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Home » Best Of

Friendsgiving Menu & Gathering Ideas

By Laura Fuentes Updated Feb 7, 2024

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This isn’t any ordinary Friendsgiving menu with recipe suggestions but a collection of hand-selected dishes and tips to help you, the host, put on a heart-warming feast with your closest friends and loved ones. 

If you’ve been browsing the internet for delicious ideas to make without the hassle of an actual Thanksgiving dinner- your search is over. I’ve got just the resources you’re looking for and more. 

table set for Friendsgiving dinner

What is Friendsgiving

Friendsgiving is almost like a pre-game to the big day and includes friends, loveable neighbors, favorite coworkers, and people you wouldn’t normally see at your family’s celebration. Basically, it’s a chance to enjoy everyone’s favorite comfort foods in a more relaxed environment with friends.

Best Friendsgiving Recipes

No need to prepare two full-out Thanksgiving meals in one month. Since it’s just you and the crew, the best Friendsgiving recipes are crowd-pleasing options that aren’t complicated or time-consuming to prepare. 

No need to overthink or do all the cooking yourself; a Friendsgiving menu is meant to be shared with the group. 

A good menu plan would be a couple of appetizers, one or two main courses, three to four sides, and two desserts. 

Lay out which/how many dishes you want for the meal, fill in the ones you plan to prepare, then share the rest of the list with your group. 

This way, everyone can sign up for the dish they’d like to bring or make a suggestion. It’s an excellent opportunity to try new things and possibly discover new favorite recipes. 

Laura serving Friendsgiving dinner

Friendsgiving Appetizers

Let’s kick things off with some mouthwatering recipes the crowd will love.
Any of these options will be a great start to the meal or end up on the main course plate, right next to the turkey- I’m looking at you Spinach Hummus Dip!

Greek Nachos
5 from 13 votes
A gorgeous display of hummus and yummy toppings for your Friendsgiving table.
Make This Recipe
Baked Spinach Balls
5 from 29 votes
With parmesan and Italian breadcrumb base, your friends will rave over this spinach-based recipe!
Make This Recipe
Five Classic deviled eggs
Classic Deviled Eggs
5 from 34 votes
Everyone has that one friend who can eat an entire tray of these. Make extra!
Make This Recipe
Bacon Deviled Eggs
5 from 16 votes
Plan on making extra deviled eggs? Toss in some bacon bits and watch the crowd go wild.
Make This Recipe
Closeup of Guacamole Deviled Eggs
Guacamole Deviled Eggs
5 from 15 votes
For those Friendsgiving guests who love deviled eggs and guacamole.
Make This Recipe
Buffalo Chicken Dip
5 from 13 votes
This game-day dip has a secret ingredient that makes it the first thing to go at holiday gatherings.
Make This Recipe

Friendsgiving Main Courses

The neat part about Friendsgiving is you can make whatever main course you desire. Since most of the crew will be going to a Thanksgiving celebration with a turkey, why not switch it up for this occasion? 

This could be roasted chicken leg quarters with my homemade turkey rub or a gorgeous pork loin roast. You could even go completely off the wall and whip up a pot of New Orleans-style gumbo- your guests will never forget that meal! 

Whole Roasted Chicken
5 from 19 votes
If you don’t feel like roasting an entire turkey, try a whole chicken. It’s elegant, simple, and with my recipe- easy!
Make This Recipe
chicken leg quarter on a plate with green beans and tomatoes
Garlic Herb Baked Chicken Leg Quarters
5 from 29 votes
The juiciest roasted chicken of your life! This makes a fabulous Friendsgiving main course for smaller crowds.
Make This Recipe
large bowl of chicken gumbo with rice
Chicken & Sausage Gumbo
4.95 from 38 votes
If you’re open to new and different things, a big pot of homemade Chicken & Sausage Gumbo will become a Friendsgiving tradition for your group.
Make This Recipe
Baked Pork Loin Roast (Beginner Friendly)
5 from 29 votes
Want to forgo the poultry for a different protein? This pork roast is an impressive dish and tastes just as good as it looks. Perfect for medium to large crowds.
Make This Recipe

Friendsgiving Sides

It’s no secret that the sides are the most beloved part of Thanksgiving, and once a year isn’t enough- here’s your chance to get a double dose of your favorite dishes this holiday season.

