How to Plan a Potluck Dinner Party

Inviting friends to share in the bounty of each other's kitchens is a traditional way to build a sense of community. Throw a potluck dinner and invite your guests to contribute their spirit and a dish to the communal table and you will be rewarded with an evening of fun, laughter and great food.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Utensils
• Tables
• Pencil and paper
• Plates
• Chairs
• Napkins

Plan a Potluck Dinner

1. Write up your invitation list and determine whether you'd like to contact people by phone or by mail. You may find that you have more success with a phone or email invitation where assignments can be easily made and confirmed regarding who will bring what dish.
2. Break down a traditional dinner into its component parts in order to figure out what you should ask people to bring. For example, most dinners involve hors d'oeuvres, a salad course, a main course, 2 to 3 side dishes, bread or rolls, and a dessert.
3. Remember to ask people to bring enough of their dishes for the number of people attending. If you are inviting a large crowd, you may wish to divide the amount needed in half and ask multiple people to bring dishes for the same course.
4. Be prepared to provide the main course, particularly if it is something that should be hot, such as a turkey or roast meat. These large items are typically difficult to transport and would be an inconvenience to one of your guests to bring to the meal.
5. Set up enough tables and chairs so that your guests have ample space to sit and enjoy your delicious potluck dinner. Remember to provide eating utensils, plates and napkins for your guests or ask your non-cooking friends to bring paper and plastic party ware.
6. Confirm with each guest the week before what he or she plans to bring to the party. This is a good time to firm up the number of people who will be attending the party so you can alter your plan accordingly.
7. Provide your guests with takeaway containers for any leftovers from this potluck feast. Even if you plan ahead, there may be still be plenty to go around.

Tips & Warnings

• Potluck dinners can easily get out of hand if attention is not paid to what each person is bringing and the quantity involved. As a guest, you should always be courteous enough to bring what your hostess asks you to bring in the correct amount for the number of guests expected.

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