15 Easy Friendsgiving Recipes You Can TOTALLY Pull Off

The perfect Friendsgiving should be everything that a holiday with crazy family members and a ton of travel is not — relaxed, stress-free and EASY. That includes the cooking, too. Preparing a full Thanksgiving meal may conjure up scenes from Christmas Vacation, but it doesn't have to. If the thought of spending this Thanksgiving kicking back with your besties over a few (or several) glasses of wine sounds like the best idea ever, then allow us to help you out. We've put together a guide of the very best and simplest dishes, from the centerpiece turkey to the perfect pie. These are traditional recipes that require little fuss but deliver big results, so you can breeze through your first Friendsgiving as if you've been hosting holidays for years. All you need is a solid grocery list, a water-tight kitchen schedule and checklist and a big appetite. Your friends will be making reservations at your house for next year before the meal is over.

Simple Turkey

The bird is always the main source of stress, so let’s tackle that first. This guide from our friends at The Kitchn is a no-frills approach that’s perfect for novice cooks, but serves up pro results. Guesstimate your cooking time based on the size of your turkey (instructions in the link) and work backwards so you know when to start. Plan the rest of your meal around oven time for the turkey. (via The Kitchn)

Slow Cooker Butternut Squash Soup

It might seem overwhelming to throw a soup into the mix, but consider the benefits. You can make it a day or two ahead of time and it’s something warm you can offer hungry guests when they arrive. This buys you more time in the kitchen, which is always a welcome gift on Turkey Day. Serve it up in mugs and pass around as your guests walk in the door; it will establish a relaxed and cozy vibe right off the bat. How very Friendsgiving of you! (via Gimme Some Oven)

Super Simple Appetizers

Meet a host’s best friend: easy no-bake apps. Put your early-bird guests to work assembling them; they’ll be happy to have a task to help you out with. (via Brit + Co)

Baked Brie With Cranberry Sauce

There’s nothing like an elevated cheese plate to get the party started, and this one takes things to a whole new level. Plus, it only takes one great piece of cheese, a few pantry staples and 8-12 minutes in the oven. Voila! (via The Kitchn)

Simple Dressing

When it comes to dressing, we agree with the legendary mag — simple is best. This recipe is straightforward and doesn’t require a ton of ingredients, so you can go ahead and relax over that pre-dinner glass of wine. You can also make it a day ahead of time and simply reheat in the oven before the meal. (via Bon Appetit)

Walnut + Mushroom Thanksgiving Stuffing

This veg-friendly stuffing is full of flavor but only looks fancy. Seriously — you could whip this up with finds from any local grocer without having to go the boxed-mix route. (via P+K_ on Snapguide)

Homemade Turkey Gravy

There’s no getting out of this one; you’re going to have to make gravy. We know it’s scary, but we’ve found a recipe so simple it will make you wonder what all the fuss is about. It will also make you wonder why you don’t make it 365 days a year. This recipe comes together while your turkey is resting (in fact, you’ll need the drippings to make it) so make sure everything else is ready to go and you can throw this together at the last minute. (via What’s Gaby Cooking)

Creamy Green Bean Casserole

There’s a reason green bean casserole has stood the test of time; it’s decadent, comforting and delicious. This classic version is worth mastering, and it’s yet another recipe you can make a day in advance and reheat in the oven. Or, even better, assign it to a friend. Sharing is caring! (via Sally’s Baking Addiction)

Easy Garlic Parmesan Knots

As if you needed more convincing, these buttery rolls come together in literally 20 minutes, so they’re totally beginner-friendly. Make and shape them while your turkey is still in the oven and pop them in when the bird comes out. They’ll be ready in the time it takes to make your gravy. (via Damn Delicious)

Warm Roasted Sweet Potato Salad

If the bottom rack of your oven is available, this sweet potato side is worth considering. Roasting cubed sweet potatoes is a super easy method for preparing them, and the rest comes together as quickly as a salad. You can make the vinaigrette completely ahead of time and reheat in a saucepan just before tossing with the potatoes. (via The Cozy Apron)

