Skip to content

Top Navigation

MyRecipes MyRecipes
  • Course
  • Baking
  • Global
  • Healthy
  • Favorite Ingredients
  • Holidays and Occasions
  • Quick and Easy
  • Convenience Recipes
  • BBQ and Grilling
  • How To
  • Extra Crispy
  • News

Profile Menu

Your Profile

Account

  • Register
  • Email Preferences
  • Logout
Login
Pin FB

Explore MyRecipes

MyRecipes MyRecipes
  • Explore

    Explore

    • 55+ Easy Dinner Recipes for Busy Weeknights

      55+ Easy Dinner Recipes for Busy Weeknights

      Everybody understands the stuggle of getting dinner on the table after a long day. If you're looking for a simple recipe to simplify your weeknight, you've come to the right place--easy dinners are our specialty. For an easy supper that you can depend on, we picked out some of our tried-and-true favorites that have gotten us through even the busiest of days. Whether you're cooking for yourself or for a family, these easy dinners are sure to leave everyone satisfied and stress-free. Read More
    • The Brilliant Secret to Making Better Mashed Potatoes

      The Brilliant Secret to Making Better Mashed Potatoes

      Trust me, it’s so worth it. Read More
    • 65 Super Easy Finger Foods to Make for Any Party

      65 Super Easy Finger Foods to Make for Any Party

      From chips and dip to one-bite apps, finger foods are the perfect way to kick off a party. No forks or spoons required, just easy-to-pick-up party foods, so you can clean up in no time.  Read More
  • Course

    Course

    See All Course
    • Best Appetizer Recipes...Ever
    • Best Drink Recipes for Any Occasion
    • Salad Recipes
    • The Ultimate Guide to Sensational Sides
    • Soup and Stew Recipes
    • Easy Entertaining for Everyone
    • Breakfast and Brunch Recipes
    • Main Dishes and Entrées
    • Dinner Recipes
    • Dessert Recipes
  • Baking

    Baking

    See All Baking
    • Bread Recipes
    • Our Most-Loved Cake Recipes
    • Cookie Recipes
    • Pie Recipes
  • Global

    Global

    See All Global
    • Spanish Recipes
    • Thai Recipes
    • Vietnamese Recipes
    • Middle Eastern Recipes
    • Mexican Recipes
    • Malaysian Recipes
    • Korean Recipes
    • Japanese Recipes
    • Italian Recipes
    • Indian Recipes
    • Greek Recipes
    • French Recipes
    • Chinese Recipes
    • African Recipes
    • American Recipes
    • Cajun and Creole Recipes
    • Caribbean Recipes
    • South American Recipes
    • Southern Recipes
    • German Recipes
  • Healthy

    Healthy

    See All Healthy
    • Easy, Healthy Recipes
    • Healthy Breakfasts
    • Healthy Dinners
    • Healthy Desserts
    • Diabetic Recipes
    • Gluten-Free Diet and Recipes
    • Vegan Recipes
    • Low Carbohydrate Recipes
    • Low Cholesterol Recipes
    • Low Fat Recipes
    • Low Sodium Recipes
    • Low Calorie Recipes
    • Vegetarian Recipes
  • Favorite Ingredients

    Favorite Ingredients

    See All Favorite Ingredients
    • The Ultimate Guide to Chicken
    • Vegetable Recipes
    • Beef Recipes
    • Cheese Recipes
    • Chocolate Recipes
    • Pasta Recipes
    • Pork Recipes
    • Seafood Recipes
    • Shrimp Recipes
  • Holidays and Occasions

    Holidays and Occasions

    See All Holidays and Occasions
    • A Foodie's Guide to Halloween Recipes
    • The Ultimate Thanksgiving Guide
    • Hanukkah Recipes
    • Your Ultimate Christmas Recipe Guide
    • Our Most Festive New Year's Recipes
    • Best-Ever Super Bowl Sunday Recipes
    • Best Valentine's Day Recipes
    • Mardi Gras Recipes
    • The Ultimate Guide to Easter Recipes
    • Cinco de Mayo Recipes
    • Labor Day Recipes
    • The Ultimate Fourth of July Guide
    • Memorial Day Recipes
    • Touchdown-Worthy Tailgate Recipes
    • Wedding and Shower Recipes
  • Quick and Easy

    Quick and Easy

    See All Quick and Easy
    • 15-Minute Recipes for Busy Home Cooks
    • 5 Ingredients or Less
    • Dinner Tonight
    • No-Cook Recipes
    • 45-Minute Recipes
  • Convenience Recipes

