21 Meal Ideas For Friendsgiving

Friendsgiving is a wonderful opportunity to spend time with your friends or your chosen family and take a chance to thank each other for all the things that are gained through your friendship. 

Much like a traditional thanksgiving dinner, there is a plethora of dishes that you can take to help make the dinner as memorable as possible. 

In this article, we will look at 21 of the best meal ideas that you can take to your Friendsgiving dinner.  

1. Baked Macaroni And Cheese

Macaroni and cheese is a classic thanksgiving dish that makes a great side for the mains that are often prepared. This recipe is super simple and easy to make but the result is a beautifully cheesy and smooth dish that everyone can enjoy.

What’s more, this dish is perfect for making ahead of time to transport to Friendsgiving and can be heated up easily when you are at dinner. 

You can upgrade this recipe easily by adding panko breadcrumbs to the top before you bake it to create a beautifully crunchy crust that really elevates the dish.  

2. Antipasto Skewers

Many of the sides and mains that you have at Thanksgiving and Friendsgiving can be very heavy on the stomach and you can end the night feeling very full and bloated. 

These delicious antipasto skewers can help to take the edge off of that a little bit by providing a light, flavorful appetizer. 

The best thing about this dish is that it is super easy to make and can be done at the Friendsgiving dinner or made ahead and easily transported to the dinner. 

What’s more, this recipe doesn’t require any cooking which can be a huge plus when you are potentially short on oven and stove space.

3. Rachel’s Friends Thanksgiving Trifle

The kings and queens of friends-based Thanksgiving dinners are the cast of the TV show F.R.I.E.N.D.S and although you will be hoping that your Friendsgiving goes better than theirs ever did, this recipe is the perfect homage. 

Luckily, instead of a layer of beef sauteed with peas and onions the beef in this recipe is entirely fake, as are the onions and peas.  You can keep that fact to yourself for as long as you want to though. 

This dish does contain coconut however, so it is worth checking whether there are any allergies in the group before making this one. 

There are alternatives that can still create the beef effect without using nuts.

4. Simple Au Gratin Potatoes

There is nothing like finding a recipe that has the word simple in the title. 

This recipe for au gratin potatoes is super easy to make before the dinner and reheat or can be made alongside the other dishes in the kitchen. 

The creaminess of this dish makes it feel decadent and luxurious and can help overcome dry turkey nightmares. They also make a nice change from just creamy mashed potatoes as a side which can get a bit boring and samey.

5.  Friendsgiving Corn Recipe

This Friendsgiving corn recipe is so good that you will find yourself going back for second and even third helpings. 

The flavors of the corn, bell peppers, and paprika are so delicious, and mixed with the cream cheese, this dish is a force to be reckoned with.

Although it may not be billed as the main event, there is a real chance that it will steal the limelight. 

This recipe is a great option to pair with the cornbread recipe below and can double up as a dip for chips if you want to enjoy a football game before sitting down to eat. 

6. Classic Devilled Eggs

This recipe for classic devilled eggs is one of the easiest recipes on this list, but don’t let that fool you, this is easily one of the most popular recipes too. 

Devilled eggs are a great option for a Friendsgiving gathering because they are easy to enjoy while you are waiting for the main dishes to be prepared. 

They also travel quite well if you want to make them ahead of time.  

7. Potatoes With Mushrooms

Potato dishes are a common sight at most Thanksgiving and Friendsgiving dinners. 

However, this recipe for potatoes with mushrooms helps to create a vegan side dish that is packed with flavors that are slightly out of the ordinary. 

While a lot of holiday dishes contain cream or cheese, this dish is entirely vegan and lighter than other potato dishes too.

8. Garlic And Herb Roast Turkey

A Friendsgiving is not complete without a beautiful roast turkey. When you are planning a Friendsgiving and are tasked with the unenviable task of preparing the turkey it can be easy to worry about the meat being dry. 