Cornbread Dressing with Sausage
5 from 40 votes
Make this and you’ll be the favorite of all your Friendsgiving attendees.
Make This Recipe
Sausage Apple Stuffing with Cranberries
5 from 20 votes
One bite and even the corn-bread stuffing lovers will fall in love.
Make This Recipe
Southern Mashed Potatoes
5 from 50 votes
A classic recipe that belongs on the table of your feast!
Make This Recipe
roasted fall vegetables on a sheet pan
Roasted Fall Vegetables
5 from 26 votes
The easiest way to make everyone at the table fall in love with veggies.
Make This Recipe
orange juice cranberry sauce in a white bowl
Orange Juice Cranberry Sauce
5 from 18 votes
All I can say is, be prepared to share this recipe with your friends!
Make This Recipe
sweet potato stacks in a glass baking dish
Sweet Potato Stacks
5 from 37 votes
Layered with a brown-butter and grated Parmesan cheese, this is a new way to enjoy sweet potatoes.
Make This Recipe
Roasted Parsnips
5 from 25 votes
This recipe is a little sneaky. It looks average, but the caramelized edges and flavor will have your Friendsgiving peeps competing for the last few pieces.
Make This Recipe
Winter Salad
5 from 37 votes
The best way to amp up a side salad? Top with tender roasted veggies and a sweet-tangy Dijon vinaigrette.
Make This Recipe
Easy Popovers
4.96 from 41 votes
Perfect to sop up the last few drops of gravy or soup. Warning: these will be the first to go.
Make This Recipe
large bowl of cauliflower soup topped with roasted cauliflower florets
Creamy Cauliflower Soup
5 from 24 votes
Soup lovers will rejoice over the rich flavors of curry spice and roasted cauliflower.
Make This Recipe
Chai Spiced Butternut Squash Soup
5 from 23 votes
A beautiful addition to any Friendsgiving table- bonus points for topping it with crème fraîche.
Make This Recipe
large bowl of parmesan polenta topped with tomatoes
Creamy Polenta
5 from 31 votes
Trying new recipes to serve to your friends can be dangerous unless it’s this Parmesan polenta.
Make This Recipe

Best Desserts for Friendsgiving

No Friendsgiving is complete without a few desserts, and this is a perfect time to indulge in some different ideas you may not see on a usual Thanksgiving spread.

From frozen treats to baking goods- any of these options would be the cherry on top of a successful meal!

pumpkin cookies being frosted with cream cheese icing
Pumpkin Cookies with Cream Cheese Frosting
5 from 23 votes
Soft pumpkin cookies with cream cheese frosting are chocked full of tangy cranberries and toasted walnuts.
Make This Recipe
frozen pumpkin pie
Frozen Pumpkin Pie
5 from 20 votes
Why do we love this option? It can be made ahead and kept in the freezer until your guests arrive.
Make This Recipe
pumpkin swirl brownies being cut into large pieces
Pumpkin Swirl Brownies
4.86 from 47 votes
Pumpkin and chocolate lovers rejoice! We have an option for you.
Make This Recipe
min apple pies on a white plate
Cupcake Pan Apples Pies
4.86 from 27 votes
For those friends who only want a bite or two of dessert.
Make This Recipe
sliced apples on a baking sheet
Roasted Cinnamon Apples
5 from 16 votes
P-E-R-F-E-C-T over vanilla ice cream or a slice of plain cheesecake.
Make This Recipe
Fudgy Chocolate Brownies
5 from 14 votes
A square of the chocolatiest, fudgiest brownie makes a spectacular dessert. Pair it with a glass of cold milk or hot coffee for optimal enjoyment.
Make This Recipe

Hosting Friendsgiving

Hosting a Thanksgiving or Friendsgiving party of any size can be overwhelming, especially if it’s your first time.

Not only do you want to choose the right recipes, but there’s also the unnerving idea of fitting everything in one oven or feeling lost when it comes to cooking all. That. Food.

Been there, done that.

And it’s the reason why I created an entire menu and guide to help anyone master the art of hosting a Thanksgiving, or in this case, a Friendsgiving feast.

In my Thanksgiving Meal Plan, you will find various recipes for every course with directions and tips so anyone can prepare them with delicious results.

It gets better- the meal prep guide directs you step-by-step on which elements to prepare ahead and how to organize the oven the morning of the big day, so every dish is hot and ready to serve when guests arrive.

Grab your copy so you can host this Friendsgiving like a pro! 

Thanksgiving Dinner Meal Plan & Guide

Inside this eBook, you’ll find 23 Thanksgiving recipes for easy entertaining. PLUS, done-for-you daily holiday prep, helpful kitchen notes, and hour-by-hour timing instructions for Thanksgiving day.

This digital download is like hiring a kitchen assistant to plan out an incredibly delicious menu for your family.

thanksgiving menu in ipad
I Need This!
by Laura Fuentes

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  1. Sarah says

    November 21, 2017 at 9:02 pm

    My most memorable thanksgiving was ten years ago now. Our first born was just three months old and the family thought we should host since our new apartment was so spacious. I remember feeling nervous, it would be my first thanksgiving for so many things. The house was filled with love and laughter and I was so happy to have my own little family. I will never forget that thanksgiving :-).

