9 Southern Recipes To Bring To This Year’s Friendsgiving

Thanksgiving isn’t just for families anymore. Friendsgiving, a gathering with friends to celebrate the holiday, has become a tradition for many. With so much delicious food in the South, Friendsgiving is a great time to get creative with your dishes.

Here are nine regional recipes that are sure to be a hit this Friendsgiving.

1. Cajun Butter Roasted Turkey (Coop Can Cook) — Have limited time to prepare your Friendsgiving turkey? We have good news: this Cajun butter-roasted turkey recipe bypasses a brine, drastically speeding up prep time. Instead, injectable marinades followed by stuffing — which includes oranges rather than lemons — help your turkey achieve a juicy, sweet and slightly citrus flavor. This recipe uses both butter and oil, promising a crispy skin on the outside and a rich, buttery flavor inside. See the full recipe here.

(If you have leftovers, put them to good use — you can add them to a soup, like this delicious turkey gumbo, or stack them in a hearty turkey salad sandwich.)

2. Chicken-Fried Mushrooms With Creamy Mushroom Gravy (Southern Living) — If you have vegetarian guests attending your Friendsgiving, this chicken-fried mushrooms recipe is a must for your menu. A spin on a Southern classic, this recipe uses oyster mushrooms and a buttermilk coating to create a side dish reminiscent of chicken-fried steak but without the meat.

You can also serve it as an appetizer without the gravy, paired with other classic dips like ranch or marinara sauce. Just plan ahead, as this recipe requires about 50 minutes of prep and another 20 minutes of cooking time. See the full recipe here.

3. Louisiana Dirty Rice (Southern Discourse) — No matter the occasion, Louisiana dirty rice is always a crowd-pleaser. While traditional recipes call for ground chicken liver, this version takes a twist by incorporating bacon grease, flour and (optional) oysters, along with a flavorful mix of seasonings, spicy browned meats and the “Louisiana holy trinity” of celery, bell peppers and onions.

It can be served as the perfect Friendsgiving side dish, a dressing for your turkey or even stuffed in roasted peppers. Plus, it can be made ahead of time and frozen, so you can prepare your rice days in advance to avoid the last-minute Friendsgiving rush. See the full recipe here.

4. Southern-Style Collard Greens With Ham Hocks (Syrup And Biscuits) — Put a spin on the traditional collard greens dish with this Southern-style recipe that includes ham hocks. The recipe needs just 15 minutes to prepare, plus 1.5 hours of cooking time, and can be adjusted to suit your group’s taste preferences. Add your chopped and washed greens to a pot of boiling ham hocks and stock, then let it cook down.

If you’re not a fan of bitter dishes, add honey as desired to sweeten the dish. You can also experiment with your favorite seasonings, adding anything from mustard to vinegar to sweet onions. Don’t forget to pair it with some cornbread (recipe below) to complete the meal! See the full recipe here.

5. Southern Cornbread (Savory With Soul) — Looking to complement your collard greens with some classic cornbread? This recipe from Savory With Soul is simple to make, requiring just a handful of ingredients and yields a fluffy and buttery flavor that pairs well with anything on your Friendsgiving plate. It’s easy to get creative with this recipe, too, with optional additions like minced jalapenos, cheese or a Southern favorite: kernel corn. (Cooking tip: Don’t mix the batter too much, as overmixing can prevent the cornbread from rising properly.) See the full recipe here.

(Any cornbread that survives the hungry appetites of your Friendsgiving guests can be saved and used for leftovers. Have them for breakfast, paired with soup or underneath a heaping pile of Southern soup beans.)

6. Kentucky Hot Brown Crescent Casserole (Spicy Southern Kitchen) — If you’re hosting Friendsgiving after the official Thanksgiving celebration, revamp your leftover turkey with this Kentucky hot brown crescent casserole recipe. The cheesy and buttery dish is topped with crispy bacon and a rich mornay sauce and takes just 20 minutes to prepare and another 25 to bake.

It yields up to four servings, which can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days (though it's best eaten fresh). You can swap out ingredients as necessary for dietary and personal preferences, while half-and-half can replace whole milk for a richer casserole. See the full recipe here.

7. Southern Pineapple Casserole (A Southern Soul) — The perfect turkey pairing (or a dessert in itself!), this Southern pineapple casserole recipe elevates a classic dish with rich flavor and texture. The casserole takes 10 minutes to prepare and is loaded with canned pineapples and creamy cheddar cheese and then topped with crunchy, buttery crackers.

Leftovers can be stored for up to three days in the refrigerator, so you can continue to enjoy this dish post-Friendsgiving. See the full recipe here.

8. Southern Ambrosia (Southern Bite) — Looking for a quick and light dish to fill out your dessert table? This Southern ambrosia recipe is easy, highly customizable and can be prepped in a flash. Ambrosia fruit salad can be made with whatever fruit you have available, but it usually consists of at least pineapples and oranges mixed in white cream (either yogurt, whipped cream or sour cream).

For a less sweet dish, opt for sour cream rather than yogurt or whipped cream; if tree nut allergies aren’t a concern, consider adding some pecans for more flavor. See the full recipe here.

9. Utterly Deadly Southern Pecan Pie (Food.com) — No Southern Friendsgiving celebration is complete without pie, and this recipe takes the classic pecan pie to the next level. The “utterly deadly” dessert is rich and flavorful, requiring just seven ingredients to create a thick and gooey filling that will surely have all your friends raving.

The recipe serves eight and needs about 45-60 minutes in the oven, for about an hour and five minutes in total. (FYI: Some reviewers have taken this recipe even further by adding bourbon — consider experimenting to see what flavor combinations you can create!) See the full recipe here.

This content is brought to our community in partnership with T-Mobile.