Friendsgiving food ideas: 40 easy dishes to bring, by course and budget

The short answer: the best friendsgiving food ideas are easy to carry, easy to share and good warm or at room temperature. Here are 40 dishes by course and budget.

• Mains: turkey breast, roast chicken, ham or baked ziti
• Can't cook? Bring drinks and ice, bakery items or paper goods
• Plan who brings what so the courses are covered
• Food safety and travel tips below
• Next step: Plan it with the Meal Planner & Grocery List ($3.99).

The best friendsgiving food ideas are easy to carry, easy to share and good warm or at room temperature. Here are 40 dishes sorted by course and budget, plus tips on what to bring when you can't cook and how to stop five people bringing mac and cheese. If you are the host, our Friendsgiving planner covers the timeline and menu.

Friendsgiving food ideas by course

Mains

1. Roast turkey breast, which cooks much faster than a whole bird.
2. Herb roast chicken.
3. Glazed spiral ham.
4. Baked ziti or lasagna.
5. Slow cooker pot roast.
6. Stuffed acorn squash (vegetarian).
7. Mushroom pot pie (vegetarian).
8. Lentil shepherd's pie (vegan option).

Sides

9. Baked mac and cheese.
10. Mashed potatoes in a slow cooker.
11. Sausage or herb stuffing.
12. Sweet potato casserole.
13. Green bean casserole.
14. Roasted Brussels sprouts with balsamic.
15. Honey roasted carrots.
16. Corn pudding.
17. Butternut squash with sage.
18. Wild rice pilaf.

Salads and breads

19. Kale, apple and pecan salad.
20. Harvest grain salad with farro and cranberries.
21. Caesar salad kit, dressed at the party.
22. Cornbread or corn muffins.
23. Dinner rolls with whipped butter.
24. Garlic bread.

Appetizers and no-cook dishes

25. Cheese and charcuterie board.
26. Spinach artichoke dip. Or try our buffalo chicken dip recipe.
27. Deviled eggs.
28. Veggie tray with hummus.
29. Baked brie with jam.
30. Cranberry sauce (store-bought is fine).

Desserts and drinks

31. Pumpkin pie.
32. Apple crisp or crumble.
33. Pecan pie bars.
34. Brownies or blondies.
35. Pumpkin bread. For a cookie version, try our pumpkin chocolate chip cookies.
36. Store-bought cookies on a nice plate.
37. Warm apple cider.
38. A big batch of punch or sangria.
39. Sparkling water and a nonalcoholic option.
40. Two bags of ice.

Friendsgiving food ideas for every diet

Friend groups often include vegetarians, vegans and people with allergies. Ask in the group chat when you share the sign-up list, then plan a few dishes everyone can eat.

Label every dish with its name and the main allergens, such as nuts, dairy, gluten or eggs. A folded index card in front of each dish works well. Serve allergy-friendly dishes with their own spoons so nothing gets mixed. If someone has a serious allergy, let them fill their plate first.

Budget Friendsgiving menu

You can feed a group of eight on a tight budget with a roast chicken or two, a big pot of mashed potatoes, roasted carrots, a green salad, cornbread from a mix and an apple crisp. Ask guests to bring drinks and dessert. See our Thanksgiving on a budget guide for more ways to save, and our breakdown of the cost of Thanksgiving dinner to see what the national average runs.

What to bring if you can't cook

Not everyone has an oven, a car or the time. These contributions are just as helpful:

• Drinks and ice. Every potluck needs more than it planned for.
• Bakery items. A good pie, a bread loaf or a box of rolls.
• A board. Cheese, crackers, grapes and nuts take ten minutes to arrange.
• Paper goods. Plates, napkins, cups and foil pans.
• Take-home containers. Guests will thank you at the end of the night.

How the dishes travel

Before you pick what to bring, think about the car ride and the host's oven. Using the dishes above:

If the host's oven is already full, choose from the first, second and fourth rows. Our Thanksgiving food list has more classics if your group wants a traditional menu.

How to plan who brings what

The simplest way to balance the menu is a sign-up list with one line per course. Share it in the group chat a week or two ahead. Here is a mix that works for most groups:

1. Host: the main dish, gravy and drinks.
2. Two guests: starches, such as mashed potatoes and stuffing.
3. Two guests: vegetables or a salad.
4. One guest: bread and butter.
5. Two guests: desserts.
6. Everyone else: appetizers, ice, paper goods or a bottle to share.

Our Meal Planner & Grocery List: Thanksgiving Edition ($4.99) has a guest and dish sign-up page built for this, plus a Thanksgiving Day timeline, a dinner plan and prep page and a grocery list. It is a 14-page printable PDF. For regular weeknight planning the rest of the year, the Meal Planner & Grocery List is the everyday version. For a free printable list, use our Thanksgiving potluck sign-up sheet.

Food safety for a potluck

Potluck food often sits out longer than it should. Keep hot food hot and cold food cold, and do not leave perishable dishes out for more than two hours. If you bring poultry, check it with a thermometer. FoodSafety.gov's temperature chart lists 165°F for poultry and for casseroles and leftovers. If you are the one roasting a whole turkey, USDA's roasting guide has cooking times by weight at 325°F. Here's how to keep food warm until everyone sits down.

Tips for carrying food

• Cover dishes tightly with foil or a lid and set them in a box or laundry basket in the car.
• Bring serving spoons and a label with the dish name and any allergens.
• Dress salads at the party so the greens stay crisp.
• Ask the host about oven space before you bring something that needs reheating.

For more ideas, see our Thanksgiving menu template, Thanksgiving side dishes and Thanksgiving checklist.

Serving a salad? Mix a jar of homemade salad dressing the day before so one more dish is done.