Friendsgiving Menu Ideas to Wow Your Guests
If you’re looking for some Friendsgiving Menu Ideas that will wow your guests, look no further. Friendsgiving is a time to get together with your friends to celebrate the holidays. It’s a time to enjoy great food, good company and festive decorations.
These are the best Friendsgiving dishes
Planning a Friendsgiving menu doesn’t have to be overwhelming!
This post has all the recipes you need to put together an amazing Friendsgiving spread! These food and drink ideas are perfect for fall meals but feel special enough to share with guests.
Whether you host a Friendsgiving every year or are hoping to plan one for the first time, this list of great menu ideas will truly help.
With recipes for appetizers, salads, main dishes, bread, dessert, and fall cocktails, this list has every course covered.
Plus, these menu ideas also work for a more traditional Thanksgiving!
Menu Ideas for Friendsgiving
Friendsgiving is a time to come together with friends, share a meal, and give thanks. This year, why not shake things up a bit by trying some new recipes? Here are delicious Friendsgiving menu ideas that will have your guests raving.
Appetizers
These easy Friendsgiving appetizer ideas are sure to please your guests. Choose some that you can make ahead to keep your day as stress-free as possible.
This Baked Brie with Honey and Walnuts is always a crowd pleaser, so if you need an easy dish for your next party or get together this holiday season make sure to check out my recipe!
The perfect treat for your next party, this Bacon Ranch Cheddar Cheeseball will be the hit of any event. shaped into a charming reindeer and covered in crispy bacon bits – it's just too cute! Or serve it as a traditional cheeseball.
This Cranberry Cream Cheese Dip is the perfect dish to bring to a pot luck dinner for Friendsgiving or to serve as an appetizer on Thanksgiving with crackers, bread, or fresh fruit. You don’t have to be on the Keto diet to appreciate this amazing sugar free dip.
Salads
Salad is a great way to start any meal, and it's especially perfect for Friendsgiving. It's light and refreshing, and it leaves plenty of room for heavier dishes to come. Plus, salad is a healthier option that some of your friends will prefer.
The aroma of sautéed kale and Brussels sprouts with hints from freshly cooked bacon is enhanced by sweet onions, juicy cranberries all topped off in harmony thanks to an added tangy twist provided by tart blueberry sauce. A perfect balance between flavors click together beautifully creating one flavorful dish!
Creamy Brussels Sprouts Salad Recipe #lowcarb and only 4 ingredients!
This creamy Brussels Sprouts Salad recipe is as easy to make than it sounds! Homemade Parmesan Peppercorn Dressing really kicks the flavor up! But you can always opt-for something from the store since that's easier.
Main Dishes
Turkey is, of course, the traditional main dish for Friendsgiving, but why not try something different this year? These delicious recipes will have your guests raving.
It is time to make your vegetables more exciting! This dish will take them from being just roasted ones, into an amazing crisp that you'll want on repeat.
These lamb steaks are so easy and quick, they'll be ready in just under an hour. It's a great alternative to the standard Friendsgiving fare which includes turkey and or chicken.
This Turkey Pot Pie recipe is easy to make with ingredients that you probably have in the fridge right. Combining everything from vegetables into one dish makes this comfort food and is great to serve a crowd.
Side Dishes
When it comes to choosing side dishes for Friendsgiving, there are endless possibilities. You can go with classic Thanksgiving sides like mashed potatoes and stuffing, or try something a little different. Here are some side dish ideas that will pair perfectly with your main course.
These fried Brussels sprouts are the perfect side dish to any meal you're serving. They'll be crispy on their outside but still tender and juicy inside, with that special flavor everyone will love.
It's easy to prepare this cheesy horseradish mashed potato side in advance and then pop it into an oven about 1 hour before dinner time! These have TONS of flavor and are a little bit more interesting than traditional mashed potatoes.
Bacon Brussels Sprouts is my favorite Friendsgiving side dish recipe. With a simple vinaigrette and bacon, this recipe is full of flavor and totally delicious.
Crockpot Sweet Potato Casserole Recipe - with Pecan Streusel Topping
This delicious Crockpot Sweet Potato Casserole is a twist on your favorite Thanksgiving side dish! The spiced sweet potatoes and pecan streusel are cooked in the yummiest Fall flavors to give you an unforgettable experience.
Gluten-Free Stuffing Recipe: A delicious, hearty and gluten free stuffing that’s perfect for all of your guests.
Pumpkin Caramelized Onions are folded with pieces of pumpkin and three types if cheeses to make this creamy side dish that's perfect for any occasion.
