Ready-made list
Match guests to potluck dishes
This is not a plain name raffle. It pairs each guest with a dish category so the table is covered—without everyone volunteering for dessert and nobody bringing a main.
List A is people. List B is dish slots (Main, Salad, Dessert…). Hit Match to get “Alex → Dessert” pairs. Replace the sample names with your invite list.
12 items · Ctrl/⌘+Enter to run
12 items on list B
Match List A people to shuffled List B.
Results
Run Match lists to pair List A with List B.
Try a scenario
Runs in your browser. Share links encode your list in the URL—only send them to people you trust.
List A — guests (who is coming)
Replace with your real invite list. Keep roughly as many people as dish slots, or leave extras unmatched and assign leftovers by hand.
- 1. Alex
- 2. Jordan
- 3. Sam
- 4. Taylor
- 5. Casey
- 6. Morgan
- 7. Riley
- 8. Quinn
- 9. Avery
- 10. Jamie
- 11. Cameron
- 12. Reese
List B — dish slots (what to bring)
Edit categories or paste specific dishes (e.g. “Mac & cheese”, “Fruit plate”). Match mode pairs List A ↔ List B one-to-one at random.
- 1. Main dish
- 2. Main dish (second)
- 3. Side / veggies
- 4. Salad
- 5. Bread / carbs
- 6. Dessert
- 7. Dessert (second)
- 8. Drinks
- 9. Drinks (second)
- 10. Appetizer / snacks
- 11. Paper goods / utensils
- 12. Ice / cooler
What you should see after Match
Results look like “Jordan → Salad” and “Sam → Drinks”—that is the assignment. It is not only shuffling names; both columns matter.
If you have more guests than slots, some names stay unmatched—add more dish lines or ask extras to bring a flexible “extra side.” If you have more slots than guests, some dishes stay open for late RSVPs.
Only need a signup order?
Switch the tool to Shuffle on the guest list alone if you just want who signs the sheet first. For “who brings what,” stay on Match (two lists).
Allergy and budget notes
Put constraints on the name line (e.g. “Sam — nut-free kitchen”) so the host sees them when announcing pairs. The tool does not invent recipes.
How to use this list
- 1
Edit guests (List A)
One person per line—everyone bringing food or supplies.
- 2
Edit dish slots (List B)
Categories or specific dishes. Duplicate “Main” / “Dessert” if you need two of each.
- 3
Run Match
Keep Pairs → Match two lists. Copy the pairs into your group chat.
Tips for this scenario
- Equal-ish list lengths give the cleanest one-to-one coverage.
- Specific dishes beat vague categories when your group already agreed on a menu.
- Secret Santa is for gifts—not potluck food.
Frequently asked questions
Why are there two lists?
List A is people; List B is what they should bring. Match pairs them randomly so you get who-brings-what, not just a name order.
Can I assign specific recipes?
Yes—put dish names on List B (lasagna, brownies, lemonade) instead of categories.
What if someone cannot cook?
Put them toward Drinks / store-bought slots, or swap their pair manually after the match.
Is the list uploaded?
No. Matching runs in your browser only.