7 Midwestern Recipes To Bring To This Year’s Friendsgiving

As Thanksgiving approaches, many friends like to get together to feast and celebrate the unofficial holiday of Friendsgiving. While the time spent with friends is truly special, the delicious food laid out on the table is always a highlight of the occasion.

If you’re hosting Friendsgiving or bringing a dish to one, test out your culinary skills by choosing a Midwestern recipe that your friends will rave about. Here are seven regional recipes you can add to your menu this year.

1. Deep-Fried Turkey (Food Network) — Although deep-frying a turkey may be seen as non-traditional, many Michiganders opt for hot oil to cook their bird rather than the oven. This recipe from Food Network star Alton Brown starts with a brine of hot water, kosher salt and brown sugar, in which you’ll immerse your turkey for 8-16 hours. Rinse and pat the turkey dry, and allow it to sit for 30 minutes at room temperature.

When you’re ready to cook, fill a 28-30 quart pot with enough oil to cover the top of the turkey once it is immersed. Heat the oil to 250 degrees, slowly lower the bird, then bring the temp to 350 degrees and cook for about 35 minutes. Take your turkey out when the internal temperature reads 151 degrees — per Brown, carryover cooking will bring it up to 165 — and let it rest for at least 30 minutes before carving. See the full recipe here.

2. Golden Clove Glazed Ham (McCormick) — In the Midwest, turkey isn’t the only meat on the table. Consider cooking up a ham like this recipe from McCormick to round out your menu. While your oven warms up to 350 degrees, mix honey, sugar, water and ground cloves in a bowl. Put your ham in a large roasting pan lined with foil and score it in a diamond pattern. Insert whole cloves in the center and points of each diamond. The ham will bake for 1.5 hours; be sure to baste it during the last half hour. Let it stand for 15 minutes before slicing. See the full recipe here.

(If you have leftovers, consider making an Iowa specialty: ham balls. Check out this Classic Midwestern Baked Ham Balls recipe from Mashed.)

3. Yummy Sweet Potato Casserole (Allrecipes) — The Midwest is known for its delicious casseroles — that’s why we have three on our list! If you’re someone who likes to add a little sweetness to your mostly savory table, consider this four-step Yummy Sweet Potato Casserole recipe. Cook and mash about four cups of peeled, cubed sweet potatoes. Add eggs — mixing until combined — and sugar, butter, vanilla, milk and salt until smooth. Transfer the mixture to a 9x13-inch baking dish for best results.

For the topping, mix brown sugar and flour in a bowl, then cut in butter with a pastry cutter until it resembles peas (be sure not to overmix!). Stir in pecans, then sprinkle the topping over the sweet potato mixture. Bake in the oven at 325 degrees for about 30 minutes. See the full recipe here.

4. Green Bean Casserole (Campbell’s) — Considered a holiday classic in the Midwest, green bean casserole will likely be present at every Friendsgiving table. Campbell’s six-ingredient recipe was created in 1955 and continues to stand the test of time across the nation.

Heat your oven to 350 degrees and, in a 1.5-quart oven-safe casserole dish, fold in condensed cream of mushroom soup, milk, soy sauce, green beans and onions. Season the mixture with salt and pepper and then bake for 25 minutes. Stir the mixture, add the remaining onions and bake for an additional five minutes. Let it rest before serving to ensure the flavors meld and the casserole has settled. See the full recipe here.

5. Vegetarian Tater Tot Casserole (Allrecipes) — Don’t forget about your vegetarian guests on Friendsgiving! Grab a 9x13-inch, greased baking dish and preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Arrange frozen tater tots in the dish. In a separate bowl, mix together sour cream, cheddar cheese and a can of condensed cream of mushroom soup. Pour the mixture over the frozen tater tots and then sprinkle French fried onions on top; bake for 45-60 minutes. See the full recipe here.

6. Classic Midwestern Stuffing Or Dressing (Frugal Hausfrau) — No Midwest Friendsgiving table is complete without stuffing. Follow this classic recipe, starting by cooking sausage over medium heat in a large skillet. Remove the sausage and set it aside, then add butter to the pan. When melted, add celery and onions and cook until softened and slightly translucent. Let the vegetables cool for 10 minutes.

Grab a large mixing bowl and toss the cubed bread with poultry seasoning, sage, salt and pepper. Add the cooked sausage and vegetable mixture to the bread and toss again. Mix milk and eggs together and toss once more with the bread; you can moisten the stuffing mixture with chicken broth until you have your desired consistency. Transfer the stuffing mixture to a pan, then cover and bake for 25 minutes. Uncover the pan and bake for an additional 20-25 minutes until golden brown. See the full recipe here.

7. Apple-Almond Brave Betty (Midwest Living) — Midwesterners love their apple betty dessert, and this recipe from Midwest Living is sure to have your friends wanting more. First, put amaretti cookies in a food processor and pulse until they become fine crumbs; add butter and kosher salt to moisten them. Next, peel, core and halve three pounds of tart apples (like Granny Smiths), cutting into ⅛ inch slices. Add apples to a medium-heat skillet with butter, covering and cooking for about 7-9 minutes.

In a bowl, mix together cornstarch, brown sugar, cinnamon and kosher salt. Add this mixture to the apple skillet and cook until it resembles a syrup. Stir in some bourbon (optional) and lemon zest. Put half of this crumb mixture on the bottom of a pie plate and spoon in ⅓ of the apple mixture. Repeat this process two more times, then top with the remaining crumbs. Bake this uncovered at 375 degrees for about 40 minutes until golden brown and juices are bubbling thickly. See the full recipe here.

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