I love hosting during the holidays, and I’m excited to share my best tips for hosting Friendsgiving and Thanksgiving! It’s one of my favorite holidays, right up there with Christmas. Last year, I hosted Friendsgiving twice and a family Thanksgiving on the actual day. Hosting is my thing, and I’ve got plenty of advice to help make your event easier and more special for your guests—recipes, a food prep schedule, game ideas, and more!
Being from an exceptionally large family, I have fond memories of the excitement surrounding a Thanksgiving spent with my siblings and their children coming into town, the smell of homemade rolls and pies baking in the oven, and the joyful chaos of a packed house. I want to create the same kind of nostalgia with our family’s holiday tradition that my Thanksgiving-loving mother did.
Recipes for Hosting Friendsgiving or Thanksgiving
What’s a Friendsgiving or Thanksgiving without the food? I’ve gathered my favorite family recipes that will not only taste amazing but also make a beautiful spread.
The Main Dishes
Let’s start with the classics that everyone expects when you’re hosting Friendsgiving or Thanksgiving.
A turkey is a must, and if you’ve never cooked one, don’t worry—I’ve got a foolproof recipe for a juicy, tender turkey that will wow your guests. I’ve also included step-by-step instructions and a video to help you, whether it’s your first time or you’re just looking for a new twist.
And let’s not forget the debate: are you team cranberry sauce or gravy with your turkey? Either way, I’ve got the perfect recipes to pair with your main dish.
Do you call it stuffing or dressing in your house? Even though I don’t “stuff” my turkey I still call it stuffing, and I have the most delicious, from scratch stuffing recipe that you’ll love. And everyone loves mashed potatoes, but especially these yummy garlic mashed potatoes.
Side Dishes
Alongside those must-have Thanksgiving staples, when I’m hosting Friendsgiving and Thanksgiving, I love throwing in some fun, unexpected side dishes! Just choose a couple from my list to round out your main course. You can also make things easier by asking guests to bring their favorite side or dessert!
This Brussels sprouts recipe converted me from a skeptic to a fan – bacon is involved, so you know it’s good! Pair it with a simple green bean dish, and you’ve got veggie options that will impress.
On the left is a picture of a delicious pomegranate salad. It looks and tastes more like a dessert, but we always eat it on our plates with the rest of the dinner dishes. And if you’re not usually a sweet potato fan, like me, you might still love this sweet potato casserole – it’s surprisingly delicious!
With so many time-intensive dishes to cook when you’re hosting Friendsgiving, it’s nice to have something simple to add, and that’s where this carrot recipe comes in. And if you’re intimidated by baking rolls from scratch like I was, you’ll have to try this dinner roll recipe. They are so easy and so yummy.
Drinks and Desserts
While we don’t serve alcohol, I still like to offer special drinks when hosting Friendsgiving or Thanksgiving. Martinelli’s sparkling cider is always a hit, but I also make a homemade version that’s more budget-friendly for big groups. My sister Lolly’s ‘gold drink’ is another favorite—if you love pineapple, you’ve got to try it!
For dessert, mix things up with a fun raspberry pretzel pie that your guests probably haven’t had before. If you prefer something classic, an apple crisp served warm with ice cream is always a winner when you’re hosting Friendsgiving.
Okay, last thing—I’ve got this pumpkin cake you have to try. Now, don’t come for me, but I’m not the biggest pumpkin fan. I know it’s everywhere this time of year, but it’s just not my thing. That said, I make an exception for this cake. Even my husband, who’s super anti-pumpkin, LOVES it!
Food Prep Schedule
Planning and prepping ahead is one of my best strategies for hosting Friendsgiving and Thanksgiving events (and keeping my sanity intact). I’ve laid out a prep schedule to keep things organized and help you avoid last-minute stress.
Sunday
- Start thawing the turkey in the fridge. If using a larger turkey (over 18 lbs) thaw it 6 or 7 days before your dinner.
- Make a shopping list and plan serving dishes and utensils.
- Clean and organize the fridge to make room!
Monday
- Shop for ingredients.
- Break up bread for stuffing and lay it out in pans to dry. Store until ready to make stuffing.
- Chop nuts for recipes.
Tuesday
- Make cranberry sauce.
- Prep celery and onions for stuffing.
- Wash grapes and pomegranate seeds.
- Boil sweet potatoes, remove skin, and mash.
- Prepare raspberry pretzel pie and pumpkin cake (if space allows).
Wednesday
- Prep apples for crisp and pomegranate salad. To prevent browning, let the apples sit in a salt water bath for 5 minutes, rinse, and store in the fridge.
- Apple crisp topping can be made ahead. If you would like to serve it cold, please assemble and bake the crisp. If it won’t be eaten within 48 hours, store it in the refrigerator.
- Make sweet potato casserole and store it.
- Prepare mashed potatoes, green beans, and rolls.
- Assemble stuffing.
- Lay out all dishes to be used the next day.
- Pull out recipes and shelf-stable ingredients to make the big day easier.
Thursday
- Prep turkey and put it in the oven to be ready one hour before dinner.
- Chill drink ingredients and prepare garnishes. Assemble just before serving.
- Assemble fruit salad
- Cook Brussels sprouts. Squeeze with lemon juice right before serving.
- Sauté green beans & make carrots.
- Once turkey comes out of oven to rest: Re-heat mashed potatoes, sweet potato casserole, and stuffing in the oven.
- Make the gravy.
- Bake the apple crisp. Serve warm after the meal.
- Pull out the frosting for the pumpkin cake to come to room temperature, and frost the cake.
Creating the Tablescape
One of my favorite things about hosting Friendsgiving and Thanksgiving is setting a beautiful table. It doesn’t have to be expensive or extravagant, but creating a thoughtful tablescape adds a special touch to the meal. I’ve put together a simple guide on how to set a stunning Thanksgiving table.
How to Entertain While Hosting Friendsgiving and Thanksgiving
For some of you, hosting Friendsgiving and Thanksgiving is all about the food, but if you’re looking to add a little extra fun, I’ve got some great ideas to keep your guests entertained. They’re great for before, during, or after dinner when everyone’s in their turkey coma. I crowdsourced these ideas from my Instagram followers, so if you try any or have other fun traditions, comment below—I’d love to hear about it!
- For more active play, try a friendly game of football in the yard or try some Thanksgiving-themed minute-to-win-it games.
- Around the dinner table, play a gratitude game with the ABC’s, where each person shares something they’re thankful for, starting with different letters of the alphabet.
- Set up a space for writing thank-you notes, or let kids draw pictures to share what they’re grateful for. You can read your notes during dinner.
- Scatter candy corn on the table and have guests share something they’re thankful for with each piece they pick up. For older kids a rule can be made that you can’t repeat a blessing.
Final Tip for Hosting Friendsgiving and Thanksgiving
The most important tip I can give you for hosting Friendsgiving or Thanksgiving is that the day doesn’t need to be perfect. Truly, the only two requirements for a wonderful gathering are the company and the food.
Last year, I ended up hosting Friendsgiving twice—one for our church crew and another for some of my husband’s fellow residents. And on top of that, we also had a family Thanksgiving! What stood out the most wasn’t the food (though it was delicious!), but the wonderful people and the fun memories we made.
If you’ve found things in this post that aren’t an option for you based on budget, priorities, or interest, that’s okay! Hosting Friendsgiving is something I’m passionate about and I’m currently in a situation and season where I have the freedom to go all out! For those who can’t, or just don’t want to, pare down my suggestions and create a more simple and streamlined gathering. No matter how you end up celebrating the holiday, I hope you find joy in it!
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