Keep Calm and Friendsgiving On with 3 Thanksgiving Potluck Tips

Related To:

Photo by: Emmer Schmidt

Emmer Schmidt

They say that you make your own family with close friends, and that's never more apparent than during the holidays. Whether you can't get home for Mom's down-home cooking this year or you're just greedy for more turkey, celebrating Friendsgiving with a lively potluck should be your new favorite tradition.

If you're taking hosting duty, the most-important part of the celebrations is obviously the turkey, but don't forget the other essential details — like keeping the wine aflowin'. Check out some of our best tips, like how to master make-ahead shortcuts and how to keep the crowd's hunger at bay as the bird cooks, then get more Friendsgiving recipes and ideas here.

Think Small and Plan Ahead

There's no reason you should cook an entire 12-pound turkey for you and a few friends. A turkey breast feeds a lot more people than you'd think, and it's easy to prepare — Kelsey Nixon's Roast Turkey Breast takes two hours from start to finish. Chopping vegetables and making cranberry sauce a day or two before will also save your sanity.

Embrace Semihomemade Sides
MUSHROOM, KALE, AND HERB STUFFING:
(Stuffing cubes)
Cooking Channel
Unsalted Butter, Cremini Mushrooms, Kosher Salt, Celery, Kale, Box Stuffing Mix, Sage,
8inch
Square Baking Dish

MUSHROOM, KALE, AND HERB STUFFING: (Stuffing cubes) Cooking Channel Unsalted Butter, Cremini Mushrooms, Kosher Salt, Celery, Kale, Box Stuffing Mix, Sage, 8inch Square Baking Dish

Photo by: Matt Armendariz ©2014, Television Food Network, G.P. All Rights Reserved

Matt Armendariz, 2014, Television Food Network, G.P. All Rights Reserved

Hopefully your friends are bringing most of the sides — and you should definitely divide and conquer Thanksgiving favorites like mashed potatoes and green bean casserole. But for the ones you make, get some help from the store.  Mushroom, Kale and Herb Stuffing starts with a box, and a quick granola streusel transforms ready-made pumpkin pie.

Come On, Get Appy
Hot Spinach and Artichoke Dip; Alton Brown

Hot Spinach and Artichoke Dip; Alton Brown

Photo by: Tara Donne

Tara Donne

While you're cooking up a storm and helping to reheat your friends' dishes, keep the vultures at bay with a great appetizer like Hot Spinach and Artichoke Dip. Instead of circling around you in the kitchen looking for scraps, non-hangry friends will be more willing to disperse and assist with other setup. Oh, and having someone on drink duty will help, too, whether it's lots o'wine or a festive apple cider cocktail.

Next Up

Top 10 Thanksgiving TV Episodes

Here's some of the most-memorable Thanking television that you'll probably watch while eating leftovers.

Put Some Cheese in Your Gravy

Get Cooking Channel's recipe for Thanksgiving gravy with a secret ingredient: cheese! The cheese adds rich flavor and texture to this holiday favorite.

Thanksgiving Specials Preview: Join Rev Run's Turkey Day and More

Watch Thanksgiving specials on Cooking Channel with Rev Run, Tori Spelling and Dean McDermott and more.

Thanksgiving Leftovers: The Feast Continues

From turkey soup to kicked-up sandwiches, make day-after Thanksgiving dishes you'll be craving all year.

Get a Grandfather's Web-Only Family Thanksgiving Recipe for Granma Rolls

A grandfather from Cooking Channel's My Grandmother's Ravioli shares his family's treasured Thanksgiving recipe for homemade dinner rolls.

Sifted: Thanksgiving and Thanksgivukkah Planning

Get Cooking Channel's take on the best in food news, recipes and more from around the web, including pecan pie cheesecake and the best Thanksgivukkah recipes.

On TV

Cheap Eats

7am | 6c

Cheap Eats

7:30am | 6:30c

Cheap Eats

8am | 7c

Cheap Eats

8:30am | 7:30c

Good Eats: Reloaded

9:30am | 8:30c

Good Eats

10am | 9c

Good Eats

10:30am | 9:30c

Good Eats

11am | 10c

Good Eats

11:30am | 10:30c
6pm | 5c
6:30pm | 5:30c
7pm | 6c
7:30pm | 6:30c
On Tonight
On Tonight
8pm | 7c
8:30pm | 7:30c
9pm | 8c
9:30pm | 8:30c
10pm | 9c
11pm | 10c
12am | 11c
12:30am | 11:30c
1am | 12c
1:30am | 12:30c
2am | 1c
3am | 2c
What's Hot

The Best Thing I Ever Ate

Sundays 10|9c

So Much Pretty Food Here