Macaroni and Cheese is one of those dishes that never goes out of style, which makes it an ideal dish for any occasion. All you need are 4 ingredients and a crockpot. Your home will be filled with delicious aromas and your guests will love it!
This side dish is made with a creamy Gruyère sauce that is out of this world! Cheesy Brussels sprouts au gratin is irresistible. It's a perfect choice to serve for Friendsgiving but don’t wait that long before you try this delicious recipe!
Breads
Bread is a staple at any Thanksgiving feast, but it can be tough to decide what type of bread to serve. Here are tasty options that will please even the pickiest eaters.
The best part about these sourdough pull apart rolls is that they’re so soft and fluffy, with just enough tang to make them special. They'll be perfect for all your holiday needs!
Homemade Hawaiian Sweet Dinner Rolls (Sweet Rolls) that are better than anything you can buy! These little pillows of heaven will become a family favorite and everyone wants the recipe.
Have you ever had a Parker House roll? If not, you should make them for Friendsgiving. They're soft and fluffy with just enough sweetness that'll make your taste buds happy!
Desserts
When it comes to dessert, there are plenty of scrumptious options to choose from. For a sweet finish to your Friendsgiving feast, try serving a selection of pies, tarts, and cookies. It's fun to include classics like pumpkin pie and apple pie but you can also add in some more unique recipes as well.
Sugar pie is the perfect Thanksgiving dessert if you're looking to change it up this year or are that ambitious type who likes offering multiple options. I topped mine with whipped cream and strawberries, but nuts such as candy would be delicious scattered over them too!
This Oatmeal Apple Crisp is like the ultimate fall recipe. It’s so easy, you'll find yourself making it again and again this season! If possible serve on top of creamy vanilla ice cream for an extra tasty treat that will have everyone coming back for seconds (and maybe even thirds).
With this easy strudel pastry, you can enjoy a sweet finish for your Friendsgiving meal! Just mix up the dough then stuff it with your favorite fruit. The puff pastry will make sure that every bite is delicious.
When you're feeling like things need a little extra something, take out Tahini Hawaij Pumpkin Pie to really spice up your day. The nutty flavor will remind everyone around that fall is just around the corner!
The kabocha pumpkin is the best kind of pie pumpkins because it's naturally denser and sweeter than even a sugar-based option. Luckily, these days you can find them pretty easily!
Pecan Pie Cupcakes are the perfect fall and Thanksgiving cupcake! Made with a delicious butter pecan cake full of toastedpecans, topped off by our signature brown sugar-cream cheese frosting.
This fun and delicious coconut cream pie will be the talk of your next dinner party. It's perfect for Thanksgiving or any time!
This is the best chocolate chip cheesecake I've ever had! It's gluten free and safe for anyone to enjoy, even people with wheat allergies or sensitivities.
You'll love this delicious chocolate pecan pie recipe complete with homemade all-butter crust. It's a great Thanksgiving or Friendsgiving dessert that you can make in just one hour!
You can't go wrong with a classic that's been around for years. This mini pumpkin cheesecake is perfect to take on your Friendsgiving adventures, and it'll make you look like an expert in the kitchen.
This turkey donut race car is a fun idea for your holiday dessert! Whether you have your guests make their own, or do this ahead of time, these are sure to put a smile on everyone's face.
I'm not a huge pumpkin pie fan but this boozy version is delicious! Make a Fireball Pumpkin Pie for your meal and be ready to share the recipe with each and every guest.
This easy Pumpkin Trifle is quick to make and tastes delicious thanks to the store-bought pumpkin muffins. This is also a great dessert for a crowd.
Having a batch of cookies around is great when any guests wants to easily grab a sweet treat. And these Butterscotch Walnut cookies are unique and perfect for fall.
Fall Cocktails
These fall cocktail recipes are perfect for the autumn season, and they’ll be sure to please your guests. So gather up your ingredients and get started on one of these seasonal drinks.
This amazing 5 ingredient pumpkin pie milkshake recipe is so easy to make and absolutely delicious! Top it with a drizzle of caramel sauce for an extra special treat.
Store-bought lemonade makes this easy to make in large batches! With fresh muddled berries and bourbon, this Blackberry Whiskey Lemonade is a great Friendsgiving drink idea.
This Pumpkin Spice Mule is full of seasonal flavors and is delicious to sip out of a pretty copper mug all meal long.
Using canned pumpkin makes this Pumpkin Margarita easily to multiply and make for a crowd. You'll love how the pumpkin and spices pair with tequila.
Not a fan of pumpkin? Try this yummy pear cocktail with rum instead. It's a unique drink to serve your guest's will love.
All of you favorite fall flavors are in one drink! Make Apple Cider Mules with whiskey. Set out the ingredients and set up a Make-You-Own drink station.