With this garlic and herb roast turkey recipe, that won’t be a concern anymore. Cooking your turkey on a trivet allows the juices the freedom to move around and can be basted more easily if necessary. 

If you notice that the turkey is getting too dark and is at risk of drying out while it is still cooking, you can simply cover it with some foil to help trap the juices in and keep it nice and moist. 

Resting the meat before carving can also help avoid the dreaded dry turkey.

9. Party Shrimp

What better dish to bring to your Friendsgiving than one called party shrimp? This recipe makes for a great side dish or appetizer. 

The marinade that is used to make party shrimp is so packed full of flavor that you won’t even need to make a dipping sauce. If you do want a dipping sauce anyway, you can’t go wrong with sweet chili for this recipe. 

The best thing about this is that it is quick and easy to cook and can be brought to dinner in its marinade and broiled when everyone has arrived.

10. Tastes Like Thanksgiving Casserole

Sometimes, Friendsgiving takes place in a small apartment that has a small kitchen. In these circumstances, cooking a full Thanksgiving-style roast dinner with multiple side dishes just isn’t feasible. 

That doesn’t mean that you have to forgo a delicious meal though. With this tastes like Thanksgiving casserole, you can have all the Thanksgiving flavors that you know and love, in a handy casserole. 

You can still go all out with the side dishes that can be prepared in advance too which is a bonus.  Your kitchen may be small but your Friendsgiving doesn’t have to be. 

11. Sweet Potato Souffle

Another option for a Friendsgiving that is limited in preparation space is this delicious and comforting sweet potato souffle. 

The sweet potato filling and the crunchy topping make a beautiful combination of textures and flavors. Because this is prepared in a baking dish, it doesn’t take a lot of space.

You can cook it at home and keep it warm until you arrive or reheat it when you get to Friendsgiving. 

12. Pumpkin Pie

There is nothing more quintessential than a pumpkin pie at Thanksgiving and that applies to Friendsgiving as well. 

This recipe takes the liberty of giving you a more traditional version of pumpkin pie and a vegan-friendly version which is perfect if you are having to cater to both. 

Simply warm it in the oven when you are ready to serve it and whip some cream to accompany it. If you want to get really fancy with it you can sprinkle the pie with pomegranate seeds and berries.

13. Turkey Cranberry Apple Baked Brie Braid

Sometimes at a Friendsgiving, you want a substantial appetizer that can be enjoyed all together before the preparation of the main dishes has to start.

This turkey, cranberry, and apple baked brie braid is one such appetizer.  This pastry dish features all of the traditional flavors that you love from the holidays all wrapped up in a golden pastry braid. 

It can be the perfect way to kickstart your Friendsgiving with a burst of familiar flavors. 

14. Cranberry Kale Pecan Wild Rice Stuffing

This cranberry, kale, pecan, and wild rice stuffing is the ultimate companion for your Friendsgiving dinner. There are so many reasons why this stuffing recipe is one of the best that you will ever make. 

The cranberry and wild rice ensures that this stuffing is never dry and crumbly, rather it is moist and moreish.  The pecans provide a beautiful crunch that works really well with the creamier sides that you make.  

15. Air Fryer Hasselback Potatoes

Anything that is made in an air fryer is superior to anything that isn’t made in an air fryer. That means that these hasselback potatoes are superior to any other kind of hasselback potatoes you have made before. 

They make a great alternative side dish to the more common mashed potatoes or as an accompaniment to them.  There’s no such thing as too many kinds of potato after all. 

16. Cheddar Pimento And Scallion Skillet Cornbread

One thing that can often be overlooked or forgotten is bread. There are so many different types of potato or yams that you can make for Friendsgiving that sometimes it can be easy to forget that other carbohydrates exist, such as cornbread. 

This cheddar, pimento, and scallion cornbread is easy to make and is perfect to accompany the more moist side dishes such as creamed corn and macaroni and cheese. 

