17 Creative Potluck Food Ideas For Your Next Party

Potluck dinner parties are a great way to have a meal that’s guaranteed to be interesting! Everyone gets to contribute a little something to the dinner table…But don’t go rushing to the grocery store for something pre-made. Show how much the event and people around you mean to you by making time to whip up some creative potluck food ideas! Peerspace wants to share 17 of our favorite potluck food ideas that will put a smile on everyone’s face as they dig in.

1. Set up the slow-cooker for pulled BBQ pork

Pulled pork shoulder is one of those potluck food ideas that’s guaranteed to result in you bringing home an empty serving tray. Best of all, it’s budget-friendly and incredibly simple to put together as well. All you need is enough pork shoulder with some apple cider vinegar, chicken stock, and basic seasonings you already have in your kitchen. Don’t forget your favorite BBQ sauce, though! Follow this recipe for an instant potluck hit.

2. Whip up some tasty homemade french fries

French fries are one of those dishes everyone assumes is too tricky to make yourself. When the reality is that homemade french fries are immensely satisfying and easy to pull off. Best of all, you can customize any recipe for homemade fries, like this one, with your favorite seasonings.

Once you have a few platters of fries, think about booking a potluck venue that’s equally well chosen! Did you know that Peerspace has hundreds of dinner venues near you? From banquet halls to backyard spaces, we have potluck venues for all occasions.

3. Bake an incredible Kentucky bourbon pecan pie for dessert

From the rich, nutty pecans to the sultry hint of bourbon, this recipe for Kentucky bourbon pecan pie is a delicious addition to your fall potluck party table! The alcohol cooks out of this recipe during baking so you’re only left with the flavor of bourbon. Top with whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream for an unforgettable dessert option.

4. Make the perfect hamburger slider

Whether you’re planning for a game day potluck or simply want a dish that everyone is sure to enjoy, you could do way worse than hamburger sliders! Each one is a mini-meal unto itself and easy to make. Classic hamburger sliders are a bit greasy yet so small that no one feels bad about having a couple, unlike a regular-sized burger. Fill with cheddar cheese, bacon, sour cream, and other additions as you like.

Check out these creative cookout food ideas to help make your burger sliders the star of the show.

5. Roll your own homemade sushi 

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Large potluck parties mean it’s going to be hard to impress other diners with a creative fish. But homemade sushi rolls are something few people have likely tried. Sushi is endlessly inventive because you can use any kind of meat, seafood, and vegetables inside of a roll. You can even mix up the rice using black rice or food coloring added to classic white sushi rice. And don’t forget about the dipping sauces! Besides soy sauce, there is sweet eel sauce, rice vinegar, sriracha, wasabi mayo, and more to try. 

6. Put bacon on everything with slow-cooker bacon jam

It is truly said that bacon goes well with everything but have you ever tried bacon jam yet? Try a recipe like this one to get you started; like most slow cooker recipes it’s easy to pull off, using ingredients you mostly have already. Bacon jam is a condiment that can go with almost any dish. Bread slices, crackers, a cheese platter, pizza, and burgers all get that much better with a bit of bacon jam! 

7. Add a healthy option with grilled vegetable skewers

Are you looking for a potluck food idea that is more of a side or appetizer? How about something light and savory, like grilled vegetable skewers, to go with the meat and starches that are guaranteed to be at the dinner table? Veggie skewers also add a bit of color and interest to the table when you use creative shapes like mushrooms and the bold hues of sweet peppers!

8. Toss a strawberry spinach salad

Ripe red strawberries and luscious green spinach are at the core of this potluck food idea! Bring some fresh greens to the sable with a strawberry spinach salad you can easily customize with a few extra ingredients. Many people opt to add a handful of blueberries, crushed walnuts, or croutons to add further crunch and color to this fast and satisfying dish.

