How to Host a Stress-Free Thanksgiving Potluck

Of course, having your friends and family pitch in can lead to a whole different kind of headache: Will guests show up with the promised cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie, and cheesy cauliflower, or will they go rogue and bring something totally random and unsuitable?

To guarantee your feast is fab, here are 8 easy steps to host a successful Thanksgiving potluck that's freak-out free.

1. Create a sign-up sheet.

Yup, there are apps that help organize the menu at your shareable feast. Many different apps, actually. But, as much as we love technology, these helpful apps require that everyone download and use them, no matter what type of mobile device they've got glued to their palm. As an alternative, you could start a spreadsheet and share it on Dropbox or Google. Or you could dive into Pinterest and find the cutest Thanksgiving potluck signup sheet to download, print and pass around, old-school style. If you're hosting/coordinating, try and get all the bases covered without sounding too bossy. Ask everybody to grab something from one from these categories:

• Appetizers
• Side dishes
• Main course
• Dessert
• Drinks

2. Make menu planning fun for all and all for fun.

A classic Thanksgiving meal is fairly predictable, from the roast turkey and stuffing to mashed potatoes and pecan pie. But for a potluck, be sure to leave a little wiggle room to include traditional dishes from other cultures. That's the joy of a shared spread, after all. Does your BFF love lumpia on Turkey Day? Or steamed rice instead of taters? Let them bring it!

Need gluten-free Thanksgiving recipes? Or maybe you're a vegan? Planning ahead will help avoid holiday sad face.

Got friends who swear they can't cook? No worries. They can check out grocery store deli counters and bakeries, where they can find everything from appetizers to prepared side dishes and desserts. For example, they can top a store-bought pie with whipped cream and a dusting of ground cinnamon.

Beginner cooks can find dishes they're comfortable with in this collection of quick and easy Thanksgiving recipes.

3. Figure out how much food you need.

It's easy to go overboard when everyone's bringing a dish, but there's an easy way to calculate how much to prepare:

• Appetizers or snacks should consist of two to three bites per person
• 3 ounces of dip (about 1/3 cup) per person
• 1 cup of soup per person (less if it's a thick soup)
• 3 ounces of salad (about 1 cup) per person
• 6 ounces of meat or main entrée per person
• 5 ounces of starch (potato, pasta, or rice) per person
• One and a half pieces of dessert per person

Check out these tips for how much food to make for Thanksgiving.

4. Send gentle reminders.

The organizer should reach out a few days before the feast, recirculating the signup sheet as a reminder, and asking for a quick ping back. You could add an incentive with silly prizes for those who respond, and kitchen clean up assignments going out to those who ignore. This is a good time to offer instructions on the best way to bring everything:

• Plan how to transport hot dishes. You can find padded casserole carriers in houseware stores or online. A cooler works well for keeping dishes warm, too. Wrap the dish so it is solidly set into the container. Use plastic wrap and aluminum foil generously to ensure the dish is airtight.
• Check with your guests to see if they'll need oven room for reheating dishes.
• Provide cards so guests can label their dishes, especially if there are dietary concerns in your group.
• Provide serving utensils, or ask guests to bring them.

5. Create a holiday vibe.

Decorations don't have to be fancy, but your guests will be impressed when you make an effort: Light some candles, set the table, create a playlist. See, that wasn't so hard.

6. Set a time for dinner to be served.

Drinks and snacks at 4, the feast is at 5. Or whatever time makes sense. If you don't set a time, there's a danger of guests showing up too early or too late.

When everyone's arrived and the potluck signup sheet has been checked off, it's time to get serious. The table's set and everybody's hungry, so let's sit down and give thanks for all this amazing food. If it doesn't feel too corny, go around the table and ask everybody to say a few words about their creation before passing it around (to the left in some houses, to the right in others, while many skip the passing and go buffet-style).

7. Ask for cleanup help.

The casual vibe of a potluck means the organizer can ask everybody to pitch in on the cleanup. Come on, at least clear your plate! Pour another round of wine in the kitchen to sweeten the deal. That group activity after dinner helps battle that post-turkey tendency to crash on the couch and slip into a food coma. It's also a great way to make room for dessert. Remind everybody to grab the dishes and utensils they've brought to the party. Portion out the leftovers into disposable containers so you can share the bounty.

8. Go for a sweet finish.

Consider a change of scene for serving Thanksgiving dessert. If you've passed dishes family-style for the main event, why not finish by setting up a sweets table? This is the course that offers the best opportunities for gorgeous photos, so invite the pie-parazzi to shoot pics before everyone dives in. Or create an adorable mini dessert buffet.

Assign one of those non-cookers to be in charge of coffee and tea or after-dinner drinks.

Before everyone heads out the door, hand them some leftovers, give them a hug and make a date to do it again next year.

Check out our collection of Thanksgiving Recipes.