15 Cool Friendsgiving Food Ideas For Your Next Gathering

Since Thanksgiving is all about the delicious food (and how grateful we are for it!), we’re helping you begin to plan what to bring to your own holiday gathering by providing a list of delicious Friendsgiving food ideas. In recent years, the popularity of holding a “Friendsgiving” with all your best buds—separately from, and sometimes instead of, your family Thanksgiving dinner—has grown significantly. You’ll hear no complaints from us, as food lovers whose main goal is to try as many people’s Thanksgiving dishes as possible. 

Read on for these assorted recipes, which range from appetizers and main course options to side dishes and desserts. As varied as they are, they do all have one thing in common: they’ll impress and delight your friends!

1. Prepare and host your Friendsgiving at a Peerspace venue

As you select your favorite Friendsgiving food ideas and plan out this year’s Friendsgiving logistics, don’t forget how important the location of your venue will be to the overall experience. 

For starters, you’ll need a space with a functional kitchen, as well as a spacious dining room with enough seating for everyone in attendance. These criteria are just the bare minimum, and you’ll definitely also appreciate having cozy areas to hang out, entertainment options, outdoor space, and other amenities.

Luckily, Peerspace can help you find Thanksgiving (and Friendsgiving!) dinner venues near you. It’s the top digital marketplace for all kinds of hourly rentals, including but not limited to venues. As you search Peerspace’s tens of thousands of listings for dinner venues in your area, your options will likely include everything from comfortable houses to tasteful apartments and hip, modern lofts.

You can also filter your search results according to a bunch of helpful criteria, including availability of indoor/outdoor spaces (including kitchens, which will be important for Friendsgiving!), style, space type, amenities, availability of instant booking, etc.

2. Pumpkin slab pie for a big group

Pumpkin pie is at the top of our list when it comes to Friendsgiving food ideas, but not just any old pumpkin pie—an enormous pumpkin slab pie that can feed everyone in attendance with plenty of leftovers to spare. We much prefer this convenient option over making a bunch of individual pies. Don’t forget the whipped cream!

3. Pumpkin French toast

If your Friendsgiving includes a breakfast or brunch component (like if you go away and stay in a cabin with your friends as part of your Friendsgiving!), fry up this pumpkin French toast to foreshadow the abundant pumpkin pie you’ll be eating later that day. 

4. No-knead dinner rolls

Every Thanksgiving meal needs plenty of rolls to soak up the meal’s traditional turkey gravy. We love this recipe because not only are the rolls incredibly easy to make, but they also turn out with the perfect texture. 

5. Sweet potatoes in orange cups

Sweet potato casserole with marshmallows is another Thanksgiving classic. But for this Friendsgiving food idea, we’re suggesting you switch it up a bit by presenting the orange-hued dish in adorable orange halves. 

Give your Friendsgiving venue the extra touch by utilizing these festive Friendsgiving decor ideas!

6. Roasted brussels sprouts

By now, pretty much everyone has gotten the memo that brussels sprouts can be not only edible but extremely delicious if prepared correctly. (Thank goodness, because if you’re not eating them, you’re missing out.) “Prepared correctly” usually means roasting them until they’re browned and topping them with flavorful ingredients, which in this side dish means the seasonally appropriate combination of walnuts and cranberries. 

7. Sausage stuffing with apples and figs

Make sure someone is making stuffing! If it’s you, make this sausage stuffing with apples and figs for a sweet and salty, super savory take on the dish. Yum!

8. Bacon-wrapped dates with goat cheese

Speaking of sweet and salty, we’re recommending this appetizer as the epitome of that delicious combo. The addition of goat cheese brings in a creamy element that takes this three-ingredient marvel to the next level.

9. Homemade turkey dry rub

Perhaps you’re the brave and enthusiastic soul who decided to take on the honor (or burden) of preparing the turkey for your Friendsgiving. Using this homemade dry rub will ensure your turkey turns out incredibly juicy and delicious.

10. Mulled wine

Heating up red wine with honey, oranges, apple cider, brandy, and a variety of spices gives you this fabulous and warming mulled wine.

Friendsgiving is about more than food (no, really!). Check out these fun Friendsgiving game ideas to keep your guests entertained between courses.

11. Cheesy cauliflower gratin

Especially as the weather cools off, we love our veggies buried in a cheesy sauce and roasted in the oven. The goat cheese in this recipe gives it a lot more flavor than your average cauliflower gratin.

12. Pumpkin cinnamon rolls

You’d be amazed by how many ways there are to incorporate pumpkin into your Friendsgiving desserts! These pumpkin cinnamon rolls really take it to the next level.

13. Make ahead gravy

Give yourself one less thing to do on the day of Friendsgiving by making this unbelievably tasty gravy ahead of time.

14. The creamiest mashed potatoes

Another Turkey Day essential, this mashed potato recipe gets everything right, from its copious amounts of butter to its impeccably creamy texture.

15. Leftover turkey casserole

Last but not least, if you need a way to use up your Friendsgiving leftovers, make this casserole. It’s a delicious and easy crowd-pleaser.

Find unique Friendsgiving party venues on Peerspace