    Convenience Recipes

    See All Convenience Recipes
    • Budget-Friendly Recipes
    • Our Top Make-Ahead Recipes
    • Our Favorite Slow Cooker Recipes
    • Instant Pot Recipes
  • BBQ and Grilling

    BBQ and Grilling

    See All BBQ and Grilling
    • Grilled Beef Recipes
    • Grilled Fish Recipes
    • Grilled Shrimp Recipes
    • Grilled Chicken Recipes
    • Grilled Pork Recipes
    • Grilled Vegetable Recipes
  • How To

    How To

    See All How To
    • 7 Ways With...
    • Videos
    • Ingredients and Tools
    • Kitchen Cleaning
  • Extra Crispy
  • News

Profile Menu

Your Profile

Account

  • Register
  • Email Preferences
  • Logout
Login
Sweepstakes

Follow Us

  1. Home
  2. Holidays and Occasions
  3. The Ultimate Thanksgiving Guide
  4. 20 Easy Dishes to Make Friendsgiving Even Better

20 Easy Dishes to Make Friendsgiving Even Better

By Elizabeth Laseter Updated July 12, 2022
Skip gallery slides
Pin
Friendsgiving Table and Food
Credit: Getty Images: shironosov

Attending a potluck Friendsgiving? Use our menu of easy Thanksgiving favorites to decide what to bring to your party. Whether you cook a turkey or just rely on stunning appetizers and sides, a Friendsgiving potluck has one simple goal—indulge in delicious food with good friends! Our party-perfect, stress-free Friendsgiving food ideas will help you plan the ultimate menu from start to finish.

Start Slideshow

1 of 20

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email

Spinach and Artichoke Dip

Spinach-and-Artichoke Dip
Credit: Raymond Hom; Styling: Pamela Duncan Silver

Spinach and Artichoke Dip Recipe

This crave-worthy, deliciously cheesy app is an instant crowd pleaser at any gathering. You can mix all the ingredients together in advance—but save the final sprinkling of cheese until right before you're ready to bake it. Serve with tortilla chips, toasted baguette slices, or pita chips.

1 of 20

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 20

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email

Pigs in an Everything Blanket with Cream Cheese Dip

mr-Pigs in an Everything Blanket with Cream Cheese Dip Image
Credit: Rebecca Longshore

Pigs in an Everything Blanket with Cream Cheese Dip Recipe

When considering things to make for Friendsgiving, finger foods such as this imaginative riff on pigs in blanket are a surefire pick. Everything bagel seasoning gives this comforting snack a boost of salty, garlicky goodness, while the herbed buttermilk-cream cheese dipping sauce is savory heaven.

2 of 20

3 of 20

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email

French Onion Soup Bites

French Onion Soup Bites image
Credit: Caitlin Bensel; Prop Styling: Christina Daley; Food Styling: Karen Rankin

French Onion Soup Bites Recipe

Easy to assemble and perfectly portable, these French Onion Soup bites are the perfect addition to any holiday party spread. They're like your favorite Trader Joe's freezer aisle find, but tastier. 

3 of 20

Advertisement

4 of 20

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email

Crispy Potato Chips

Crispy Potato Chips
Credit: Alison Miksch; Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller

Crispy Potato Chips Recipe

Homemade potato chips pack an irresistibly salty crunch that will send guests reaching for more. Plus, this craveworthy snack is much easier to make from scratch then most would realize—you can slice the potatoes thinly with a sharp knife, but a mandoline will get the job done faster. Serve with a simple sour cream and onion dip on the side.

4 of 20

5 of 20

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email

French Onion Pull-Apart Bread

French Onion Pull Apart Bread image
Credit: Caroline Arcangeli; Prop Styling: Christina Daley; Food Styling: Liz Mervosh

French Onion Pull-Apart Bread Recipe

This French Onion Pull-Apart Bread takes all the savory and cheesy highlights of French onion soup and improves them by adding an entire baguette into the mixture. That's right, French onion soup you can eat with your fingers. Your secret weapon? Store-bought onion jam, which sheds the time it takes to caramelize your own onions. Be sure not to cut the baguette all the way through or the bread will lose its pull-apart effect.

5 of 20

6 of 20

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email

Cranberry Sangria

1711 cranberry sangria cl
Credit: Luca Trovato

Cranberry Sangria Recipe

Sangria, a fruity, easy-drinking wine cocktail with Spanish origins, gets a Thanksgiving twist with fresh cranberries. We recommend a fruity red such as beaujolais or zinfandel, but you can also use a Spanish tempranillo or garnacha. If have leftover red wine, enjoy it with the main meal—it's a perfect match for richer dishes.

