Friendsgiving always seems like so much fun and yet so much work. Nobody wants to host because it’s a stress-filled day, and it can be hard to think of what to make for food. Well, forget all of your Friendsgiving worries! Here are my tips to host the best — and easiest — Friendsgiving ever.
Meals
Here’s what you all came for. You’re having a potluck-style Friendsgiving dinner and you suddenly forget every Thanksgiving-themed food that exists (Just me? Maybe.) Here are all the essentials for the best Friendsgiving dinner you’ve ever had.
Instead of a turkey, make Binging with Babish’s recipe for a Thanksgiving chicken. Or maybe just buy a rotisserie — I know I wouldn’t complain. Did I mention that Binging with Babish’s chicken recipe has a bunch of other quick and easy Thanksgiving-themed dishes?
Here’s a list of some more of my favorite recipes for some fun Friendsgiving sides:
- Hello Fresh’s mashed potatoes
- Joshua Weissman’s cranberry sauce (Like Binging with Babish, Weissman has recipes to make an entire Thanksgiving dinner.)
- Binging with Babish’s green bean casserole (Yes, I’m a fan, okay?)
- NYT Cooking’s no-knead bread
- Bon appétit’s stuffing
- Simple Joy’s apple salad with bacon (This is the best salad I think I’ve ever had. I like using spinach for the base and feta cheese instead of goat cheese to change it up.)
- Claire Saffitz’s pumpkin pie
If you’re looking to bring a drink, I’d highly recommend bringing your favorite flavor of sparkling grape juice — it’s always a hit, no matter how childish it may seem. If you want to get a little fancier, try out this recipe for apple pie punch.
Playlist
The success of any party comes down to the music. Here are a few (okay, more than a few) songs to add to your Friendsgiving playlist. It’s a mix of chill, classic jazz, with some fresh, funky tunes. In my opinion, it’s the perfect mix for a fun night with friends that won’t take over the conversation.
- “Walking in the Rain,” Funkmammoth
- “All Because of You,” Bill Withers
- “Melinda,” Stan Getz, Bill Evans
- “Elasto,” Schwey, Artemis
- “Sun Go Down,” Fat Night
- “Sh’qweyla,” Schwey
- “Niña Fresa,” The O’My’s
- “Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars,” Astrud Gilberto
- “Can’t Stop (The Groove),” Schwey
- “The Girl From Ipanema,” Stan Getz, João Gilberto, Astrud Gilberto
- “STUCK ON YOU,” MICHELLE
- “It’s Not (Her Eyes),” Walker
- “So Nice (Summer Samba),” Marcos Valle
- “The Warmth,” Fat Night
- “Passionfruit,” Benny Sings
- “Para Machuchar Meu Coracao,” Stan Getz, João Gilberto, Antônio Carlos Jobim
- “Escargot Blues,” Guantanamo Bay Surf Club
Decor
You have the food, you have the music. Now how to decorate? Paper plates and plastic cups are always easy, but if you want to have a little more fun, here are some ideas for easy (but cute!) Friendsgiving decorations.
- Lay some brown wrapping paper down as your tablecloth and let people write down what they’re thankful for (or draw your own patterns for a more formal look). You could even go a step further and draw place cards for your guests directly onto the “tablecloth.”
- Set out some squash and mini pumpkins to make an easy centerpiece for your table.
- If you want to get really fancy, try drying out some citrus slices to make your own garland. Your apartment or house will smell amazing for days! I attached my slices to a pre-lit fake pine garland and I think it looks beautiful! It lives in my apartment for as long as I can justify holiday decorations.
Remember that Friendsgiving isn’t meant to stress you out. What really matters is having fun with your friends!
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