The cheese, peppers, and scallions provide a beautiful flavor combination that really lifts the dishes you serve the bread with. 

17. Brie Stuffed Meatballs With Cranberry Sauce

Although this recipe works great as a way to use up leftover holiday food  such as brie and cranberry sauce, it can also be a perfect side dish for your Friendsgiving. 

This might be one of the most fiddly recipes on the list because you have to make stuffed meatballs, but the end result is so worth it. 

If you are making Friendsgiving into a full day of bonding activities, this can be a great recipe to make all together.  You could even have a competition to see who can make the neatest meatball.

18. Ratatouille

During the holiday season, whether it be Thanksgiving, Christmas, or Friendsgiving, it can be easy to forget that vegetables can be cooked without butter or cream. 

However, it can be nice to prepare a dish that is purely vegetables without any dairy involved. This classic ratatouille dish is the perfect way to do this. 

The dish can be prepared prior to Friendsgiving and simply roasted in the oven when you arrive.  

19. Maple-Bacon Popovers

These maple-bacon popovers are the ultimate surprise dish to bring to your Friendsgiving. These sweet and salty treats work either as a side or as an appetizer but equally, they could work as both if you make enough. 

They’ll be popular enough to be enjoyed twice. 

Although these may not be the most healthy dish to bring, the joy of Friendsgiving is that it comes around once a year and therefore, you can indulge in all of the naughty treats that you might usually avoid. 

It’s what the holiday season is all about after all.

20. Broccoli Cheese Casserole

You may have made or eaten cauliflower cheese before during the holidays, but this broccoli cheese casserole is like nothing else you have ever tried. 

The buttery, crunchy topping is what really sets this dish apart from the other cheesy options that you might have available at Friendsgiving. 

The trick to getting the consistency of this dish just right is to make sure the broccoli isn’t cooked all the way before you put it in the casserole to finish. 

This will prevent it from becoming too mushy while the cheese melts.  One of the best things about this casserole is that it is super easy to alter the size to cater to different group sizes.

21. Make-Ahead Thanksgiving Gravy

There is one thing that you cannot forget for a successful Friendsgiving and that is a good gravy. The best thing about this recipe is that it can be made ahead of time and simply warmed up when you need it. 

Also, this particular recipe yields a pint of gravy which could be enough to last you for Friendsgiving and Thanksgiving depending on how much you use. 

Making gravy from scratch is a fine art that can take some practice.  Getting the consistency of the gravy just right might take a little bit of trial and error if you haven’t made it before. 

However, this can easily be fixed by adding more water to thin it out or adding a thickener to give it more substance if necessary.  

Frequently Asked Questions

What Makes The Perfect Friendsgiving?

The short answer to this question is, friends. However, there is more to it than that. 

The idea behind Friendsgiving is to create a holiday celebration that is devoid of all of the stress, drama, and travel that comes with family holidays such as Thanksgiving. 

The perfect Friendsgiving involves the people that make up your chosen family, fun, laughter, delicious food, and the making of many happy memories. 

That is why it is so important to pick recipes that are going to be easy to make rather than stressful. 

How To Plan A Friendsgiving?

There are so many ways to go about organizing a Friendsgiving is to create a special group chat for it and essentially invite all of your closest friends to a Thanksgiving-themed potluck.

If you want to put a little more effort into it, you could design and make physical invitations to send to your friends.

However you decide to go about planning your Friendsgiving, make sure that the aim is to keep it fun rather than stretching yourself too thin and ending up just as stressed as if it was a normal Thanksgiving. 

Final Thoughts

There are so many fun ways that you can set your Friendsgiving apart from Thanksgiving, however, the most important difference is that you and your friends all have fun. 

It doesn’t matter if the food isn’t five star, if things get burned, or don’t turn out how you wanted or planned. 

The important thing is that you make happy memories with your closest friends and revel in being in each other’s company.