    Reply
  2. Sandra D. says

    November 21, 2017 at 7:23 pm

    My most memorable Thanksgiving was when we smoked our first turkey. It was delicious! We cook it that way every year now.

    Reply
  3. Amy Wahl says

    November 21, 2017 at 7:15 pm

    I always watched the Macy’s Day parade on tv and would call my grandma to talk about each float.

    Reply
  4. Kathy Coy says

    November 21, 2017 at 5:08 pm

    My most memorable Thanksgivings were when I was younger and we would go out to my grandma’s where all the cousins came and we played all day long and had wonderful food.

    Reply
  5. Marion says

    November 21, 2017 at 10:11 am

    Helping my mom in the kitchen, making pies and gravy. I know do this with my little ones passing on the traditions and recipes.

    Reply
  6. Be says

    November 21, 2017 at 8:55 am

    Just participated in the 2nd annual Friendsgiving last week…I think it’s great to spend time with friends that we wouldn’t typically see around the table and share in laughter. Truly thankful for the group of friends that I have and to get the opportunity to share a holiday with them.

    Reply
  7. Melissa says

    November 21, 2017 at 3:28 am

    I just love cooking, eating, and spending time with my family.

    Reply
  8. Melissa says

    November 20, 2017 at 9:43 pm

    Thanksgiving has always been a small affair, mostly because the family is small.

    Reply
  9. Melanie says

    November 20, 2017 at 8:52 pm

    I am the baker in the family. Every year I love going to my Parents home and getting to bake pies and make my favorite salads and side dishes. Last year I completely flopped on the pie crust! It was as if I had never made a crust in my life and I have been doing this since I was a teenager, I’m older than 38 but younger than 42. At least the inside was very nummy! I always make extra crust for my Mom to use later when I’m not around. She did. I had forgotten to throw the horrible failed crust away and she made pie with it but couldn’t figure out why She was struggling with it, lol. The occasion was for my Aunt and Uncle. At least, they enjoyed sharing stories of all of their kid’s, collectively, and The Not So Joys of Cooking food that they have had to eat. Well, this year my Mom has already bought costco pies. I am thankful that I can safely travel and not need to be anxious about pies. Are they going to let me in the kitchen at all? Lol. Happy Thanksgiving!

    Reply
  10. Erin says

    November 20, 2017 at 6:36 pm

    Our tradition is to keep a thankfulness calendar the whole month of November. We always do something different every year for Thanksgiving Day but the calendar is something all 6 of us share and I keep them to look back on years past.

    Reply
    • Laura Fuentes says

      November 21, 2017 at 11:58 am

      I love this tradition!

      Reply
  11. Sadia Mustofa says

    November 20, 2017 at 6:08 pm

    Every year we cook a whole chicken for Thanksgiving instead of Turkey. I help my mom out making the other dishes and at the end of the day, my grandmother and my aunt and uncle and cousin come over to my house. I remember how there were so many leftovers, that I’d take some of it to school for lunch in my pyrex container.

    Reply
  12. Meshia Horn says

    November 20, 2017 at 5:49 pm

    I love Thanksgiving. It’s a great holiday to spend with the ones you love. I enjoy eating with my family and catching up on old times. I love seeing the kids gather and play.

    Reply
  13. Claudia says

    November 20, 2017 at 3:13 pm

    I love my husband’s stuffing! I need to learn how to make it 🙂

    Reply
  14. Candy Conrad says

    November 20, 2017 at 1:32 pm

    Love all your recipes Laura!
    The past couple of years we have gone to our friends’ ranch for Thanksgiving. Everyone brings their horses and a dish to share. We ride in the morning and then eat! It’s a lot of fun!

    Reply
  15. Angie says

    November 20, 2017 at 1:32 pm

    My favorite tradition is each having the opportunity to put into words what we are grateful for! This tradition started as I child and now as a mom, with children of my own, it feels my soul to hear my kids express gratitude for family, friends, good food and so many other heartwarming sediments.

    Reply
  16. latanya says

    November 20, 2017 at 1:28 pm

    each year, everyone gets to say what they are thankful for and it is special to me because it helps to show what other things I can be thankful for.

    Reply
  17. Amy J. says

    November 20, 2017 at 12:55 pm

    My family always invited “strays” to join us for dinner. I didn’t realize til the kids started asking this year, but apparently watching the parade has become an important tradition to the them :).

    Reply
  18. Faith M says

    November 20, 2017 at 12:24 pm

    Favorite tradition was watching the parade in the morning and then after eating watching movies.

    Reply
  19. Lisa says

    November 20, 2017 at 12:12 pm

    Now that my two eldest are in college, I love having them home for the holidays and sharing our day with their girlfriends.

