Give Thanks for These Thanksgiving Potluck Ideas and Planning Tips 

Thanksgiving is all about friends and family. It’s a wonderful time when we gather around the table to catch up, make new memories, and indulge in savory fall feasts. One of our favorite ways to celebrate is with a Thanksgiving potluck. It’s easier as a host since you don’t have to cook an entire meal for everyone and you get to try different dishes your friends and loved ones cook. Plus, it’s the perfect setting for a communal gathering where you can all share thanks for life’s many blessings.

With these tips, you’re sure to pull off an incredible Thanksgiving potluck. From advice on planning ahead and making sure everyone brings a different dish to festive invitation ideas, you’ll find what you need to plan a fun fall feast.

Tips for Hosting a Thanksgiving Potluck

Thanksgiving is one of the best ways to gather your family and friends together for a delicious meal and memories that will last a lifetime. Fortunately, party planning doesn’t have to be overwhelming. With these Thanksgiving potluck tips and ideas, you can plan the perfect event with ease.

Cover the Basics

Like any event, you’ll want to include some basic information when inviting guests to your Thanksgiving potluck. Be sure to include the party start time, date, and location. It’s also a good idea to indicate when dinner will begin so guests can plan accordingly. Ask guests to RSVP, so you know exactly who and how many people are attending.

Ask About Food Sensitivities and Preferences

One of the most important things when planning a Thanksgiving potluck is to inquire about any food sensitivities or preferences. The entire event is focused on stuffing your face with delicious foods — like mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, sweet potato casserole with marshmallows, and cranberry sauce — so you’ll want to make sure there’s plenty for every guest. 

On your invitations, ask guests if they have any food allergies. For example, popular Thanksgiving foods like pecan pie or walnut ice cream can cause problems for those with nut allergies. For a seafood Thanksgiving feast, make sure to ask if anyone is allergic to shellfish or other allergens. Identifying these allergies in advance means you can adjust your Thanksgiving menu or at least identify any dishes that may cause issues.

It’s also a good idea to ask what food preferences your guests may have. That way, you can tailor your menu to include vegan-friendly or gluten-free options. 

Create a Potluck Sign-Up Sheet

Ask guests to sign up and indicate which dish they’re bringing on the RSVP. You can include a list of general dishes you need people to bring, such as veggie appetizers, butternut squash side dishes, or pies. 

To ensure everyone brings a different dish, make your list in a tool like Google Sheets. You can include a link to the sheet in your digital invitations so guests can sign their names next to the dish they want to bring. You can also add categories for Thanksgiving side dishes, appetizers, and desserts. 

Here are some examples of popular Thanksgiving potluck recipe items you might ask guests to bring:

• Slow cooker ham
• Stuffing with breadcrumbs
• Buttermilk biscuits or dinner rolls
• Cornbread
• Brussels sprout salad
• Broccoli gratin
• Wild rice pilaf
• Charcuterie (cold cuts, fruits, and various kinds of cheese like parmesan cheese, goat cheese, and brie)
• Crispy cream cheese wontons
• Thanksgiving desserts like buttery chocolate croissants, pumpkin pie, and walnut brown sugar cheesecake with whipped cream

Plan Ahead for Turkey Day

It’s a good idea to give guests at least a month to plan for the Thanksgiving feast. For family and friends who live out of town, reach out six to eight weeks in advance so they can make travel arrangements.

You should also figure out ahead of time how you’ll handle the food the day of the event. Time your Thanksgiving turkey so that the oven will be available to reheat any dishes. Make sure you have enough servingware and hot pads to set dishes on. You might be having more guests than usual, so plan ahead to be sure you have everything you need on the big day.

It’s also a good idea to have labels on hand for all of the dishes. Get labels large enough to include any food allergy or sensitivity information so guests can choose their foods wisely.

A few days before the event, contact guests to confirm that they’re still bringing the planned dishes and ascertain if they need anything else on the day of. You can also use this time to plan clean-up, schedule food prep and reheating, and offer instructions for serving the food.

Create a Holiday Feel

Complement the classic fall fare with Thanksgiving decorations to set the mood for Turkey Day. Pumpkins, gourds, and pomegranates make excellent centerpieces. You can also opt for a tablecloth in fall hues like crimson, orange, and brown. Wood branches, cranberries, apples, and dried oranges also make for easy fall decor. Add some candles for a soft ambiance, and choose a Thanksgiving song playlist for mood-setting background music.

Thanksgiving Potluck Invitations

When you’re ready to send out Thanksgiving potluck invitations, we have you covered at Greenvelope. From colorful and festive to formal and elegant, there’s a design for every type of Thanksgiving dinner event. Here are some of our favorite designs that are sure to bring loved ones to your Thanksgiving table.

1. Gobble ‘Til You Wobble Invitation

Design: Jen Montgomery

This funny invite is sure to be a crowd pleaser. It puts the focus on the feast and fun. With a cartoonish turkey sketch and vibrant hues, it will set a lighthearted tone for your event. Use it for your next Thanksgiving potluck or dinner party.

2. Thanksgiving Potluck Invitation

Design: Becky Nimoy Stationery

Invite guests to your Thanksgiving potluck with this festive invite. It features all the classic feast fare, including a large turkey, pumpkin, gourds, and pie. Customize the invite by choosing from three different colorways and adjust the typography to suit the mood of your gathering.

3. Give Thanks Pumpkins Invitation

Design: Anna K Design

Gather friends and family around the table to give thanks with this sweet invite. Featuring fluttering fall leaves and gourds, you can gather everyone for a feast with gratitude and togetherness in mind.

4. Stuff Our Pieholes Invitation

Design: Jen Montgomery

Throw the best Thanksgiving dinner ever with this fun and creative invite. The large, stylized text and supersized slice of pie are sure to get your guests ready to eat. The back of the invite has plenty of room for event details, including a link to your Thanksgiving potluck sign-up sheet.

5. Friendsgiving Invitation

Design: Jen Montgomery

Thanksgiving gatherings are for friends and chosen families, as well. Invite loved ones to join a Friendsgiving feast with this cheerful invite. Choose from five different color palettes and include all the important event details on the back.

6. Elegant Oak Leaf Invitation

Design: Jen Montgomery

Who says a Thanksgiving potluck can’t be an elegant affair? Invite guests to attend your upscale event with this sophisticated and modern invitation. The scrawling script adds a hint of romance, along with the background of leaves and shadows. Various color palettes make it easy to choose an option that fits your theme, whether that’s regal or more cheerful.

Host a Filling and Joyful Thanksgiving Feast

Gathering together to celebrate is a great way to appreciate all there is to be thankful for. A Thanksgiving potluck allows you to bring everyone to the table — and to be sure that table is filled with great food. With these party planning tips, you’ll have a fun and memorable celebration without a lot of hassle.

Looking for other ways to celebrate Thanksgiving with the people you love? Check out our Thanksgiving party ideas and non-traditional Thanksgiving dinner ideas for more ways to celebrate this joyous holiday.