6 of 20

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

7 of 20

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email

Apple Cider Margarita

wd-Apple Cider Margarita image
Credit: Time Inc. Video Studios

Apple Cider Margarita Recipe

Margaritas call for a festive celebration, and our fall-inspired riff perfectly fits the bill on any Friendsgiving menu. Here, we give the traditional tequila cocktail a seasonal makeover with fresh apple cider and cinnamon.

7 of 20

8 of 20

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email

Instant Pot Cranberry Sauce

mr-Instant Pot Cranberry Sauce
Credit: Caitlin Bensel Food Styling: Tina Stamos and Gordon Sawyer Prop Styling: Kay Clark

Instant Pot Cranberry Sauce Recipe

This powerful cranberry-apple sauce carries enough flavors to make it go far. Keep it traditional and serve with turkey, or think outside the box and use a dollop on this Instant Pot Pumpkin Soup. Although it's quick and easy to make, we'd suggest prepping it a few days in advance—this Instant Pot Cranberry Sauce only gets better with time. 

8 of 20

9 of 20

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email

Spicy Maple Turkey Breast with Quick Pan Sauce

Spicy Maple Turkey Breast with Quick Pan Sauce
Credit: José Picayo; Styling: Philippa Brathwaite

Spicy Maple Turkey Breast with Quick Pan Sauce Recipe
 

If you don't want to spend your entire Turkey Day in the kitchen, this is the entrée for you. A bold spice rub gives the meat big flavor and gorgeous color.

9 of 20

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

10 of 20

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email

Loaded Mashed Potatoes

mr - Loaded Mashed Potatoes
Credit: Alison Miksch; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Sarah Elizabeth Cleveland

Loaded Mashed Potatoes Recipe

How do you make mashed potatoes better? Load them up with classic baked potato toppings. These mashed potatoes are creamy and light, but filled with flavor. The sour cream gives the potatoes just the right amount of tang, and the cheese is melted to perfection. 

10 of 20

11 of 20

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email

Ultimate Mac 'n' Cheese

Ultimate Mac 'n' Cheese
Credit: Jim Franco

Ultimate Mac 'n' Cheese Recipe

Why "ultimate" mac n' cheese? Because the sauce in this recipe is creamy, not grainy; it's flavored with shallots, gruyère, and white wine, like fondue; and it's topped with crunchy sourdough bread crumbs.

11 of 20

12 of 20

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email

Instant Pot Butternut Squash

Instant Pot Butternut Squash image
Credit: Caitlin Bensel; Prop Styling: Sarah Elizabeth Cleveland; Food Styling: Marianne Williams

Instant Pot Butternut Squash Recipe

Instant Pot Butternut Squash is the easy fall side dish recipe that everyone needs in their repertoire. This simple recipe is similar to your go-to roasted butternut squash, yielding browned edges and a melt-in-your-mouth tender interior, but made in your go-to countertop appliance. Make it your own by adding your favorite spices and herbs to the cubed butternut squash. 

12 of 20

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

13 of 20

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email

Brussels Sprouts Casserole

mr-Brussels Sprouts Casserole image
Credit: Antonis Achilles; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Kay Clark

Brussels Sprouts Casserole Recipe

This solid casserole is perfect for a winter gathering and would especially be welcome around the holidays. The strong flavors of sharply biting Brussels sprouts and salty bacon are rounded our with creamy, cheesy goodness while buttery breadcrumbs add a nice crunch. It'd make a perfect side for roasted chicken or pot roast, but it's also a nice addition to a Thanksgiving or Christmas table. 

13 of 20

14 of 20

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email

Two-Ingredient Fudge

Two-Ingredient Fudge image
Credit: Time Inc. Video Studio

Two-Ingredient Fudge Recipe

Requiring a mere 2 ingredients (both of which are likely already in your pantry), this is the fudge you can make with one only one hand. Packing an intensely chocolatey flavor, this easy fudge recipe is sure to please. 

14 of 20

15 of 20

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email

Pecan Pie Bars

Pecan Pie Bars
Credit: Helen Norman; Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas

Pecan Pie Bars Recipe

Delectable—but messy—pecan pie can be difficult to divvy up for a large crowd. Ensure equal pieces (and prevent fighting over slices) by spinning the classic pie into decadent bar cookies. Don't skip out on the nutty homemade crust, which uses chopped toasted pecans and plenty of butter.

15 of 20

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

16 of 20

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email

Spiced Apple Two-Bite Tarts

Spiced Apple Two-Bite Tarts
Credit: Andrew Purcell; Styling: Lydia Degaris Pursell

Spiced Apple Two-Bite Tarts Recipe

This pint-sized Friendsgiving dessert packs a powerful punch of fresh apple flavor. Set out a plate for guests at the table to keep conversation going after dinner. The nutty homemade crust adds a special touch but you can substitute store bought mini tart shells if you're in a hurry.

