Friendsgiving Food Ideas (20+ Recipes!)

Here you’ll find all of my favorite Friendsgiving food ideas in one spot with something for every taste and skill level. Whether you’re hosting the whole gathering or just bringing a dish, these recipes are perfect for potlucks—portable, shareable, and crowd-pleasing!

Six Friendsgiving recipes with images and ingredient lists. Text reads “The Ultimate Friendsgiving Menu.”

Friendsgiving has become one of my favorite holiday traditions. My friend group has been celebrating for five years now, and there’s nothing better than gathering with close friends between the holidays to relax, catch up, laugh, and enjoy each other’s company. It’s easily one of the best parts of the holiday season.

We usually skip the traditional roast turkey and instead build our menu around fun appetizers, easy sides, savory snacks, finger foods, and of course, festive desserts like cookies and pies. It’s all about enjoying comfort food without stressing over cleanup or formalities.

Whether it’s your first Friendsgiving potluck or your tenth, let’s make this year’s celebration the best one yet!

What is Friendsgiving?

Friendsgiving is a relaxed, Thanksgiving-style meal shared with friends instead of family. Usually held shortly before or after the holiday, it’s all about great food, fun vibes, and quality time with your favorite people.

There are no rules. Just gather your friend group, enjoy a potluck-style meal, and celebrate friendship over shared dishes and good conversation.

A collage showing 6 Friendsgiving food ideas including hashbrown casserole, cocktail meatballs, sliced turkey with cranberry sauce, apple cider sangria, apple pie crescent rolls, and cranberry sauce.

Tips for a Successful Friendsgiving Potluck

Plan ahead. Go with a potluck style and assign everyone to a category. It could be main dishes, sides, desserts, or appetizers. That way, guests knows what to bring to Friendsgiving without any duplicates.
Don’t stress. This is about fun, not perfection. Whether you’re one of the hosts or a guest, focus on enjoying the company, the feast, and maybe a festive drink or two.
Make it festive. Hosts can set the tone with simple decorations, cozy lighting, or a themed playlist. A little effort goes a long way in creating a welcoming vibe.
Prep-ahead. Choose a Friendsgiving menu full of recipes that can be made in advance, reheated easily, or served straight from the fridge. This helps everyone spend more time at the table and less in the kitchen.

20+ Friendsgiving Recipes

Click on any photo or button to take you to the individual recipe instructions.

Dry Brine Cheesecloth Turkey

While a full turkey isn’t a Friendsgiving staple for every group, this is a great option if you want that classic Thanksgiving centerpiece. This beautifully golden, juicy turkey uses a dry brine and butter-soaked cheesecloth to lock in flavor and moisture.

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Sliced crock pot turkey roast with cranberry sauce.

Slow Cooker Boneless Turkey Breast with Cranberry Sauce

If you want a taste of traditional turkey without roasting a whole bird, this easy slow cooker version is perfect. It's juicy, low-effort, and ideal for smaller gatherings or guests who just want a little turkey on their plate.

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A close-up of a glazed meatball covered in thick barbecue and grape jelly sauce, held by a wooden toothpick. More crockpot meatballs are visible in the background, coated in the glossy sauce.

Grape Jelly Crockpot Meatballs

Made with frozen meatballs, BBQ sauce, and grape jelly tossed into a slow cooker, these appetizers can be kept warm and served straight from the crockpot.

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Olive Garden Salad

A crisp, fresh, and zesty salad that everyone loves. An Olive Garden signature, this copycat recipe tastes better than the original.

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Sweet Potato Cornbread

A twist on classic cornbread, we're adding mashed sweet potatoes, giving it extra moisture, a tender crumb, natural sweetness, and golden-orange color.

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Caramelized Brussels Sprouts

Elevate your crispy Brussels sprouts with crunchy pecans and a balsamic honey glaze for a tasty side dish!

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Creamy macaroni and cheese in a slow cooker.

Slow Cooker Mac and Cheese

There's nothing better than comfort food when you're with friends. Creamy and cheesy, this side dish is a must!

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Green Bean Casserole

A Southern classic, no friendsgiving table is complete without it! Topped with crispy onions and a secret ingredient I can't wait to share.

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Old-fashioned homemade stuffing with onions, celery, and fresh herbs.

Old Fashioned Stuffing

This easy homemade stuffing recipe is packed with flavor from sage, thyme, onions, and buttery toasted bread. Easy to prep ahead and always a huge hit.

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A wooden spoon scooping a portion of cheesy potatoes with hasbrowns with a golden cornflake crust from a casserole dish. The creamy, cheesy texture of the hash brown potatoes contrasts with the crispy topping.

Cheesy Potatoes with Corn Flakes

Made with frozen hashbrowns and 10 minutes of prep time, this casserole is a great make-ahead dish for a potluck.

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Knorr Spinach Dip

You can't go wrong with a quick and easy, creamy spinach dip as an appetizer. Serve with pumpernickel and your favorite dippers and watch how quickly it goes!

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Buffalo Chicken Dip

All the flavors of Buffalo wings come together easily in this creamy, cheesy crockpot dip topped with blue cheese.

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French Onion Dip

Impress your friendsgiving crowd with a creamy dip loaded with caramelized onions in a rich, creamy appetizer dip!

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Crescent rolls filled with apple pie filling and drizzles with caramel sauce

Apple Pie Crescent Rolls

Turn this fall snack into a fun little dessert. The flavors of apple pie wrapped in flaky, store-bought crescent rolls make these perfectly portable.

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Pumpkin Fluff

Pumpkin puree and pumpkin pie spice give this fluffy dessert dip delicious fall flavors. Plus, you will love how easy it is to make!

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Brownie Pie

The only thing better than a rich chocolate browning on top of a flaky pie crust is serving it with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

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No Bake Pumpkin Pie

This creamy pumpkin pie is perfectly spiced and comes together in just a few simple steps, no oven required. The filling is rich but light – cool, fluffy, and full of fall flavor. A true Thanksgiving staple!

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