9 Fun Potluck Party Ideas

4. Eat around the world

Pick one country or cuisine to assign to each guest, or allow them to choose one. Ask everyone to share what they are bringing to the potluck in a shared Google spreadsheet so that there are no duplicate dishes. This is an awesome opportunity to branch out and try new foods. Not too many thoughtful supermarkets near you? Then check out World Market for a wide selection of food and drinks from all over the globe. 

5. Celebrate the food of the holidays

Sometimes, you just crave stuffing and sweet potato pie in July.  A potluck is a perfect time to satisfy all of your cravings. Ask guests to bring a dish that represents every major holiday of the year. 

Think classic Thanksgiving dishes like green bean casserole and mashed potatoes; Christmas-inspired desserts like peppermint bark and gingerbread; St. Patrick’s day corned beef and hash; latkes and other indulgent or fried foods like blintzes and matzo ball soup for Hanukkah; beignets and gumbo for Mardi Gras; pumpkin spice everything for Halloween; BBQ favorites like potato salad, coleslaw, and corn on the cob for July 4th; and chocolate and heart-shaped desserts for Valentine’s Day.

6. Bring one, give one

Chow down and give back! Ask guests to bring the dry goods or non-perishable, canned ingredients involved in making the dish they are bringing along with the actual dish. Make sure you send out a list of items that are suitable for donating to a food pantry. For example, if a guest brought chili, they would bring canned beans to donate. This an especially nice event to host during the holiday season. No Kid Hungry provides resources to help you host a charitable Friendsgiving.

7. Host a blackout potluck

Blackout (or blindfold) brunches are popping up in restaurants everywhere and have been popular meetup activities for local organizations, but you can recreate the mystery meal event at your own potluck. All you will need are blindfolds and one person to volunteer to be the host (who is not blindfolded) to help serve the other guests. Have everyone guess what each dish is and award the guest with the most correct answers with first dibs on leftovers of their favorite dish. Just be sure to be mindful of allergies and respectful of all dietary restrictions, and make sure no one eats the dish that they brought (because that would be cheating). 

Gather a list of all food allergies and dietary restrictions like vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, kosher, halal, and dairy-free, then send them out to everyone who is invited. The best way to organize this type of potluck is to have each guest privately submit the dish they are bringing to the host. This is among the most elaborate potluck party ideas, as well as the most exciting and unique.