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.
Lois Cole says
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!
Wendi says
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.
DARLENE BISKIE says
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.
Nancy says
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.)
Elaine says
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.