Friends are the family you choose, and they especially seem like family during the holiday season. Whether you’re celebrating with roommates or your lifelong besties, you’ll need a full spread of food to enjoy together.
Here are the coziest and easiest recipes for the perfect Friendsgiving:
FRIENDSGIVING MENU
- A medley of roasted carrots, butternut squash and russet potatoes
- Gravy
- Cranberry sauce
- Mashed sweet potatoes
- Green bean casserole
- Turkey
- Homemade pumpkin pie
- Pumpkin mac and cheese
Fresh Dinner Rolls
What’s dinner without homemade bread? These freshly baked, classic rolls will pair perfectly with any kind of Thanksgiving dish, especially when they’re served warm.
Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 packet of yeast
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup milk (or, if you’re non-dairy, use plant-based milk)
- ¼ cup water
- 2 tablespoons butter, margarine or plant-based butter
Directions
1. Combine ¾ cup flour, yeast, sugar and salt.
2. Heat water, milk and butter until warm (approximately 120°F) and add to the dry ingredients.
3. Beat for two minutes with an electric mixer at medium speed, adding in another ¼ cup flour and beat again for two minutes at high speed. Stir in the rest of the flour.
4. Knead the dough on a floured surface until smooth for eight minutes, then cover and let rest for 10 minutes.
5. Divide the dough into equal pieces. This recipe calls for 12 pieces, but divide them based on how big you want the rolls!
6. Grease an 8-inch round pan and place them in the pan. Cover and let the dough rise for 30 minutes.
7. Preheat the oven to 375°F and bake the rolls for 20 minutes. Serve them warm with butter for an extra tasty bite!
Green Bean Casserole
Get your veggies in with a green bean casserole side dish!
Ingredients
- 1 can mushroom soup
- 1/2 cup milk (or plant-based milk!)
- 1 teaspoon soy sauce
- Pinch of black pepper
- 4 cups cut and cooked green beans
- 1 1/3 cups fried onion (premade and store bought or you can make your own!)
Directions
1. Stir the liquid ingredients with the pepper, green beans and 1 1/3 cups onion in a 1 ½ quart casserole pan.
2. Bake the dish at 350°F for approximately 25 minutes, then add the remaining fried onions and bake again for five more minutes until it is golden brown!
Vegan Mashed Sweet Potatoes
Mashed potatoes are so last year. Sweet potatoes are all the rage now! You can even make them vegan for your plant-based guests.
Ingredients
- 5 large sweet potatoes or yams (chopped)
- 14 ounces coconut milk
- ¾ teaspoon ground ginger
- ½ teaspoon curry powder
- 2 tablespoons olive oil or vegan butter
- Salt and pepper
Directions
1. Clean, peel and chop potatoes into large chunks and bring a pot of water to a boil. Simmer the potatoes for 15 minutes or until very soft (so they can be mashed) and drain.
2. Mash the sweet potatoes with a fork or potato masher and add the remaining ingredients. Then, combine in the pan.
3. Add salt and pepper to taste, and enjoy!
Pumpkin Mac & Cheese
What could possibly make mac & cheese more autumnal than adding pumpkin? This pumpkin mac & cheese is both cheesy and gives all the fall vibes.
Ingredients
- 2 cups pureed pumpkin (about 1 can)
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons butter (regular, margarine or vegan)
- 1 cup milk (or plant-based milk)
- 1 cup shredded cheese (regular, vegan or substitute ¾ cup nutritional yeast)
- Whatever kind of pasta your heart desires!
Directions
1. Combine all the ingredients in one pot and bring to a boil, lowering the heat and stirring until everything is incorporated and melted.
2. Season to taste.
3. Add in your favorite pasta and enjoy!
Crockpot Turkey
Roasting a whole turkey is a lot of work. It takes all day, and it’s hard to cut up for your guests. The solution? A crockpot turkey breast recipe! Pair with the previous side dishes, or pair with some roasted potatoes, butternut squash, gravy, cranberry sauce or your favorite Thanksgiving foods!
Ingredients
- 1 5- to 6-pound bone-in turkey breast (thawed)
- 5 celery stalks
- 2 yellow onions
- 12-15 baby carrots
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 6 tablespoons butter
- 1 teaspoon (respectively) of minced garlic, salt, paprika and Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- ¼ teaspoon (respectively) of parsley, sage and thyme
Directions
1. Grease a large crockpot. Add the cut celery, 1 onion and whole baby carrots to the bottom, pouring the broth on top. Place the thawed turkey breast down on top, making sure it is elevated on top of the vegetables.
2. Stuff the remaining cut up onion inside the turkey with 4 tablespoons of butter, pouring the other 2 tablespoons of melted butter on top.
3. Cover the crockpot, cooking on high for an hour and then, on low for 5-7 hours until the temperature of the turkey reaches 165°F.
Pumpkin Pie
What’s Thanksgiving without a pie? Especially pumpkin pie! This classic recipe is sure to be a no-brainer for you and your friends this year.
Ingredients
- 1 frozen, pre-made pie shell (or make your own if you’re feeling fancy!)
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 1/3 cup white sugar
- Pinch of salt
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
- 1 teaspoon cloves
- 2 large eggs and 1 egg yolk
- 2 cups canned pumpkin puree (about one can)
- 1 ½ cup heavy cream
Directions
1. Preheat the oven to 400°F.
2. Combine both sugars, salt and spices in a bowl, then whisk in the eggs and egg yolk. Pour in the pumpkin and heavy cream and mix until the batter is smooth. Pour the mixture into the pie crust and bake for 15 minutes.
3. Turn the temperature down to 350°F and bake for an additional 15 minutes, letting the pie rest and cool before slicing and topping with your favorite garnishes like whipped cream, ice cream or more spices!
What are your go-to recipes for Thanksgiving? How are you celebrating this year?
Image via Marlow Amick
