Thanksgiving Potluck Sign-Up Sheet
(free template)
Coordinate the turkey, sides, pies, and drinks — without the spreadsheet.
Hosting Thanksgiving means juggling 12+ dishes, mixed dietary needs, and at least one cousin who forgets what they promised. A simple sign-up sheet keeps it all on one page. Free, no accounts, ready in 60 seconds.
What to bring to Thanksgiving — the classic categories
Most Thanksgiving hosts pre-fill these dish categories. Adjust based on your guest list.
🦃 The Turkey
Almost always the host's job. If a guest is bringing it, double-check oven space and timing.
🥖 Stuffing & Dressing
Bread-based stuffing or cornbread dressing — pick one or split into two sign-ups.
🥔 Mashed Potatoes
One huge bowl is plenty for 8-10 people. Avoid the four-bowls-of-mashed-potatoes problem.
🍠 Sweet Potato
Casserole with marshmallows, or roasted with herbs — pre-pick the style.
🍒 Cranberry Sauce
Homemade or canned, both welcome. One person, one bowl.
🥧 Pumpkin & Pecan Pies
One of each is the classic combo. Add apple pie if your group is bigger than 10.
🥗 Salad / Veggie Side
Lighter dish for vegetarians and the "I can't eat one more carb" crowd.
🍷 Drinks
Wine, cider, sparkling water. Aim for one bottle per two adults.
Thanksgiving etiquette — for hosts and guests
For the host
Send the sign-up sheet 3-4 weeks ahead. Provide the turkey and basics (plates, utensils, ice). Confirm dietary restrictions in advance.
For guests
Pick a category that matches your kitchen capacity — don't sign up for the turkey if you've never cooked one. Ask about transport (hot vs cold dishes).
Multi-generation gatherings
Mark dishes as kid-friendly, vegetarian, or contains-allergen. Grandma needs to know what's in everything.
The day-of
Coordinate arrival times so the oven isn't full when someone needs to reheat. Bring containers for leftovers — the host's tupperware will not survive.
Whocan vs spreadsheet vs printed list
Three ways to organize a Thanksgiving sign-up. Here's how they compare for the family-meal coordination problem.
| Feature | Whocan Recommended | Google Sheet | Printed list |
|---|---|---|---|
| No accounts | ✓ | Account for editor | ✓ |
| Live updates on phone | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ |
| Prevents duplicates automatically | ✓ | Manual | Manual |
| Share via WhatsApp / iMessage | ✓ link | ✓ link | ✗ photo only |
| Dietary tags | ✓ built-in | Manual columns | Manual notes |
| Cap per item (e.g. 1 turkey) | ✓ | Manual | Manual |
| Setup time | ~60 seconds | ~10 minutes | ~5 minutes |
Set up your Thanksgiving in 3 steps
1. Pick the Thanksgiving template
Start with pre-filled categories — turkey, stuffing, sides, pies, drinks. Adjust to match your guest count.
2. Share the link
Send via WhatsApp, email, iMessage. Guests sign up with one click — no account needed.
3. See who brings what
Watch the list fill up live. Categories close once they're claimed — no four pumpkin pies on the table.