Friendsgiving is one of the easiest holiday parties to host. There is no family pressure, the food is a potluck, and everyone gets to spend the evening with their favorite people. The trick is planning a few things ahead so the night feels relaxed and not rushed.
Whether you are looking for Friendsgiving ideas, Friendsgiving decorations, or Friendsgiving food ideas, this guide has you covered. Below is a simple plan for hosting, plus the party supplies I would pick up to make it feel special, from the roaster oven and serving trays to the table setting, drinks, favors, seating, and decor.
Friendsgiving Food Ideas: Plan the Menu and Cook for a Crowd
Pick a date a week or two before Thanksgiving so your friends are not already booked with family plans, and send invites a couple of weeks ahead. Plan to host the main dish, like a turkey or ham, and ask each guest to bring a side, dessert, or drink. A quick shared list keeps you from ending up with five of the same dish. For food ideas, think of crowd-pleasers that travel well, like mashed potatoes, stuffing, mac and cheese, green bean casserole, rolls, and pie. If you are cooking the turkey, a reliable meat thermometer takes the guesswork out of it, and a roaster oven frees up your regular oven for everything else.
Electric Roaster Oven with Buffet Server
A great pick for hosting a crowd. The roaster oven cooks the turkey so your regular oven is free for sides, and the self-basting lid helps keep the turkey juicy. What makes it better than a standard turkey roaster is the three buffet trays that come with it. You cannot use them while the turkey is roasting, but they are perfect for keeping mashed potatoes, vegetables, and gravy warm at other parties and potlucks. The pan and trays are removable, so cleanup is easy.
Digital Instant Read Meat Thermometer
The easiest way to know the turkey is done without cutting into it. Read the temperature in seconds, and you can be confident when you serve it, and it folds up and sticks to the fridge so you always know where it is.
Instant Pot Duo 7-in-1
A great helper when the oven is full. It works as a pressure cooker, slow cooker, and rice cooker, so you can make mashed potatoes, soup, or chili for guests without taking up a burner. It is one of the most useful picks in our kitchen essentials.
Serve the Food
With a potluck, serving is half the work. Set up a buffet on a counter or sideboard with plenty of spoons, and put out a charcuterie board for guests to snack on while dinner finishes. Tiered trays and a serving board make the food look good and save table space.
3 Tier Maple Leaf Serving Tray with Stand
A showpiece for the snack table. Three wooden maple leaf trays in three sizes sit on a collapsible ladder stand, and you can fill them with appetizers, fruit, cheese, or desserts. It looks like a centerpiece, it saves table space, and the stand folds down to store.
Pumpkin Charcuterie Board
A wooden charcuterie board shaped like a pumpkin, with three sections for cheese, meats, fruit, or snacks. It works as both a serving piece and fall decor, and it is easy to wash by hand.
Charcuterie Board Set
A snack board that keeps guests happy while dinner finishes. This set comes with the board, bowls, and knives, so you can lay out cheese, meats, fruit, and crackers in a nice display. It also makes a thoughtful host gift.
Gold Serving Spoons, 4 Piece Set
With a potluck, you need more serving spoons than you think. This set has two solid and two slotted spoons, so the mashed potatoes, green beans, and stuffing each get their own. The gold finish looks nice on the buffet, and they are dishwasher safe.
Set the Table
The table does most of the decorating for you. A tablecloth, plates, and napkins make the whole room feel like a party, and disposable tableware keeps cleanup easy when you are hosting a crowd. Pick a theme and a color or two, like plaid and gold, and the rest comes together. If you are short on chairs, borrow a few folding ones or ask friends to bring their own camping chairs, and set up extra seating in a second spot so the table does not feel crowded.
Plaid Fall Tablecloth
A warm rust and brown plaid that sets the fall mood right away. It fits a table for about 6 to 8 people, and other sizes are available for bigger or round tables. It is machine washable, so you can use it again every autumn.
Heavyweight Ivory and Gold Scalloped Plates
If you want the table to look a little more elevated, these are the plates. The scalloped edges and gold trim look like real china, and they are thick enough to hold a full Thanksgiving plate. The set has dinner and dessert plates, and you can toss them when the night is over.
Friendsgiving Tableware Set
An all-in-one set that covers the table in one purchase. It includes plates, dessert plates, cups, napkins, forks, two waterproof tablecloths, and a thankful banner, with fall leaves, pumpkins, and a funny turkey design. Cleanup is just tossing everything in the trash.
Fall Plaid Paper Napkins
Paper napkins in a plaid pattern with autumn colors. They are an easy way to bring color to the table, and they pair well with a plaid tablecloth or plain plates.
Friendsgiving Napkins
Napkins made for the occasion, with a Friendsgiving design that keeps the theme going. A small, low cost detail that makes the table feel like a party.
Padded Folding Chairs, 2 Pack
When your table seats eight and you invited twelve, these are the answer. The padded seats and backs are comfortable enough to sit through a long dinner, and they fold flat, so they store in a closet or trunk until the next party.
Drinks and Party Favors
Set up a drink station away from the kitchen so people can help themselves. Reusable cups are a nice touch, and fun details like can coolers and table favors give guests something to take home.
