52 Thanksgiving Dishes To Make You The Star Of Friendsgiving

We love our families. Chances are, you probably do, too. At least some members. But there are times when family time goes into overdrive and we need a break from Aunt Karen. Or perhaps you're not able to join your family for Thanksgiving Day. That's where Friendsgiving comes in. Initially popularized by the TV show "Friends," social media, and even a Bailey's Irish Cream promotion, the word "Friendsgiving" has gained a spot in the American lexicon and a place in our hearts (via Real Simple). As far as we're concerned, you can have as many Friendsgiving celebrations as you'd like: one for the book club, one for the soccer moms, one for your grunge band — hey, we don't judge — the more Friendsgivings, the merrier.

So, whether you're hosting your gang for Friendsgiving or are in charge of bringing a dish over to a friends' house, you'll need an arsenal of recipes to choose from to ensure everyone ends up full and happy, and, perhaps most importantly, you're invited back next year. Luckily, there's something for everyone in our list of 52 dishes that will make you the star of Friendsgiving.

Creamy, ooey, gooey mac and cheese is a hit at any dinner party, never mind just at Friendsgiving. This mac and cheese is prepared in a single saute pan, so there's no need to dirty up separate pots for the roux and pasta. Check out the recipe for the perfect cheeses to use and for the secret ingredient that will bring this dish together. Your friends will not only ooh and ahh over the dish, they'll be dying to get the recipe once they learn how easy it is to make.

Recipe: One-Pot Mac And Cheese

Maybe you're all sick of a traditional roast turkey, or perhaps you misjudged your timeframe — hey, timing out all those dishes so they're all done at once takes genius coordination — and you're looking for a tasty roast turkey alternative you can make on the fly. Enter: Cajun fried turkey wings that can be whipped up in under two hours, including marinating time. Turkey wings are a tasty variation on classic chicken wings, and the Cajun seasoning offers a unique kick your friends will be raving about.

Recipe: Cajun Fried Turkey Wings

It's no surprise you'll generally need plenty of extra virgin olive oil to prepare an Italian focaccia flatbread, and this Anne Burrell-inspired recipe is no different. Combined with sundried tomatoes and sage, the olive oil makes for a rich flavor that will dazzle your friends. Serve the bread as an app with dipping sauce — or with even more olive oil if you're a super fan — or with butter for the main meal. Bonus points for this recipe: you can use the remaining bread for the leftover sandwiches you're sure to be eating for days after.

Recipe: Anne Burrell's Focaccia

Yes, charcuterie boards are all the rage these days, but consider the crostini. It's kinda like an all-in-one charcuterie board app. The ingredients for these crostinis are simple: just top French bread with Brie cheese, apples, honey, and prosciutto. The secret is to cook the apples in butter and honey before stacking them on the sliced bread and baking the mini slices of deliciousness. Serve on their own or alongside a traditional charcuterie and cheese selection for variety and a touch of extra class.

Recipe: Brie Apple Honey Crostini

Perhaps your friends are still scarred from their parents making them eat spinach as children and generally turn their nose up at the leafy greens. Chances are, however, you'll convert even the pickiest of eaters with this creamed spinach recipe, thanks to the addition of heavy cream, some Parmesan cheese, and a little nutmeg for added flavor. While the side dish may seem traditional, this version will complement pretty much any Friendsgiving Day feast and will become your new favorite staple.

Recipe: Creamed Spinach

While delicious, regular cheesecake can get boring and redundant; who hasn't had a slice of the traditional flavor? That's where these caramel apple streusel cheesecakes come in. The 'cakes' are made from perhaps surprising ingredients: cinnamon-flavored graham crackers and cinnamon applesauce. The layered cheesecakes are baked in a simple muffin tin in liners so they'll pop out nice and easily. The result? A delightfully tiny treat you can eat in just a couple bites.

Recipe: Mini Caramel Apple Streusel Cheesecake

Be honest: despite not being children anymore, we still scream for ice cream, and there's nothing better than grabbing a cone on a summer day with friends. But that feeling doesn't have to end when fall comes, as you'll have everyone reminiscing about those summer bonding sessions over a dish of this pumpkin ice cream. What's great about this version is that it's a no-churn recipe and instead uses a beater or stand mixer to combine the ingredients in just minutes. Have an accompanying spread of toppings including nuts, sprinkles, and classic maraschino cherries for your guests to choose from.