Kale Salad With Warm Cranberry Vinaigrette

A fresh salad is a cook’s ally when it comes to putting together a meal. It instantly adds vibrant color to the table and requires little to no cook time. This one comes with a warm vinaigrette of sauteed shallots and garlic, so it feels extra special. It’s perfect for a prized spot on the Friendsgiving table. (via Gimme Some Oven)

Garlic, Lemon and Parmesan Roasted Brussels Sprouts

Toss and bake — this dish is seriously that easy. These crunchy Brussels sprouts have a clean flavor profile, and they’re the perfect complement to all of those other indulgent sides. Did we mention they’re also easy? (via Cooking Classy)

Apple Pie With Cranberries

A good Friendsgiving involves pie, but a great Friendsgiving involves multiple pies. Including colorful cranberries in your apple pie lends it a seasonal twist. You can also leave this at room temperature for a day, so it won’t take up precious fridge space. (via King Arthur Flour)

Ultimate Pumpkin Pie

You need a pumpkin pie in your recipe arsenal, and this is the one. Serve it with freshly whipped cream and a hot cup of coffee and your friends will definitely have something to be thankful for. (via Brit + Co)

We might just be getting into the holiday spirit, but for the Radio City Rockettes, it's been Christmastime since September! In addition to a very enlightening game of This or That, twins Caitlin and Courtney Sullivan gave Brit + Co an inside look at what it's like to be a Rockette — and what they do the rest of the year. Consider this the perfect trivia for your Christmas dinner after you've mastered that Rockette red lip ;).

Here are 12 surprising things about being a Radio City Rockette.

1. Rehearsing for the Christmas season is a full-time job.

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Once the holidays roll around, the Radio City Rockette shows might last 90 minutes, but prepping for the season is a full work week. "The rehearsal season itself is six weeks long, six hours a day, six days a week," Courtney says. "So it is a long process and I feel like the rehearsals itself are like a bonding experience for us."

2. The Radio City Rockettes get some serious bonding time.

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"You spend a lot of time with the girls around you and within Radio City, our dressing rooms too," Courteney says of the Rockette rehearsal schedule. "I feel like that's the time when you really get to form those bonds with your sisters and really create magic that can be seen on stage too."

"Yeah, once we move into Radio City, this becomes your family, truly," Caitlin adds. "We spend every day, day in day out together, we spend the holidays together. So you naturally just become very close with everyone."

Each Rockette dresses up her getting-ready station.

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"Everybody dresses up their station to make it feel very homey," Caitlin says. "I like lots of like decor and festive lights, candles, all that fun stuff."

The women love to have treats in their dressing rooms!

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I'm literally snacking on a chocolate bar as I type this, and I'm not the only one who likes to have sweets on-hand! "I love Christmas cookies," Caitlin says. "We will do something with our dressing room and bring in treats every day. I feel like someone's bringing in something new."

The Radio City Rockettes perform up to 200 shows at Christmas.

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"The Rockettes perform up to 200 shows in a season, and the way that each show feels so special and individual, it's just amazing how you never know who's out in the audience seeing the show for the first time," Courtney says. "And the way the ladies in the line put their best foot forward every single time is so inspiring and made me want to give even more."

"It just really amazes me how dedicated and how hard working all the Rockettes are," Caitlin agrees. "And I think we always knew that, but then once you're in it, you have a whole new level of respect for how hard all these women work."

And each Rockette can perform in up to 4 shows a day!

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"I think sometimes people don't realize we can do up to four shows in the day, which is unreal and amazing," Caitlin says. "That might be a surprise to people when they're coming to a show. They might think we just have that one that day, but we actually might have two, three, or four in the day, which is pretty amazing."

But the Rockettes also find time to goof off.

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The Rockettes might be known for their precision, but Courtney promises their smiles are real! "We are having so much fun," Courtney says. "It's really just an amazing feeling to be on stage and we find times to laugh and joke around, but really obviously give our all to our craft. And I think people don't realize like we are really having an amazing time on and off stage."