9. Try pineapple slaw as a side or topping

Pineapple slaw has a lot going for it…It is crunchy, sweet, spicy, and colorful…Not to mention a healthy, guilt-free addition to the potluck dinner table! Like any fresh salad, you can easily customize a pineapple slaw with additions to the above recipe like black sesame seeds for contrast or dried cranberries for extra color and sweetness. You can eat pineapple slaw as it is or even use it as an addition to a taco or burger bar!

10. Blend some loaded baked potato dip for fries or chips

From baby showers to potlucks, the dip is a central addition to the dinner table! Why not get creative with this loaded baked potato dip recipe? It has sour cream, bacon, chives, cheese, plus a bit of hot sauce for extra kick! Use waffle fries as a side if you want even more of a baked potato feel to the party platter! 

11. Add a healthy lacinato kale salad with roasted squash

Unlike many leafy vegetables, kale has a bit of resilience to it so you can add dressing in advance without serving up soggy greens later. Add a bit of vibrant greenery and healthy crunch to the table with a lacinato kale salad! Roasted butternut squash, cheese, shallots, and other additions mellow the bitterness of kale while adding salty and umami flavors to the dish.

12. Get sweet with a date coffee cake

Dates add a moist, rich texture to any dish they are a part of. Introduce people to them with a date coffee cake along the dessert table! Don’t forget to top your date cake with toffee, bacon, walnuts, or raisins. Dates are as dense as they are sweet, which encourages people to go for smaller portions. A date cake will go a long way at a potluck meal! 

Get elegant with it by adding some of these champagne brunch party ideas to your next potluck.

13. Make some sriracha fried chicken

Okay, it’s no secret that sriracha goes great on everything…So how about some sriracha fried chicken for your next potluck dinner? You better make a lot because everyone is going to be crowding around this platter, especially if you whip up some custom Asian-inspired dipping sauces like sriracha or wasabi mayo.

Once your party platter is complete, think about booking an elegant dinner venue for your guests. Peerspace has venues like this Boho event loft in New York, NY, with a family-style dinner table and multiple sets of dinnerware to choose from!

14. Try slow-cooker grape jelly meatballs as an appetizer

With just three ingredients needed, slow cooker jelly meatballs are one of the best potluck food ideas if you want to impress without a whole lot of fuss. The dish also doubles as an appetizer or a main since you can stick individual meatballs to wooden skewers or serve them in a big bowl. The standard recipe calls for grape jelly but there’s no reason you can’t use apple, cherry, or other flavors if you like.

15. Make an easy chocolate bread pudding

With less than an hour of preparation time, chocolate bread pudding is a wonderful take on this comfort dessert food. You have the flexibility of serving it hot or cold, plain or with ice cream, whipped cream, or other toppings. No matter how you decide to serve it, guests are sure to thank you with an empty platter!

16. Craft a vibrant watermelon feta salad

Watermelon and feta are two ingredients that not nearly enough people realize are a match made in heaven. A watermelon feta salad has it all: sweet, salty, and savory tastes, plus brilliant colors. Not to mention it’s quick and easy to throw together for an upcoming potluck occasion. Add cucumbers, red onions, and other ingredients for extra color and flavor.

17. Create a taco bar

We can all agree that tacos are amazing but wars have been started over how to make an amazing taco…So give your guests the option of making their own dream dish with a fully stocked taco bar! Start with a few proteins like chicken, beef, and ground tofu. Then add shredded vegetables, sauces, and seasonings, plus corn and flour tortillas for a fun idea that’s a perfect fit for a Mexican fiesta party.

Potluck food ideas: conclusion

Potluck parties are as much about sharing creative dishes as they are about being together with your favorite people. So why not try a few of these fun potluck food ideas to share with your family and friends? As lovers of fun party plans, we at Peerspace are so glad to be a part of the festivities! Let us help you further with a few of our party venues near you for a potluck birthday or anniversary dinner coming up! 

Find unique event spaces for your potluck on Peerspace