2025 Hosting Etiquette for a Thanksgiving Potluck or a Friendsgiving

Thanksgiving is the time to pull out your favorite plates, napkins, and glassware and throw a festive holiday gathering. The gathering is perfect for a potluck where everyone brings a favorite dish to share. The collaborative spread will feature a variety of foods, some unique and some traditional, while checking a few things off the host’s “to-do” list. 

The basics are obvious, and those will get covered first: roasted turkey, whole or in parts and pieces, cranberry sauce, roasted carrots and root vegetables, green bean casserole, sweet potato casserole, mashed potatoes, pumpkin cheesecake, and brownies galore. Create a list of who is bringing what item so there are no overlaps, unless you need several of the same item. Don’t be shy; ask your friends for something specific you know they specialize in making. Keep reading for our 2025 Thanksgiving Hosting Etiquette tips as you prepare to be the perfect holiday host.  

The Menu

Appetizers

• Bacon wrapped jalapenos
• Cheese straws
• Deviled eggs
• Maple-glazed little smokies
• Sausage cheese balls
• Tomato and mozzarella ball skewers

Side Dishes

• Turkey dressing – a variety of kinds
• Baked macaroni and cheese
• Creamed corn
• Creamed spinach
• Maple-roasted carrots
• Cranberry gelatin mold
• Macaroni salad

Bread

• Homemade or store-bought dinner rolls
• Cornbread muffins
• Sourdough bread
• Garlic knots

Desserts

• Pumpkin Pie
• Cheesecake
• Pecan Pie
• Walnut chocolate pie
• Brownies
• Pumpkin Bars
• Pumpkin Bread
• Zucchini Bread

Create the Ambiance with Light

A warm glow is always a welcome friend, and lighting is important. A soft light accents the room and still allows people to see what they are eating. Use the dimmer on your hanging light fixture, burn some non-scented votives at the table, and add string lights, cozy lanterns, and table lamps, strategically placed around the house for an extra special flickering of warmth.  

Offer a Signature Cocktail or Punch

While the host knows to offer plenty of water and non-alcoholic beverages, serving a signature cocktail is a nice touch. Combine seasonal ingredients and spices in a punch bowl and let everyone serve themselves. Use a base of apple juice, pineapple, cranberry, or orange juice and add fruits and spices that add a punch. You will find an abundance of recipes on Pinterest. A recent favorite is a warm and zesty apple cider margarita. 

Pay Attention to the Table

First-century Roman gourmand, Apicius, famously said “We eat first with our eyes,” which means the visual appeal of the table and food matters. The food presentation sets the tone for the meal, and if you serve the food on a lovely platter, serving bowl, or dish, inexpensive or otherwise, it makes the celebration feel more special and the food appear more appealing.

Pull out a tablecloth from your closet and make sure it’s clean and starched. Add a natural centerpiece using leaves and acorns from your backyard, include candles and place cards with everyone’s name. Even if it is not a fancy occasion, little touches make guests feel special. Use cloth or paper napkins and have plenty to spare. Plates don’t have to match, but should resemble the same color theme when possible. There are also beautiful paper products that are both pretty and eco-friendly to choose from.

Set the table properly – there should be no excuse because we talk about this routinely on this blog. Here is a friendly reminder.

Allow Guests to Watch/Listen to the Football Game During the Meal

Before the meal, you may want to throw a football outside to warm up for the big game. After the meal, let people take their dessert to the family room to enjoy the game. If guests want it on low volume in the background, this may be the exception to allow the television to be on during a meal. To many, the football game is very important, and as long as they are not jumping up and down during the entire meal, you make the call to yay or nay.

Set Up a Dessert and Coffee Bar

A dessert and coffee bar sets the stage for a beautiful and delicious finish to the holiday. Vary the height and presentation of the decadent sweets with cake stands and creative options, such as pumpkin mousse cups with butterscotch chips and shiny little dessert spoons. This allows you to have sweets ready to serve and take without much fuss in the moment. For those who believe coffee is life, have their favorite brew and all the extras (creamer, syrups, sweetener) ready for slow sipping. 

Cozy Seating and Relaxed Fun

The holiday isn’t over when the last bite of pumpkin pie is eaten. Cozy seating and relaxed options for fun (football, card games, outdoor activities, holiday crafting) will encourage guests to stay a while as you share time together and create even more memories before we say goodbye for now to our favorite holiday foods and traditions and look ahead to the new year. 

Happy Thanksgiving,

Diane 

You may also like How to Be a Gracious Thanksgiving (and Every Holiday) Host. 

For more information about working with Diane, America’s “Go To” social and professional etiquette authority, please visit The Protocol School of Texas. 

See what Diane is up to by following her on Instagram and Facebook and find etiquette inspiration on her Pinterest account. For more of Diane’s etiquette tips, refer to her posts on Inc. and HuffPost.