- What’s here: A full Friendsgiving menu for 10, written as a potluck assignment list
- The filter: Every dish travels and reheats in one shared oven
- The one thing that matters: Assign the eact dish and the eact quantity, not a category
The point of a Friendsgiving menu is that it is a list you can paste into a group chat and have people claim. Here is a complete one for 10, with quantities, sorted by who should bring it — and every dish chosen because it survives a car ride and a wait in a warm kitchen. For how to run the whole thing, see Friendsgiving ideas.
[Photo: a numbered potluck sign-up list on a fridge, dishes claimed with names]
The host brings
- The main. For 10: a spatchcocked turkey, or two roast chickens (they fit a normal oven and cook in an hour), or a spiral ham, or a vegetarian centerpiece like a stuffed squash or wellington.
- Gravy — made from the main, or a good jarred one doctored with herbs and a splash of wine.
- Plates, cutlery, napkins, cups, ice, serving spoons, foil, to-go containers.
Assign to guests
Sides (assign 4 to 5)
- Baked mac and cheese, a full 913. Travels and holds better than almost anything.
- Stuffing or dressing, a 913, baked at home, reheated on arrival.
- Sweet potato casserole, assembled, baked on site or reheated.
- Roasted vegetables, sprouts or a big tray of mied roots; re-crisp in the oven.
- Mashed potatoes for 10, brought in a slow cooker set to warm, which doubles as the serving vessel.
- Dinner rolls, bakery, or the make-ahead rolls.
Salad and cranberry (assign 2)
- Harvest salad, components brought separately, tossed at the party.
- Cranberry sauce, needs no reheating; the easiest assignment.
Appetizers (assign 1 to 2)
- A Friendsgiving charcuterie board, a dip and chips, or one hot slow-cooker item. More in Friendsgiving appetizers.
Dessert (assign 2)
- A pumpkin pie, a pan of bars, or a batch of cookies. See Friendsgiving dessert ideas, potluck desserts, not plated ones.
Drinks (assign to several people)
- Wine (2 bottles per person bringing), beer (a 12-pack), a batch cocktail or the ingredients for one, sparkling water, etra ice.
Quantities for 10
- Turkey: a 12 to 13 lb bird, or two 4 lb chickens, or a 6 to 7 lb ham.
- Each side: one full 913 pan, which gives about ¾ cup per person.
- Mashed potatoes: 4 to 5 lb of potatoes.
- Rolls: 15 to 20.
- Dessert: two desserts, each serving 10 to 12.
- Ice: at least 10 lb. You will still run out.
Travel and reheat notes
- Everything comes fully cooked and gets a 15 to 20 minute reheat at 350°F, staggered, on arrival.
- Slow cookers are your friend, mashed potatoes, mac and cheese, and meatballs all travel and hold in one.
- Label the bottom of every dish with the owner’s name in tape.
- Assign someone to bring foil and a roll of tape, both always run out.
Frequently asked questions
What food should I make for Friendsgiving?
If you are the host: the main (turkey, roast chickens, ham, or a vegetarian centerpiece) and the gravy. If you are a guest: whatever specific dish you were assigned, mac and cheese, stuffing, a casserole, or dessert.
How much food do I need for a Friendsgiving of 10?
A 12 to 13 lb turkey (or two 4 lb chickens), one full 913 pan of each side, 4 to 5 lb of potatoes, 15 to 20 rolls, and two desserts. Plus at least 10 lb of ice.
What Friendsgiving dishes travel well?
Baked mac and cheese, stuffing, casseroles, and slow-cooker mashed potatoes all travel and reheat without falling apart. Avoid anything that must be served immediately or plated warm.
Should the host make everything?
No. The host makes the main and provides the setup. Everything else is assigned to guests as specific dishes with specific quantities.
The bottom line
A main from the host, four to five sides, a salad, cranberry, appetizers and two desserts, each assigned by name and quantity, each one that survives travel and a shared oven. Paste the list into the group chat and let people claim.
Pin it, this is the list you send out every year.