    Reply
  20. Talia B says

    November 20, 2017 at 11:07 am

    I have a thankfulness journal. Each year I write down what everyone is thankful for and go back and read the best from previous years.

    Reply
  21. Ashley says

    November 20, 2017 at 10:27 am

    Our Thanksgiving traditions are all about the food. I have recipes handed down from aunts, mothers, and grandmothers that I love to recreate. It makes it feel like we’re honoring our family by enjoying these foods they so lovingly prepared for us years ago.

    Reply
  22. Karin Hovdesven says

    November 20, 2017 at 9:56 am

    When I was a child we had an enormous extended family Thanksgiving… in February. The holidays were so hectic among everyone’s families, it made a lot of sense to have our big multi family get together once the rush, bustle and stress of the holiday season had ended. My great aunt and uncle would host in their beautiful home in Portland, Oregon and we would all drive from hours away around the northwest to come together.

    Reply
  23. Maryanne W. says

    November 20, 2017 at 9:12 am

    We started our Friendsgiving tradition 6 years ago. At the time there was only one child among our group of friends, and this year there was more than ten!

    Reply
  24. Stephanie L says

    November 20, 2017 at 9:05 am

    My family tries to maximize the number of cranberry items we serve. One year we had 10 different cranberry sauces, not to mention baked goods and beverages.

    Reply
  25. Delia Fey says

    November 20, 2017 at 8:21 am

    It’s not Thanksgiving without the Macys Day Parade, that was my favorite as a kid! And also the food! It’s not just eating the food but the cooking of it together as a group. That’s my favorite. The first year my after my stepmother died my Dad hosted Thanksgiving at his house and both my brothers were there. We had no power due to a storm but we still made it work! There was the gas grill for the turkey, the camping stove and the oven in the RV. We all talked more than ever and helped prepare the food, there was no TV (not even a parade but I don’t think anyone noticed) but it was the most fun I had ever had at Thanksgiving.
    .

    Reply
  26. Lois Cole says

    November 20, 2017 at 8:02 am

    My memories of Thanksgiving are not of just one in particular, but of the love and laughter as family share food and precious time together. One expectation is Mom’s cranberry salad!

    Reply
  27. Wendi says

    November 20, 2017 at 7:13 am

    I wake early in the morning and start. Turkey goes into the oven first. The fabulous smell wakes the others as it did many for so many years. Mom has been gone now for 20 years but in those still and quiet early thanksgiving mornings she is there by my side. I still use some of the same bowls for mixing, making and serving. The wooden rolling pin that was her mother’s and the dishes. The thanksgiving dishes. Depression glass, mostly orange with hints of magical iridescent swirls are stacked at the edge of the counter in the kitchen waiting to be filled to capacity. It’s cafeteria style (because that’s how mom did it). A chaotic procession of plates in hand, sounds of spoons scooping delicious goodness and lots of voices… lots of voices fill the kitchen until everyone finds a place to sit. Dad still says the blessing, although he now has help from his great grand children. And then there is silence. That certain proof that everything is delicious. We will have 17 or 20 this year but no matter the number, there is always one more. We feel her. Mom is always close by. Many people have asked, “why not go the easy route? Paper and plastic and buy some of the food already prepared?” I just shake my head as we are washing endless mounds of dishes and simply smile. Wishes to all that we allow the spirit of God, the simple quiet moments and chaotic bustle of family and tradition to grace our tables and homes this thanksgiving.

    Reply
  28. DARLENE BISKIE says

    November 20, 2017 at 6:55 am

    I remember always having Thanksgiving at my grandmother’s house growing up in AZ. We always had so much food and she would cook everything and made homemade pies and her famis ambrosia salad. Those were good memories with loved ones.

    Reply
  29. Nancy says

    November 20, 2017 at 6:28 am

    My favorite Thanksgiving memory was always eating my grandmother’s cornbread dressing. Everyone loved it and thought it was fabulous. As a young mother, I put the recipe in a cookbook and now we can still enjoy grandmother’s dressing. (Some people call it stuffing.)

    Reply
  30. Elaine says

    November 20, 2017 at 6:24 am

    We get together with family for Thanksgiving lunch. It’s one of the few times a year we see everyone. After we eat, we talk, play games, and take pictures around the Christmas tree.

    Reply
  31. Cristina says

    November 20, 2017 at 6:17 am

    My most memorable Thanksgiving memory was when I was an exchange student in Russia. I went with a group of American students (about 20 of us) and lived in a dorm. We put our desks in the hallway and lined them up like one big long table. We all made one dish, sat around the table and said what we were thankful for. All in Russian. It was special to me because living in a country where they didn’t celebrate that holiday, made me realize you didn’t need a holiday to be thankful!

