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50 Easy and Healthy Friendsgiving Recipes

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50 Easy and Healthy Friendsgiving Recipes | healthynibblesandbits.com

My very first friensgiving was 8 years ago, during my first year of law school. I decided not to go home because plane tickets were too expensive. Holiday travel is the worst, by the way. Besides, it was almost time for us to hunker down in our respective caves to study for finals. Fortunately, one of my roommates graciously invited me and three other friends over to spend Thanksgiving with her family at Williamsburg, Virginia. We ate, we drank, we spent time in colonial Williamsburg. It was glorious.

The next year, I stuck around D.C. to partake in the friendsgiving festivities. I named our turkey Thomas (we were living in D.C., after all) and passed out from food coma 15 minutes after the meal—a true sign that it was indeed delicious. Even though we have all gone our separate ways, I’m keeping this tradition alive with my friends back home.

Now, I know I’m not the only person who celebrates friendsgiving. We all love a good excuse to eat and pour on the libations with our dear friends. So I decided to round up 50 easy and healthy friendsgiving recipes to get you inspired for your next gathering. I know I don’t share many recipes for drinks on this blog (this needs to be fixed), but I had to add some many adult beverages in this round-up. Friends + booze just go hand-in-hand. Also, I had busy people in mind when I was compiling the round-up, so most off these recipes should be ready in about an hour (except for the sangrias).

Perusing blogs for recipe links was torture for belly. There’s so many dishes that were tantalizingly gorgeous. Well, without any further ado, here’s my ultimate friendsgiving recipe round-up!

DRINKS

Pomegranate Apple Cider Spritzer - an easy party drink by Lisa Lin of Healthy Nibbles & Bits

Pomegranate Apple Cider Spritzer // Healthy Nibbles

Pumpkin Pie Bourbon Pear Cocktail // Honestly Yum

Ginger Pear White Sangria // Kitchen Treaty

Pumpkin Spice White Russian // Nutmeg Nanny

Pear Pomegranate Sangria // Dietitian Debbie Dishes

Spiced Pear Cider

Spiced Pear Cider // The Almond Eater

Grapefruit-Pomegranate Punch // Swooned

Nutella Hot Chocolate // Cafe Delites

Cider, Thyme + Tonic Mocktail // Offbeat + Inspired

Pomegranate Sparkler // Blahnik Baker

APPETIZERS

5. Honey Chipotle-Roasted Parnsip & Carrot Crostini with Whipped Ricotta & Pesto

Honey Chipotle-Roasted Parnsip & Carrot Crostini with Whipped Ricotta & Pesto // Eats Well With Others

Thanksgiving Hand Pies // Real Food By Dad

Brussels Sprouts Chips // Nom Nom Paleo

Sweet Chili Shrimp and Tofu Wonton Cups // Healthy Nibbles

Chocolate Chili Spiced Pecans // Healthy Seasonal Recipes

Sautéed Kale & Goat Cheese Crostini with A Balsamic Reduction // Adventures in Cooking

Bacon Wrapped Brussels Sprouts // Fit Foodie Finds

Curried Potato Fried Dumplings // Healthy Nibbles

Edamame Sliders // The Lean Green Bean

Sweet Potato Crostini with Walnuts & Danish Blue Cheese // Naturally Ella

SIDES

Vegan Thai-Spiced Butternut Squash Soup - easy appetizer for fall! #healthy #glutenfree #vegan

Thai-Spiced Butternut Squash Soup // Healthy Nibbles

Butternut Squash & Apple Soup with Bacon // The Pretty Bee

Easy Cornbread Muffins // Edible Perspective

Roasted Squash with Pomegranate & Goat Cheese

Roasted Squash with Pomegranate & Goat Cheese // Floating Kitchen

Crispy Smashed Potatoes with Avocado Garlic Aioli // Oh She Glows

5-Ingredient Thai Pumpkin Soup // Foodie Crush

Pomegranate Glazed Brussels Sprouts | healthynibblesandbits.com #vegan

Pomegranate Glazed Brussels Sprouts // Healthy Nibbles & Bits

Cider Vinaigrette Roasted Root Vegetables // Simply Recipes

Chili Cheddar Skillet Cornbread // Kumquat

Butternut Squash Mashed Potatoes // Healthy Nibbles

MAIN DISHES

Baked Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese - a delicious vegetarian dish!

