What to Bring to Friendsgiving? Easy Ideas Everyone Will Love

Wondering what to bring to Friendsgiving? Whether you are hosting or heading to a friend’s place, this list of easy ideas has you covered. Friendsgiving is a gathering that kicks off the holiday season, with everything you love about Thanksgiving, including comfort foods, festive drinks and cozy decor, minus the usual guest list. Instead of celebrating relatives, you get to celebrate your friends. Picture everyone around one table, sharing what they are thankful for, with plenty of laughter and cheers. Between appetizers, cocktails, mains, sides and desserts, these Friendsgiving food ideas are bound to be crowd-pleasers.

Friendsgiving food ideas: appetizers

Appetizers are guests’ first taste of the event—and they’re fun to pair with pre-dinner cocktails. They’re also the easiest dish to assign out, so take appetizers off your hosting plate by sending these five recipes to your friends.

1. 3-Ingredient Bacon-Wrapped Dates

The name of the game when it comes to appetizers is simplicity. With just three ingredients, these bacon-wrapped dates couldn’t be easier to throw together—and the savory-sweet flavors are incredibly addicting. Feel free to swap the blue cheese for your choice of cheese (I opt for honey goat!)

2. Friendsgiving Charcuterie Board

No holiday gathering is complete without a charcuterie board. When building your Friendsgiving board, add in seasonal ingredients like pecans, apples, cranberries, and figs alongside your meats and cheeses to give it a festive feel.

3. Spinach Artichoke Dip

Spinach artichoke dip is a classic for a reason, and whenever it’s at a party, I find myself parked in front of it all night. It’s simple to make but feels much more elevated than most easy dips, making it perfect for a Friendsgiving where you want minimal effort and a dish that feels dinner-party appropriate.

4. Pumpkin-Shaped Baked Brie

This pumpkin-shaped baked brie is perfect as a standalone app, or you can incorporate it into your Friendsgiving charcuterie board. This is a classic baked brie recipe with an extra step to make it look like a pumpkin. Serve it with apples or crackers, and don’t forget a dollop of apple butter or pumpkin butter for an extra sweet bite!

5. Spinach Stuffed Mushrooms

Spinach dip is always a crowd-pleaser, and these spinach-stuffed mushrooms elevate the classic appetizer. These little snacks look like they take a lot of effort, but in reality, they only take about 15 minutes to prep and 25 minutes in the oven.

6. Baked Tomato and Goat Cheese Dip

This dip is made with hot roasted tomatoes, garlic, goat cheese, and a little bit of spice from red pepper flakes. The recipe calls for a toasted crostini, but if you don’t want to make your own, you can serve this dip with bagel chips or crackers.

Friendsgiving food ideas: mains

When we think of a traditional Thanksgiving dinner, a big ol’ turkey usually sits at the center of the table. For Friendsgiving, dial it back with one of these hassle-free turkey recipes—or switch things up with a non-traditional main.

7. Slow Cooker Turkey Breast

You don’t need to roast a whole turkey in the oven to enjoy a Friendsgiving turkey! This recipe is pretty hands-off as far as cooking a turkey goes. You’ll need to prepare the turkey and the seasonings, but then you just pop it in your slow cooker and focus on other courses or spending time with your friends until dinner.

8. Red Wine Cranberry Braised Short Ribs

Calling all red meat lovers: This braised short rib recipe is an alternative to the traditional turkey—and it’s bursting with fall flavors. Think: rosemary, thyme, brown sugar, and cranberry. Made in a slow cooker, this Friendsgiving recipe is easy, cozy, and looks impressive.

9. Roasted Vegetable Butternut Squash Lasagna

If you’re looking for a vegetarian option that still feels festive enough for your Friendsgiving table, this veggie lasagna delivers. It’s packed with peppers, onions, mushrooms, zucchini, and, of course, butternut squash. A blend of seasonal spices gives this dish a mildly sweet flavor to complement the savory veggies.

10. Pork Tenderloin with Dijon Cream Sauce

Pork tenderloin is a great choice when hosting any dinner party, but especially Friendsgiving because it feels fancy but isn’t too difficult to cook. This recipe is packed with flavor—from the spice rub to the savory glaze to the Dijon cream sauce. The final product looks and tastes gourmet, but it only takes about an hour to make from start to finish.

Friendsgiving cocktail recipes

Of course, no Friendsgiving is complete without a seasonally appropriate drink to sip on while you chat with your besties. From batch cocktails to handcrafted mocktails, these cocktail recipes will make your Friendsgiving even more festive.

​​11. Chai Espresso Martini

In my personal opinion, you can’t celebrate without an espresso martini. So it only makes sense that I would scope out the best espresso martini for Friendsgiving. Made with a homemade chai honey syrup and non-dairy milk, this chai espresso martini is a perfect after-dinner cocktail.

12. Honeycrisp Apple Cider Sangria

This apple cider sangria is extremely easy to make and full of seasonal ingredients. It’s made with apple cider, white wine, apple brandy, Honeycrisp apples, and a spiced honey simple syrup for a delicious blend of autumn flavors.

13. Thanksgiving Punch Mocktail

If you want to make a batched drink sans alcohol, this Thanksgiving punch is perfect. Made with apple cider, orange juice, fresh fruit, and seasonal spices—all topped off with ginger ale—this mocktail feels extra festive even without the booze. If you want to leave the option of turning it into a cocktail, have some spiced rum or bourbon nearby.

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