Friendsgiving 101: Stress-Free Recipes for Hosting or Sharing
- Michelle Finethy
- Oct 3
- 5 min read
Updated: Oct 5
Please note this post may have links to the item featured, where I may earn a small commission in the event you purchase.
Hosting Friendsgiving for the first time?
Or perhaps trying to figure out what to bring to someone else’s table?
I totally get it, both can feel a little intimidating! Do you go all out with a turkey, or just show up with cookies and a bottle of wine? The good news is: there’s no wrong way to Friendsgiving. It’s less about tradition and more about showing up with good food and good vibes. To make it easier, I’ve pulled together a list of recipes and ideas for every category! From brunch-worthy bites to gathering appetizers, classic mains and desserts worth saving room for. Whether you’re hosting the whole crew or just contributing one dish, you’ll find something here that’s impressive but totally doable. All of these recipes are easy to prep ahead, so you can spend more time hanging out and less time stressing in the kitchen. I even threw in a free gift for you at the end to get your guests prepared for your next big holiday party!
The Menu
Brunch
Appetizers
Side Dishes
The Main Course (Non-Turkey)
Desserts
Friendsgiving Brunch Ideas
This is my favorite version of Friendsgiving because let's be honest, we're going to get enough turkey dinners this month to last us a whole year of not having them. Not to mention brunch is the perfect time of day to catch up and enjoy friends, while sipping a cocktail mid morning with out shame! Here's my top list of MUST HAVE dishes for the best Friendsgiving we can all be grateful for.
Waffle Charcuterie Board
Making a waffle charcuterie board is the ultimate Friendsgiving brunch hack. Its so simple too. All you need to do is pre make the waffles and then use snacks from your pantry that you already have as toppings! 😂. No but seriously, this Friendsgiving idea allows you to create a beautiful spread and your guests can make their dishes as light or heavy as they like. So whether this is the morning of Thanksgiving or another random morning, waffle charcuterie is your best bet!
Friendsgiving Coffee Idea
Wow your guests with fancy espresso drinks this year just like the baristas make. This can be as simple, or as complicated, as you like it to be. Remember, when someone else makes you a coffee.. it ALWAYS hits the spot. So don't stress or write this one off just yet if you don't have a fancy espresso machine... The key to this perfect drink is the flavor shot and cold foam! I add a splash of Cinnamon Dolce Coffe Syrup to all my coffees and espressos, keep reading to learn how to make cold foam!
Friendsgiving Appetizers
Turkey Butter Mold
Butter shaped like a turkey is an absolute MUST HAVE at the Thanksgiving table, especially if it's a vegetarian dinner 🤣 the irony! This butter turkey will be looking so good, it might even throw shade at the ACTUAL turkey on the table! Preparing it is easy: Use soften butter, squish it in the mold and freeze. Once frozen, it'll pop right out! The over achiever in me likes to do the feathers portion in a garlic and herb compound butter. It add a pop of color and gives my guests the choice between regular butter or flavored! Keep reading for the Garlic and Herb Compound Butter recipe !
Nacho Cheese Sauce
If there is one thing that is synonymous with Thanksgiving, it's football. Whether your hosting on the actual Turkey Day or a randomly picked day of the week, football will be on. So this Friendsgiving recipe idea covers all your bases! Not to to mention IT'S CHEESE! Everyone loves a good grab and go snack covered in cheese! This recipe only has 4 whole food ingredients in it so you can still get the perfect cheese pull, without getting the awful cheese bloat. Check my recipe out here! If your bringing this to a friends house, prepare the recipe as normal, and transport it in a small slow cooker. At the event, simply plug it in and keep on the 'WARM' setting
Friendsgiving Side Dishes
Garlic and Mushroom Green Bean Sauté
Anyone ever notice the disturbing amount of carbs we take in during the month of November between Friendsgiving, the Office Potluck, Sibling Night, and we cant exclude Thanksgiving Day itself ? Just me? If you just connected the dots between that gross bloat you feel come New Years Day and the wonderful party foods around the holidays, perhaps its time to discover some healthier, low carb meals to sneak in this year! Trust me, there will be plenty of other decadant, carb filled dishes to pick from. Plus, lighter sides means you can really go all in where it matters - THE TURKEY.
The Main Course (Non-Turkey Proteins)
Honey Mustard Glazed Spiral Ham
Not a single person will be upset over more protein options than the dry turkey at Friendsgiving this year. This Honey Mustard Glazed Spiral Ham recipe might even put you at the top of the most talked about dish list. If your travelling with this dish, I recommend pouring the glaze in front of everyone for max aura points.
Dessert Ideas for Friendsgiving
Cream Cheese Turnovers
Skip the pie this Friendsgiving and show up with something just as sweet but way easier—cream cheese turnovers! Flaky, golden pastry with a creamy filling that feels fancy without the stress of making a pie crust from scratch. Perfect for first-time hosts who want a dessert that’s impressive, portable, and totally Friendsgiving-approved. For the full recipe, check out my post Cream Cheese Turnovers here!
BONUS: Free Gift!
If you enjoy hosting Friendsgiving and are considering hosting a
Christmas Party with the same guests then this section is
FOR YOU!
Friendsgiving is the best time to hand out
invitations to play the holiday tradition of Secret Santa!
Think about it... Everyone is already gathered so now is the best time to hand out questionnaires for guests to fill out thoughtfully throughout the party! Simply, prepare a closed box (or a hat!) for them to insert their completed questionnaires and at the end of your Friendsgiving Feast, randomly distribute them. Now everyone will have a full month to shop for there Secret Santa.
I made a Family Friendly, Secret Santa Questionnaire and I'm giving it away for free!
