Need ideas for easy Friendsgiving dishes you could bring to the gathering? Start here.
If I showed up for Thanksgiving at my grandmother’s house — or my mother-in-law’s, or anyone else who traditionally hosts the holiday — with food in hand, it might be taken as an insult. Holidays are often about tradition, and tradition generally means you don’t mess with the menu, or attempt to usurp the Thanksgiving throne. But Friendsgiving is the opposite, and it can be hard to figure out what Friendsgiving dishes make sense to prepare.
In every iteration I’ve encountered, Friendsgiving is inherently a potluck, pooling the varied cooking abilities of a group of friends in an attempt to build a festive meal that’s at least mildly coherent.
The specifics of what to bring depend on several factors:
First: Are you any good at cooking? Would it be safer for you to bring a store-bought option like Hawaiian bread rolls, apple cider, or booze? And if you can cook, what degree of difficulty makes sense?
Second: What’s everyone else bringing? No, really. It’s paramount that you coordinate so you don’t end up with four separate mashed potatoes and no other sides. (Unless that’s what you’re into.) Typically the host coordinates this, or the Type-A person in the friend group who already emailed you a signup spreadsheet.
Third: How traditional or experimental do you want to be? If this Thanksgiving is a stand-in for the typical holiday meal, maybe among chosen family or students not making the trip home from campus, comfort food may be ideal. But if you’re gathering the weekend before or after Thanksgiving, you may lean towards Friendsgiving dishes that are a little more distinct, offering everyone at the table some variety.
If you’re reading this, you’re not on turkey duty. And if you have to ask, you’re also not responsible for the mac & cheese or potato salad, I’m guessing.
But you will find a range of choices here that cover the various answers to the questions above. All of these recipes will help make Friendsgiving memorable, and may just leave your pals saying, “I really didn’t know you could cook like that!”
This easy, crowd pleasing La Terra Fina cranberry jalapeño dip copycat recipe is made with just a few simple ingredients and makes a great party appetizer.
Instant Pot Applesauce is an easy recipe to make in under 20 minutes time. It will leave your home smelling like it’s simmered on the stovetop for hours!
Instant Pot Scalloped Potatoes recipes is delicious and very easy to make thanks to the convenience of the Instant Pot. Hot creamy potatoes that please a large crowd!
The most delicious and easy-to-make Instant Pot Candied Sweet Potatoes side dish recipe. Sweet, starchy sweet potatoes mixed with a homemade caramel sauce and chopped pecans make for a must-make Thanksgiving accompaniment!
This Betty Crocker Apple Pie recipe produces a golden, flaky crust and a warm and comforting filling with a delicious hint of spice. It’s perfect served warm on cooler days or cold with ice cream in summer.
Extra virgin olive oil mashed potatoes are pretty amazing. Perfect mashed potatoes are fluffy, creamy and oh-so-buttery. But you’d be surprised to know that this perfect mashed potato recipe doesn’t use butter at all, rather OMAGGIO Limited Reserve Extra Virgin Olive Oil for a truly unique and memorable side to share.
