Looking for Friendsgiving food ideas to make your feast the best ever? This list has you covered.
This spin on the traditional holiday first gained popularity in the early 2010s among millennials, and I’re so glad it’s a thing now!
After you check out these Friendsgiving food ideas, you’ll be just as glad!
Easy Friendsgiving Recipes
Thanksgiving is all about family, but if you don’t have relatives living nearby, Friendsgiving is the way to go!
It’s a chance for you and your friends to celebrate and give thanks in your own unique way. It’s also an excuse to enjoy even more good food!
For the best dishes and desserts to serve at your Friendsgiving feast, keep reading!
Friendsgiving Appetizers
Deviled Eggs
Want a simple dish that’s tasty and pretty enough to impress? Make these deviled eggs for Friendsgiving!
Jazz up the classic paprika topping with bacon crumbles, or go crazy with avocados, cheese, or even a light sauce!
This recipe is a fancy take on the classic deviled eggs recipe, so don’t forget to take some photos for the ‘gram!
Charcuterie Board
Charcuterie boards are always a terrific choice for large get-togethers for a few reasons. First of all, they’re effortless to pull together. Most don’t even require cooking.
Additionally, they provide (sometimes picky) guests with plenty of choices. And finally, you can typically make them beforehand!
Pumpkin Soup
Whether Thanksgiving or Friendsgiving, you’ll want something pumpkin on the table. This pumpkin soup is ideal.
It’s warm and hearty and the perfect way to start your meal. In fact, it’s one of my favorite soup recipes. Not just fall soups, either! I love it year-round.
Not only does it have a rich, nutty roasted pumpkin flavor, it’s also dairy-free.
Spinach Artichoke Dip
Looking for the perfect easy starter for your Friendsgiving meal? Try this recipe for the thickest, creamiest, tastiest spinach artichoke dip ever.
If you’ve ever had spinach artichoke dip from Chilis, that’s what this stuff tastes like. It’s pretty much perfect.
Crab Stuffed Mushrooms
Stuffed mushrooms are always a classy delicacy at any meal. But adding crabmeat elevates them from “classy” to downright “bougie.”
And yes, in case you’re wondering, that is definitely a good thing. Whip up this easy appetizer to impress all your guests.
Easy Sides
Sweet Potato Casserole
Sweet potato casserole is sure to get everyone into the Friendsgiving spirit. Use it as a hearty, sweet side dish or a not-too-decadent dessert.
Either way, it’s thick and creamy with just the right amount of sweetness. You can even use your favorite nuts as a topping for extra texture and flavor.
Roasted Brussels Sprouts
Roasted Brussels sprouts aren’t most people’s idea of a favorite holiday side dish. But if you make them properly, they could be!
These sprouts are delightfully crunchy with a rich, caramelized flavor. They’re impossible not to like.
Southern Cornbread Dressing
While it’s fun to have little twists on traditional Thanksgiving dishes, you’ll want the classics for Friendsgiving, too.
What’s more classic than cornbread dressing? Not much!
This dressing recipe is a must for Friendsgiving. It has just the right combination of crunch and softness with homemade cornbread, onions, celery, and more.
It’s a dish that will be gone, FAST.
Mashed Potatoes
Ah, potatoes. The king of all sides! And, of course, you’ll want yours silky smooth with lots of butter for Friendsgiving.
Here’s a tip: Never overboil! Boiling time will vary depending on which potatoes you use and their size, so keep an eye on them.
Once they’re tender enough to poke with a fork, those potatoes are ready!
Turkey Gravy
Turkey gravy is always an excellent addition to your meal, especially if you pair it with Crockpot turkey breast.
Remember to save your pan drippings from the turkey. From there, you’ll need 15 minutes and five more ingredients.
To ensure the gravy is smooth, remember to strain your pan drippings. It also goes great with roast chicken or fried chicken.
Cranberry Coleslaw
You can whip up this festive cranberry coleslaw for Thanksgiving, Friendsgiving, or Christmas! It’s the perfect fall and winter holiday side.
It has all the same sweet-n-tangy coleslaw flavor you love. But adding dried cranberries takes it up a notch. (Makes it look nicer, too!)
Cranberry Sauce
Cranberry sauce is another Thanksgiving classic you can incorporate into Friendsgiving.
I think of turkey and cranberry sauce as the older, cooler cousin of chicken and lemon. They’re a match made in Heaven!
This recipe makes my favorite cranberry sauce EVER. Plus, it’s so easy that you’ll look like a pro whipping it up in just 15 minutes.
Dinner Rolls
No holiday dinner is complete without dinner rolls. And these copycat Texas Roadhouse rolls are the perfect option.
They’re so soft and deliciously buttery — a must for your Friendsgiving dinner.
Don’t worry if you aren’t an expert baker. This recipe is beginner-friendly and uses only ten ingredients. And they’ll be soft as pillows when they’re ready.
Corn Pudding
Corn pudding is one of those dishes that just makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. Especially when it’s creamy and moist with lots of corn bits!
Serve this corn pudding at Friendsgiving, and your friends will want to snag the recipe!
Plus, it tastes fantastic warm or chilled, so it’s a great make-ahead dish to save time.
Glazed Carrots
Here’s another restaurant-quality copycat recipe that’s perfect for your Friendsgiving meal.