The Radio City Rockettes really support one another.

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As you can imagine, a career as a Rockette comes with its challenges, but the ladies on the line always support each other. "I was really proud last year was our first season together and just to complete one full season is such an accomplishment," Courtney says. "I feel like we're ready to take it on again and know like we absolutely can do it. And with the support of everyone around us too, you know, you're going to get through the entire holiday season and you're gonna come out even stronger."

The Radio City Rockettes can work a bunch of jobs during the summer.

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The Rockettes have a busy schedule during Christmas — but that doesn't mean they kick up their feet the rest of the year! "Every person on the line has a very diverse background and they go to different job opportunities throughout the year," Courtney says. "People are pulled in different directions when the holiday season is over. The Rockettes do work year-round [with] different opportunities."

"We're always looking to continue to dance and work on our precision," she continues. "The summer though, our favorite thing is to go to the beach. We're from New Jersey and the Jersey shore is like our home. So if we're not dancing, you can definitely find us relaxing on the sand."

The best thing about performing New York City can also be the most challenging.

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You know how, when people talk about New York, they say, "If you can make it here, you can make it anywhere?" That's because it's hard to live here y'all!

"This is just the city that never sleeps," Caitlin says. "There are people everywhere. It's always alive. There's just something magical about New York and I love that. And I think that could come with the biggest challenge as well: the city that never sleeps. You feel like you're going, going, going at all times. But that's pretty exciting to do at our age, living out our dreams. I feel like that will never get old."

"I feel like we have no complaints here!" Courtney adds.

Even as a Radio City Rockette, the work is never done.

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"I feel like there's always room for improvement," Courtney says. "Even today, as we're living at our dream, we're continuously working on our technique and our precision and going back to our foundation, I think the work is never done and you can continue to dream and accomplish some of those really major goals."

"Yeah, the work is never done is I think is kind of our motto," Caitlin adds. "Just keep, keep pushing, keep driving and just keep dreaming. And never give up."

The Rockettes are like one big family.

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Just like so many of our favorite TV show and movie casts, the Rockettes love to bond! "The Rockettes truly feel like a sisterhood and we are so lucky that we are real sisters on the line together," Caitlin says, adding that to dance "with your sister is everything we always hoped for."

And those connections make a magical experience like New York at Christmas even more magical. "[To] be welcomed with open arms has been such a dream come true for us," Courtney says. "We just love the holiday season and to celebrate it at Radio City, I feel like I can't imagine anything better."

Read 35 Magical Photos Of Christmas In New York To Inspire Wanderlust for even more holiday cheer!

There's one popstar who's ready to get her "love on" — Selena Gomez is engaged! And in addition to Taylor Swift throwing her hat in the ring for flower girl and Hailey Bieber seemingly sending love to the happy couple, Selena continues to feel great as we get closer to the big day. Here's the latest news on Selena Gomez & Benny Blanco's engagement, because I simply can't get enough.

Here's how Selena Gomez's feeling after her engagement to Benny Blanco — and how they celebrated.

Benny Blanco's proposal to Selena Gomez proves how well he knows her.

Benny Blanco reportedly popped the question on December 11, and we know from Selena's photo dump that the engagement began in a park with a Taco Bell picnic. And honestly? I've never had more respect for someone. And ever Selena Gomez's ring found its permanent home on her finger, sources says she's been "glowing."

“They’re so supportive of each other,” a source tells People. “He wants the best for her and she wants the best for him. They’re perfect together. They really are.”

These two know each other inside and out, and considering Benny Blanco grabbed Sel's favorite meal from Taco Bell, the proposal proves it! "It was very her," another source says. "It was a total surprise to Selena."

It's those tiny moments that are the most romantic to me because they prove you're willing to go the extra distance on tiny details other people would overlook. "Benny and Selena were so excited to share the news right away with their loved ones," the source continues, mentioning that the couple had an "impromptu gathering" with some friends and family members after Selena said yes. "It's such a true partnership between them."