    Reply
  32. Monique Prichard says

    November 20, 2017 at 5:32 am

    My favorite thanksgiving tradition….leftovers!

    Reply
  33. Daniella Roppolo says

    November 20, 2017 at 5:30 am

    I’m looking forward to making new memories this year! On December 2nd I will be hosting my family for our very first “Thanksmas” – after Thanksgiving and not quite Christmas. We haven’t been able to get together on an actual holiday in years. So, I’ve decided to start a new tradition on a weekend, when everyone is available! Thanks for the awesome recipes!

    Reply
  34. MaryEllen says

    November 20, 2017 at 4:27 am

    Of course (one of) my most memorable Thanksgiving memories is our first together as husband and wife. We were married on November 22, so Thanksgiving followed shortly thereafter. We were on a “mini honeymoon” and we had to look for an open restaurant (32 years ago!), and really scrounge for a passable meal!

    Reply
  35. Susie says

    November 20, 2017 at 2:40 am

    My favorite Thanksgiving tradition is making pumpkin cheesecake & my sister making pumpkin pie. Gives us two desserts to choose from. And love that the kids are old enough to help make them.

    Reply
  36. Sue says

    November 20, 2017 at 1:10 am

    My most memorable Thanksgiving was my least traditional. I spent one in NYC when my now husband was going to school there. We planned to see the Macy’s parade but it started snowing, so we sat in his high-rise dorm and watched it on TV while eating takeout. Definitely my most memorable and unique Thanksgiving ever!

    Reply
  37. Andrea says

    November 19, 2017 at 11:11 pm

    My most memorable Thanksgiving was spent in West Africa, opening our home and sharing our American traditions with new African friends, as well as, with several other people of different nationalities. Pumpkin was not available, so I made an amazing bananas foster bread pudding with local ingredients. Every Thanksgiving since, the tradition is that I make both pumpkin pie & the bananas foster bread pudding.

    Reply
  38. Jodi Stockton says

    November 19, 2017 at 10:50 pm

    It’s funny you should mention dressing because, for as long as anyone can remember (back to my great-grandparents even), we have always had two dressings. One with oysters and one without, for those who can’t stand oysters. Both are old family recipes. There are always a few people who like the oyster dressing (myself included!) but I think, even if there wasn’t a single person who wanted it, we would still make it because it is such a tradition! 🙂

    Reply
  39. Lauryn says

    November 19, 2017 at 10:48 pm

    Being with family is a great treasure.. Our traditions are ever evolving but the appreciation remains the same.

    Reply
  40. Lauryn says

    November 19, 2017 at 10:47 pm

    Being with family is a great treasure.. our traditions are ever evolving but the appreciation remains the same.

    Reply
  41. Jamie says

    November 19, 2017 at 10:29 pm

    My favorite thanksgiving “tradition “. Is gathering on thanksgiving day with the whole family from my moms side, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and now our children. And playing football during the day (kids and adults) then Michigan rummy game after it gets dark.

    Reply
  42. Melissa says

    November 19, 2017 at 10:21 pm

    My grandmother is polish so we have the original thanksgiving dishes with the whole family plus we always make a stuffed cabbage casserole for our polish tradition as well just being with the ones you love having a great meal and playing games you could never ask for more and my kids can now carry on the tradition!!

    Reply
  43. Dawn says

    November 19, 2017 at 10:17 pm

    I love thanksgiving! It’s a time I look forward to spending the day with friends and family. I’ve had traditions change over the years, but all wonderful memories. Detroit football, the “kids table”, grandma and moms cooking, and now my fiancé makes the turkey every year! Throughout the years of changing traditions they’ve all created family memories to cherish. And I still refuse to put up my Christmas tree or listen to Christmas music until no earlier than after the family thanksgiving meal.

    Reply
  44. Alex says

    November 19, 2017 at 10:09 pm

    Between dinner and pie, we go to the beach and watch the sunset. It gives us some time to appreciate the people and the world around us.

    Reply
  45. Tara says

    November 19, 2017 at 9:55 pm

    Food, family and football – that’s what I enjoy about Thanksgiving each year!

    Reply
  46. Cassie Morrison says

    November 19, 2017 at 9:46 pm

    Every year my family runs a local turkey trot together on thanksgiving morning so we can stuff our faces later in the day!

    Reply
  47. Margaret Olson says

    November 19, 2017 at 9:45 pm

    I get to have two Thanksgivings, so double the Thanks! The parade goes on in the morning and I am thankful to get a shower and my styled! Then it’s off to lunch with my husband’s side and then we roll on over to my side for dessert. Someone always falls asleep, and someone always gets in on camera with a quote and a post on Facebook: :)…..I feel so blessed to be part of two families where everyone gets along and I get to have my kids be part of that specialness!

