Thankful for Friendsgiving
Friends, food and festivities. What more could you want?
Friendsgiving is one of our favorite ways to kick off the holiday season. As a stand-alone holiday where you get to set the rules, it’s a fun way to try new, unique foods and spend time with some of your favorite people. There’s no need to repeat the traditional Thanksgiving meal, since most of your friends will likely be enjoying those foods with their families. Keep it fun, creative and easy, and encourage your friends to bring some of their own dishes for a potluck-style feast. If you’d rather skip the prep, pre-order from our delicious à la carte dinner party items or cozy brunch meals—perfect for an easy and festive Friendsgiving. Read on for some of our favorite tips, recipes and shortcuts, and have a happy Friendsgiving!
Feast Mode – Our Friendsgiving Favorites
Whether you’re hosting or attending a Friendsgiving gathering this year, we’ve got you covered. Here are our favorites for Friendsgiving, from traditional dishes to unique finds, that will to take your celebration up a notch from start to finish!
1. NEW! The Fresh Market Sweet Hawaiian Dinner Rolls: It's your light soft and sweet sidekick that's divine solo or or serve as a sandwich vessel for leftovers.
2. Beef or Vegetable Lasagna: Savory layers of fresh ground beef or vegetables with tender pasta, creamy ricotta and mozzarella cheese in rich marinara sauce. Ready to bake.
3. Mini Maryland Crab Cake Platter: Each bite is full of flavor and meaty goodness along with simple ingredients to enhance the crab's delicate notes. We've even included our Stone Crab Mustard Sauce for dipping. Just heat, dip and enjoy.
4. Fresh Boneless Turducken: Perfect for those indecisive and meat-loving friends, turducken is the ultimate unique entree for Friendsgiving. It's handmade in store with a boneless duck breast and a boneless, chicken breast and a boneless turkey breast. We've layered our favorite garlic herb stuffing and andouille sausage throughout for even more flavor.
5. Twice Baked Potatoes with Cheese & Chive: Creamy, cheesy, and irresistibly savory, these twice baked potatoes are a comfort food favorite. Each potato is filled with a smooth blend of whipped potato, melted cheese, and fresh chives, then baked again until perfectly golden. They make a hearty side dish that pairs beautifully with any Friendsgiving entrée.
6. Cocktail Shrimp Ring: A chilled classic that never goes out of style. Our cocktail shrimp ring features tender, juicy shrimp arranged in a ready to serve ring with a bold cocktail sauce in the center. It’s a simple yet elegant appetizer that adds a touch of sophistication to your holiday spread.
7. Heirloom Tomato Caprese Salad: Fresh, colorful, and full of flavor, this Caprese salad is a vibrant addition to your Friendsgiving table. We layer juicy heirloom tomatoes with creamy mozzarella and fragrant basil, then finish it with a drizzle of balsamic glaze and olive oil. It’s a refreshing contrast to rich holiday dishes and a guaranteed crowd favorite.
8. Tasteful Trios: Smooth and creamy. Rich and dreamy. A last bite that finishes a meal like an exclamation point. That's how it ends when you opt for our 3 for $12 desserts
Grateful Grazing
A well-stocked charcuterie board creates a delicious opportunity for guests to linger—and the perfect excuse to open another bottle of wine! Combine your favorite cheese varieties with meats, crackers, jams and other nibbles to make the perfect board. Here are some of our favorite cheeses to include!
1. BelGioioso Creamy Gorgonzola: Crafted in Wisconsin using traditional Italian methods, BelGioioso Creamy Gorgonzola is aged to perfection for a rich, tangy flavor and irresistibly smooth texture. Ideal for crumbling over salads or melting into sauces.
2. Société Roquefort: Made in the caves of Roquefort-sur-Soulzon, this iconic blue cheese boasts a bold, piquant flavor with a creamy, crumbly texture. Société Roquefort is a true French classic, perfect for pairing with figs or crusty bread.
3. Short Creek Farm Salame: Handcrafted in small batches in New Hampshire, Short Creek Farm Salame is dry-cured with heritage pork and seasoned with a blend of spices for a robust, savory bite. A perfect addition to any charcuterie board.
4. Entremont French Gruyère: Aged for over 6 months in the Jura region of France, Entremont Gruyère offers a nutty, slightly sweet flavor with a firm, meltable texture. It’s a must-have for fondue, gratins, or gourmet sandwiches.
5. Le Roulé Garlic & Herb / Cranberry: Le Roulé is a fresh French cheese rolled with vibrant garlic & herbs or sweet-tart cranberries, creating a visually stunning and flavorful spread. Its creamy texture makes it perfect for crackers or crostini.
6. 1057 Extra Mature Scottish Cheddar: Aged for over 20 months, 1057 Scottish Cheddar delivers a bold, crumbly texture with deep, savory notes and a hint of sharpness. This extra mature cheese is ideal for snacking or elevating your favorite recipes.
7. Mitica Marcona Almonds: Imported from Spain, Mitica Marcona Almonds are lightly fried in olive oil and salted for a buttery, delicate crunch. These gourmet nuts are a luxurious snack or a perfect pairing with cheese and wine.
8. Long Clawson Dairy Cotswold: This English classic blends creamy Double Gloucester cheese with zesty chives and onions for a savory, aromatic flavor. Long Clawson Cotswold is a standout addition to any cheese board or sandwich.