This Winter Daiquiri is so delicious and totally unexpected to serve at Friendsgiving. With a hint of vanilla, it's SO tasty you'll crave this long after the holiday is over.
Making the spiced cranberry juice ahead of time ensures that you'll be stress-free when your guests arrive. This easy Spiced Cranberry Cocktail is delicious and can be sipped from Friendsgiving on through Christmas.
For a totally out of the box cocktail idea, try this Watermelon Vodka Aperol Cocktail! It's super refreshing and the Aperol keeps it from being too sweet. Try one this year.
Centerpiece Ideas
You can go with a traditional Thanksgiving centerpiece, such as a cornucopia filled with fall fruits and vegetables, or you could get creative and come up with something unique. Here are some ideas to get you started.
These fun Cinnamon Stick Candles take an inexpensive seasonal ingredient and uses it for a fun DIY Centerpiece idea.
Metallic Pumpkins are a pretty way to use seasonal decor in a new way. Punching holes means that candles placed inside can shine out throughout the meal.
Click this post to learn how to keep key decor pieces for your Friendsgiving Tablescape and continue using them well into Christmas and beyond.
Here are a few more recipes that are perfect for your Friendsgiving menu but for whatever reason, I couldn’t get a photo of.
- How to Make Homemade Butterhorn Rolls from Mel of Flour on My
- FingersSourdough Pull Apart Rolls from Erica of Buttered Side Up
- Cornbread Stuffing with Chorizo from Isabel of Isabel Eats
- Easy Cheesy Hash Brown Casserole Recipe from Mel of Adventures of Mel
- Turkey Cookies from Meaghan of The Decorated Cookie
What is Friendsgiving
Friendsgiving is a holiday celebration that is typically held in November. It is a time when friends and sometimes family come together and enjoy a festive meal that is very similar to Thanksgiving.
It’s basically Thanksgiving but with friends instead of relatives.
The best part about Friendsgiving is that you can choose your favorite guests and serve whatever dishes you want. It’s also a little bit less formal than Thanksgiving.
Friendsgiving is often organized like a potluck where each guest brings a dish or two. It’s a fun way to try new recipes and introduce your friends to your favorite holiday foods.
If you prefer, you can host the whole meal. There are no rules, so be creative and have fun with it.
Whether you’re taking care of every dish or just trying to choose something delicious to bring to someone else’s party, this list of Friendsgiving Menu Ideas can help you decide what to make.
I originally had this menu information included in my Pumpkin Spice Margarita post and have since moved it here to make it easier to save for later!
How to Plan the rest of your Friendsgiving
I work best when I’m organized so I put together a simple printable Friendsgiving/ Thanksgiving Planner (see the graphic below) to help you track what you want to make for your meal, plus pages to help you decide when you need to start cooking and lists to make your grocery shopping a breeze.
I made two covers (one for Thanksgiving and one for Friendsgiving) for the planner so it will work for whatever you need.
Download the Free Printable Friendsgiving Planner.
And because I like my parties to look nice but not stress me out, I created these printable Thanksgiving decorations that you can print, cut, and hang. DONE!
Using the planner to prioritize what needs to be done when will help you feel ready to welcome your guests and also feel calm and cool.
If you’re looking to host a Pinterest-worthy Friendsgiving, I’ve got you! That post has tons of easy ideas.
Decorations can be done ahead of time and even put up the day before whenever you are hosting your get-together.
And while I don’t host Thanksgiving at my house, I still have my own traditions (like this Sweet Potato Dump Cake) for that day that this planner helps me stay on track with. I hope you get lots of use out of it.
Pin to save these menu ideas for later
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More posts you may enjoy
- Friendsgiving Playlist to give your party the perfect atmosphere.
- DIY Tile Trivets for your holiday table.
- These Pumpkin Cocktails will give you tons of seasonal drink ideas.
- A simple Knotted Yarn Garland makes a great wall decoration that you can jazz up with all kinds of other doodads.
- Your guests will love thes easy Pumpkin Dip with Cool Whip!
- These Thanksgiving Jello Recipes are flavorful, easy and crowd-pleasing for holiday meals.
- These delicious Creative Corn Recipes will help you round out your menu with side dishes, appetizers, soups and main dish ideas.
- These easy No Bake Thanksgiving Recipes are low-stress and totally delicious!
This is my first year hosting our annual Friendsgiving and I was stressing a bit over what my menu should like, but you gave me all the direction I needed! Crock-pot mac and cheese, I mean, how can I pass that up?? Everything’s slowly coming together: my floors were just resurfaced, my tablescape is already set up, and I have my menu now! Thanks for the help!