I usually provide the meat and at least one substantial side and rolls. I also let guests know what I am making so it isn't duplicated

Thank you! Yes, that is what will be done in this case. But, someone says that they are bringing a vegetable, and it is a small dish that might serve 5-6. We do not know exactly how much they will bring so we will tend to make plenty ourselves.

If you are invited to a dinner for 25 and you say that you are bringing deviled eggs, how many would you expect to take?

It's more than appropriate for the host family to inquire of each attending unit what they were thinking of bringing and then coordinating who brings what and how much. Why would you leave it to chance?

If one group thinks that bringing enough for 5 is sufficient for a gathering of 25, then does that mean they and everyone else should only expect to eat one other family's contribution and nothing else? Do the math, that doesn't work. What if three of 6 decide to bring a green salad? Or bread?

Using common sense is a good rule of thumb.

Turns out i am clueless about potlucks. I just checked Quora. People suggested bringing enough food for one quarter of the guests. I dont go to many potlucks apparently. Last time i went i brought enough of my dish for everyone to have. As i wrote my comment i realized if everyone did that, there would be way too much food.

Naturally we know " who is bringing what". Maybe others always have guests who bring sufficient quanties, but we do not. Our issue is, do we just figure that everyone will get enough to eat even though it might not be a "deviled egg", or should we simply make another batch ourselves?

We have this covered, but I was curious if others handle this a different way.

Thank you, Zalco for your kind and informed response! I have never checked other sources. I agree with what you said, but just imagine if Thanksgiving dinner for 25 produced one dish of mashed potatoes for 6!! That would be a serious problem. Some things we just have to take in our own hands!

When we have a holiday celebration I send out an email with a list of what the person who is hosting would like brought to the party and what they are providing. Everyone then emails me back and I let the party person know what is coming. I will pick up the slack if there is anything else needed. It seems there are certain people that are expected to bring certain things that everyone loves. I bring veggies and dip, 1 SIL makes Kapusta and pierogis. ! SIL makes cakes for B'days, a niece makes Baked beans everyone loves, and so on. There are usually 25 to 30 people and 7 are kids under 15. It works for us!!!

I belong to several gardening groups and most do not bring enough for the crowd. Bringing enough for 50+ would require multiple dishes. Since not everyone eats everything and there are 50+ dishes on the tables while everyone does not have some of everything seldom does anyone go hungry. Even though the alphabet is divided into sides and desserts people tend to bring what they want to bring. Deviled eggs are one of the few things that there are never enough.

I find I need to make one of each to cover all bases as I can't be sure what people will finally bring. So I make the meat entree, then I make a starch, a veggie, an appetizer and a dessert. This way, whatever people bring or don't bring, we've got it covered.

Also, serving sizes go out the window with a large holiday meal as no one takes a full portion of anything. Instead, they take half or less because there are usually so many things to add to the plate...a scoop of this and a scoop of that and it's overflowing. So I find a serving size for 6 or 8 will easily do 12-16.

My experience with potlucks has been that there is always more than enough food with plenty leftover, because as Annie posted above, no one takes a full portion of anything because there are so many choices. Also, there are dishes some don't like, so they won't take any and others that people take double helpings, but it all seems to work out in the end.

Take the deviled eggs as an example. If all 25 people took two each, I'd say 50 eggs are needed. But, not everyone will take the deviled eggs, so the people who really love them should get enough if there are 30 eggs.

For a holiday dinner, if I were hostess, I would provide the meat, a big bowl of mashed potatoes, enough gravy to cover the potatoes and one veggie dish that was enough to serve everyone. That way I know I'd be covered regardless if some brought small dishes or nothing at all. There always seems to be plenty of chips and dips and desserts at these types of functions so I wouldn't worry about that at all. There are also always people who will bring not one, but two or three things, and again, it all seems to even out in the end with everyone getting enough to eat with food leftover.

The one thing I would take care of myself is the drinks and ice. Whatever beverages are being served, it's never cool to run out whether it's alcohol, soda, lemonade or punch. And, of course, there are always those who will want coffee, especially after the meal with their dessert. A big pot of coffee should be at the ready for anyone who wants a cup.

