Hosting Thanksgiving can feel pretty overwhelming with a whole day of cooking and entertaining the guests. While most people celebrate Thanksgiving with their families, not everyone gets to go home for the festivities. If you are not going either, host a Friendsgiving this year and celebrate with your friends instead. To help you create the impeccable menu, we have listed the best Friendsgiving recipes, from bite-sized appetizers, cocktails, and classic side dishes to mouthwatering desserts and showstopping mains. Whether you are hosting Friendsgiving or bringing a potluck, these are the best recipes to try in 2025.
Friendsgiving Appetizers
Nothing makes holidays merrier than a fancy, flavorful dip or a cheese platter. Thanksgiving appetizers are a clever way to keep hungry friends out of the kitchen before the big meal comes out. Here are our favorite appetizers that you can serve this Friendsgiving.
Cranberry Brie Pull-Apart Bread
This pull-apart bread appetizer is stuffed with brie, fresh herbs, and cranberry sauce to offer a sweet and cheesy treat that will keep the guests coming back for more. Just cut criss-cross sections on the bread without slicing through the bottom, and you are good to go. Check out the full recipe.
Sausage Stuffing Bites With Cranberry Sauce
These sausage stuffing bites with cranberry sauce are an amazing appetizer with a tangy twist. You can even pair these with a fresh green salad. Use the leftover stuffing to create these appetizer bites and keep the hungry guests sated till dinner comes out. Check out the full recipe.
Puff Pastry Brie Bites
Brie is one of the most versatile ingredients when it comes to making appetizers. These puff pastry brie bites are filled with creamy cheese, topped with sweet fig jam to give an amazing flavor burst. Check out the full recipe.
Friendsgiving Sides
Side dishes are like your supporting characters. The greater the side character, the better the show. So, it is important to work on your holiday sides as much as the main dish. Check out these low-effort, big-reward sides that can be part of your Friendsgiving celebration.
Creamy Potato Salad
Whether bringing a potluck or hosting Friendsgiving, this creamy potato salad is sure to be a hit. The best part is that it is incredibly easy to make and can be made ahead to save from the last-minute stress. Check out the full recipe.
Hasselback Butternut Squash With Maple Brown Butter
Enjoy the seasonal butternut squash with a sweet and savory twist with this hassleback squash with maple brown butter. The squash is slathered with sage-scented maple brown butter and basted every 10 minutes with more butter, because you can never have too much butter. Check out the full recipe.
Leafy Winter Salad
Since ‘tis the season of leafy greens, utilize them heavily in your Friendsgiving menu. This leafy winter salad is made from seasonal ingredients, is healthy, and tastes divine. It makes for a perfect festive side. Check out the full recipe.
Friendsgiving Mains
Main dishes are often considered the star of the show. Your side dishes, desserts, and appetizers are all meant to complement the mains of any event, especially your Thanksgiving feast.
Coq au Vin Rosé
Give a twist to the classic coq au vin. A crowd-pleaser, this recipe is loaded with mushrooms and bacon, along with pancetta, chicken, leeks, and dry rosé wine. This recipe is a soul-warming main dish, perfect for your Friendsgiving table. Check out the full recipe.
Oven Roasted Chicken and Potatoes
When nothing seems to fit the menu, oven roasted chicken and potatoes are one of the safest options to serve during a festive feast. It is the perfect recipe for those who do not eat turkey or beef. Easy to make and incredibly delicious, this can be paired with sautéed collard greens and gravy. Check out the full recipe.
Dry Brine Turkey
This dry brine turkey recipe gives you the most flavorful and moist bird on the table. You need to plan and begin a few days in advance. Best part? You don’t even need more than salt and pepper. Check out the full recipe.
Friendsgiving Drinks
Any festive meal is incomplete without complementary drinks. Raise a glass filled with soul-warming seasonal cocktails that capture the flavors and spirit of fall. These Friendsgiving drinks are the perfect to toast to your family away from home.
Spicy Apple Cider Margaritas
Margaritas are ever-so-versatile and can be paired with basically any occasion. These spicy apple cider margaritas work best when you are uncertain between red or white wine. Mix the heavenly combination of apple cider with tequila, hot honey, and Calvados. Check out the full recipe.
Apple Pie Bourbon Shots
These apple pie bourbon shots are the perfect drink to serve for Friendsgiving. Infused with warm spices and autumnal flavors, it is the ideal fall cocktail. You only need a few ingredients, such as apples, cinnamon, and nutmeg, to bring this drink together. Check out the full recipe.
Pumpkin Spice Martini
A pumpkin spice martini isn’t just a drink; it’s a dessert in itself. It is the perfect after-dinner drink. This Friendsgiving drink is creamy, sweet, and rich, with a heartwarming pumpkin pie vibe and topped with whipped cream. Check out the full recipe.
Friendsgiving Desserts
A good dessert is the perfect way to end a feast. Celebrate the spirit of friendship with these Friendsgiving desserts that are impressive, elegant, and cozy, infused with fall flavors.
Apple Pie With Homemade Puff Pastry
The sweet and tangy flavor of fresh Granny Smith apples, paired with warm spices and snuggled between flaky, buttery pie crusts will become your absolute favorite holiday dessert. It is perfect served hot with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Check out the full recipe.
Pumpkin Chocolate Truffle Bars
These pumpkin truffle bars are gooey, almost fudgy, and so delicious that you will want to make a handful of platters so you can enjoy the leftovers after Friendsgiving. Your buddies will be asking for the recipe for sure. Check out the full recipe.
Apple Crisp
Another soul-warming dessert, the apple crisp goes amazingly with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. It has juicy cinnamon apples and a brown sugar oat topping offering perfect crunch. Check out the full recipe.
Let us know which of these Friendsgiving recipes you are making this season. Happy hosting!
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