You know that moment in November when your group chat lights up with “So…what are we doing for Thanksgiving?” and half the people can’t afford flights home, a couple don’t really *have* a “home” to go back to, and everyone’s secretly craving something less formal and more…us? That’s where Friendsgiving comes in. It’s the holiday you build from scratch with the people you’ve chosen, not just the ones you were born with.
Friendsgiving matters now more than ever because so many of us are living far from our hometowns, juggling weird work schedules, or navigating complicated family relationships. But the need for connection hasn’t gone anywhere—in fact, it’s louder than ever. Friendsgiving is our way of saying, “We deserve a tradition too.” It’s a chance to slow down, trade scrolling for shared playlists, and turn a regular night with friends into something more special. In this article, we’ll identify Friendsgiving ideas that go beyond “everyone bring a dish,” ones that will actually help you in creating a memorable night.
I. Themes
Comfort Food Only
A Friendsgiving or Thanksgiving celebration centered around comfort foods only swaps formality for maximum coziness and indulgence, focusing on dishes that evoke warmth and nostalgia. The menu is dominated by rich, shareable casseroles, with homemade baked macaroni and cheese (often with bacon or a seasonal twist like butternut squash) reigning supreme as the indispensable side dish. Other essential, decadent sides include Mashed Potato Casserole (loaded with cheese, bacon, and crispy onions), classic Green Bean Casserole, and Candied Sweet Potatoes or yams. For the main dish, alternatives like a Stuffed Turkey Breast or Roast Chicken are popular, offering a simpler, juicier protein that leaves more room and effort for the elaborate sides.
Brunch
A “Friendsgiving Brunch” is an inspired theme that beautifully marries the warmth of Thanksgiving with the casual ease of a morning gathering, significantly reducing the hosting burden. The menu focuses on autumnal flavors in make-ahead casseroles such as savory Hashbrown Bakes or Quiches and sweet Overnight French Toast or Pumpkin Coffee Cake. The main event is less about a whole turkey and more about customizable food bars, like a Waffle or Pancake Bar with seasonal toppings (maple butter, candied nuts, cranberry compote) or a Bacon and Egg Muffin station. Crucially, the drink selection shifts to festive daytime cocktails like Apple Cider Mimosas or a Bloody Mary Bar, which are easy for guests to serve themselves.
Potluck by Color
The “Potluck by Color” theme injects playful structure and visual excitement into a Friendsgiving or Thanksgiving meal, transforming the dining table into a vibrant mosaic. To execute this, the host assigns a specific color (such as Orange, Red, Yellow, Green, or Brown) to each guest or group, and they must bring a dish where that color is the dominant hue. This framework naturally encourages guests to select creative, less common dishes. The host should take charge of the Brown category (typically the turkey, gravy, and bread) or the Yellow category (mashed potatoes, butter), reserving the more flexible colors for guests.
II. Simple Menu Ideas
Baked Mac and Cheese
For a stress-free holiday, baked mac and cheese is the perfect centerpiece. It’s a comfort food that can be prepared in advance, requires only one baking dish, and is guaranteed to be a crowd-pleaser, delivering maximum satisfaction with minimal culinary complexity. This approach ensures the host spends less time cooking and more time enjoying their friends and the spirit of gratitude.
Stuffed Squash
Another dish to achieve a simple and elegant holiday table is stuffed squash. This main dish is inherently simple because the squash is cooked whole, portioned perfectly for individual servings, and stuffed with a customizable, hearty mixture—often involving grains, nuts, dried fruit, and seasonal herbs—that requires minimal last-minute assembly. This approach allows the host to completely bypass the complexity of a turkey while still providing a stunning, autumnal centerpiece.
Sweet Potato Wedges
A simple Friendsgiving or Thanksgiving menu featuring sweet potato wedges embraces a lighter, more modern, and less time-consuming approach to holiday cooking. This choice simplifies the starch offering, requiring only a simple toss with olive oil, salt, and spices before being roasted on a single sheet pan—a method that reduces dishes and active cooking time.
