November has arrived, and with it comes the kickoff of the holiday season. But let’s not get too ahead of ourselves. While Thanksgiving has long been the traditional start to the best season of the year, there’s another celebration that’s become a lot more widespread in recent times: Friendsgiving.
No, this extra holiday is not an excuse to give things to friends (although we certainly won’t stop anyone), but rather a modern celebration where friends come together to enjoy a Thanksgiving-like meal. It typically occurs before the traditional Thanksgiving holiday but is not bound by the same cultural or family traditions. It also tends to offer a more laid-back, communal atmosphere that some may find preferable to the real thing (for, you know, reasons).
Friendsgiving has become increasingly popular among young adults and those living far away from their families. It’s a great way for friends to express gratitude, enjoy good food, and strengthen their bonds in a festive and communal setting that harkens the vibes of the actual holiday.
One of the best things about Friendsgiving is its informal, flexible nature—it’s all about gathering with friends and making memories while celebrating in your own unique way.. And what better way than with some tasty, innovative dishes? Use our ideas below to get inspired and wow your friends on this gloriously festive and wonderfully optional (extra) holiday.
While the food is cooking and the guests milling around,be the hero everyone needs and set out an easy snacking tray that requires basically zero effort. The veggies are cleaned and cut, the dip is included, and the turkey bites are the perfect size. Then, you can hover around the tray and occasionally warn people not to get too full before the meal begins — just like your parents did.
For some (i.e., many), the perfect Friendsgiving dish involves minimal work in the kitchen but a big payoff on the plate. If you signed up to bring a salad, we’ve got just the idea. Our Roasted Hasselback Butternut Squash Maple Salad brings together tender hasselback squash with crisp romaine lettuce, cabbage, broccoli, green onion, carrots, crunchy golden honey almonds, and a sweet maple bourbon vinaigrette from our Maple Bourbon Bacon Chopped Salad Kit. And all you have to do is roast a scored butternut squash in the oven and pour the salad on top. Even so, your dish will look quite exquisite when you arrive.
Your friends will lavish you with praise after seeing your magnificent dish, and you can respond by saying something like, “Ah, yes. I figured a hasselback-roasted butternut squash would be the perfect vessel for the smokey-sweet flavors of this salad.” Everyone will nod in approval as they remain transfixed by your sudden culinary prowess and even more impressed when they taste it. Did you just win Friendsgiving? Can you win a Friendsgiving? What would even you win? Make this foolproof salad and see for yourself.
Move over, stuffed peppers; it’s Stuffed Squash Season. And what better way to celebrate than with these cute little acorn squash cups filled to the brim with the makings of our Broccoli Crunch Chopped Salad Kit featuring fresh broccoli, cauliflower, red cabbage, dried cranberries, sunflower kernels, carrots, crumbled bacon, and a tangy slaw dressing? It really doesn’t get any easier than this — simply bake the acorn squash and fill each one up with the salad kit. But that doesn’t mean you can’t stand there looking proud and accomplished as your friends post pictures of your festive culinary creation to social media. You earned these accolades, after all!
Sweet potatoes are a Thanksgiving staple. Sure, you can show up with the usual sweet potato casserole, mashed sweet potatoes, baked sweet potatoes, or whatever other concoction you can think of, but why not mix it up a little? Especially when chicken and bacon are involved. This recipe lets you combine the best of multiple worlds into one rather innovative and entirely satisfying dish.
The grilled chicken is seasoned with our Creamy Poppyseed Dressing from the Sweet Kale Chopped Salad Kit. Lots of bacon things are involved. You also get to make a classic (and easy) dijon vinaigrette (that also involves bacon). Then there’s more bacon on top. And you get to pack it all into perfectly baked sweet potatoes. This could very well end up being an all-year dish when all is said and done. But first? Its triumphant Friendsgiving debut, starring you as the chef.
Yes, we’re getting a lot of mileage out of baked acorn squash here, but can you blame us? Just look at these things! If you’re looking for a cheesy, comforting dish that could easily pass as table decor, your search ends here. Gruyère and white cheddar cheeses, lots of butter, garlic, rosemary, and a handy assist from our convenient Cauliflower Rice all combine to create a decadent filling contained in tender acorn squash cups that will have you forgetting that mashed potatoes even exist. (They do exist, and no one should stop you from enjoying both, but these may very well be even better.)
