47 Creative Potluck Themes for Fun Dinner Parties All Year

I procrastinate about the silliest stuff. For instance, I have wanted to share this blog post forever. I’m excited about it, in fact. Only problem is it’s been living in my head for the past six months instead of putting it on paper.

I often get lost in the weeds. Like what will I title it, instead of just sitting down and typing. I procrastinate instead of just doing. In the doing, I often find, clarity comes. Which brings me to the subject of having dinner with friends. Stick with me here 😊.

Potlucks Facilitate Friendship

A few of us girls were hanging out, about a year ago, talking about how we always say we will get together but we are so busy it doesn’t materialize.

My friend, Rachel, decided enough was enough. She took out her Google calendar and had us commit to a date that we, and our spouses, would get together the following month.

To make it more likely that it would be easy, we decided that all of our gatherings would be kids welcome.

Our first gathering was to be in December. Rachel chose to be the first host. Someone suggested there should be a theme. Since it was December our theme was Christmas cookies.

Every family would bring a tray, and Rachel would cook Chili. We made a group text chain so that everyone could see what the other couples were bringing.

We had so much fun that at the end of the night, everyone took out their Google calendars- made the next date and hosting house.

No more procrastinating on the next date. Did I mention that the kids had a great time too?

Potlucks are for Everyone

We have been doing these family welcome potlucks for several years now.

All six couples agree that it is probably the best idea we have ever had! Our kids have fun too. While we adults are hanging out the kids are busy playing.

If you are looking for a way to consistently get together with friends, bring the kids, and keep it economical, I cannot recommend potlucks enough!

One Year of Potluck Dinner Party Themes

You can usually find our group texting out theme ideas a week or two before we are supposed to hang. For your dinner party inspiration, I give you our list of potluck themes that we have tried or have been contenders.

January Potluck Theme

As you may have guessed- our January potluck dinners often theme around the New Year.

Healthy New Year– everyone brings a healthy dish
Appy-New Beer– bring an appetizer and a new beer
Traditional New Year’s Food– there was a lot of sauerkraut and pork that year
New Recipe for the New Year– Try a new recipe and bring it

February Potluck Theme

With Valentine’s day during February and winter trudging along we tried to draw inspiration from both with our themes.

Sexy Foods– chocolate, oysters, strawberries, basil, Italian food, wine and champagne
Brunch for Dinner– breakfast casseroles, pancakes, waffles, bacon, sausage, bloody Mary’s, and mimosas, of course. 😉
Italian Foods and Desserts– someone in our group deemed Italian food as sexy food and that is how it made its way into February themes. Lol!
Comfort Food– Food that makes your happy on cold winter nights. We had many soups and casseroles.
Charcuterie Boards– so many ways to make these- and so delicious!
Super Bowl!-We theme our food to the two teams playing. ex. Kansas City is play- someone is bring Kansas City barbeque.

March Potluck Theme

In years past we embraced the St.Patty’s holiday and Ireland for march themes. However, this year we started to encorporated birthday persons favorite foods-since we have four birthday boys during this month.

Foods made with Beer– Beer bread, Brats, Pretzels with Beer cheese, for a nice cheat Taste of Home has 50 recipes using Beer.
Irish Dishes– Potatoes, Beer, Cabbage, Irish soda bread, Shepard’s pie, corn beef and hash, and of course Guinness.
Potato Dishes– anything that has potato as an ingredient will work.
Birthday Persons Favorite Foods

April Potluck Theme

By April most of us in the midwest are ready to say goodbye to the snow and embrace spring. The Easter holiday, spring break, and the warmer weather always play a roll in our April dinner party theme.

Grilled Foods or dishes that go well with the grill.
Picnic Foods– any foods or dishes that are great for a picnic. My upbringing dictates fried chicken must be present- always. What about you?
Ham featured foods, dishes where ham is the main ingredient.
Soup & Salad Bar– Ramen soup, chicken soup, minestrone soup, tortilla soup, so many to choose from!

May Potluck Theme

In the States May brings warmer weather, Cinco de Mayo, and Memorial Day weekend. It is usually the start of the school year winding down and graduation season. These are great things to draw dinner party inspiration from.

Cinco de Mayo– because we like Mexican food and any excuse to make margaritas or palomas.
Dishes that begin with M, macaroni, minestrone, meat, melon….
Salad & Potato Bar
Favorite Childhood Food– in honor of the end of the school year.
Taco or Fajita Bar

June Potluck Theme

Warm weather is always grilling weather around here- and man, does it smell good! We look for unique ways to embrace the season and not heat up our homes-so grilling is often incorporated into our theme.