Reusable Fall Party Cups
These steel cups have a colorful fall tree design and the words Together and Grateful, which is exactly the mood of Friendsgiving. They are shatterproof, so nobody has to worry about a dropped glass, and guests can take theirs home as a keepsake at the end of the night. They need to be washed by hand.
Hard Cooler on Wheels
A big cooler on wheels makes a perfect drink station for a crowd. It holds a lot of cans, rolls easily, and keeps drinks cold, so your fridge stays free for the food. It is the kind of cooler people bring to tailgates too, so it will keep getting used long after Friendsgiving is over.
Friendsgiving Can Coolers
A fun little detail that doubles as a party favor. Each one has a fall design with pumpkins, turkeys, and pies, so guests can tell their drinks apart, and they fit most cans and bottles. People can take theirs home at the end of the night.
Thanksgiving Party Table Favors
A fun way to get everyone laughing. Each favor comes in a fall design and holds a paper party hat, a Thanksgiving joke, and a small toy or gift. Set one at each seat, and guests will be wearing hats and trading jokes before dinner starts.
Send Everyone Home with Leftovers
Leftovers are part of the tradition. Have containers ready so guests can take a plate home, and your fridge does not end up with all of it.
Take Out Food Containers
The easiest way to end the night. Each container has three compartments, so guests can take home turkey, stuffing, and pie without mixing it all together. They are made of compostable paper and are microwave safe, so leftovers can go straight in for lunch the next day.
Friendsgiving Decorations
Keep decor simple. Candles, small pumpkins, and fall leaves down the middle of the table go a long way, and a banner on the wall ties it together.
Gold Glitter Friendsgiving Banner
A simple way to set the tone. The gold glitter banner says Thankful for You and comes already assembled, so you can hang it on the mantel, a wall, or a window in about a minute. It is made of sturdy card stock and can be reused each year.
DIY Turkey Photo Banner
A decoration and an activity in one. The set comes with cardboard turkeys and a hanging rope, and the idea is to add a photo of each guest, or even a pet, as the turkey's head. Hang it up before the party, or let guests make their own turkey when they arrive.
Keep the Kids Busy
If kids are coming, give them their own spot. A giant coloring poster is the easiest way to keep them entertained while the adults finish cooking and catching up.
Thanksgiving Coloring Banner for Kids
A giant paper poster that keeps the kids busy and protects the table at the same time. It ships rolled so it lays flat, and it can go on the table as a runner, on a wall as a decoration, or on the floor for little ones to color.
Hosting Checklist
A few simple things make hosting easier.
- Pick a date and send invites two weeks ahead
- Decide what you will cook and assign sides, desserts, and drinks
- Ask about allergies and dietary needs
- Order tableware, cups, and decor early
- Set up a drink station and a kids' table
- Plan a spot for coats, leftovers, and extra chairs
Friendsgiving FAQ
How far ahead should I plan Friendsgiving?
Pick a date one to two weeks before Thanksgiving so friends are not already booked with family plans, and send invites at least a couple of weeks ahead. Order any decor or party supplies a week or more before the party so they arrive on time.
How many people can I host for Friendsgiving?
As many as your space and seating allow. For a small group, a dozen people is easy. Disposable tableware sets make it easy to scale up if you need to.
What should I serve at Friendsgiving?
Host the main dish, like a turkey or ham, and ask each guest to bring a side, dessert, or drink. A potluck makes the workload smaller and the table more interesting, and a quick list keeps you from ending up with five of the same dish.
How do I cook a turkey for a crowd and keep sides warm?
A large electric roaster oven cooks the turkey and frees up your regular oven. A model that also comes with buffet trays does double duty, since you can use the trays at other parties and potlucks to keep mashed potatoes, vegetables, and gravy warm.
How do I decorate for Friendsgiving on a budget?
Start with the table. A matching tablecloth, plates, and napkins do most of the work, and then add candles, small pumpkins, and fall leaves. A banner on the wall and reusable cups double as decor and party favors.
What can kids do at Friendsgiving?
A giant coloring poster is the easiest answer. Lay it on a separate table or the floor with a box of crayons, and kids stay busy while the adults finish cooking and catching up. For more ideas, see our cute fall crafts.
What are good party favors for Friendsgiving?
Small, fun details work best, like can coolers, table favors with a party hat and a joke, or a reusable cup guests can take home. They double as decor and give people something to remember the night.
What do I need to serve a potluck-style meal?
Plenty of serving spoons, a few platters or trays, and a spot to set up a buffet. A tiered tray and a serving board keep snacks off the main table, and a roaster oven with warming trays keeps hot dishes ready.
What should I do with Friendsgiving leftovers?
Have take-out containers ready so guests can pack a plate. Containers with compartments keep the turkey, stuffing, and pie separate, and everyone goes home happy.
What should I buy for Friendsgiving?
Start with the essentials: a tablecloth, plates, napkins, and cups. Then add serving pieces, extra chairs, and fun extras like a banner, can coolers, table favors, and a coloring poster for kids.