16 of 20

17 of 20

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email

Classic Pumpkin Pie

Classic Pumpkin Pie
Credit: Credit: Jen Causey, Food Styling: Gordon Sawyer and Tina Stamos, Prop Styling: Lydia Pursell

Classic Pumpkin Pie Recipe

Refrigerated pie dough makes this classic pumpkin pie recipe simple to prepare. Bake the pie on a baking sheet in the lower third of the oven to encourage a crisp crust.

17 of 20

18 of 20

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email

No-Bake Mini Cheesecakes

No-Bake Mini Cheesecakes image
Credit: Meredith Food Studios

No-Bake Mini Cheesecakes Recipe

These no-bake mini cheesecakes have a buttery Biscoff crust that pairs perfectly with the slight tanginess of New York-style cheesecake. Plus, they've got just the right amount of sweetness and a super light, soft filling, and a crumbly crust that's slightly salty. Top with your favorite fruits or candies for an easy, crowd-pleasing treat that everyone at the table will love! 

 

18 of 20

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

19 of 20

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email

Sweet Potato Squares

mr-Sweet Potato Squares
Credit: Darcy Lenz

Sweet Potato Squares Recipe

These autumnal dessert bars combine the elements of the classic, marshmallow-topped sweet potato casserole into a gooey and glorious blondie. (After all, sweet potato casserole kind of belongs on the dessert table anyway.) We use rice flour for these Sweet Potato Squares because this gluten-free flour absorbs moisture from the sweet potato better than all-purpose flour, resulting in a wonderfully tender—not wet or overtly cakey—texture. 

19 of 20

20 of 20

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email

Ginger Pumpkin Trifle with Vanilla Mascarpone Cream

Ginger-Pumpkin Trifle with Vanilla Mascarpone Cream
Credit: Becky Luigart-Stayner; Styling: Lydia Pursell

Ginger Pumpkin Trifle with Vanilla Mascarpone Cream Recipe

This decadent trifle makes for a showstopping and shareable finale—simply grab a fork and dive in. With layers of pumpkin, creamy mascarpone cheese, gingersnap cookies, and a rum coffee mixture, this is the ultimate Friendsgiving dessert indulgence.

20 of 20

Replay gallery

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook

Up Next

By Elizabeth Laseter

    Share the Gallery

    Pinterest Facebook
    Trending Videos
    Advertisement
    Skip slide summaries

    Everything in This Slideshow

    Advertisement

    View All

    1 of 20 Spinach and Artichoke Dip
    2 of 20 Pigs in an Everything Blanket with Cream Cheese Dip
    3 of 20 French Onion Soup Bites
    4 of 20 Crispy Potato Chips
    5 of 20 French Onion Pull-Apart Bread
    6 of 20 Cranberry Sangria
    7 of 20 Apple Cider Margarita
    8 of 20 Instant Pot Cranberry Sauce
    9 of 20 Spicy Maple Turkey Breast with Quick Pan Sauce
    10 of 20 Loaded Mashed Potatoes
    11 of 20 Ultimate Mac 'n' Cheese
    12 of 20 Instant Pot Butternut Squash
    13 of 20 Brussels Sprouts Casserole
    14 of 20 Two-Ingredient Fudge
    15 of 20 Pecan Pie Bars
    16 of 20 Spiced Apple Two-Bite Tarts
    17 of 20 Classic Pumpkin Pie
    18 of 20 No-Bake Mini Cheesecakes
    19 of 20 Sweet Potato Squares
    20 of 20 Ginger Pumpkin Trifle with Vanilla Mascarpone Cream

    Share & More

    Facebook Tweet Email
    MyRecipes

    Magazines & More

    Learn More

    • Advertise this link opens in a new tab

    Connect

    MeredithMyRecipes.com is part of the Allrecipes Food Group. © Copyright 2023 Meredith Corporation. MyRecipes is a registered trademark of Meredith Corporation All Rights Reserved. MyRecipes may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice. Privacy Policythis link opens in a new tab Terms of Servicethis link opens in a new tab Ad Choicesthis link opens in a new tab California Do Not Sellthis link opens a modal window Web Accessibilitythis link opens in a new tab
    © Copyright MyRecipes. All rights reserved. Printed from https://www.myrecipes.com

    Sign in

    View image

    20 Easy Dishes to Make Friendsgiving Even Better
    this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines.