8 Southern Recipes For An Unforgettable Friendsgiving Feast

With Thanksgiving just around the corner, many friend groups choose to host a “Friendsgiving” dinner to enjoy delicious food and show gratitude for each other. When crafting the perfect southern Friendsgiving menu, choosing which dishes will make the cut can be a challenge — the South has countless mouthwatering holiday classics, from the sweetest indulgences to the most savory plates. Follow any of these eight regional recipes below, and you’ll surely be the talk of the feast this year.

1. Spatchcock Turkey With Alabama Meat Sauce (Meat Church) — Spatchcocking, or butterflying, is when a turkey's backbone is removed so that the meat lays flat, allowing for an even and gorgeous cook. This Meat Church video shows step-by-step how to spatchcock poultry. From there, you're going to brine the turkey and — get ready — kick it up a notch with Alabama White Sauce, an irresistible explosion of flavor your friends will be talking about all season long. And when the feast is over, turn those leftovers into pulled turkey sandwiches dripping with that delicious white sauce. See the full recipe here.

2. Mom’s Classic Southern Deviled Eggs (Family Food On The Table) — For a delicious side dish, try out this deviled egg recipe from Family Food On The Table, which incorporates pickle relish and Duke’s mayonnaise for a sweet and authentic southern flavor. As an easy dish to make in just 30 minutes, you can have fun personalizing the recipe to your liking with additional toppings like chopped parsley, caviar or paprika, in case you’re looking to bring something new to your Friendsgiving meal. After the meal is over, you can save leftovers for salads or cut up to use on an egg salad sandwich. See the full recipe here.

3. Jiffy Corn Pudding (Back To My Southern Roots) — For a budget-friendly yet delectable side dish, consider whipping up Jiffy Corn Pudding, which uses corn and creamed corn to create a crunchy top layer and moist inner layer with just six ingredients — and it only takes about five minutes to prepare. This buttery and sweet recipe is the perfect addition to a Friendsgiving meal and will leave your guests reminiscing about the spoonbread casserole they had when they were young. A note for the chef: when working with these ingredients, be sure not to overmix, as this can create a tougher texture. See the full recipe here.

4. Cheesy Bacon Cornbread Dressing (Food Network) — A Thanksgiving dinner isn’t complete without cornbread dressing, but that doesn’t mean you have to stick to the classic recipe! This recipe from Sunny Anderson of Food Network is a savory, moist delight with a bacon-y twist. You can use homemade or store-bought cornbread for your crumble, then sprinkle in Cheddar Jack and mozzarella along with scallions and parsley. For the dressing, cook up some bacon and saute sage, celery, onions and garlic in a pan, then add it all to the cornbread mix and top it with a mixture including chicken stock, buttermilk and Worcestershire sauce. This recipe is best made a day or two ahead and requires two bakes. It also works great as leftovers, although there probably won’t be anything left! See the full recipe (including video instructions) here.

5. Green Bean Casserole (Southern Bytes) — A simple yet flavorful staple for any Friendsgiving meal, green bean casserole is a classic dish that you can personalize using store-bought or home-cooked ingredients. This easy-to-make recipe by Southern Bytes boasts authentic flavors and a comforting, familiar taste — just like Mom used to make. It features a creamy texture using a mix of ingredients like cans of French-cut green beans and cream of mushroom soup, topped with fried crispy onions for the optimal crunchy bite. See the full recipe here.

6. (Soul Food) Southern Baked Macaroni And Cheese (Sweet Tea + Thyme) — Baked macaroni and cheese is an essential dish that’s sure to please even the pickiest of eaters — especially when you follow Sweet Tea + Thyme’s recipe. This rendition calls for block cheese rather than pre-shredded for an ideal flavor and texture, and it doesn’t shy away from spices like smoked paprika and mustard powder to give the dish a delicious, intensified taste. Even more, noodles boiled in chicken broth ensure the pasta is just as flavorful as the cheese it's topped with. The dish lasts for up to four days, so you can enjoy it as leftovers by itself or topped with cornbread dressing. See the full recipe here.

7. Southern Sweet Potato Casserole (Add A Pinch) — Depending on who you ask, some may consider sweet potato casserole a dessert or a side; however, one thing is certain: It’s a sweet and delicious part of any Friendsgiving meal. This recipe provides instructions for preparing your sweet potatoes in your preferred way, whether that’s baking or boiling them. Top your dish with classic southern ingredients like a buttery pecan crumble or marshmallow topping, or something less traditional such as a gluten-free oat crumble. This dish will last for several days in the refrigerator and can be frozen for upwards of three months. See the full recipe here.

8. Brown Butter And Bourbon Pecan Pie (Once Upon A Chef) — Everybody loves a good pecan pie — in fact, it’s so popular that Texas named it the official “State Pie” in 2013 — and this recipe from Once Upon A Chef provides an elevated take on a traditional southern dish. Using ingredients like bourbon and golden syrup for the filling and either the homemade crust included in the recipe or a store-bought option, this recipe takes the same amount of time as a traditional pecan pie but achieves a richer flavor using one key difference — browning the butter beforehand, which only takes about five minutes. The easy-to-follow recipe offers photos every step of the way and will leave your guests raving about your dessert’s delicious, authentic flavor. See the full recipe here.

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