McCain Introduces ‘Friesgiving’, Complete With Chef-Approved Tricks For Reinventing Thanksgiving Leftovers
Thanksgiving may be one of America’s most cherished holidays, but for many, the marathon of cooking, cleanup, and leftover management can drain the joy right out of the season.
This year, McCain Foods is lightening the load — and reinventing the leftovers — with “Friesgiving,” a new, chef-approved approach built around McCain fries that transforms post-holiday extras into comfort food masterpieces.
As casual Friendsgiving celebrations grow in popularity, more people are looking for easy, crowd-pleasing meals that skip the stress of traditional cooking. McCain’s “Friesgiving” brings that spirit to life with recipes and hosting tips centered on the brand’s product lineup, including its crispy, golden Quick Cook Fries, which cook in minutes and now come in a 30% larger package for the same price.
Chef Mark Slutzky, McCain’s Director of Culinary for North America, developed a set of recipes designed to carry the Thanksgiving feast into the long weekend, from a Leftover Thanksgiving Breakfast Poutine for the next morning to hearty loaded fry platters perfect for fueling Black Friday shopping.
Loaded fries are among the hottest comfort food trends in the U.S. — 88% of Americans are familiar with them, and 70% have tried them. McCain’s Friesgiving recipes celebrate that popularity while showcasing how crispy, real-potato fries can serve as a creative canvas for seasonal ingredients, capturing all the flavor and festivity of the holidays without the fuss.
Chef Mark Slutzky’s Leftover Thanksgiving Breakfast Poutine starts with McCain Quick Cook Crinkle Fries layered with scrambled eggs, roasted Brussels sprouts, and cheddar cheese, finished with sausage gravy and a topping of crispy fried onions.
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“When you melt toppings like cheese, do it on foil so you can then lift and put it on the plate, to maintain the structure of what you built,” Slutzky advises. “Be careful of using too much sauce or gravy — you want to keep the fries crispy.”
For his Gobble Gobble Leftover Loaded Fries, Slutzky turns the traditional Thanksgiving plate into a one-pan dish, featuring turkey, stuffing, gravy, cranberry sauce, and fried onion garnish atop McCain Quick Cook Waffle Fries.
“Incorporate festive colors and flavors like cranberry sauce, sweet potato fries, and greens to make the dish pop,” Slutzky says. “And if you have leftover herbs, go ahead and add them on top after cooking for a burst of freshness.”
Whether hosting a laid-back Friendsgiving or reinventing leftovers for the weekend, McCain invites everyone to make “Friesgiving” their newest holiday tradition. Recipes, a digital cookbook, and product details are available at McCainFoodsUSA.com/Friesgiving.
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This story was originally published November 17, 2025 at 8:48 AM.
