Potluck signup sheets
A good potluck has a little of everything. The hard part is letting guests see what is already claimed before they cook.
Who this is for
Best for hosts coordinating a shared meal across a group that is not in one place: a neighborhood gathering, a church social, an office potluck, or a holiday dinner. You set up the categories once and guests fill them in on their own time.
What gets in the way
- Three people bring brownies and nobody brings forks or a serving spoon.
- You are tracking the dish list in a group text that scrolls away.
- Guests want to help but have no idea what the meal still needs.
- Someone with an allergy has no way to flag it on the dish they bring.
How this helps
- Categories (Mains, Sides, Salads, Desserts, Drinks, Supplies) with a target count each, so balance is visible at a glance.
- Guests open one link, see open slots, and add their name without making an account.
- A notes field per slot handles allergens, oven access, or a "needs to stay cold" reminder.
- You watch the list fill in real time and can ping anyone who has not claimed a dish.
Example setup
Lincoln Park Neighborhood Potluck
- Main dish4 spots · Serves ~10 each
- Side dish4 spots
- Salad3 spots
- Dessert3 spots
- Drinks (2L or equivalent)3 spots
- Supplies (plates, cups, utensils, ice)4 spots
Create the event, add the six categories above with target counts, and turn on the notes field. Share the link in your group chat or print a QR code on the flyer. As guests claim slots you can see at a glance that four mains are covered but a salad is still open.
New to how this works? See the three-step overview →
Tips for this type of signup
- Add a Supplies category — potlucks reliably have plenty of food and no serving utensils.
- Cap Desserts lower than Mains so you end up with a real dinner rather than an all-sweets table.
- Put a "serves ~10" guideline in each Mains slot note so portions land right for the group size.
- Open the signup a week or two out, not the night before, so guests who need to cook have time to prepare.
See it as a participant
Open the sample event below to see exactly what someone signing up would see. Nothing is saved.
Open the Lincoln Park Potluck sampleCommon questions
How do I stop everyone bringing the same thing?
Set categories with a capacity each — for example, four Mains and three Desserts. Once a category fills, guests see it is full and choose something the meal still needs.
Can guests note allergens or what is in their dish?
Yes. Turn on the per-slot notes field and a guest can write "contains nuts" or "vegetarian chili" next to their name so everyone can plan around it.
Do guests need an account to sign up?
No. They open the link, claim a slot, and enter a name and email. They get a link to change or cancel their dish if plans shift.
Can I see who has not signed up yet?
Your dashboard shows claimed and open slots in real time. You can send a one-click reminder to nudge people who have not yet claimed a dish before the event date.
Ready to set one up?
Start from this template and edit anything before you share the link.