Hosting a Friendsgiving? All the Appetizers, Side Dishes, and Desserts You Need for Your Holiday Table

November is all about family, food, and football because it is the month of Thanksgiving. Besides Thanksgiving, if you plan on attending or hosting Friendsgiving with friends and neighbors, you may need some recipe ideas. Here are some Thanksgiving appetizers, side dishes, and desserts for your holiday table this year.

Appetizers

Boards

When guests first arrive they will want some appetizers to pair with their mugs of hot apple cider and glasses of cocktails and mocktails. Start with the basics. Bread and crackers paired with small bites of cheese and meats are a great option for Friendsgiving appetizers because there is something for everyone to enjoy. From butter boards with a savory and sweet twist to classic charcuterie boards decorated with chunks of cheeses, hunks of crusty bread, and delicious cured meats, holiday butter boards and charcuterie boards are a great go-to for holiday appetizers. Skip the overpriced store-bought charcuterie boards and instead, build your very own homemade holiday charcuterie board.

Light Bites

Appetizers and light bites are a great way to satisfy your Friendsgiving guests before the main course of dinner. Some great fall-themed appetizers include ideas like bacon-wrapped scallops, grass-fed meatballs with cranberry glaze, and duck breast crostini with spiced cranberry chutney. Another delicious appetizer idea for Friendsgiving includes wild-caught seafood like shrimp cocktail or pan-roasted shrimp, served with classic cocktail sauce or peach BBQ sauce for a fall-infused flair.

Side Dishes

Baked Breads

A bread basket is often overlooked for the holidays, but it makes an easy addition to any holiday lineup. From classic crescent dinner rolls to a loaf of homemade sourdough bread from your starter kit, dinner rolls are a super simple side dish that anyone can bring to Friendsgiving dinner. Try a variety of bread options for guests, like buttermilk biscuits, gluten-free almond bread, and pretzel rolls.

Roasted Vegetables

Roasted vegetables are an easy and irresistible side dish for every Friendsgiving table. The fall harvest brings with it a bounty of fresh produce to choose from, especially if you visit the local farmers’ market. Think of dishes like Irresistible Maple Bacon Brussels Sprouts with Roasted Apples, roasted acorn squash or butternut squash, and sweet potatoes. Other ideas include macaroni and cheese, sauteed green beans, and whipped mashed potatoes.

Salads and Soups

Although not necessarily a side dish, a salad or soup course makes a great side dish to pair with a Friendsgiving dinner. Plus, most are easy to make if you are in a pinch. Although apples and pumpkins are the unofficial produce of the fall season, there are a variety of fruits and vegetables to enjoy during the bounty of the fall harvest, many of which pair perfectly in handcrafted salads and soups.

Kale and shaved brussel sprouts make for a great harvest salad. Add some dried cranberries for a pop of color, slivered almonds for an added crunch, and a spoonful of tangy goat cheese to complete the Friendsgiving salad course. For soups, try some seasonal fall favorites like Butternut Squash and Chicken, Paleo Pumpkin Sausage Soup, or a hearty vegetable minestrone.

Desserts

 You cannot end Friendsgiving without a sweet treat – or two. Whether you are attending or hosting Friendsgiving, be sure to include at least one classic dessert option – a homemade pie. Apple pie, pecan pie, and pumpkin pie are all fall classics. Or kick off the holiday season with a tray of peanut butter thumbprint cookies, sugar cookies, or classic chocolate chip and oatmeal raisin cookies, which are sure to be a fan favorite.

Whether you are hosting Friendsgiving or Thanksgiving or both, planning a holiday meal can take a lot of work. From traditional Thanksgiving turkey to making your own homemade bone broth from Thanksgiving leftovers, there is a lot to do, but with these Thanksgiving appetizers, side dishes, and desserts, you will have one thing checked off your holiday to-do list. Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

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