These honey-glazed carrots are easy to whip up and taste just like the ones you get at Cracker Barrel.
The recipe is pretty much foolproof, even for someone who doesn’t cook often. It requires minimal effort and only four ingredients. It doesn’t get much simpler than that.
Dinner Ideas
Crockpot Turkey Breast
Let’s face it: a whole turkey looks great on the table, but it’s also a lot of work! If you want something a bit lower maintenance, try this Crockpot turkey breast.
It’s an easy recipe that’s almost impossible to mess up. Plus, it tastes incredible!
It’s everything you love about Thanksgiving Day turkey on a smaller, more convenient-to-make scale.
Butternut Squash Risotto
I’m a huge fan of risotto anyway, but adding butternut squash makes it the perfect fall side. You’ll love its creamy texture and its brilliant orange hue.
It pairs well with turkey, ham, or whatever protein you put on the table.
Chicken Pot Pie
Pot pies are some of my favorite holiday recipes. So much so that I have more than a few recipes for them.
(Bisquick pot pie sound better? How about Campbell’s pot pie? I have plenty to choose from.)
This easy version is one of my favorites, though. It features a wonderfully buttery crust and comes together in just 40 minutes.
Pumpkin Mac and Cheese
Yes, you read that right. Pumpkin mac and cheese! Now, before you skip on this one, hear me out.
A lot of us tend to overeat during Thanksgiving. It’s understandable! But pumpkin mac and cheese is a low-cal, low-fat mac and cheese that still tastes fantastic.
Same great mac and cheese flavor for fewer calories? Yes, please!
Million Dollar Chicken Casserole
When it comes to Thanksgiving dinner, a turkey is a MUST. But this ISN’T Thanksgiving dinner; it’s Friendsgiving dinner, and all bets are off!
Don’t want to spend time on a turkey? Don’t! Make this creamy, cheesy chicken casserole instead.
The Best Desserts
Snickerdoodles
When planning the perfect Friendsgiving, don’t overlook the dessert table! You’ll want to load it down with fall staples, like these nummy snickerdoodles.
This is my go-to sugar cookie recipe, and it never fails. Take these out of the oven when it’s time for dessert, and your snickerdoodles will be gone FAST.
Pumpkin Roll
Speaking of fall desserts! A decadent pumpkin roll is another sweet way to close out your meal.
I like anything with pumpkin spice, and this cake is no exception. The recipe uses pumpkin puree and pumpkin spice, so you know it won’t lack flavor.
It’s also perfectly moist but firm enough to comfortably roll with the cream cheese frosting.
Pumpkin Pie
No matter how much turkey I have, I’ll always have room for pumpkin pie!
For Friendsgiving, serve a classic pumpkin pie that’s homemade with love. This recipe will remind you of the traditional pumpkin pie you had as a kid!
It’s the perfect blend of pumpkin, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Plus, the smoothest, creamiest texture and a buttery and flaky crust.
Dutch Apple Pie
If you had too much pumpkin pie at Thanksgiving, serve apple pie for Friendsgiving!
Soft, sweet apples in a warm, golden crust, just like grandma used to make. It’s a recipe you’ll make again and again.
And since it’s Friendsgiving, go all-in by topping off your Dutch apple pie with vanilla ice cream. A fantastic way to end your meal!
Peach Cobbler
Peaches are a summer fruit, but when they’re this good, why not enjoy them in the fall, too?
This peach cobbler recipe will be the star of the dessert table. If you can’t find fresh peaches, use canned sliced peaches instead.
If you’re in a hurry, you can also make a delicious peach cobbler with cake mix.
Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies
You can never go wrong by adding thick, chewy chocolate chip cookies to your dessert table. Especially when they’re stuffed with gooey chocolate chunks.
But if you want to make your chocolate chip cookies more fall-friendly, add pumpkin puree and pumpkin spice. Mmm mmm mmm.
Pumpkin Cheesecake Brownies
Thick, fudgy cheesecake brownies made with real canned pumpkin and aromatic cinnamon. Seriously? What else do you need to know?!
Christmas Crack
If you appreciate toffee and chocolate, you’ll quickly be addicted to this simple Christmas crack recipe. (Hence, the name!)
It requires only six ingredients plus whatever toppings you want to add. It’s impossible to mess up.
Drinks for Friendsgiving
Espresso Martini with Baileys
No gathering of friends is complete without a few good drinks. And these easy espresso martinis are just the thing.
They’ll give you a quick caffeine boost and a nice boozy buzz all at once.
Apple Butter Old Fashioned
This recipe puts a fall twist on the classic Old Fashioned recipe. It still contains bourbon, bitters, and club soda. But there’s also apple cider AND apple butter.
It’s richer, sweeter, and more robust than the traditional drink. Your friends will love it.
Smoky Apple Cider Margarita
This gorgeous, elegant drink is one of my favorite fall cocktails. I make it every time I have a chance. It has a fantastic taste and is stunningly beautiful.
What’s not to love?
Cranberry Thyme Spritz
This is one of those drinks you can make all season long. It works well for Thanksgiving or Christmas.
It features a lovely red hue and a bright, zingy, cranberry-infused taste. It requires a bit of preparation, though, so don’t wait until the last minute.