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  5. This Is the Menu You Need to Host the Best Friendsgiving Ever

This Is the Menu You Need to Host the Best Friendsgiving Ever

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By Emily VanSchmus Updated October 07, 2021
Each product we feature has been independently selected and reviewed by our editorial team. If you make a purchase using the links included, we may earn commission.
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bottles of wine with thanksgiving themed labels
Credit: Carson Downing
Celebrating a Thanksgiving dinner with friends is an excellent way to welcome the holiday season in a non-traditional way. Our delicious Friendsgiving menu offers simple recipes as easy alternatives to your classic Thanksgiving meal, such as turkey nachos and warmly-spiced pumpkin ice cream. With our turkey recipe mash-ups, DIY wine pairings, and adorable Friendsgiving desserts, this homemade friends' dinner menu is guaranteed to be a memory-maker that everyone can be grateful for.
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Friendsgiving Menu

thanksgiving table with candle centerpiece
Credit: Marty Baldwin

When spending time with family on Thanksgiving isn't an option, opt to host pals over the holiday. Invite your crew with a free Friendsgiving printable, deck your halls with a few festive Friendsgiving decorations, then try our creative food ideas that feature simplified Friendsgiving menu items. We hit the “easy” button on all of the recipes so you can spend more time trading stories and sipping wine with friends. Cheers to that!

Related: Why We Celebrate Friendsgiving

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Melted Raclette Cheese Dip

Raclette
Credit: Brie Passano
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Melty, shareable, and over-the-top decadent, this cheese from Switzerland is ideal for a friends’ dinner. The cheese pulls will surely be Instagram-worthy, plus the cast-iron skillet keeps it warm for all-cocktail-hour-long nibbles. Plate with cured meats, toasted bread slices, boiled sturdy vegetables, and fresh fruit for a scoopathon for the ages. Easily put it all together with a mini cast iron skillet ($13, Crate & Barrel) and fondue forks. 

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Crostini with Delicata Squash Butter

Crostini with Delicata Squash Butter
Credit: Jason Donnelly
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If you’re among those who believe hosting Thanksgiving dinner with friends is the best part of the holiday (hand raised), extend the affair by welcoming guests with a cocktail hour spread. Make a pitcher of crowd-pleasing drinks, then set out platters of these garlic-scented squash and ricotta toasts and bowls of fresh fruit and nuts. A slate serving tray ($27, West Elm) will make the bright squash pop for a very Instagram-able spread. 

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Turkey Pita Nachos with Pomegranate and Mint

Turkey Pita Nachos with Pomegranate and Mint
Credit: Blaine Moats
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Craving a more casual, snackable turkey recipe for your Friendsgiving menu? Our turkey-topped pita chip platter is layered with fresh mint, pomegranate seeds, turkey (of course), and a sprinkling of feta cheese. This nontraditional Thanksgiving turkey recipe is a simple reminder of what we’re most grateful for during the holiday season: making fresh memories with cherished friends. And the best part? You can serve the dish on the same sheet pan ($10, Bed Bath & Beyond) you cooked it on for easy clean-up.

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Gruyère Cheese Straws

Gruyere Cheese Straws
Credit: Andy Lyons
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Want to plan ahead for your Friendsgiving celebration? Make these cheesy, crunchy pastries two days before the big dinner. As your guests arrive, simply reheat in the oven 5 to 10 minutes to warm and crisp them up. This tasty appetizer pairs well with a glass of Thanksgiving wine before the meal, or save them for the table. The savory bites also perfectly accompany any turkey recipe. They're a great example of why we love make-ahead Thanksgiving recipes so much: They're huge time-savers on Turkey Day!

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Veggie-Turkey Burgers

veggie-and-turkey burgers with toppings
Credit: Andy Lyons
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Reinvent your turkey recipe for Thanksgiving dinner with friends by making these quick and easy burgers. (There’s no better way to channel your inner child that was perked up during the morning’s Thanksgiving Day parade!) This juicy turkey burger topped with fresh vegetables will delight friends and serve as the comforting star of your Friendsgiving menu. Don’t forget to offer classic Thanksgiving sides with the meal—like mashed potatoes and cranberries—to balance this new turkey recipe with old traditions.

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BBQ Spice-Rubbed Turkey Breast

BBQ Spice-Rubbed Turkey Breast
Credit: Andy Lyons
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When you're among friends, there's no need to impress with a whole bird. Simplify your traditional Thanksgiving centerpiece by serving turkey breasts instead of the entire roast. Our delicious entree recipe is easy to prepare and comes topped with a crunchy glaze made from a spicy turkey rub and tangy cranberry sauce.

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Pomegranate-Glazed Sweet Potatoes

Bowl of spiralized sweet potatoes and pomegranates for Pomegranate-Glazed Sweet Potatoes
Credit: Blaine Moats
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Hosting Thanksgiving dinner with friends who are interested in the latest food trends? For a modern twist on a sweet potato side, use a spiralizer ($17, Target). The spud spirals (try a mix of orange and purple) soak up a delicious amount of the warmly-spiced honey butter sauce. Tart pomegranate seed “croutons” add a pop of color and freshen up your menu even more.

