Thanksgiving Potluck Sign-Up Sheet
The hard part of a Thanksgiving potluck isn't the cooking — it's making sure you don't end up with four green bean casseroles and no rolls. A shared sign-up sheet fixes that: everyone can see what's already claimed before they commit.
This template starts with a balanced Thanksgiving menu split into mains, sides, desserts and drinks. Rename anything, change how many of each you need, then send the link to your family group chat. Guests just type their name and what they're bringing.
What's on the sheet
This is the starting point. Rename, add or remove anything before you share it.
Happy Thanksgiving! Claim a dish below so we get a little of everything.
Please add what you're making in the note so nobody doubles up.
- Turkey (host is covering this)1 spot
- Ham or second main1 spot
- Mashed potatoes1 spot
- Stuffing / dressing1 spot
- Green vegetable side2 spots
- Sweet potatoes or squash1 spot
- Cranberry sauce1 spot
- Rolls or bread1 spot
- Salad1 spot
- Appetizer to snack on before dinner2 spots
- Pumpkin pie1 spot
- Another pie or dessert2 spots
- Drinks (soda, cider, sparkling water)2 spots
- Ice1 spot
How much food to plan for
A common rule of thumb for potlucks is one dish per household, plus the main course from the host. For a classic Thanksgiving spread, that usually works out to roughly:
- Turkey: about 1 pound of whole bird per person, or 1½ pounds if you want leftovers.
- Sides: one side for every 4–6 guests — and potatoes, stuffing and rolls disappear first.
- Desserts: one pie serves about 8 people; plan one dessert per 6–8 guests.
- Drinks and ice: easy to forget, easy to hand off to the guest who doesn't cook.
Use the "how many" number on each line to match your headcount. If you have more guests than dishes, raise the number on the sides that always run out.
Tips for a smooth Thanksgiving potluck
- Send the link at least two weeks ahead — people plan their grocery runs early for Thanksgiving.
- Ask guests to write their actual dish in the note ("bacon green beans", "gluten-free stuffing") so you can spot gaps and allergies.
- Keep the oven schedule in mind: ask people to bring dishes that are ready to serve or only need a quick reheat.
- Put the arrival time in the description so hot dishes and the turkey land on the table together.
- Add an organizer update the day before with parking notes or a reminder to bring serving spoons.
- Turn on "hide names" if your group would rather not see who signed up for what — you'll still see everything as the organizer.
Frequently asked questions
Do my guests need an account or email to sign up?
No. Guests open the link, type their name (or sign up anonymously if you allow it) and claim a dish. There is nothing to download and no email to confirm.
Can I change the menu after I share the link?
Yes. As the organizer you can rename items, add new lines, change how many of each you need, or remove items at any time — the link stays the same.
What if someone needs to swap their dish?
Everyone who signs up gets a private link to their own entry, so they can change their note or remove themselves from any device. You can also edit or remove sign-ups as the organizer.
Will people get reminder emails?
No emails, ever. Instead, guests can tap "Add to calendar" to put the dinner on their own phone calendar, with a reminder the day before.
Is it really free?
Yes — creating and sharing a potluck sheet is free, with no premium tier needed for unlimited items or guests.
Related templates
More about Potluck Sign-ups · Browse all templates
Ready when you are
Set it up in about a minute, share one link, and let people sign themselves up.
Use the Thanksgiving Potluck template