Friendsgiving Casserole Recipe

This delicious Friendsgiving Casserole Recipe has tender turkey, bread stuffing, mashed potatoes, and green bean casserole all in one. It is pure comfort food in each and every bite. Discover a new and unique turkey casserole recipe that is sure to be a crowd-pleaser! This dish is easy to make and takes less than an hour from start to finish.

Friendsgiving is a somewhat new, but cherished, annual tradition that brings together friends who have become like family. As we gather around the table to give thanks and celebrate our chosen family, what better way to honor this special occasion than with a delicious casserole?

This Friendsgiving casserole recipe combines all the classic flavors of Thanksgiving in one comforting dish, perfect for sharing and savoring with your loved ones. Whether you are hosting the gathering or simply bringing something to contribute, this recipe is guaranteed to be a crowd-pleaser that will make your Friendsgiving feast truly memorable. So, let's dive into this delectable fusion of flavors and create a hearty casserole that embodies the spirit of gratitude, friendship, and good food!

Ingredients

Prepared Stuffing - Leftover stuffing works great or make a box on the stovetop. Leftover stuffing should be warm or at room temperature.

Cooked Turkey - Leftover turkey works well in this recipe but you can also just cook turkey tenderloins or use rotisserie chicken.

Prepared Mashed Potatoes - Leftover mashed potatoes can be used or you can make fresh mashed potatoes or just use instant potatoes prepared according to the recipe on the box. Leftover mashed potatoes should also be heated until they are warm.

Green Beans - We opted for frozen thin green beans. We lightly steamed them in the microwave to retain their vibrant color and fresh flavor. You can also use steamed fresh green beans.

Cream of Mushroom Soup - To add an extra layer of flavor similar to a classic green bean casserole, we used canned condensed cream of mushroom soup.

Whole Milk - I use a bit of milk to thin out the mushroom soup.

French Fried Onions - These add a delightful crunch and a burst of flavor.

How to Make this Friendsgiving Casserole Recipe

Step One: Spread the stuffing in the bottom of a greased 9x13 casserole dish.

Step Two: Cover the stuffing with pieces of cooked turkey.

Expert Tip: We made turkey fresh for this recipe by pan-frying a few turkey cutlets but leftover turkey works perfectly.

Step Three: Spread the mashed potatoes over the turkey.

Step Four: Add the green beans on top of the mashed potatoes.

Step Five: Mix together the soup and milk. Mix in a little black pepper to taste, if desired. Pour the cream sauce over the green beans.

Step Six: Top with the French fried onions.

Step Seven: Bake until hot, bubbly, and golden brown. Serve immediately. 

Storage: Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.

Variations

Seasoning - Season each layer to taste with kosher salt and black pepper for the best results. You can also add onion powder and garlic powder to boost the flavors.

Sweet Potatoes - If sweet potato casserole is your favorite (or you have some to use up from your Thanksgiving leftovers) you can use that in place of the mashed potatoes. In this instance, I would probably skip the green bean and fried onions.

Green Bean Casserole - If you like sour cream or cream cheese in your green bean casserole like we do feel free to mix in either or both to the sauce. For more creamy sauce add a splash of chicken broth or vegetable stock.

Fried Onions - Instead of store-bought fried onions you can saute a yellow onion on medium heat until softened and then add that as the top layer.

Bacon - Salty bacon is a wonderful addition. Add cooked crumbled crispy bacon on the very top layer during the last ten minutes of cooking.

Homemade Stuffing - For a simple homemade stuffing for the first layer just mix torn bread cubes from a loaf of french bread with a little melted butter, a minced garlic clove, and chopped green onions.

Herbs - Sprinkle some of your favorite chopped herbs on top of the turkey. We like fresh sage and rosemary around Thanksgiving. Fresh parsley can also be chopped and sprinkled on top when serving for a burst of color.

Protein - You can sub in cubed chicken or shredded rotisserie chicken for the turkey. You can even use sliced deli chicken breast or turkey. Just ask the deli to slice it thick.

Common Questions

What is Friendsgiving?

Friendsgiving is a modern and informal celebration that takes place around the Thanksgiving holiday. It involves gathering with friends, rather than family, to share a meal and express gratitude together. Friendsgiving allows individuals who may not have the opportunity to spend Thanksgiving with their families to still enjoy a festive gathering filled with food, laughter, and companionship. This alternative tradition has gained popularity in recent years as it embraces the spirit of togetherness and fosters meaningful connections among friends during this special time of year.

What should I serve with Friendsgiving casserole?

Since this has the flavors of Thanksgiving dinner it makes sense to serve it with another classic Thanksgiving side dish. We enjoy a lot of the traditional recipes in my house as I'm sure you do too.

Cranberry sauce is a great choice. Just cook down some fresh cranberries with water and sugar until thick and bubbly. Or pop open a can of cranberry sauce. We prefer the whole berry variety and I will jazz it up by mixing in a splash of orange juice and some brown sugar.

Or you can serve it with another vegetable such as brussels sprouts or broccoli.

When should I serve turkey casserole?

Any time of year. We created this in the early days of summer and enjoyed the leftovers for days with no complaints. Comfort food is great any time of year in my option so you don't need to save a Thanksgiving casserole for holiday season.

This is also a great hot meal to take to a new mother.