Baked Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese // Healthy Nibbles

Vegetarian Pumpkin and Kale Pasta Bake // MJ and Hungryman

Vegan Shepherd’s Pie // Minimalist Baker

Chicken Bacon Pumpkin Bake // Pinch of Yum

Rigatoni with Red Pepper & “Sausage”

Rigatoni with Red Pepper & “Sausage” // Delish Knowledge

Sweet Potato Surprise // Love & Lemons

Healthy Ham & Cheese Casserole with Apples & Sage // Well Plated

Vegan Green Bean Casserole

Vegan Green Bean Casserole // Healthy Nibbles & Bits

Winter Kale, Sausage, and Butternut Squash Lasagna // Inspiralized

Delicious Vegan Butternut Squash Curry Recipe - ready in 45 minutes!

Vegan Butternut Squash Curry with Spinach // Healthy Nibbles & Bits

Citrusy Brown Rice with Butternut Squash & Pomegranate

Citrusy Brown Rice with Butternut Squash & Pomegranate // The Roasted Root

DESSERTS

Flourless Salted Almond Chocolate Cookies

Flourless Salted Almond Chocolate Cookies // Snixy Kitchen

Creamy Pumpkin Pie Bars // Joy the Baker

Gluten-Free Chinese Almond Cookies // Healthy Nibbles

Gluten-Free Cranberry Walnut Loaf

Gluten-Free Cranberry Walnut Loaf // The Healthy Maven

Browed Butter Furikake Chex Mix // Healthy Nibbles

Skinny Pumpkin Cheesecake Brownies // Sally’s Baking Addiction

Spiced Apple & Star Anise Crisp

Spiced Apple & Star Anise Crisp // The Foodie Teen

Butternut Cranberry Muffins + Maple Pecan Crumble // Faring Well

Gingerbread Scones with Maple Drizzle // Amy’s Healthy Baking

Mini Gluten-Free Lemon Tarts - sharp lemon curd is paired with a gluten-free nut flour and graham cracker crust.

Mini Gluten-Free Lemon Tarts // Healthy Nibbles

ENJOY!

Reader Interactions

Comments

  6. Wow! what a great round-up!!! Yeah, I totally remember “friendsgivings” before I got married. . they were awesome!! and yes to more cocktail and drink recipes!! I’ve never really been a mixed drink person until a couple years ago and now I love them!

    Reply

    • Thanks, Alice! I love mixed drinks, but I have never dabbled with making my own (except for the awful, half-hazard “cocktails” we made in college, of course). Those cocktail recipes will definitely help me get a few tricks up my sleeve before my holiday entertaining duties begin!

      Reply

    • Thank you for stopping by and for your kind words, Sarah!! I LOVE your blog as well. I just want to eat all those sweet treats you have on there!

      Reply

  14. I love the sound of your friendsgivings! While I still go home every Thanksgiving, it’s a tradition that I bring home a few wayward souls who aren’t going to their respective homes. Thanksgiving never feels complete without a few friends around the table too. This year, we’re bringing home our friend Dane (the one who will cook for me when I invite him over to dinner;) and, as usual, I love finding new recipes to add to the dinner every year. Thanks for all the easy and healthy ideas! (And especially thanks for including me in the roundup!). I hope you have a delicious and loving holiday. xo.

    Reply

    • Thank you!! I think after spending Thanksgiving with my friends a few years ago, it feels a bit weird not to invite a couple friends over now. And may I invite your friend Dane over, too? I could use another set of hands in the kitchen!

      Reply

  17. Holiday plane tickets are THE WORST. We’re staying in San Francisco for the holidays because it’s just too ridiculous to think about going home. I love Friendsgiving though and even though it’s not quite the same it’s so amazing to be surrounded by friends who feel like family. These are great suggestions!

    Reply

    • Thanks, Kelly! So sorry that you won’t be going home for the holidays! I’m flying to England for Christmas, and the tickets were bonkers expensive even with one layover!!

      Reply

  18. So many delicious recipes, Lisa! It’s been awhile since I celebrated friendsgiving, but reading your story got me reminiscing about my college days. Haha you def have that effect on me. Thomas sounds like he was the perfect bird ;). Love that you name your turkey. I should start doing that hehe. Thanks for including my recipe!

    Reply

    • I love when I can take people to memory lane! Hah, if you name your bird, let me know what it is! I’m stuck on giving it names beginning with a “T”. Thank YOU for letting me share your recipe!!

      Reply

  21. I’ve done a blogger Thanksgiving with some of my local blog friends a few times and it is so much fun! Better even than regular Thanksgiving. This is such a great round-up! Thanks for including my crostini!

    Reply

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