Plan a Friendsgiving potluck on one sheet: who is coming, who brings which dish, what the host still needs and when everything happens. It is a planning sheet, not a recipe or cooking guide.
Preview of the printable page. The PDF and print view show the full sheet.
How to use this Friendsgiving planner
Friendsgiving is usually a relaxed, shared meal with friends around Thanksgiving, and most of them run as a potluck. The hard part is not the cooking but the coordination: making sure there is a main, enough sides, something for every diet and a plan for the oven. Fill in Basics first, then send the guest list round and write each person's dish in the table as they claim it. The Menu coverage section shows at a glance which courses are still missing, so you can nudge the next person who RSVPs towards a salad instead of a fourth pie.
A simple Friendsgiving timeline
Three to four weeks before: pick a date (many groups choose the weekend before or after Thanksgiving so people can also see family), confirm the host and send invitations.
Two weeks before: decide who covers the main, then open dish sign-ups by course. Ask everyone to mention allergies or dietary needs when they reply.
One week before: check the table for gaps, confirm headcount and borrow chairs, a folding table or serving dishes.
Two days before: buy ice, drinks and paper goods, and agree who needs oven or fridge space on the day.
On the day: set out labels for each dish, keep the timeline on the fridge and name a small cleanup crew before dessert.
Sharing the oven and fridge
One kitchen rarely fits a dozen dishes at once. The Needs oven / fridge? column is there so you can spot clashes early. Ask guests to bring dishes ready to serve or to reheat for a short time, and suggest slow cookers or insulated carriers for anything that should stay warm. Cold sides, salads and desserts take pressure off the oven. Food-safety rules for holding and reheating are best taken from your recipes or official food-safety guidance, not from this sheet.
Splitting costs fairly
Potlucks usually even out on their own, but the host often covers the main, drinks and supplies. If your group prefers to split that, write the arrangement in Basics so nobody is surprised. The party budget tracker helps if you want a running total, and the party shopping list keeps the host's own shopping in one place.
It is an informal Thanksgiving-style meal shared with friends, often as a potluck. There are no fixed rules, so the date, menu and format are up to your group.
When should I hold Friendsgiving?
Many groups pick a weekend before or after Thanksgiving so guests can still travel to family. Choose whatever date works for most of your group and send invites three to four weeks ahead.
How do I stop everyone bringing the same dish?
Open sign-ups by course and write each claim in the table. When a course fills up, point the next guests to the gaps listed under Menu coverage.
Who usually provides the main dish?
Often the host does, with guests bringing sides, desserts and drinks. Some groups split the main or skip it entirely. Agree on it early and note it in Basics.
Will this print on A4 paper?
The PDF is US Letter size. On A4, choose "Fit to page" or "Scale to fit" in your print dialog.
