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.
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.
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!
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!
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.
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!
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!
Full Thanksgiving Meal Plan
Inside this eBook, you'll find a full Thanksgiving menu with 23 easy recipes, a done-for-you prep plan with oven timing and kitchen tips for the big day. This is the kitchen assistant you need to pull off a simple and delicious holiday meal.
Sue says
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!
Andrea says
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.
Jodi Stockton says
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! 🙂
Lauryn says
Being with family is a great treasure.. Our traditions are ever evolving but the appreciation remains the same.
Lauryn says
Being with family is a great treasure.. our traditions are ever evolving but the appreciation remains the same.