And Selena Gomez has talked about how much Benny Blanco means to her.

Selena Gomez has spoken about how much Benny means to her, saying "he is my absolute everything in my heart" in the comments of an Instagram fanpage, while Benny told Howard Stern in May 2024 that he couldn't imagine his life without Selena in it. "I just know that when I look at her, I just say, ‘I don’t know a world where it could be better than this.’ That’s what I always say to her.”

And in March 2024, Selena Gomez posted the sweetest tribute for Benny's birthday, honoring his "emotional endurance, positive disposition, unbelievable talent (that blows me away), undeniable humor and loving, kind heart." Now they get to spend every birthday together!

Check out Hailee Steinfeld and Josh Allen's amazing proposal pictures for more celebrity engagement goodness.

If Gilmore Girls andThe Marvelous Mrs. Maisel have shown me anything, it's that creator Amy Sherman-Palladino always has an incredible story up her sleeve. Her new show Étoile, which is coming to Prime Video, promises to be a beautiful and sophisticated look at the world of dance, and if the fact that it's from Amy wasn't enough reason to watch it, it's also Prime's first new show to get a two-season order! Here's everything we know about the series.

What is the next Sherman Palladino show?

Writer/Producer/Director Amy Sherman-Palladino, Writer/Producer/Director Daniel Palladino seen at Netflix's Gilmore Girls: A Year In The Life premiere.Eric Charbonneau/Netflix

Following our beloved Gilmore Girls and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Dan and Amy Sherman-Palladino's next series is Étoile, which is set at two world-famous ballet companies in New York City and Paris. When both companies run into some trouble, the decide to swap their most talented stars in a last-ditch effort to save themselves.

And based on the first set leaks from New York City, it looks like Étoile will definitely be packing on the drama. This short clip shows Luke Kirby standing outside Lincoln Center in a serious conversation (probably about the fate of his ballet company, TBH).

"Well, guess that plan for early retirement will have to wait," Dan and Amy said in a joint statement (via The Hollywood Reporter). "Instead, we’ve decided to embark on an international journey with an unbelievable group of players and the most talented ballet dancers in the world. We will sleep when we’re dead."

But this isn't the first time ASP has forayed into the world of ballet! Her ABC Family series Bunheads (which premiered on June 11, 2012) follows Michelle (Sutton Foster) who moves to her hometown of Paradise and starts working at her mother-in-law's dance studio The Paradise Dance Academy.

Who will star in the new show?

Photo via WB

The best part is that the role of Michelle's mother-in-law is played by Emily Gilmore herself, Kelly Bishop!

When does Étoile premiere?

Anya Juárez Tenorio/Pexels

We don't have an official release date yet, but considering THR recently revealed the show will finish filming soon, we're hoping to see Étoile in 2025. Just like Gilmore Girls is the ultimate fall rewatch, maybe Étoile will be the ultimate winter rewatch!

Who's in the Étoile cast?

Luke Kirby attends the The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel Finale Celebration at the Fonda Theater in Los Angeles on Mon, May 22, 2023. Todd Williamson/JanuaryImages/Prime Video

So far, we know that Étoile will star Luke Kirby, Gideon Glick, Camille Cottin, Simon Callow, Lou de Laâge, and David Alvarez. Yanic Truesdale, who played our favorite Gilmore Girls concierge Michel, has also joined the series as a recurring character! I'm so excited to see Yanic working with Amy Sherman-Palladino again — it's like a Gilmore Girls reunion!

What does Étoile mean?

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Étoile translates to "star," and there are so many different connections here! We have the ballet stars themselves, but you also wish upon a star and reach for the stars when you're working towards a dream. If you ask me, Étoile is the perfect name for this series.

How many episodes does Étoile have?

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The first season of Étoile will have eight episodes total, but considering Prime Video ordered two seasons, we'll definitely be getting more episodes.

Are you excited to watch Étoile? Check back here for the latest news on the series, and stay updated on your favorite TV shows and movies on our Facebook!

This post has been updated.