Sometimes you want to be the person who shows up to the Friendsgiving with a dish out of left field — something no one is expecting but is sure glad you brought. Well, we have the perfect idea: a flatbread! And don’t worry, it involves chicken, the unofficial alternative bird of Thanksgiving, which will likely please anyone in attendance who is mostly ambivalent about a traditional turkey.
Another thing you don’t need to worry about? The flavor, because this flatbread is profoundly good: Sliced, Balsamic-marinated chicken breast, salty pistachios, creamy goat cheese, and the makings of our Sweet Kale Chopped Salad Kit all neatly piled on your flatbread of choice. Don’t anticipate any leftovers with this recipe.
If you’re thinking about putting together one of our many Chopped Salad Kits and calling it a day, that’s great — we’re all for it. We hear the Sweet Kale Chopped Salad Kit is pretty popular for such a scenario. But why not take it up a notch? Sure, the fresh mix of broccoli, Brussels sprouts, radicchio, cranberries, pumpkin seeds, kale, and creamy poppyseed dressing is already salad perfection, but this is Friendsgiving.
By adding crisp slices of pink lady apples, juicy pears, savory pancetta, and tangy Gorgonzola cheese, you can transform a great salad into an absolute showstopper. The best part? There’s still zero cooking involved. Just mix, toss, and you’re ready to impress.
Whether you’ve been assigned a side or just want to add another item to the table, we have an easy idea: roast some broccoli & cauliflower for a quintessential side dish. It’s easy, it’s quick; it’s roasted with olive oil, and it’s made even easier with Taylor Farms’ pre-washed, pre-chopped broccoli & cauliflower. If you’re definitely not a cook, this recipe might just be your easy way into the world of the culinary arts — and you’ll come across looking anything but inexperienced.
Fast forward to the day after. You’re staring down a plate of leftover turkey, but you need a new way to enjoy it that doesn’t involve throwing it in the microwave with whatever else you took home. And you don’t want a ton of carbs like bread and rolls — you have plenty of that, too. A salad is the answer. This is also a great way to use up leftover veggies like carrots and Brussels sprouts, but don’t feel limited to just those.
All you need to do is dice your turkey, gather up your leftover roasted veggies, and throw it all on a pile of our 50/50 Blend salad mix and top with your vinaigrette of choice (a fruit-based vinaigrette like raspberry is ideal). Top it off with some pecans and pomegranates, and your leftovers suddenly have new life. And a new look. And possibly a new attitude to match.
(Psst… prefer a sandwich instead? We’ve got a leftovers recipe for that, too!)
Need a few more recipe ideas? We’ve got you covered:
- Apple and Sweet Potato Harvest Salad
- Apple Cranberry Walnut Butter Leaf Salad
- Harvest Spiced Apple Grain Bowl
- Winter Citrus Pomegranate Salad
- Pearl Couscous & Delicata Squash Kale Salad
- Maple Bourbon Bacon Squash Salad
- Grilled Chicken & Sweet Kale Salad Stuffed Sweet Potatoes
- Maple Bourbon Bacon Sweet Potato Skins
- Apple and Sweet Potato Harvest Salad
- Persimmon and Burrata Harvest Salad
Some Easier Options With No Prep Required
If you’re short on time or simply want to exert minimal effort for your Friendsgiving dish, a Taylor Farms Chopped Salad Kit is the easy play. Check out these seasonal and holiday-worthy salad options:
- Maple Dijon Crunch Chopped Salad Kit
- Spiced Apple Chopped Salad Kit
- Broccoli Crunch Chopped Salad Kit
- Asiago Kale Chopped Salad Kit
- Maple Bourbon Bacon Chopped Salad Kit
- Cobb-Styled Salad
- Everyday Classic Salad
- Not the Everyday Italian Salad
And don’t forget, we’ve got plenty of convenient veggie options to speed your dishes along as well.
We wish you a fun and fulfilling Friendsgiving! As always, use our handy store locator to find the nearest Taylor Farms products for your next occasion.