9. The Fresh Market Prosciutto Italiano: Thinly sliced and dry-aged in Italy, The Fresh Market Prosciutto Italiano offers a delicate, melt-in-your-mouth texture with a subtly sweet, savory flavor. Perfect for wrapping around melon or layering on antipasto platters.
The Fresh Market Friendsgiving Menu
Need some menu inspiration? We’ve put together some of our favorite creative appetizers, mains, sides and desserts. Each section includes something you can make yourself, along with an item that’s ready-made—no prep required.
Crab Stuffed MushroomsEasy Appetizers
Make It: Crab Stuffed Mushrooms with Lemon and Parmesan This easy-to-make, crowd-pleasing appetizer comes together in just 30 minutes. Simply fill seasonal stuffing mushrooms with our popular Ultimate Lump Crab Cakes, Panko breadcrumbs, Parmesan, lemon zest and crushed red pepper for a little kick. These mushrooms can easily be made ahead of time and reheated when it’s time to eat.
Take It: No celebration is complete without a Party Platter! Pick up one (or several) for your next Friendsgiving or holiday gathering. Choose from mini sandwiches and savory wraps, classic crudité, gourmet desserts and more. Pre-order your Party Platters online online.
Maple Harissa Roasted TurkeyMain Dishes
Make It: Maple Harissa Roasted Turkey Add layers of flavor to your Turkey with a unique combination of ingredients, like harissa chili paste, garlic, maple syrup and brown sugar.
Take It: Turducken Bring on the birds! Perfect for those indecisive and meat-loving friends, turducken is the ultimate, un-traditional entrée for Friendsgiving. It’s handmade in store and consists of a boneless duck breast stuffed inside a boneless chicken breast stuffed inside a boneless turkey breast.
Curry Sweet Potatoes with Crushed Peanuts, Lime and MintStandout Sides
Make It: Red Curry Sweet Potatoes with Crushed Peanuts, Lime and Mint This savory dish combines traditional ingredients with unexpected flavors to create a truly unique side. Black garlic adds complexity and depth of flavor, while curry paste, coconut milk and brown sugar add sweet, savory richness. Don’t skimp on the mint, cilantro and peanut topping. It provides brightness and crunch to create the perfect balance of flavors and textures.
Take It: Loaded Au Gratin Potato Tray This dish is made with our loaded potato salad, cheddar cheese and savory bacon. It’s everything you love about a loaded baked potato, with the richness of traditional au gratin potatoes. Available in our Deli.
Triple Ginger Chocolate Chip CookiesSweet Endings
Make It: Triple Ginger Chocolate Chip Cookies We love serving these festive, flavorful cookies during the holidays. They’re made with Wholesome Organic Molasses, along with fresh, ground and crystallized ginger, cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg. Semi-sweet chocolate chips add rich chocolate flavor that plays well with the bold flavors of ginger and spice. Bring a batch to your Friendsgiving gathering and watch them disappear!
Take It: Colonial Apple Pie Looking for a pie that will truly impress? Add a rustic touch to any table with our gorgeous, hand-pleated pie! The tender, flaky crust is loaded with fresh Ida red apples, sprinkled with cinnamon sugar and baked in-store.
5 Tips for a Fabulous Friendsgiving
Hosting Friendsgiving should be fun. Keep it light and creative, and enlist your friends to help, too. We do recommend making a game plan, so the whole affair can be smooth sailing. With a little planning ahead, you’ll have a memorable, stress-free gathering destined to become a new tradition. Here are some of our go-to tips.
1. Keep it simple. Avoid laborious, time-intensive recipes. The easiest option is to host a potluck-style gathering. Prepare a main course and maybe a starter and let your friends handle the rest. For the table setting, keep decorations minimal and inexpensive. We like to tuck fresh sprigs of thyme or rosemary in guests’ napkins, add a few unscented votives and decorate with available greenery and berries. Instead of regular butter, opt for Keller Turkey Butter Sculpture from our Dairy Department. Continue the turkey theme with our delicious Chocolate Turkeys crafted from fair-trade milk or dark chocolate. For more ideas, check out our decorating tips.
2. Start early. Whether it’s setting the table or assembling a casserole, anything you can do ahead of time will help you check one more thing off your to-do list. That means more time with your friends on the day-of, and isn’t that what this is all about?
3. Take shortcuts. We offer a variety of pre-washed, cut-in-store vegetables, so you don’t have to chop, slice, dice and clean up the leftovers. Remember, not everything has to be made entirely from scratch in order to be delicious. Discover ways you can save time without sacrificing quality or flavor.
4. Rethink the menu. This doesn’t have to be your traditional Thanksgiving meal. Chances are, your friends will be having turkey and dressing on Turkey Day, so why not mix up the menu? Try proteins, spices and preparations you wouldn’t typically employ. Keep it fun, fresh and creative!
5. Don’t forget the music! A fun gathering calls for fun music, which also helps set the tone for the meal. Keep your playlist casual and upbeat—think Motown and classic oldies with some modern tunes mixed in.
Pro Tip: Ask your friends to bring food containers so they can take leftovers home with them.
Festive Sips to Satisfy the Whole Bunch
Wine is always great to have for your meal, but while you’re mixing and mingling with friends, cocktails are the way to go. Make a big batch ahead of time so you’ll have enough to satisfy a crowd and won’t have to play bartender.