Hope you and your family have a nice holiday dinner!

I think a holiday meal is different than a regular potluck. If someone offers to bring something that most people are likely to want (like deviled eggs) then they should bring enough for every guest to have one (or two). Some will eat 3-4, some won't eat any, but 12 deviled eggs is not enough (12 halves). When there are only 6 family units, that is very different than 25 people contributing.

For this kind of a meal, where people tend to expect a certain menu and to have their favorites (maybe Easter isn't as rigid as some holidays) I tend to plan the menu and ask guests to bring something that will fit the menu. I'd assign 2 families veggies, 2 families scalloped potatoes (for example) and 2 families desserts. Then I'd do the main (assuming meat), rolls, and appetizers. I'd just say bring enough for 12 people, small servings.

I do the same as Dawn and Annie and plan such that even if no one brings anything, there would be enough food for everyone. Often light on chips and desserts because, as Dawn notes, those are usually fairly well covered. If something someone brings runs out, there's still enough other options. If I end up with huge amounts leftover I'll have leftovers for a few days or even a week.

If I'm taking something to a family dinner, which are usually about 25 people, I take enough for half of that number. Some will be on some diet or other that will preclude them from eating it, some won't like what I made, some will choose other choices.

If it's a dinner party of 6-8 I take enough for everyone.

It I'm hosting the family dinner I provide the meat and starch (a mashed potato or scalloped potatoes), one appetizer and one salad and a dessert.

oh and if anyone ever brings or serves devilled eggs where I am - someone can have mine.

I realize that I handle family meals differently than I do social potlucks. For family meals, I always take enough for the entire group. Of course, our group is never bigger than 30. For social potlucks, I take enough for 20 people to have a small portion. For instance, I would take 10 large sandwiches cut in half or a pasta salad using a pound of pasta as the base. For the potluck that we attend with friends for Thanksgiving and Easter, usually under 20 people, we make enough for everyone to have a portion and so do the other participants. I think the reason the family and friends meals are different is because we coordinate what we bring, so there's no duplication like there might be at a large social potluck.

Edited to add: Even though the friends' gathering is around 20 people, it's only the host family and three or four other families, so it's not 20 different people bringing an item, but rather four dishes plus the host family's contribution.

Six family units means you will be adding 6 side dishes to your table? If I were bringing it my salad/potatoes/dessert would be enough to feed everyone there. I do not comprehend why that isn't how people gauge their offering. When bringing to a pot luck at school or church I assume I am feeding a minimum of 10--I would bring the largest amount I have a container for. Again the idea a host can't assume others do the same is ludicrous. Why ask them to bring anything if what they bring doesn't even feed them!!

"This is why I ban pot lucks for holidays. I would rather plan and cook it myself than try to make sense of it all. "

Yes! I much prefer to plan and cook the entire meal. If you want to help, ask me to your house to eat a meal you cook.

My MIL did potluck at Christmas and it worked for her. She would tell everyone what she wanted you to bring. It was usually one side and one dessert. Everyone usually brought a large version of the dish, but not really enough for everyone. As Annie said, you just take a small amount of things, because everyone tries most dishes.

If there is a number of dishes, then the amount taken per dish is less and a normal recipe that may feed 6 or 8 could feed that many. Most will take smaller portions and some won't take some of everything. My rule of thumb is that the more dishes there are the less everyone will eat of the dish. And with so many dishes, if there IS a popular dish and it's gone, then it's gone! As long as there are meat and rolls and perhaps a potato dish and dessert for everyone you should be fine. I wouldn't worry about the quantity that a guest will bring.

lots of good advice! i also agree a Holiday family dinner is different than a potluck.

this is where a conversation is needed. let everyone know what you are planning for dinner, how many people and whether u are or are not open to options for sides and desserts. if someone wants something specific, then they bring that. i have posted my menu and said " if there is something else u want, feel free to bring it". don't overthink it. there is always enough food :)

if u and DD are planning the entire meal, then tell each person/family what and how much to bring.

if u and DD are doing the main part of meal, then assign/ask them to bring sides & desserts.

when we do ours, we know what everyone likes/dislikes and plan accordingly. we also write down what we had and how much was leftover or what was not enough. makes planning so much easier the following year.

if i host, i usually make an extra side or two and an extra dessert. and its what i like :)

Shouldn't the guests "pick up the slack" by bringing enough themselves? You're hosting six families so does that mean only six dishes? And one family is bringing vegetables that "might" feed 5-6, which basically means their family is covered. You say this is what many of them bring for every gathering. That's ridiculous. I think you need a come to Jesus meeting and Easter would be a fitting time to do so.

