What to buy at Trader Joe's for a shockingly impressive Friendsgiving

By Heather Leith 

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I did an all-Trader-Joe's Friendsgiving last year, and my guests were obsessed with the food. Though I love cooking from scratch, I can’t resist a quick TJ’s hack — especially when it means I can be a more relaxed host and spend time talking with my friends instead of jockeying for oven space. If you want to bring something easy and delicious to your Friendsgiving, these items can go straight from the store to your gathering. 

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The best Trader Joe’s items for your Friendsgiving table

I’ve split this into courses for you, from drinks through dessert, so you can have a winning pick no matter which category you’re in charge of. And if you’re hosting Friendsgiving, here’s your full TJ’s menu.

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Drinks: Cider-based bevvies

The giant jug of crisp Spiced Cider is a must. Whether it’s served solo or spiked with bourbon, I find this cider to be the most refreshing sip between bites. I love the versatility based on the crowd type—you can heat it up with extra cinnamon sticks for a cozy drink, add the Sweetened Dried Orange Slices for a cute presentation, or whip up a mocktail with ginger beer and lime juice.

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Appetizer: The best cheese dip

If you’re tasked with the appetizer, follow my instructions very closely: 

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1. Go to the cheese section and grab the Totally Cheeseball Cheese Spread
2. Go to the cracker section and get the Pumpkin Cranberry Crisps

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And there you have my personal favorite November snacking duo. The Cheeseball dip is a mix of Unexpected Cheddar and Syrah Toscano with almonds and herbs. I was a skeptic before I tried it—don’t be scared! It’s the perfect pairing for the sweet crackers.

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This will be a memorable little nibble before you cede space to the star of the show: The Main Meal.

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Sides: Low-lift homemade vibes

At this point, we all know we’re here for the sides. These are smaller, but with a potluck, where food will be plentiful, you’ve got nothing to worry about.

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Herbed Dinner Rolls 

I like to warm these in the toaster oven, slather them with the TJ’s garlic herb compound butter, and ruin my appetite with them. Your guests will do the same. Fun!

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Cornbread Stuffing (refrigerated section, not the mix)

Listen, I love making my own cornbread stuffing—I make fresh cornbread croutons that I lovingly babysit for two days as they dry out. But last year I went with this easy stuffing, and I went back for seconds immediately.

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TJ’s has this ready-made tray version that I like way better than a boxed stuffing mix, which I find to be too dry. This is nice and moist thanks to the roasted apples, with a perfectly crispy topping if you go the oven route to warm it.

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Vanilla Bean Whipped Sweet Potatoes

Throw this tray in the microwave and get ready for guests to ask what's in them. The vanilla adds a unique layer of intrigue, and I like the sweetness here way better than a marshmallow-topped version. They’re creamy, velvety, and decadent, and the best part is you don’t have to roast potatoes for an hour on an already-busy day.

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Creamy Corn Pudding

Among a potluck of Thanksgiving sides, I bet no one will bring corn pudding. You could be That Girl with a li’l tray of custardy, cheesy pudding that has whole corn kernels mixed in. This was a sleeper hit for me! 

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You could grab their frozen bagged version (called “Creamy Corn”) if they’re out of the refrigerated ones. Just as good and just as convenient.

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Fresh Cranberry Orange Relish

The tub of plain cranberry sauce at TJ’s is great, and this is even better. The orange flavor makes it a special dish in and of itself, and I personally accounted for eating about one-third of this at our last gathering. I couldn’t stop piling it on every bite. She’s tart, she’s just sweet enough, she’s the perfect Friendsgiving accessory.

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Entree: Easiest turkey ever

For someone who piles my plate with sides and gives myself a toddler’s portion of turkey, this got the job done: It’s called “Brined Bone-In Half Turkey Breast Fully Cooked.” Don't judge a turkey by its pre-cookedness—my partner suggested we use this last year and I was dubious, but this was juicy, flavorful, and perfectly portioned for a small group. 

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Dessert: Perfect pumpkin and apple bakes

Pumpkin Spice Mini Sheet Cake + berries

TJ’s sheet cakes topped with fresh berries are my go-to dessert that disappears in seconds. For Thanksgiving, I went with their pumpkin spice flavor and topped each slice with a few blackberries. You could add some edible flowers or a caramel drizzle to make it even prettier, or stack two or three and use the sheet cake hack to make it look like you’re Claire Saffitz.

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Rustic Apple Tarte

This week I picked peak-season apples from an actual tree and still chose to buy this tarte rather than make my own. The apples taste so fresh, the crust is made with cream cheese and cinnamon (the company says it’s hand-folded, too), and it’s the right size for four to six. Add some vanilla ice cream to round it out.

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Wishing you and your crew a very TJ’s Friendsgiving

If you’re hosting, you’ve got this — take a deep breath, find a Friendsgiving Invitation template that matches your aesthetic, and start building your Trader Joe’s shopping list and day-of timeline. Let guests see who’s bringing what using Evite’s event sign-ups tool on your Event Page or Invitation. Happy Friendsgiving season!

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Heather Leith is a freelance writer from Portland, Oregon and lover of punny menus, Trader Joe’s flowers, and crisp white wine. She writes about event planning, weddings, bachelorettes, invitations, and gatherings of all types. She wishes she was a chill host, but she will make you write your name on your cup when you arrive at her party.