Related: How to Use a Spiralizer

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Creamed Cauliflower and Greens

Creamed Cauliflower and Greens
Credit: Blaine Moats
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From gnocchi and soups to steaks and even smoothies (yes, really!), there’s little this low-carb veggie swap can’t do. As an alternative to potatoes, consider this cauliflower recipe that’s  loaded with greens and cream. This recipe makes six generous servings to feed your whole crew, so if you're having a small Thanksgiving dinner with friends, there'll still be plenty of creamy goodness leftover the next day.

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Wild Rice Dressing

Wild Rice Dressing
Credit: Jason Donnelly
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Bring a colorful side dish to the table this Thanksgiving with our savory wild rice dressing. Not only is this Friendsgiving idea a great alternative to your usual heavy stuffing, but it has all the flavors you crave from the bread-base classic. Served alongside any turkey entree, this easy dressing might end up being the star of your Thanksgiving menu!

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Crushed Potatoes with Lemony Brown Butter

Crushed Potatoes with Lemony Brown Butter
Credit: Blaine Moats
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We’re crushing on these crispy spuds. For your Thanksgiving dinner with friends this year, take a break from standard mashed potatoes and whip up these chive-topped brown butter potatoes. The easy to achieve smashed format helps them please fans of fries and those who think mashers are a must all at once. Plate them on a pretty serving platter ($29, Pottery Barn) and garnish with lemon slices and chives—no one will know how easy they actually were!

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Bibb Lettuce Salad with Smoky Ranch Dressing

Bibb Lettuce Salad with Smoky Ranch Dressing
Credit: Andy Lyons
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Impress your Friendsgiving guests with a homemade salad dressing that tastes better than any store-bought bottle. The delicious smoky ranch dressing that tops this Thanksgiving salad recipe can be prepped the day before for a stronger flavor. Keep the side salad fresh by assembling the lettuce, tomatoes, and bacon as guests arrive at your Thanksgiving dinner with friends.

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Mini Blue Corn-Carrot Cupcakes

Mini Blue Corn-Carrot Cupcakes
Credit: Andy Lyons
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Sometimes it’s good to be corny, like with this blue cornmeal-based Friendsgiving idea. Get double duty out of this recipe: Serve first as Friendsgiving dessert topped with tangy cream cheese frosting, and again as breakfast muffins for overnight guests. Simply save a few unfrosted cupcakes, and voilá—it's a two-in-one recipe perfect for every Friendsgiving menu.

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Spiced Custard Pie

Spiced Cider Custard Pie
Credit: Blaine Moats
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Raise a glass to all of your cider-loving pals with this Friendsgiving menu dessert. In place of fussier peeled and sliced apples, this creamy custard pie gets a big dose of fall flavor from four cups of apple cider. Bake in your favorite pie dish ($15, Target), then top with pretty whipped cream peaks and everyone will be snapping photos—and savoring every last crumb.

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Marshmallow Treat Turkey Dessert

Marshmallow Treat Turkey Dessert
Credit: Hannah Bigot
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Delight guests with a turkey-shape snack that's sweeter than Thanksgiving pie. These chocolate-covered marshmallow treats are topped with a classic peanut butter cookie then decorated with candies for a festive option that will delight kids and adults alike. Our easy-prep sweet also makes a perfect Friendsgiving activity for everyone to assemble together.

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Pumpkin Ice Cream

Pumpkin Spice Ice Cream
Credit: Andy Lyons
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Here’s the scoop: No fall feast is complete without a serving of squash. But instead of a traditional pie, put the pumpkin on ice for your friends Thanksgiving. The holiday treat is delectable with apple, pear, or oatmeal pie, and once it's made, the ice cream can be stored in the freezer for later. Leftovers, here we come.

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Thanksgiving with Friends: Wine Guide

bottles of wine with thanksgiving themed labels
Credit: Carson Downing
Download the free labels.

Now that you have the food set for your Thanksgiving dinner with friends, it's time to think about what you’ll serve to drink. Use our complete Thanksgiving wine guide to make sure you get the best wines to match your Friendsgiving menu. 

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    1 of 17 Friendsgiving Menu
    2 of 17 Melted Raclette Cheese Dip
    3 of 17 Crostini with Delicata Squash Butter
    4 of 17 Turkey Pita Nachos with Pomegranate and Mint
    5 of 17 Gruyère Cheese Straws
    6 of 17 Veggie-Turkey Burgers
    7 of 17 BBQ Spice-Rubbed Turkey Breast
    8 of 17 Pomegranate-Glazed Sweet Potatoes
    9 of 17 Creamed Cauliflower and Greens
    10 of 17 Wild Rice Dressing
    11 of 17 Crushed Potatoes with Lemony Brown Butter
    12 of 17 Bibb Lettuce Salad with Smoky Ranch Dressing
    13 of 17 Mini Blue Corn-Carrot Cupcakes
    14 of 17 Spiced Custard Pie
    15 of 17 Marshmallow Treat Turkey Dessert
    16 of 17 Pumpkin Ice Cream
    17 of 17 Thanksgiving with Friends: Wine Guide

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