There are a lot of great things about Thanksgiving, one of those things being the possibility of attending a Friendsgiving celebration. It's never not fun to come up with easy Friendsgiving recipes to make with your friends, because Friendsgiving is, in a word, awesome. It's a night for you to hang out with your friends that consists of just eating, drinking, and laughing. On top of that, it's basically a second (or third or fourth if you're really popular) Thanksgiving dinner, and honestly, can you ask for anything better than that? The only slightly annoying thing about it is that this is more of a potluck type of deal, meaning that if you're going, you've got to pull out the stops cooking-wise. And if you're not someone who loves to cook or bake, this can be a bit of a struggle.
The good thing is that Friendsgiving is generally a lot more casual than Thanksgiving. It's more about hanging out with friends than eating impressive plates of gourmet food — everyone just wants something delicious! If you're looking for something to make for your own Friendsgiving dinner, I would recommend going for something simple, tasty, classic, and a little bit more on the fun side. Like, don't make scalloped truffle potatoes with cheese that cost you $30 (I mean, fine, make it if you want, I'm not judging) — make basic mashed potatoes with butter and some toppings. Keep things easy! Friendsgiving should, ideally, be a night of stress-free fun, and you don't need a complicated recipe to mess things up. So, check out the ideas below, share them with your BFFs, and get cooking!
1. Cheesy Bacon Holiday Crack
In charge of making an appetizer? You can't go wrong with this "cheesy bacon holiday crack" recipe from Half-Baked Harvest. This is literally kettle cooked potato chips smothered in layers of cheese, bacon, and seasonings. It's beyond addicting, a huge crowd-pleaser, and so easy to put together.
2. Butternut Squash Soup
Or, if you want to go the more classic Turkey Day appetizer route, make a big pot of butternut squash soup. This recipe from My Baking Addiction is simple and delicious. Apples and squash make it sweet, while warming spices like ginger and cinnamon make you feel cozy. Personally, I've made a recipe similar to this, and was obsessed with it — and it was easy!
3. Honey Dinner Rolls
It wouldn't be Thanksgiving without rolls, right? If you're not sure what to make, go for these honey dinner rolls from Averie Cooks. This blog is a favorite of mine, with recipes that are easy to follow and offer amazing results. These rolls might take up a chunk of your time, but they'll be worth it in the end.
4. Smokey Harvest Apple Cider Margaritas
One of the best things about Thanksgiving is the drinking. Sure, you guys could crack open a bottle of wine or some beers, but why not do something a little more special? These apple cider margaritas from Half Baked Harvest are smokey and sweet, with lots of flavor.
5. Pomegranate Orange Punch
If you'd rather have a punchbowl out, then make this pomegranate orange punch from How Sweet It Is. With lots of in-season fall flavors, this drink is sweet and perfect for the holiday. Add orange slices to glasses to feel extra fancy.
6. Five Ingredient Sage Butter Roasted Chicken with Crispy Potatoes
A turkey can be difficult to make, and between busy schedules and limited oven space, you and your friends might not be able to pull one off. No worries! Friendsgiving doesn't have to be super traditional. You can always go for something like this roasted chicken recipe from Cooking For Keeps. It's got lots of flavor and you can't go wrong with chicken.
7. Roasted Turkey
Or maybe you're like, "Um, no, anything coming close to Thanksgiving has to involve turkey." Fair enough! If that's the case, follow a basic recipe like this from The Comfort Of Cooking - no frills needed.
8. Slow Cooker Thanksgiving Stuffing
Planning Friendsgiving can sometimes feel like a headache, especially if you have to make something like stuffing, which can be time consuming and complicated. Make things a little easier with this slow cooker stuffing recipe from A Spicy Perspective. Let it cook for hours while you clean or get other stuff together.
9. Mushroom, Rosemary, and Thyme Challah Stuffing
If you know vegetarians are going to be at your Friendsgiving party and you're in charge of stuffing, consider making a veg stuffing. They can be just as delicious, if not better than, regular stuffing and they are sometimes easier. This recipe from I Am A Food Blog uses challah bread and mushrooms to make it hearty.
10. Slow Cooker Creamed Corn
When it comes to veggie dishes, you want to pick something everyone will like that isn't boring. This slow cooker creamed corn from A Spicy Perspective is full of rich flavor, and is so simple to make.
11. Four Ingredient Mashed Sweet Potatoes with Brown Butter and Brown Sugar
Sweet potatoes are a classic Thanksgiving dish and should definitely be part of your Friendsgiving. This recipe from Cooking For Keeps is made with lots of sugar and butter, and will be a huge crowd pleaser.
12. Garlic Roasted Carrots
Roasted veggies are always a big hit, even for people who don't love veggies. These roasted carrots from Damn Delicious are simple and classic, with a garlicky flavor that plays nicely with the sweetness of the carrots.
13. Oven Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Smokey Bacon
Speaking of roasted veggies, you should definitely do that to your Brussels sprouts. It makes them irresistibly crunchy and delicious. This recipe from The Healthy Foodie includes bacon, always a favorite.
14. Mashed Potato Casserole
Why make regular mashed potatoes when you could do this? This mashed potato casserole from House of Yumm is perfect for Friendsgiving because it's filled with cheese and bacon.
15. Stovetop Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese
If you're looking for a simple but yummy recipe, look no further than this one from Naturally Ella. Butternut squash mixed with cheese makes a creamy pasta sauce that is almost similar to mac and cheese. Use it as a main course or as another side.
16. Baked Pumpkin Fettuccine Alfredo
Do something different by serving pasta! This recipe from How Sweet It Is uses pumpkin to create a creamy, perfect pasta dish everyone will love.
17. Spiced Pumpkin Pie Dip
Everyone makes a pumpkin pie. This year, be different and make a pumpkin pie dip, like this from Jelly Toast. It's easier to serve to a big crowd, and it's still just as good, especially with fruit and graham crackers on the side.
18. Classic Sweet Potato Pie
If you want to go the classic route, go for sweet potato pie. It's very easy to make, it takes amazing, and it's a crowd pleaser. This one from A Cozy Kitchen is basic in a great way!
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