Backyard bbq– brisket, bbq ribs, bbq chicken, baked beans, corn on the grill
Summer Favorites- in honor of the first day of Summer- watermelon, pasta salad, grilled hot dogs and veggie dogs, ice cream bar, whatever tastes like summer to you and your crew.
Hot Dog Bar– June is National Hot dog Month. If you have vegetarian friends, I highly recommend plant based Beyond Meat Brats. They are so good, that my carnivore husband didn’t know that he wasn’t eating a normal brat!

July Potluck Theme

July is chock full of things to celebrate and incorporate into your theme- National Mac & Cheese day, Avocado day, Raspberry day, Fourth of July, and the farmers market is starting to burst with delicious summer produce.

Patriotic Foods– Flag cake, anything red, white, and blue, Freedom Fried aka French fries, and grilling.
Mac & Cheese– 7/14 is national mac & cheese day, everyone brings variations of mac & cheese
Corn dishes – Corn can be so much more than just on the cob.
Avocado theme along with Raspberry desserts or dishes- 7/31 is national avocado and raspberry day.

August Potluck Theme

In our area it is usually hot as you know what- and many of us are not wanting to heat up the kitchen. Summer vacations are winding up. And many of us parents are looking forward to our kids heading back to school.

Cold Main Dishes– Because it’s too hot to cook.
Brat Bar– 9/16 is national brat day!
Chocolate Cookie variations– 9/4 is national cookie day. Dessert takes a front seat.
School / Kid Food– this is a new one- pizza rolls, rice krispie treats, celery with peanut butter, apple slices, sloppy joes, ect. Anything kids would make for themselves or like to eat- in celebration of them heading back to class.

September Potluck Theme

American football and futbol are all back in session in September and our friends love to cheer them on. Cool weather is starting to creep in- inviting us to make bonfires and breakout our sweaters.

Bon fire Foods– first day of fall is 9/22- anything you can cook on an open flame and smores, of course.
Game Day Dishes– anything you feel is tailgate worthy.
Comfort Foods – This can often be a time to try new foods. One friend is of Eastern European decent. Her comfort food is very different from my more southern roots.
Harvest Potluck – recipes featuring the end of the season bounty.

May I suggest, my favorite fall adult beverage is Caramel Apple Sangria and it will pair with any of your fall and winter flavored themes. With only 4 ingredients it’s easy to make and oh, so delicious!

October Potluck Theme

The cool fall weather is completely upon us in October and it is all about Halloween, pumpkins, autumn leaves, apples, and pumpkin lattes. Start up a bonfire, gather around and enjoy friendship and the comfort food of the season.

Oktoberfest– German themed dishes and beverages. Maybe even Lederhosen?
Casseroles – Re-discover some 80’s and 90’s favorites.
Pumpkin and Squash challenge– bring a dish with pumpkin or a squash as an ingredient.
Winter Salads – Salads aren’t just for summer. A fun way to discover new ways to eat fall veggies.

November Potluck Theme

If you aren’t from the States- November is the official start of two months of eating, seeing friends and family, and eating some more. To boot the weather is either rainy and chilly or just chilly- making our group start to lean into comfort foods.

Friendsgiving– our friend Kim does this with a twist, everyone is asked to bring 4 canned goods for our local food bank.
Noodles– Noodles seem to be a crowd pleaser and they come in so many forms: Asian noodles, egg noodles, homemade noodles, etc.
Favorite Side Dish as the Main Dish
Taco bar- because, we can, and did I mention we like making margaritas?

December Potluck Theme

We usually are squeeze this potluck dinner in between all of our other family commitments- and because of that our group tries to make the December dinner party theme laid back but still festive.

Chili bar and Christmas cookies- every guest brings a Christmas cookie tray. We also do a white elephant too.
Pizza, veggies, and beer – order pizza, everyone brings a different vegetable to share, and their favorite beer.
Fancy Soups and Bread– take your soup game up a notch as well as your bread.
Crockpot Challenge– even dessert can be made in the crock pot as can warm cider, Wassel, or mulled wine.

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Potluck Dinner Party Tips

Our group of friends has been having monthly potlucks for several years now. It has taken the procrastination out of getting together.

We have a text “sign up sheet” and we have it filled out months in advanced -with the host house and month chosen and the theme is usually chosen closer to the day of the dinner party.

Simple as that!

Themed potlucks are so much fun. They can be as creative as you want them to be. And kids can always be included- which are always are.

All of our kids all get along and it helps guarantee that we can get to the party- no worries about getting and paying for a sitter.

What do you and your friends like to do when you get together?

Suggested Potluck Items:

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