The death of the dinner party is one of the greatest tragedies of our generation.
(Just kidding.Everythingisterrible.)
The reality is its just too expensive (and stressful) to cook a full meal for 12 people.
The Penny Hoarder hosted a pot luck in St. Petersburg, Fla. When hosting a potluck, try choosing a theme. Tina Russell / The Penny Hoarder
So what if I told you there was a way to have your cake (for free!)
and eat it, too?
No Interest Til Almost 2027?
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1.
Create a Guest List
This should be your first consideration.
Are you inviting your book club?
The parents from your kids play date group?
People from your Thursday night cornhole league?
A weird amalgamation of every friend group youve ever been a part of?
Also, dont forget that brunch can be a potluck.
Pick a Theme
A potluck without a theme is like a 3-year-olds storytelling: plotless and mildly frustrating.
), pick a theme for the night that your guests can work within.
This will force people to get pretty creative!
Winner gets a prize!
(Or gets to take all the cheesy leftovers home.)
Send Out a Sign-up Sheet
Use a site likeSignup GeniusorPerfect Potluckto make it simple to coordinate dishes.
ensure to include cups, plates, napkins and plasticware on the sign-up sheet!
Note: If youre a micromanager, the potluck party format may not be for you.
The fun of potlucks is seeing the variety and creativity your guests bring to the table literally.
Then, let your guests do the rest.
Dont worry about creating a specific menu.
Make Some Rules
Alright, so afewrules cant hurt.
Request that no one brings anything they need to cook on-site.
You should limit oven use to warming.
Theres no bigger bummer than setting out a freshly cooked dish after everyone is already stuffed!
Also, remind your guests that a potluck dish doesnt need to feed the whole party.
A four-person serving goes pretty far when each guest is sampling a little bit of everything.
The point of a potluck is a casual gathering of friends, not a formal, crazy-making dinner party!
Grace Schweizer is an email content writer at The Penny Hoarder.
Shes dreaming of a potluck dinner made up of only brownies.
(Can you sense my millennial sarcasm there?)
You know which ones were talking about: rent, utilities, cell phone bill, insurance, groceries…
