the star of our non-traditional Thanksgiving dinner.

Get the Pumpkin Lasagna recipe.

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13

Stuffed Turkey Breast

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A savory mushroom and bacon filling keeps this roasted turkey breast juicy while making it fancy and hearty enough to take the place of a whole bird on the holiday table. If you end up with leftover filling, you can even use it as a pre-dinner snack!

Get the Stuffed Turkey Breast recipe.

14

Cornbread Stuffing

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Stuffing and cornbread lovers unite: Your favorite Thanksgiving side dish has arrived. Crisp cornbread croutons are tossed with buttery sage, onion, and celery and baked until toasty golden brown on top and warm and custardy inside for a cornbread stuffing that will upstage even the turkey.

Get the Cornbread Stuffing recipe.

15

Cranberry Brie Jalapeño Poppers

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Cranberry brie bites are by far one of our favorite appetizers for the holidays, but jalapeño poppers also have place in our hearts too... So why not combine them? The spice of the jalapeño goes so well with the tart cranberries.

Get the Cranberry Brie Jalapeño Poppers recipe.

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16

Homemade Turkey Stuffing

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When it comes to the big Thanksgiving feast, we consider the roast turkey and the sweet potato casserole as sides to the STUFFING. A good stuffing makes or breaks Thanksgiving dinner, and this one will absolutely make your holiday meal all the better.

Get the Homemade Turkey Stuffing recipe.

17

Cranberry Pie

53 Friendsgiving Recipes That Will Please Even Your Pickiest Friends (19)

Cran tart-sweet cranberry filling here tastes like a combination of coconut panna cotta, cranberry curd, and, mysteriously, raspberry sorbet. Paired with a crushed Biscoff crust (that tastes like cookie butter), this pie is a stunning holiday dessert that will be the centerpiece of your Friendsgiving table.

Get the Cranberry Pie recipe.

18

Cranberry Brie Pull-Apart Bread

53 Friendsgiving Recipes That Will Please Even Your Pickiest Friends (20)

Pull-apart bread reaches a whole new level, thanks to brie and cranberry sauce. Use your favorite homemade sauce recipes, but store-bought works too if you're short for time.

Get the Cranberry Brie Pull-Apart Bread recipe.

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19

Thanksgiving Potato Skins

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Preparing these potato skins is simple, and since you've possibly already done the bulk of the Thanksgiving cooking—or received a generous takeout container of leftovers—all you need for this recipe is a few additional pantry staples: potatoes and cheddar cheese.

Get the Thanksgiving Potato Skins recipe.

20

Garlic & Feta Mashed Potatoes

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Mashed potatoes are the perfect blank canvas that can really be taken in any flavor direction. For this recipe, we decided to go with feta and kept the other add-ins simple so it could shine. Fresh garlic and parsley complement without distraction for a Thanksgiving side that is anything but boring.

Get the .

53 Friendsgiving Recipes That Will Please Even Your Pickiest Friends (2024)

FAQs

What is a Thanksgiving dinner specifically for friends? ›

NEW YORK (AP) — Thanksgiving is traditionally a day for gathering with your family and eating turkey, but there's a twist on the holiday as a purely social gathering, and it's called Friendsgiving.

How do you host an easy Friendsgiving? ›

31 Friendsgiving Party Ideas That Will Make Your Guests Actually Want to Attend
  1. Decorate with banners.
  2. Everyone gets a special (non-plastic) straw.
  3. Lay out place cards.
  4. Make an ice cream bar.
  5. Play Thanksgiving bingo.
  6. Send out actual invites.
  7. Gift everyone their own special wine glass.
  8. Turn it into a pajama party.
Sep 29, 2023

What drinks to serve at Friendsgiving? ›

Here's our list of the best dinner party drinks for Thanksgiving or Friendsgiving.
  • Cranberry Moscow Mule. ...
  • Apple Cider Prosecco Spritz. ...
  • Apple Cider Old-Fashioned. ...
  • Spiced Cranberry Hot Toddy. ...
  • Apple Cider Bellini. ...
  • Irish Cream Affogato. ...
  • Cranberry Cobbler Smash. ...
  • Cranberry Margarita.

What are the 3 traditional foods Americans eat during Thanksgiving? ›

Along with turkey, stuffing, and cranberry the "traditional" table now included white bread, apple pie, sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, and various fruit pies.

What are 5 traditional Thanksgiving foods? ›

Southern-cuisine expert and cookbook author Diana Rattray has created more than 5,000 recipes and articles in her 20 years as a food writer. The classic Thanksgiving dinner includes old-time favorites that never change: turkey, gravy, stuffing, potatoes, veggies, and pie.

Is it rude to not bring anything for Thanksgiving? ›

Bring Something — Even If Your Host Insists It's Not Necessary. If you're asked to bring something specific, bring that and only that. Thanksgiving is simply not the time to improvise with off-beat flavor combinations or out-of-place dishes.

What to wear to Friendsgiving? ›

Shine Bright in a Sequined Tops. You'll turn heads in a show-stopping outfit with a cropped sequined top. To avoid looking overdone, pair the top with relaxed denim and a small wristlet to accessorize. Since your top will the focal point, wearing simple pieces for the rest of the outfit will complete the ensemble.

What time to start Friendsgiving? ›

Friendsgiving symbolizes breaking tradition, so there are no rules. You can have it anytime in November. Don't wait until the last minute to send out invitations. Give yourself time to contact your guests and give them plenty of time to RSVP.

What are the rules of Friendsgiving? ›

The 10 Essential Rules for Every Friendsgiving Guest
  • Put your host first. ...
  • Arrive on time, with a bottle of wine. ...
  • Do not arrive with extra, unexpected people. ...
  • Let your dietary needs be known in advance. ...
  • Don't bring anything fussy. ...
  • Bring your own serving dish. ...
  • Bring your own container for leftovers.
Jun 8, 2019

What day is best for Friendsgiving? ›

What Day Do People Celebrate Friendsgiving? There's no official date for Friendsgiving, like there is for Thanksgiving (which is celebrating on the fourth Thursday of November, by the way). Many people choose to host it before legit Turkey Day, if they spend Thanksgiving traveling home to be with family.

Do people bring food to Friendsgiving? ›

Are you hosting Friendsgiving this year? Don't panic! Think of it this way: You've got the chance to share some of your family's favorite recipes or invite friends to bring a dish and share theirs, potluck-style. Either way, it's a win-win!

What is the best food to bring to a party? ›

38 Ideas For Party Food That Will Please Any Crowd
  1. Chicken Fajita Quesadillas. tasty.co. ...
  2. Cheeseburger Sliders. tasty.co. ...
  3. Tomato Basil Bruschetta. tasty.co. ...
  4. Cranberry Pecan Cheese Ball. tasty.co. ...
  5. Chicken Pesto Pinwheels. ...
  6. Garlic Parmesan-Stuffed Mushrooms. ...
  7. Deep-Fried Mini Calzones (Panzarotti) ...
  8. Honey Lime Sriracha Chicken Poppers.
Dec 21, 2023

What do you bring to someone hosting Thanksgiving dinner? ›

Wine or a side dish are appreciated (and probably expected), but these gifts are also a thoughtful touch. From gift baskets and wine accessories to specialty oils and vinegars, any host will appreciate this selection of presents. Looking for more inspiration this holiday season?

What is the best thing to bring to Thanksgiving dinner? ›

Be a gracious guest and show up with something thoughtful or — in the spirit of the holiday — something edible!
  • #1 An appetizer, side dish, or dessert. ...
  • #2 Wine, whiskey, champagne, cider, or [insert your favorite drink]. ...
  • #3 Flowers or centerpieces. ...
  • #4 An edible treat for the next morning.
Nov 21, 2013

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