Recipe: Homemade Pumpkin Ice Cream

By now, you're probably catching on that we think apples should play a major role as an ingredient in many of your Friendsgiving desserts. This apple cobbler recipe is one of the simplest apple desserts on this list as it condenses the required ingredients into only three necessities: store-bought cinnamon rolls (yes, the kind that come in a tube), cinnamon sugar, and apples. Preparation variations are offered so you can tailor the dessert to meet your friends' discerning tastes.

Recipe: The Best 3-Ingredient Apple Cobbler

Chances are, you've seen these popular peanut butter blossom cookies with Hershey's Kisses on top. But why choose a Friendsgiving dessert you've had a million times when you can dig into its fall-inspired cousin: pumpkin Hershey Kiss cookies! These mini masterpieces are not only pumpkin flavored, they also resemble a tiny version of the gourd. The total time for prepping and baking these little loves is only 30 minutes. Plus, the recipe is fairly basic and great for novice bakers.

Recipe: Pumpkin Hershey Kiss Cookies

We all like our friends, but if we're being honest, there are some friends we really love more than others. If you're planning on having a smaller Friendsgiving gathering with just a handful of your closest pals, roasting a whole turkey might result in too much food, which presents a problem. The solution? Grab your Instant Pot and some turkey breast and prepare for the quickest turkey-cooking experience you've ever had. The breasts' cook time is just six minutes per pound!

Recipe: Instant Pot Turkey Breast

Okay, so pretty much all of your friends have heard of and tried a spinach and artichoke dip, but how many have had the pleasure of eating bite-sized button mushrooms filled with a unique, homemade version of the dip? These little morsels of goodness would best serve as an app, and you'll want to be sure to make plenty because your friends will be popping them into their mouths at record speed. After baking, squeeze a little lemon juice on the crispy breadcrumb topping to round out the dish.

Recipe: Easy Stuffed Mushrooms

Something cranberry-flavored is practically a requirement for a Friendsgiving feast, but chances are your friends are divided on whether canned cranberry sauce is gross or delicious. Instead of perpetuating this endless debate, try serving this moist cranberry bread, which is made from either fresh or frozen cranberries and orange juice, the latter of which adds the "moist" component to the bread. Drizzle the top of this dessert bread with orange-sugar glaze for added sweetness.

Recipe: Moist Cranberry Bread

The basket of crescent rolls tends to get passed around the table quickly at Friendsgiving. Everyone dives in, and grabbing at least one of the buttery, flaky rolls to either slather with butter or dip in gravy. What could be better? How about a crescent roll stuffed with mashed sweet potato, pecans, and marshmallows? Now that's a crescent roll upgrade! Serve these babies at the dinner table or as an app, and be sure to have extras on hand; your friends will devour them quickly.

Recipe: Best Sweet Potato Crescent Roll

Cold spinach artichoke dip is a tried-and-true favorite, and most of your friends probably already dig it. This version of the app calls for cream cheese, mozzarella, frozen spinach, and a can of artichoke hearts. What could be easier? Serve it with pita or potato chips, and be sure to point it out on the appetizer table to less adventurous eaters at your Friendsgiving feast who may be looking for something familiar yet definitely still yummy.

Recipe: Cold Spinach Artichoke Dip

Those familiar with Korean cuisine are no strangers to kimchi, and those familiar with American cuisine are certainly no strangers to mac and cheese. These two worlds come together with this dish combo that might surprise your friends. But trust us: it'll be a delicious surprise when they taste the blend of ingredients including cheddar and Monterey Jack cheeses, gochujang, Dijon mustard, and kimchi mixed in with macaroni and topped with baked breadcrumbs.

Recipe: Kimchi Mac And Cheese

We've all had a slice of pumpkin pie, but pumpkin pie dip, you say? Now that's a new one. Impress your friends with this original, unique creation. The ingredients — pumpkin puree, dairy-free whipped topping, vanilla pudding, and caramel sauce — are simple and each yummy on its own, never mind when combined. The recipe suggests serving the dip with graham crackers or apple slices, making it perfect for either the app or dessert tables, or both.

Recipe: Quick Pumpkin Pie Dip

The only thing that's perhaps more satisfying than a donut is a tiny donut that leaves us with less guilt. These pumpkin donut holes combine two of our favorite fall flavors, pumpkin and cinnamon, into mini morsels of delectable fun that will have your friends popping them into their mouths one after the other. Bonus points: they take just nine minutes to prep and fry. Just don't be tempted to eat them all yourself and make sure they make it to the dessert table.

