The best thing about hosting a Friendsgiving potluck is that you’re almost guaranteed to try something new.
Here are our best tips for the biggest and best Friendsgiving meal ever.
Map out what dishes you want for the rest of the meal.
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For a really big group, you might double those categories.
Supply Extra Snacks And Appetizers
We’ve all been there when the four-hour turkey takes six.
Nothing is more stressful than a bunch of hungry guests waiting on you to serve them.
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It’s always a good idea to have both red and white wine and beer.
Consider making a signature cocktail that guests can help themselves with if you’re busy.
And always provide alcohol-free options for those who don’t want to partake.
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Good choices include warm apple cider or a variety of seltzers and sodas.
As for dessert, we like a couple of options in addition topumpkin pieto suit all palates.
Find a casserole, side dish, or dessert everyone will love.
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If you are hosting, have a go at do as much of the preparations before your guests arrive.
Bring your host extra hot sauce and condiments for those who want their Buffalo chicken extra spicy.
Buttery Yeast Rolls
Homemade bread is a popular item to bring to any Friendsgiving gathering.
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Everyone loves a leftover turkey sandwich.
Thanksgiving Punch With Rum
Offering aholiday punchis one way to set a festive mood for your get-together.
Garnish with apple or citrus slices and serve with ice.
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The cranberry-jalapeno salsa can be made two hours to up to a week ahead.
Mushroom-Stuffed Phyllo Cups
Serve these bite-sized mushroom cups as an appetizer or alongside your other side dishes.
Have these cheese, herb, and garlic snacks ready with only five minutes of bake time.
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Frozen phyllo cups help make this an easy go-to recipe when hosting.
Create a savory version of the traditional marshmallow sweet potato casserole using a Parmesan-herb topping instead.
Make this dish ahead of time and freeze it until your gathering.
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Baked Mac And Cheese With Bacon
It wouldn’t be a Friendsgiving meal without amac-and-cheese side dish.
Take this classic food up a notch by adding bacon and topping it with fresh breadcrumbs.
This cheesy pasta is so indulgent that you’ll want to make it for every gathering.
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you could also make the breadcrumb topping before and add it before baking.
Loaded Cauliflower Casserole
Make this casserole up to three days ahead of your Friendsgiving gathering.
This topping adds a kick to this vegetable dish without heavy cream or cheese weighing it down.
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Tee’s Corn Pudding
Corn pudding is another one of those classic Thanksgiving side dishes.
Make this recipe ahead of time, which freezes perfectly, so you are ready for the big event.
This rich corn pudding should be golden brown around the edges when it’s finished baking.
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Scalloped Oysters
Seafood isn’t always people’s first thought when discussing what to make for Thanksgiving.
Luckily, we know this Scalloped Oysters recipe is what you should make this year.
This oyster bake, made with mostly pantry staples, is a great addition to a Thanksgiving spread.
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This classicsweet potato casserolehas pecans, cornflakes, and everyone’s favorite marshmallows as toppings.
Try alternating rows of cornflake mixture and marshmallows for a beautiful design.
The torn sourdough bread pieces add a heartiness and a crispy texture.
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Finally, coat this classic Southern vegetable with red wine vinegar, salt, and pepper.
Sheet Pan Butternut Squash Mac And Cheese
Butternut squash and mac-and-cheese are holiday staples.
Take these two Thanksgiving dishes and combine them into one delicious side.
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Plus, it only needs four ingredients to make a smooth and flavorful gravy.
Roasted Herb Turkey And Gravy
There’s a lot of pressure to make theperfect turkeyon Thanksgiving.
Turkey gravy is made better by adding onions, carrots, and celery to the roasting pan.
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Best Pecan Pie
Dessert is essential to any great Friendsgiving.
Make this version of classicpecan pieahead of time and freeze it until the day of your get-together.
Light, flaky homemade crust captures the sugary, glazed pecans that fill this pie.
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Similar to traditional pumpkin pie, seasonal spices pack this dessert.
Pecan Cheesecake Pie
Add an autumn twist to this classic dessert.
The pecan topping adds seasonal flavoring and a nutty crunch on top of the creamy cheesecake filling.
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Use refrigerated pie crust to help save time.
Bacon-Brussels Sprout-Green Bean Casserole
Impress your guests by combining two favorite sides in one delicious casserole.
This dish can be assembled up to three days in advance and baked the day of your event.
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Dried cranberries and crunchy sesame seeds complete the cornucopia of flavors and textures.
Serve hot right out of the oven or add to a charcuterie board.
Dont use anything too rare or fancy, a basic bourbon will blend with the ingredients just fine.
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For a moist, flavor-packed turkey, we recommend a bone-in, skin-on turkey breast.
For more, color use rainbow carrots, and for variety, add sweet potatoes.
Make and refrigerate the herb butter up to three days in advance to cut down on prep time.
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Kabocha squash, Brussels sprouts, kale, and honeycrisp apples make an abundant and beautiful combination.
To save time, make the dressing a couple of days ahead.
This cranberry sauce gets a zippy twist from fresh ginger and orange.
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Even better, it can be made days ahead of time and only takes 25 minutes.
Cornmeal Popovers
Provide a light and airy option to your holiday breadbasket with these cornmeal popovers.
Fine white cornmeal adds a Southern spin on this classic recipe, which uses pantry basics.
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For mashed potatoes that are fluffy and creamy, use a mix of russets and Yukon Gold potatoes.
The seasoning for the asparagus only requires a few common pantry staples.
Though these bite-sized snacks are light, they definitely deliver on flavor.
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This app can be prepared ahead of time and assembled right before guests arrive.
This mini cinnamon apple pie recipe includes a few prep time saversrefrigerated piecrust and no apple peeling required.
Just before serving, top with whipped cream and a dusting of cocoa.
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Roasted Delicata Squash
Jessica Furniss
This simple, scalable recipe is gluten-free, nut-free, and vegan.
Dont forget to save the seeds for roasting later, they make a delicious, nutrient-packed snack.
Just like our favorite cornbread dressings, this one delivers a browned crust top with a custardy center.
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