Thanksgiving may be about gratitude and togetherness, but the prep, cleanup, leftovers, and pressure to please every palate can take the joy out of it. This year, McCain Foods is introducing a Thanksgiving hack for the season — “Friesgiving” — a new go-to for easy, memorable gatherings across the holiday weekend centered around everyone’s favorite food: FRIES!
Thanksgiving is changing in homes across America. While 91% of U.S. adults still plan to celebrate, nearly one in five now host a Friendsgiving, favoring relaxed gatherings over long hours in the kitchen. On average, Americans spend 128 minutes preparing and cleaning up Thanksgiving meals — more than three times the time of a typical weekend day — according to USDA Economic Research. That, combined with the invisible work of hosting and navigating family dynamics, leaves many feeling burdened and disengaged.
Loaded fries have quickly become one of America’s favorite comfort food trends, with 88% of people familiar with them and 70% having tried them. Made with real potatoes and crisped to perfection, McCain fries turn familiar Thanksgiving flavors into shareable dishes that offer all the festivity with none of the fuss. McCain Quick Cook Fries serve as a foundation for festive toppings like turkey, gravy, cranberry sauce, and even stuffing, creating a new seasonal twist that reimagines leftovers and reduces waste.
To bring the idea to life, McCain partnered with recipe creator and cookbook author Dan Pelosi, along with McCain’s own culinary expert, Chef Mark Slutzky, and his team to create new recipes for Friesgiving. The recipes showcase McCain Quick Cook Fries, which stay crispy even under hearty toppings and now come with 30% more for the same price; McCain Smiles the kid-favorite mashed potato shapes that are crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside; new Garlic & Herb Fries and Sweet Potato Crinkle Cut Fries for a festive, flavorful mix.
Dan Pelosi — the Italian-American home cook behind the popular @grossypelosi Instagram account and author of the New York Times bestselling cookbooks “Let’s Eat” (2023) and “Let’s Party” (2025) — designed approachable dishes like Loaded Thanksgiving Herb Fries with Cranberry Ketchup and Gravy Mayo to be shared with loved ones. His hosting advice is as relaxed as his recipes.
“When hosting, serve a mix of room temperature, warm and hot foods so that you don’t have to worry about pulling everything from the oven at once,” Dan says. “You can also make use of leftover herbs by incorporating them into your dishes, like in my loaded fries recipe.”
Along with recipes, Dan has tips for getting your guests talking.
“Listen to everyone’s story and if it reminds you of someone else’s in the room, make the introduction. Pass the wine bottle (or drinks) to the shy person, allowing them to interact with all the guests as they pour,” he says.
He also recommends what he calls a “secret” seating plan: “Put guests next to each other for conversation, and keep someone close by you who can help in the kitchen.”
To make more time for eating leftovers the next day, “tidy up along the way throughout the night to make day-after clean up a million times easier,” Dan suggests.
Whether hosting a first Friendsgiving or creating new Thanksgiving traditions, Friesgiving can bring people together around a more casual, shareable table. Fry lovers can explore holiday-inspired recipes, download a digital cookbook, and find McCain products at select retailers nationwide at McCainFoodsUSA.com/Friesgiving.
