Here's How To Make Sure There's Enough Food At Your Next Potluck

People will tell you all sorts of ways to make sure everyone brings enough food to a potluck. For me, there is really only one way: a potluck sign-up sheet. It might feel a bit like a school sign-up for snack time, but it’s an easy solution for tracking who’s bringing what so you don’t end up with six pans of brownies and no main courses.

How To Make a Potluck Sign-Up Sheet

How to go about making the list depends on your party logistics. If you’re sending out an e-vite or email, you can easily attach a sign-up list there or have everyone 'reply all' with their contributions. You can also print out a physical list if you’re hosting an office potluck, for example.

For smaller gatherings, you might not need the list to include much more than a name and a dish, but try using a Google or Excel spreadsheet if you’re inviting quite a few people.

You can even add a column to your spreadsheet for allergies or dietary restrictions, so everyone can try their best to accommodate the group. And as a host, this makes it easy to see all the dishes in one place and to be the one to provide a gluten-free or nut-free dessert, if you notice there are none and someone has an allergy.

Make Designated Categories

Depending on how organized you want to be about the whole thing, you can split the sign-up sheet into categories, such as main dish, sides, or desserts, and only provide a few spots for each, forcing folks to choose whatever open slots are available. It’s not as restrictive as telling someone what to make, but still encourages a good mix of dishes.

For the less cooking-inclined, create slots for bringing supplies, like utensils, plates, and napkins, or let them sign up for supplying beverages and ice.

The Benefits of a Sign-Up Sheet

Not only does a list give you a full preview of all the offerings so you as a host can fill in any blanks, but if you notice too much overlap you can address it well in advance of the party. A list also gives the host the opportunity to follow up with guests and confirm before the event that people are still up for bringing the pasta salad they volunteered to make.

Another perk of the sign-up sheet is that you can create a space for people to indicate whether they’ll need to use your kitchen. That way you can plan in advance, or politely let people know that kitchen space might be a little tight, and suggest a cold dish.