    Reply
  48. karen blowe says

    November 19, 2017 at 9:37 pm

    Favorite memoy for Thanksgiving …getting together at Mom’s with Family and friends to enjoy the holiday and a variety of food to enjoy. memories are created each year.

    Reply
  49. Barbara says

    November 19, 2017 at 9:23 pm

    One year, our Thanksgiving turkey gathering had to be rescheduled to Easter and our 22 pound turkey was all set. Sadly, illnesses hit most of our guests and we only had six family members to share. We ended up sending home large care packages for when everyone felt better.

    Reply
  50. Rachael S says

    November 19, 2017 at 9:10 pm

    Each year we do a friendsgiving and fall craft night to bring together everyone who is out of town or working and don’t get to see very often.

    Reply
  51. Mindy says

    November 19, 2017 at 9:09 pm

    Our traditions include healthier food options, the Macy’s Day Parade and the kids helping out in the kitchen as much as is possible for little ones to help with!

    Reply
  52. Jenny says

    November 19, 2017 at 9:05 pm

    I love to sit down and look at the sale papers with my family after eating Thanksgiving dinner at my mom’s!

    Reply
  53. Ivy says

    November 19, 2017 at 8:51 pm

    I’ve never had Friendsgiving, but it seems fun! I do love Thanksgiving with my family, though. One of my favorite times of the year.

    Reply
  54. Carrie Miller says

    November 19, 2017 at 8:51 pm

    My favorite thanksgiving was the last Thanksgiving we celebrated at my grandma’s house. Our family was expanding and my grandma’s house was getting too small for everyone. We all crammed together and had tables spread out between many rooms in a house full of memories.

    Reply
  55. Dori says

    November 19, 2017 at 8:48 pm

    When I was a child, we always spent Thanksgiving with my grandparents and their close friends. They have passed since then, and this time of year I am always reminded of the close relationship I had with them.

    Reply
  56. Keira says

    November 19, 2017 at 8:45 pm

    My family and I don’t live close so we al,l get together once over Thanksgiving and celebrate Thanksgiving and Christmas both and have named it Thanksgrivmas! We play lots of games and now that many of us have young children we play kids games too to incorporate them. And, our favorite part, eating lots of great food with our new favorite dessert of chocolate cream pie!

    Reply
  57. Ashley says

    November 19, 2017 at 8:44 pm

    My favorite tradition is getting to host every year. We cook, watch the parade, and play games.

    Reply
  58. Val says

    November 19, 2017 at 8:29 pm

    Thankful for years that friends and I could
    create Thanksgiving memories on years we couldn’t be with family!

    Reply
  59. Cristina says

    November 19, 2017 at 8:26 pm

    My favorite part of Thanksgiving is sitting around the table with family and telling funny stories and jokes, and watching A Christmas Story.

    Reply
  60. Tonya Shultz says

    November 19, 2017 at 8:24 pm

    My favorite Thanksgiving meal was the year I was learning to cook and I made my first turkey. My best friend, my Busha – Polish Grandmother, allowed me to bring the turkey for 25-30 or our family members on Thanksgiving, We traditionally gathered to eat, watch football and play poker. This year was VERY special. I brought the turkey, my cousin Connie brought sausage and a honey baked ham, my cousin Christine brought roasted chicken and my Busha made a huge roast. We had the typical dressing, yams, macaroni and cheese, and salads galore. There seem to be an abundance of meal available. hmmmm – The turkey turned out great, but just incase my Busha had planned the menu to cover any unforeseen turkey disasters. This still makes me giggle. Friendsgiving is a tradition at my home now. The door is always open to share our gratitude and love with family and friends. Happy Thanksgiving.

    Reply
  61. Debbie says

    November 19, 2017 at 8:23 pm

    Thanksgiving was Dad’s holiday. We lost him last year. My favorite memory is him carving the turkey and me always trying to sneak a piece. Oh how I’ll miss that this year.

    Reply
  62. Kat says

    November 19, 2017 at 8:16 pm

    My best Thanksgiving was the first after my father died. My brother hosted it days before deploying and the house was filled with not only our family but his Navy family as well

    Reply
  63. Donna Peterson says

    November 19, 2017 at 8:12 pm

    My favorite Thanksgiving tradition is hosting my family every year. We all share the task of cooking and bringing food, and we spend the day laughing together and watching football. Leftovers are divided up for those who want it and we all leave full—hearts AND bellies.

    Reply
  64. Carin says

    November 19, 2017 at 8:09 pm

    Our tradition is actually to do something “non-traditional” each year…whether that’s going to NYC for a vegan meal, attending a meditation retreat, going to a Broadway play, seeing a movie, each cooking our favorite dish (from any seasonal), or something else, the main thing is that we are together as a family, creating memories

    Reply
  65. Jennie H says

    November 19, 2017 at 7:19 pm

    Watching the parade with my family. My boys get so excited.