Salad with Toppings Bar
Another dish accommodating a more casual Friendsgiving is a salad with a corresponding toppings bar. Instead of elaborate cooked sides, the host prepares a large bowl of simple greens (like spring mix or butter lettuce) and focuses their energy on arranging an impressive, customizable selection of toppings. This bar should include a mix of holiday-appropriate ingredients, such as candied pecans, dried cranberries, crumbled blue cheese, roasted vegetables (like butternut squash chunks), crispy bacon bits, and sliced apples or pears.
DIY (Do-It-Yourself) Sundae or Ice Cream Bar
A DIY sundae or ice cream bar is the perfect way to cap a low-stress meal. This interactive centerpiece is simple to execute: the host provides several flavors of ice cream or frozen yogurt, and the main effort involves arranging a variety of fun toppings. Toppings should include traditional favorites like hot fudge, caramel sauce, and whipped cream, alongside seasonal additions such as toasted pecans, apple pie filling, crushed gingersnap cookies, and cranberry sauce.
Store Bought Treats
A simple Friendsgiving or Thanksgiving menu focusing on store-bought treats is the ultimate strategy for a host who wants to prioritize socializing and relaxation over kitchen time. This theme strategically delegates the most time-consuming and technically challenging part of the meal—dessert—to professional bakers and shops, guaranteeing delicious results with zero effort.
III. Low-Effort Décor
Candles
One way of achieving enhanced decoration, without much effort, is the utilization of candles. Whether real flickering wax candles or safe, long-lasting LEDs; candles cast a warm, flattering glow that instantly creates a festive mood. Instead of complex floral arrangements, the centerpiece should be a simple candle runner down the length of the table, alternating different heights and textures of pillar candles, votives, and tapers nestled amongst natural, easy-to-source elements like mini pumpkins, gourds, fall leaves, and sprigs of rosemary or sage.
Kraft Paper Tablecloth
Implementing a Kraft Paper Tablecloth is the ultimate hack for low-effort, high-impact Friendsgiving decor. This thick, rustic paper is unrolled to cover the entire dining surface, instantly serving as a chic, disposable tablecloth and a built-in activity center. The host simply needs to provide a collection of markers, crayons, or colored pencils and prompt guests to use the paper as a communal canvas to doodle, write notes to the host, or—most importantly—jot down what they are thankful for throughout the evening. This creates a memorable, evolving centerpiece that personalizes the meal and drives meaningful conversation about gratitude.
IV. Activities & Games
Thankful Toasts
The most meaningful activity one can organize at a Friendsgiving is a gratitude toast, a designated time, usually right before dessert or after the main course, where each guest shares one specific person, thing, or moment they are genuinely grateful for, fostering a warm and reflective atmosphere.
Thanksgiving Trivia
To maximize engagement during a Friendsgiving or Thanksgiving gathering, incorporating Thanksgiving Trivia is a low-effort, high-fun activity. Trivia is best scheduled during the lull after the main meal but before dessert, providing a structured, casual way for guests to interact. The trivia content should be broad, mixing classic historical facts, pop culture references, and fun food facts. The host simply needs to prepare the questions and a way to track scores, dividing guests into easy, pre-assigned teams (like “Team Cranberry” or “Team Stuffing”) to encourage collaboration.
Question Jar
To facilitate engaging conversation with minimal host effort, incorporating a Question Jar is an ideal Friendsgiving activity. This activity involves guests randomly pulling questions from a decorated jar throughout the event, which are designed to prompt fun, reflective, or gratitude-focused discussions. The questions should range from lighthearted holiday memories (e.g., “What was your most memorable Thanksgiving disaster?”) to deeper, gratitude-based prompts (e.g., “What is one simple thing you’re thankful for today?”). The Question Jar can be utilized strategically—passed around the table during a lull in the main course, or placed near the appetizers to encourage mingling.
Photo Corner
To create an effortless yet engaging activity at Friendsgiving, setting up a dedicated Photo Corner is an ideal choice. This involves designating a small, well-lit area, perhaps with a simple festive backdrop like strung fall leaves or a rustic plaid blanket. The magic happens with a collection of holiday-themed props—think oversized Pilgrim hats, turkey headbands, “Give Thanks” signs, silly glasses, or even small whiteboards for writing custom messages. Guests are then encouraged to use their own phones or a provided instant camera to snap photos, creating a fun, self-directed activity throughout the party.