I took enough for all guests at supper club and ended up with twice as much as was needed. However, I think quarter may be too small. So enough for a 1/3 or 1/2 the guests is probably enough. For me, enough for 4-6 people since we have 12 guests. Hope that helps!

There is a big difference between 25 people each bringing a dish versus 6 families each bringing one dish.

My extended family is huge and when we gather for a famiy holiday dinner (often with non-family guests invited as well) we always share bringing food. Otherwise the expense and work on the part of the host family is much too great!! So with the acceptance of the invitation comes the question "what would you like me/us to bring?" And the answer is usually a side dish that is expected to feed most of the guest list but not necessarily everyone and in smaller portions than if fewer dishes were being served. If a total of 25 guests were expected, the dish should feed 15-20, acknowledging that not everyone will partake and that those who do will take smaller portions.

Non-family guests will often bring appetizers or desserts, as those do not need to feed everyone. That is much more of a bite here, a taste there situation.

Yes, there is often too much food but leftovers are packaged up and shared with everyone who wants them. It's a win-win!!

Our immediate family get togethers are usually 35-44. I send out emails of date and time and what I will provide. Everyone responds reply all if they will attend and how many. We have vegans, vegetarians and good eaters. We also have lots of little ones that love chickey nuggets. With the reply all we know who's coming and how much to bring and what is needed. Keeps things easy. If they don't respond to the invite or food I send an email that I'm sorry they won't be coming.

Ditto Gardengal. Our family holiday meals are always pot luck. The host usually coordinates everything by email or phone call and provides the main dish and maybe a few odds and ends, and everyone else (every other household) brings a side that is enough to feed everyone. I have six siblings and many of them have multiple children so it's a lot of people to cook for. If we only had a handful of people attending, I'd probably prefer to make everything myself. But with such a large family, pot luck it is! And all the leftovers are usually shared if people want to take some home. We typically host Thanksgiving and always make extra turkey so everyone has leftovers.

Years ago I came across a letter on the Internet that someone sent to the rest of her family to help plan and organize the upcoming Thanksgiving meal.

The letter starts with ...

As you all know a fabulous Thanksgiving Dinner does not make itself. I need to ask each of you to help by bringing something to help complete the meal. I truly appreciate your offers to assist with the meal preparation.

Now, while I do have quite a sense of humor and joke around all the time, I COULD NOT BE MORE SERIOUS when I am providing you with your Thanksgiving instructions and orders. I am very particular, so please perform your task EXACTLY as I have requested and read your portion very carefully. If I ask you to bring your offering in a container that has a lid, bring your offering in a container WITH A LID, NOT ALUMINUM FOIL! If I ask you to bring a serving spoon for your dish, BRING A SERVING SPOON, NOT A SOUP SPOON! And please do not forget anything.

It then proceeds to give (very) detailed instructions to each of the members of the family who will be coming about what to bring and how much.

https://awkwardfamilyphotos.com/2009/11/26/awkward-family-story-the-thanksgiving-letter/

my favorite is where she instructs one family member to bring a casserole dish of turnips but then adds don't feel you have to feed an army, most of us hate turnips.

When we lived in St Louis, our church had a weekly informal pot luck supper, followed by informal communion, during Lent. No one had to sign up - just come and bring something. It was amazing - we always had a nice selection of foods, no one went hungry. Most just make a recipe that typically serves 6-8 - just what one would cook at home unless the family was large. There is no need to bring enough for everyone. There will be plenty of choices.

For a holiday dinner, I would provide the entree and tell my guests what it is and that I am doing so.