Friendsgiving Food Ideas

Easy Friendsgiving Food Ideas + Party Menu

I’ve loved the idea of Friendsgiving (a family-style dinner with friends) since I first heard of it years ago. And since then I’ve been dreaming up various ideas for an easy Friendsgiving Menu and get together!

I mentioned a week or two ago that the holidays would be upon us and here we are. Somehow the day after Halloween, it’s gifting, snow, and sleigh bells on every commercial.

Easy Friendsgiving Ideas + Party Menu

A little overwhelmed with the onslaught of holidays (i.e. Christmas), my husband and sister both commented that they were fine with the holiday cheer, but what happened to Thanksgiving?! And I totally agreed.

While the December holiday season takes prep and planning, Thanksgiving is a fun chance to get together with family and friends. 

Closeup of Thanksgiving Charcuterie Grazing Board

Friendsgiving Recipes + Ideas

Not surprisingly, however, I’m not ready to roast a turkey and make all the fixins more than once. And, honestly, I don’t have the space to invite all our friends over for a huge sit down meal! My easy Friendsgiving ideas? A small, easy dinner for 4-6 or a fun spread for as many friends as you want and no stress…

Pouring Izze Red Drink into Glass with Ice

Friendsgiving Food Ideas

Before stressing about main dishes and dessert, plan to offer a spread of meat, cheese, and fruit – both fresh and dried. I’ve mentioned time and again how easy it is to just put out the basics and how happy guests really are with these tasty items. These cheese board ideas will help you find just the right setup!

Easy Friendsgiving Food Ideas + Party Menu

I got a sliced baguette at the market and made a batch of soft molasses cookies (my first of the season). It was an offering that took no time, little prep, and let our friends pick and choose what they want when they want it.

I set this up for four people as a light meal, but you could easily make a bigger spread for more guests. I love the idea of this grilled turkey breast for an easier take on a traditional centerpiece of the meal!

Want to go traditional? Offer jello salads for your friends!

Easy Friendsgiving Food Ideas + Party Menu

If you’re looking for main dish recipes, I’d recommend a homemade turkey and vegetable soup (even in the crockpot) or your favorite pasta dish like this chickpea + roasted vegetable pasta that’s so easy. It’s fall and we all just want comfort dinner ideas!

If you live near a Trader Joe’s, you should try this Charcuterie Board made entirely from Trader Joe’s goodies! And if you’re feeding a crowd, check out these tips for creating a whole charcuterie table – to feed up to 40 people!

Get the list for these Friendsgiving food ideas below!

Toasted Baguette Slices on Small Cutting Board

Friendsgiving Drinks | Thanksgiving Drinks

Once you have the food all figured out, it’s time for the Friendsgiving drinks. I’m partial to anything pomegranate this time of year, so IZZE’s Pomegranate Sparkling Juice or San Pellegrino’s  pomegranate orange are perfect. I love the sweet and tart libation. The fizz just makes it that much more festive!!

I added some fresh pomegranate arils (seeds) to a glass of ice and topped with the juice! I also served the IZZE Sparkling Grapefruit Juice as a tangier option. Prairie’s organic sparkling grapefruit would be good as would Fever-Tree’s Pink Grapefruit option! Both flavors could be combined with a spirit for an easy cocktail!

And I loved the colors on my table. Aren’t they just so fun?! And if we’re really talking easy, these sparkling juices are a great Thanksgiving drink too, so get enough for both get-togethers!

If you’re wanting to serve something with spirits, however, check out these wines to serve with holiday meals and the sustainable spirit brands! This apple cider bourbon cocktail is probably a shoe-in though. Try a pear martini or fall vodka cocktail if you prefer vodka -based cocktails.

Fork + Lavender on Napkin - Table Setting Ideas

Somehow the drink colors made it look as though I’d decorated the space even though I didn’t besides some mini squash and dried flowers on the place settings! These natural fall decor ideas will help you find the right accent for your perfect setup!

Trail

This trail mix is actually just my copycat recipe of the Trader Joe’s Omega 3 Trail mix. Depending on your time, you can easily buy the store-bought version if you don’t want to make it yourself (thought it takes very little time once you have the ingredients on hand).

This snack mix (perfect for Fall and Halloween) is another fabulous homemade idea!

Easy Friendsgiving Food Ideas + Party Menu

Kids at your Friendsgiving table? Have these free Thanksgiving I-Spy printable pages for them. Some festive fun that the adults will like too!

Easy Friendsgiving Tabel Setup
Easy Friendsgiving Food Recipes
Print Recipe
5 from 9 votes

FRIENDSGIVING FOOD IDEAS

I’ve loved the idea of “Friendsgiving” since I heard about it years ago. A reason to spend time with friends just like you would your family? That sounds pretty perfect. Just because the holiday harkens to its traditional counterpart with a full spread that takes hours to prepare, Friendsgiving doesn’t have to be complicated. A few familiar flavors in an easy setup and everyone will enjoy time together without the food coma!
Prep Time20 minutes
Total Time20 minutes
Course: Thanksgiving
Cuisine: American
Keyword: appetizers, charcuterie, friendsgiving, thanksgiving
Servings: 6
Calories: 1158kcal
Author: Luci Petlack

Ingredients

  • 6 oz. goat cheese mix w. a dash of milk and fresh herbs
  • 12 oz. mozzarella mozzarella marinated in oil + spices here
  • 6 oz. salami prosciutto
  • 8 oz. sliced turkey
  • 1 lb. grapes
  • 2 persimmons sliced
  • 2 apples or pears sliced
  • dried papaya figs, or prunes
  • honey
  • pumpkin or apple butter
  • crackers pumpkin cranberry crisps here
  • 2 cups trail mix
  • 1 baguette sliced and toasted
  • sparkling juice of choice 1 per person
  • 12 cookies

Instructions

  • Keep items refrigerated until 15-30 minutes before servings.
  • Arrange all items on a large platter or cutting board!
  • Serve with small spoons and knives for easy enjoyment.

Notes

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Nutrition

Calories: 1158kcal | Carbohydrates: 111g | Protein: 45g | Fat: 63g | Saturated Fat: 21g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 10g | Monounsaturated Fat: 24g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 85mg | Sodium: 1959mg | Potassium: 968mg | Fiber: 11g | Sugar: 54g | Vitamin A: 1308IU | Vitamin C: 10mg | Calcium: 211mg | Iron: 6mg

This post was originally sponsored by IZZE. It has since been updated to provide other options.

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5 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    This is such a great idea! I can’t wait to use this for Thanksgiving with my daughter’s boyfriend’s family! So exciting!

  2. 5 stars
    Friendsgiving is amazing! There are so many great ideas to come up with but this list looks absolutely incredible. So many wonderful ideas to get inspired with!

5 from 9 votes (4 ratings without comment)

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