    Reply
  66. Bonnie Whelton says

    November 19, 2017 at 7:16 pm

    My favorite Thanksgivng memory is the fist year my husband and I were married. I was hosting and the turkey the night before was still frozen. So, my husband tied it down in the bathtub with his shoelace and checked on it all night long. Then, the garbage disposal broke and I sprained my wrist stuffing the bird, our guests were 2 hours late, but good times. I’ll always remember that Thanksgiving

    Reply
  67. Lani says

    November 18, 2017 at 8:49 pm

    We run the turkey trot 5 mike run as a family every thanksgiving morning. This will be our first Friendsgiving!!

    Reply
  68. Kristin Ritter Crysler says

    November 18, 2017 at 6:31 pm

    I’ve been making our family mashed potatoes since I was ten years old. I’m 40 now but I still get excited every year for it.

    Reply
  69. Wendy says

    November 18, 2017 at 11:00 am

    It is my favorite holiday … the gifts we give are being together and just loving on each other with stories of the past – singing – playing games and of course enjoying the new found recpies of food to add to the traditional turkey and gravy !!

    Reply
  70. DT says

    November 17, 2017 at 9:21 pm

    Our tradition is not just dinner, but feasting on food all day long. And it’s great to see family near and far get together.

    Reply
  71. Tracey Coney says

    November 17, 2017 at 7:14 pm

    Our family has many traditions and one that I have used with my own family is that after prayer and before we eat, we all go around and tell one thing we are thankful and grateful for. It helps us to remember the true meaning of thanksgiving and why it’s important to us.

    Reply
  72. Amy says

    November 17, 2017 at 5:30 pm

    Our favorite tradition is a paper chain that we add to every year with everyone’s thankful list. It’s so fun to see how the kids have grown up and their thankful list has too!

    Reply
  73. Heather says

    November 17, 2017 at 4:36 pm

    I am grateful my mom can still make the best stuffing. She only makes it at thanksgiving buts it’s better then box.

    Reply
  74. Patti says

    November 17, 2017 at 4:10 pm

    My favorite Thanksgiving memory is when my daughter was about 9 months old (2006). It was during our delicious turkey dinner that she waved “hello” for the very first time! The whole family was so happy, we were laughing together… So memorable.

    Reply
  75. Amy says

    November 17, 2017 at 3:16 pm

    My favorite part of Thanksgiving is the tradition of watching the Macy’s parade while I cook and get everything ready for our dinner. We have watched it every year since the kids were small.

    Reply
  76. Loraine says

    November 17, 2017 at 2:25 pm

    This hopefully will be the best one yet. Both sets of grndparent will be celebrating with our little family after we moved back home to Texas!

    Reply
  77. Min K says

    November 17, 2017 at 11:00 am

    All the Thanksgivings of my childhood were the same and always a day to look forward to. I miss going to the Lions game with my Dad.

    Reply
  78. Melissa Warner says

    November 17, 2017 at 7:53 am

    It warms my heart to remember sitting at the kids table on Thanksgiving Being silly with my siblings and cousins. Now I get to enjoy watching my own kids experience the same awesome memory as their own! ❤️

    Reply
  79. Amanda Kattner says

    November 17, 2017 at 7:07 am

    It was always the grandmas who hosted thanksgiving in my family. Now that we have kids, we’re hosting and passing down all those traditions. It a lot of work but so worth it!

    Reply
  80. Candice says

    November 17, 2017 at 6:20 am

    When I was a kid I remember watching the Thanksgiving parade and helping my Grandma and Mom make pumpkin rolls and eating all the filling.

    Reply
  81. Brandi H says

    November 16, 2017 at 11:57 pm

    Every other year we switch off between my family and my husband’s. With his family we always go around the table and say what we’re thankful for then play board games. With my family we always play bingo.

    Reply
  82. Florence Kwak says

    November 16, 2017 at 11:20 pm

    My most memorable Friendsgiving was a couple years ago with 5 of my friends. Most of them don’t really celebrate with their families, so I committed to preparing traditional dishes for them. I woke up at 4 am and cooked all 10 dishes! I was exhausted, but seeing them enjoy all the food reminded me why we celebrate Thanksgiving with those we love.

    Reply
  83. Shannon says

    November 16, 2017 at 11:05 pm

    Last year’s Friendsgiving is particularly memorable for me: it was both the end and start of a new chapter. Good friends were moving away and it was our group’s last Friendsgiving together. But two new babies and a bun were in attendance – bringing the start of new traditions and transitions.

