What to Bring
to a Friendsgiving

Friendsgiving is a wonderful way to share the spirit of Thanksgiving with your closest companions — and what better way to do so than with food? 

Brainstorming the perfect foods to bring to Friendsgiving can be challenging, especially when the most popular Thanksgiving dishes are already spoken for. Luckily, we have some tasty, one-of-a-kind dishes that set the bar high for your celebration.

If you’re looking for delicious Friendsgiving side dishes and entrees, you’ve come to the right place! Continue reading for some of the best Friendsgiving food ideas.

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Quick and Easy Friendsgiving Recipes 

Searching for some delicious meals and appetizers to share among your closest friends? Here are five things to bring to Friendsgiving that will likely have everyone returning for another helping.

1. Beef Fajita Stroganoff

Nothing says comfort food quite like beef and pasta topped with a thick, creamy sauce. Loaded with savory ingredients like sliced button mushrooms, crisp onions, beef fajitas, egg noodles, Worcestershire sauce and sour cream, this beef fajita stroganoff is the ultimate melt-in-your-mouth dish.

After melting butter over medium heat in a large skillet, add in your sliced onions and mushrooms. Stir occasionally for about 10 minutes or until your veggies are light golden brown and tender.

You’ll then stir in your flour for about a minute or until smooth. Whisk in your Worcestershire sauce and broth, then boil over medium-high heat. Stir in your beef and simmer for 10-15 minutes, then add your sour cream. Serve over egg noodles, top with parsley and dig in!

2. Cordon Bleu Chicken Tender Sliders

If you need Friendsgiving appetizer food ideas, search no further than these cordon bleu chicken tender sliders. You can’t go wrong with mini sandwiches — they’re incredibly easy to make and are almost always a crowd-pleaser!

Start by baking pre-cooked frozen or refrigerated chicken tenders at 375 degrees Fahrenheit for about 12-14 minutes. Top each piece of chicken with one or two slices of swiss cheese about a minute before they’re done cooking. Finish cooking until the cheese is melted.

After taking your sliders out of the oven, spread some honey mustard over Hawaiian sweet roll bottoms. Add one or two chicken tenders, lettuce and ham. Top the sandwiches with the remaining roll halves, and enjoy!

3. Nashville Chicken Sliders

Add a comforting southern flair to your Friendsgiving spread with these Nashville hot chicken sliders. These sandwiches aren’t too different from our previous recipe, with the exception of frozen southern-style chicken tenders and a few other ingredients.

As you bake your chicken tenders at 375 degrees Fahrenheit for about 14-16 minutes, grab a large bowl and combine mayonnaise, coleslaw mix, sugar and vinegar. Season this mixture with salt and pepper. 

In a separate bowl, whisk together brown sugar, cayenne pepper, paprika and olive oil. Once your chicken tenders are done baking, coat them evenly with this oil mixture.

To form your sandwiches, top the bottom halves of Hawaiian sweet rolls with one or two pieces of chicken. Add a couple of pickle chips and two tablespoons of your coleslaw mixture to each one. Top with the remaining roll halves.

5. Chicken “Tot” Pie

Putting a tasty spin on two beloved dishes — tater tots and chicken pot pie — this chicken tot pie is sure to be a hit at the dinner table. Combining ingredients like rotisserie chicken strips, mixed vegetables, heavy cream and chicken broth makes for an ultra-savory delight.

Preheat your oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit, then melt some butter in a cast-iron skillet over medium heat. Add chopped onion to the hot skillet and cook for 5-8 minutes. Stir in flour for about a minute.

Whisk in heavy cream and broth and stir for about 5 minutes. Stir in the vegetables, chicken, salt and pepper, then remove the mixture from heat. Cover it completely with an even layer of tater tots, then bake it all for about 20-25 minutes. Sprinkle with parsley, and enjoy!

What to Bring if You Don’t Have Time to Cook

Let’s face it — sometimes it’s just too difficult to find the time to cook, especially when you have a jam-packed schedule around the holiday season. Thankfully, there’s a variety of essential non-food items you can bring to your Friendsgiving celebration. Some easy, last-minute grabs include:

  • Wine or cocktail ingredients: A versatile wine that pairs with your Friendsgiving dishes, like a red blend, makes a great addition to the festivities and drink selection. If fall cocktails are on the menu, consider bringing ingredients and garnishes like soda, olives, maraschino cherries, mint leaves or citrus twists.
  • Gravy: Mashed potatoes are a Thanksgiving staple, and what pairs better with a steaming mound of mashed potatoes than this classic savory sauce? Store-bought turkey gravy is an easy solution if you’re unable to cook a Friendsgiving dish this year.
  • Disposable plates and silverware: You can’t have a meal without these essentials! Grab plenty of paper plates and plastic silverware to bring to your Friendsgiving gathering.
  • Paper towels or napkins: If someone is already handling plates and silverware, grab one or two packs of napkins or a roll of paper towels for the festivities. Consider fall- or Thanksgiving-printed napkins to keep with the holiday spirit!
  • Store-bought desserts: Don’t forget to top off the evening with something sweet. Homemade desserts aren’t the only fan-favorite at Thanksgiving. There’s an endless array of delicious store-bought desserts to consider as well — pumpkin rolls, apple crisp, chocolate cream pie, blueberry muffins or sugar cookies, to name a few. Don’t forget to bring the whipped cream!

Impress Your Friends With John Soules Foods

Quality ingredients are essential for good Friendsgiving dishes. At John Soules Foods, our fully cooked frozen and refrigerated chicken and beef products make it easier than ever to whip up fast, delicious meals during the holidays — or any other time of the year! From breaded chicken tenders to juicy beef fajitas and southern-style chicken bites, we have everything you need to craft amazing recipes for your Friendsgiving celebration.

Impress your friends with delicious entrees and appetizers made with pre-cooked meats by John Soules Foods. Find a store near you to purchase our chicken and beef products!