Friendsgiving Ideas: How to Host Friendsgiving

It’s the most wonderful time of year! It’s November, Thanksgiving day is almost here, and these are my Friendsgiving ideas you need to host the best Friendsgiving. To make sure your celebration goes off without a hitch, here’s a guide to Friendsgiving planning, complete with tips on what to bring, how to organize your kitchen, and some fantastic recipe ideas.

A Lovely Thought from Teri

I have always felt a special bond with Thanksgiving. I was actually born on Thanksgiving, so I like to think a Thanksgiving feast has always been my superpower. I love bringing magic to this holiday, and I have perfected the skills to make everything run smoothly. In this guide, I’ll give you some of my favorite tricks for your friendsgiving celebrations. I firmly believe delegation is key, but you need to delegate to the right people! If you’re looking for even more Thanksgiving advice, check out all of the tips in the no crumbs left cookbook. Happy friendsgiving!

My Friendsgiving Tips

Have a Kitchen Schedule in Place

The kitchen is where the magic happens, but it’s also where chaos tends to be. To avoid last-minute issues and create a schedule so that everyone knows when they need to pitch in. For example, you could assign someone to be on “sauté duty” from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m., and then have another person step in to stir the stuffing or mash potatoes. By breaking up the responsibilities and giving people clear jobs, you’ll keep things running smoothly, and the meal will come together at the right time.

If you want a little help organizing, consider using coolers as a way to manage fridge overload. Store salads or pre-chopped vegetables in coolers, or if it’s cold enough like it is in Chicago, you could even just cover it and keep it outside.

Know What’s Going in the Oven and What’s Going on the Stove

In addition to your kitchen schedule, you need to know what goes where. Friendsgiving is a marathon, not a sprint, and you can’t have everything cooking at once! If your oven is packed with a turkey, casseroles, or stuffing, you’ll need to strategize what needs to go on the stovetop. Maybe a Corn Souffle can be easily baked in the oven while a stovetop dish like French Green Beans Almondine gets cooked in a pan.

And don’t forget about utilizing your grill! If you’re cooking on a tight timeline, the grill is an excellent way to cook side dishes or even a turkey. Use every resource you can to make it fabulous.

Set Your Table Ahead of Time

This one’s simple but often overlooked. Set your table for your dinner parties the night before or the morning of. If you wait until the last minute, you might end up scrambling for candles, tablecloths, silverware, or glassware. You do not want to be setting the table while the turkey’s resting. Make it easy on yourself and do the prep work ahead of time.
And remember, this is the time to use your best dishes, and a cloth napkin. It elevates the meal and makes everything feel a bit more special.

Put Notes In All of Your Serving Bowls

Make sure you have the perfect serving bowls and baking dishes needed for everything you are making! You can do this days in advance to make sure you have everything set. I love to use post its to keep track of everything and make sure that I have the perfect spot for each item on the menu.

Appoint a Beverage Manager

Not everyone is a seasoned chef, but that doesn’t mean they can’t be an essential part of the Friendsgiving feast. If you have someone who is full of energy but not necessarily a master in the kitchen, put them in charge of the beverages. Assign them the task of making sure everyone has what they need to drink throughout the evening—whether it’s refilling wine glasses, apple cider, or checking the soda situation.

Here’s the beauty of a dedicated beverage manager: you can save money by getting only the drinks people actually want. They can contact everyone about what they like to drink, and they can make sure there is plenty of ice on hand. Having someone take charge on beverages will relieve so much stress in the kitchen.

Never Give Your Always Late Friend an Hors D’Oeuvre To Bring

We’ve all got that one person—your friend who means well but is always late. The last thing you want is for them to show up with an appetizer when you are ready to serve dessert. Instead, give them something easier to manage that you won’t need until later in the evening. My Orange Cake is a great option for a dessert that doesn’t require the finesse of a baker. It’s absolutely delicious and perfect for this time of year.

Let the Bakers Bring the Pies

Speaking of bakers, there’s always a friend who can bake a mean pie, whether it’s pumpkin pie, pecan pie, or apple pie. Don’t ask your non-baking friends to attempt pie crusts—let the bakers do what they do best! This will keep the pressure off of you, unless you are the baker, and it will guarantee you’ve got a couple of fabulous pies to finish your friendsgiving dinner.

Who’s Doing Dishes? Decide in Advance!

Dishes are the one part of Thanksgiving that no one wants to deal with, but it’s necessary. Instead of leaving this task to the last person there, decide in advance who’s in charge of washing up. If someone doesn’t have time to make their own dish for the potluck, this is a great way to contribute. They could also be in charge of some DIY decorations. As the cook, get out of the kitchen! Once the meal is done, have your assigned dishwasher take care of everything.

Friendsgiving is all about celebrating gratitude, friendships, and the family you choose with a beautiful meal. By organizing your menu ahead of time, delegating tasks, and making schedules, you’ll set yourself up for success. With these tips, you’re ready to host a Friendsgiving that’ll everyone will remember. Happy Friendsgiving!

Friendsgiving Menu Ideas

Teri’s Top Tips for Celebrating the Holidays All Year Long

If you make one of my holiday recipes, leave a comment and let me know what you think. If you’re looking for more inspiration, sign up for our Friday Favorites newsletter, and follow along on Pinterest, Instagram, and TikTok to join in all the fun!