    Reply
  84. Heather Silva says

    November 16, 2017 at 9:47 pm

    I will always remember having Thanksgiving dinner with my loves ones that are now in heaven, watching the munsters marathon, and holding hands to say the blessing and to say what we each are thankful for.

    Reply
  85. Teresa Maldonado says

    November 16, 2017 at 9:31 pm

    My best Thanksgiving is the last one I had with my family before moving to another state. You forget how special moments are until you no ,longer have them.

    Reply
  86. Heidi Bragg says

    November 16, 2017 at 9:04 pm

    I married into a Hoosier family, and my new tradition for the last 15 years has been noodles! These yummy homemade noodles are made with flour and egg, dough rolled very thin and sliced, then cooked it homemade chicken stock with pieces of chicken added in. You must cook it way down until all the moisture from the broth has been absorbed by the yummy noodles. Here’s the kicker: the family tradition is to each these noodles ON TOP of your mashed potatoes in place of gravy. I admittedly had a hard time getting my brain wrapped around this, but now I. Love. It!!!! I made a double batch today for our church Thanksgiving dinner tomorrow!

    Reply
  87. Katie says

    November 16, 2017 at 8:50 pm

    My favorite tradition is playing board/dice/card games with family on thanksgiving. Always a lot of fun and laughter around the tabletop.

    Reply
  88. Jillian Too says

    November 16, 2017 at 8:46 pm

    I love breaking the wishbone with my siblings. It’s always fun to have a little rivalry while making wishes for our futures.

    Reply
  89. Lubelia says

    November 16, 2017 at 8:22 pm

    My favorite Thanksgiving tradition has always been watching the Macy’s day parade while helping my mom cook her amazing feast. We always celebrate the holiday as a family, so my 2nd favorite would be simply spending time with my parents, brothers and their wives! There is nothing like feeling the love of your family and laughing so hard that you nearly pre your pants!

    Reply
  90. Julie C says

    November 16, 2017 at 8:07 pm

    My favorite tradition is getting my extended family together, eating my grandma’s baked corn in her old blue Butterprint Pyrex casserole (which I hope to inherit!) and playing board games, then eating again later that night..

    Reply
  91. K.D. says

    November 16, 2017 at 8:04 pm

    I hosted my family thanksgiving (I usually do not do this) a few years after my in-laws divorced. We invited my family and my father-in-law because he was having such a hard time. I cooked an entire meal from scratch (I’m not a confident cook) and everything turned out wonderful. He died the following spring. We had a wonderful day.

    Reply
  92. Melissa Irish says

    November 16, 2017 at 7:37 pm

    Since we moved back to our home town 3 years ago, we’ve started something called ‘Hoodgiving! (We live on Robinhood so that’s where the Hood comes from) it has been wonderful meeting new neighbors every year. Its was a big celebration this year with almost 40 guests! We all share responsibilities for the food so no one is overwhelmed. Thus years party was the best

    Reply
  93. Heather says

    November 16, 2017 at 6:36 pm

    Since moving to North Carolina, our tradition has been to smoke turkey legs for our feast’s main event! Fortunately it’s usually just the two of us, so we can get away with one bird, but this year we’re hosting three more adults, and my husband insists on three whole birds to break down. Shouuulld be interesting… Happy Thanksgiving!

    Reply
  94. STEFFANIE SCHINDLER says

    November 15, 2017 at 9:56 pm

    We have celebrated Thanksgiving for the last several years with our friends in Utah. It has been fun to combine both of our families traditions into one big celebration. They will be moving to Texas shortly so our tradition won’t be able to continue sadly.

    Reply
    • Laura Fuentes says

      November 16, 2017 at 9:51 am

      You can always take a road trip over here!! 🙂

      Reply
  95. Annamarie Voss says

    November 15, 2017 at 9:21 pm

    My favorite Thanksgiving memory was when I was a child and my big Italian family would get together and we would all play games all day.

    Reply
  96. Lori says

    November 15, 2017 at 7:52 pm

    I will never forget my first Thanksgiving in New Hampshire. We moved from Boston, MA and we felt as though we moved to the country. On our first Thanksgiving here, it snowed! It was such a magical day for us as children.

    Reply
  97. Maria says

    November 15, 2017 at 7:18 pm

    Mine is not one thanksgiving. Its watching my boys grow each year and saying what they,are grateful for

    Reply
  98. Nicole says

    November 15, 2017 at 6:18 pm

    On thanksgiving I always remember watching the parade while the whole house smelled like the turkey in the oven! Now I watch the parade with my kids!

    Reply
  99. Angely colon says

    November 15, 2017 at 5:43 pm

    I love Pirex!!!

    Reply
  100. Karey says

    November 15, 2017 at 4:44 pm

    This year I opened Thanksgiving up to anyone we knew who might be alone, not just family. No one should be on their own for a holiday!

    Reply

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