Thanksgiving potlucks are the most anticipated potlucks of the year. They’re full of the classics: turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, and of course, green bean casserole. But even the best traditions can start to feel a little repetitive, especially if you’re going to multiple celebrations.
That’s where Friendsgiving comes in. Friendsgiving gives you the opportunity to keep the comfort and connection of the Thanksgiving holiday while adding your own creative spin. It’s a chance to host something warm and welcoming that still feels personal and a little different from the traditional family dinner.
If you’ve hosted before, you know the menu can feel the same every year. Turkey, mashed potatoes, and green bean casserole are great classics, but they’re also predictable. If you want to mix things up this year, try a theme that gives your friends some direction and adds a little personality to the table.
Here are ten creative, easy-to-run potluck themes that keep the Thanksgiving spirit while making your Friendsgiving dinner feel fresh and fun.
1. The Family Recipe Swap
Ask everyone to bring a dish that means something to them, whether it’s a family favorite or something they make every year out of tradition. Have your friends jot down the recipe on index cards or share it digitally so everyone can recreate their favorites later.
By the end of the night, you’ll have a full meal and a mini recipe collection filled with your friends’ favorite dishes and the stories that go with them.
Pro Tip: Encourage your guests to snap photos of the recipe cards so they can try to make the dishes at home.
2. Around the World Feast
Invite your friends to bring a dish inspired by their heritage or a place they love. Keep those same Thanksgiving comfort foods, but with a new mix of flavors from some different cuisines. Think jerk turkey, Mediterranean stuffing, or Thai-style green beans.
Decorate with simple travel-inspired touches or small flags, and encourage everyone to label their dish. It’s fun, flavorful, and a great conversation starter.
Pro Tip: Create a shared spreadsheet or group chat so everyone can coordinate dishes and avoid too many of the same flavors.
3. The Comfort Food Potluck
It’s giving comfy-cozy, which is what Thanksgiving is all about, right? Ask everyone to bring their favorite comfort dish, from baked mac and cheese to soups or casseroles. It’s relaxed, easy, and always satisfying.
Encourage BYOSS (Bring Your Own Serving Spoon) and make sure dishes are labeled (especially if there are dietary restrictions in the group).
Pro Tip: Keep an extension cord and power strip handy for the slow cookers and warmers so everything stays warm and ready to serve. And be sure to set up some nap stations for post-dinner lounging.
4. Small Plates, Big Appetite
Turn Friendsgiving into a tasting-style dinner. Ask each person to bring a small plate version of their favorite dish. Think mini turkey sliders, stuffing cups, or cranberry brie bites.
This theme is perfect for apartment gatherings or parties where space is tight. Everyone gets to try a bit of everything without needing to sit for a full meal. It’s also a great option if people are celebrating multiple Thanksgivings on the same day.
Pro Tip: Muffin tins, small bowls, or reusable ramekins make it easy to serve bite-sized portions without extra fuss.
5. Brunchgiving
Who says Thanksgiving has to happen at dinner? Host your Friendsgiving earlier in the day with a brunch theme. Think breakfast casseroles, pumpkin pancakes, quiches, and pastries.
Add a mimosa or coffee bar, and you’ve got a celebration that feels lighthearted and low-pressure.
Pro Tip: Make-ahead dishes are your best friend here. The less time you spend in the kitchen, the more time you get to hang out over coffee… or have a few extra mimosas.
6. Friendsgiving Favorites
Skip the turkey and go for variety. Ask everyone to bring the dish they’re known for or simply love making. It could be tacos, pasta, sushi, or even a giant salad. The result is a Friendsgiving menu that feels uniquely yours.
This is the best way to celebrate a group that loves food but doesn’t feel bound to tradition.
Pro Tip: Display everything buffet-style so people can mix, match, and try a little bit of everyone’s “specialty.”
7. The Grocery Store Potluck
This one’s for busy weeks or last-minute planners. Everyone brings something store-bought. No cooking required. Prepped deli sides, bakery desserts, or frozen appetizers are all fair game. You’ll save time, avoid stress, and still end up with a table full of great food.
Pro Tip: Transfer store-bought food into your own serving dishes. No one needs to know that pie was “homemade” by your local bakery.
8. The Gratitude Table
Give your Friendsgiving a thoughtful touch without making it feel like a group therapy session. Ask everyone to bring a dish that represents something they’re thankful for… maybe comfort, community, or just carbs. Share a few words before you eat, or skip the speeches and let the food speak for itself.
Pro Tip: Keep it simple. A shared toast or quick cheers can say plenty without turning the night into a TED Talk.
9. The Dessert-Only Potluck
Who says Thanksgiving has to revolve around turkey? Skip the main courses and make Friendsgiving all about dessert. Ask everyone to bring their favorite sweet – pies, cookies, brownies, cobblers, cheesecakes, or whatever they’re proud of (store-bought absolutely counts).
Set everything up buffet-style and let people graze while sipping coffee, cocoa, or a dessert cocktail. It’s a lighter, easier way to gather, and everyone leaves happy and sugared up.
Pro Tip: Balance the lineup by asking a few friends to bring something chocolatey, something fruity, and something classic. It keeps your dessert table filled with different flavors, textures, and colors.
10. The Color-Themed Dinner
If you want your Friendsgiving table to look amazing without lifting a finger on décor, go color-coded. Assign each friend a color to inspire their dish. Think orange for sweet potatoes, green for Brussels sprouts, red for cranberry sauce, yellow for cornbread. It keeps the table vibrant and balanced. You’ll end up with a spread that looks intentional, even if it was totally unplanned.
Pro Tip: Assign colors in your invite so your lineup doesn’t turn into a 50-shades-of-beige situation.
Hosting Tip
Keep it simple and flexible. Use a shared note or group chat so people can coordinate dishes, And don’t stress about duplicates. Two mac and cheeses just means more mac and cheese. Ask everyone to bring a serving spoon and pack a few takeout containers so leftovers don’t go to waste.
Conclusion
Friendsgiving is not about putting together a perfect meal. It’s about connection. It’s the one holiday where “doing your best” can mean anything from roasting a turkey to showing up with store-bought pie. A themed potluck keeps things creative, helps you avoid five of the same casseroles, and gives everyone a chance to bring something they are proud of.
Whether your table is filled with family recipes, takeout containers, or a mountain of desserts, the goal is the same: good food, endless laughter, and memories that remind you why this tradition is worth keeping. And if all else fails, bring wine. No one has ever been mad about that.
Kadi McDonald is a freelance writer, marketing strategist, and proud Cleveland sports fan.