Recipe: Fried Pumpkin Donut Holes

Oh, baby! These mini apple pies are not only delicious, they're also cute as a button. Your friends will ooh and ahh over these tiny versions of the Friendsgiving Day classic pie and gobble up the individual servings. You'll use pre-made pie crust and an apple mixture including cinnamon and maple syrup to make these little guys, which you'll cook to perfection in a simple muffin tin. Your friends will be begging for seconds, especially when you tell them that each serving clocks in at under 200 calories.

Recipe: Mini Apple Pies

The only words we like better than "cranberry," "orange," and "cheesecake" are "simple" and "no-bake." Combine all those words and you get Friendsgiving perfection! This cheesecake, which includes a cranberry and orange cream cheese filling, fresh whipped cream, and — surprise! — a Nilla Wafer crust, simply sets in the fridge for a few hours before you can serve it to your friends who will be moved by your ability to prepare such a unique recipe.

Recipe: Simple No-Bake Cranberry Orange Cheesecake

"Pass the yams, please!" said maybe no one ever. Yams aren't the most popular Friendsgiving dish, but that's all about to change with this recipe, which your friends will ask for year after year. You'll make a sauce of butter, maple syrup, rosemary, and spices to pour over your yams before you put them in the oven, where the heat will meld all the flavors together and make the end result ever so tasty. Be sure to pay attention to the end of the recipe, which will provide variations to please all your friends at the table.

Recipe: Candied Yams

Okay, hear us out on this one. Making the decision to tweak a tried-and-true hummus recipe might sound a bit questionable, but this roasted pumpkin hummus might just change your mind, and those of your friends. The regular hummus ingredients, like chickpeas and tahini, are still featured in this recipe, but you'll be adding some pumpkin to spice up your appetizer table and keep everything feeling autumn-esque. Mashed recommends serving the hummus with crusty bread or crackers.

Recipe: Easy Roasted Pumpkin Hummus

Your traditional friends are going to want some classic dishes on your Friendsgiving Day table, and what better dish to wow them with than a traditional yet fabulously delicious mac and cheese? All the usual players are here for this one: elbow macaroni, cheddar cheese, and, of course, breadcrumbs to top it all off with. This dish isn't for the faint of heart, though; the rich, creamy decadence lends to some serious caloric intake, so this might be best as a side dish to eat in moderation.

Recipe: Creamy Homestyle Mac And Cheese

Blue cheese dip probably conjures up images of football games and buffalo wings, and that's why it's perfect for your Friendsgiving gathering, as this dip will please everyone, no matter what team they're rooting for. And, bonus for you, it doesn't get any easier than this blue cheese dip recipe. There are only a few ingredients and its two preparation steps (stir and chill) will literally take you all of two minutes. Be sure to have plenty of napkins ready, because this dip will have your friends digging in between touchdowns.

Recipe: Homemade Blue Cheese Dip

Sure, you've probably made a pot roast in your slow cooker, but have you ever thought about using this go-to kitchen appliance to make a hot beverage? As with many slow cooker recipes, the slow cooker does the work for you with this apple cider, you simply add apple juice, spices, and sliced oranges. The recipe will also give you tips on garnishes you can add on when serving to enhance visual appeal and tastiness.

Recipe: Slow Cooker Apple Cider

When you think of dishes from Outback Steakhouse, you probably think of grilled steaks and Bloomin' Onions. But the steakhouse also serves some delectable sides, including its signature mac and cheese made with rigatoni. Our version uses Velveeta and plenty of butter to create the creamy cheese that oozes ever so nicely into the nooks and crannies of the pasta. Your friends will be pleasantly pleased by the gooey dish, so be sure to have plenty on hand for seconds.

Recipe: Copycat Outback Steakhouse Mac And Cheese

This recipe is perfect for anxious bakers. It's seriously hard to mess up this dessert; the only three ingredients are literally in its name: marshmallow creme, pumpkin pie mix, and a box of white cake mix. That's it! Once your friends taste the pumpkin-flavored cake complete with marshmallow frosting, they'll not only be craving more, they'll be thinking what a baking genius you must be. Leave the cake as-is or brainstorm some original garnishes to take your cake to the next level.

Recipe: 3-Ingredient Marshmallow Pumpkin Cake