Potluck Dinner in Style

White serving dishes keep the look simple, clean and cohesive.

Hosting a potluck dinner is an easy, low-stress way to entertain your friends and family. Potlucks create a communal spirit and encourage casual conversation among your guests.

But with everyone bringing their own food, the party can sometimes lack for style. Not to worry: we have a guaranteed plan for turning your next casual gathering into a stylish happening. Follow our simple steps and throw a potluck dinner to impress.

Pick a Menu Theme

The downside to many potlucks is that there isn’t any forethought about the menu. This results in diverse dishes that often don’t mesh together well as a meal. To avoid this trap, try picking a theme for the menu. Here are some we recommend:

Host a themed Potluck Dinner by throwing an Around the World Party.

Asian-Inspired:

Dumplings, rice dishes, fusion flavors, Korean BBQ

Italian:

Minestrone, pasta, breadsticks, fish, pizza, tiramisu, gelato, biscotti

French:

Escargot, French bread, roasted chicken, pomme frites, tartes

Seafood:

Oysters, mussel soup, cioppino, fish entrees, lobster, shrimp cocktail, etc.

From the Grill:

Grilled chicken salad, kabobs, grilled veggies, bananas or peaches on the grill for dessert

Southern Comfort:

Macaroni & cheese, fried chicken, jambalaya, baby back ribs, pecan pie, red velvet cake, etc.

Assign Dishes to Guests

Once you’ve chosen your menu theme for the evening, assign each guest what type of dish they should bring. Don’t tell them what to bring: simply tell them the theme of the menu and ask them to bring one of the following:

• An appetizer
• An entrée
• Two side dishes
• Drinks
• Dessert

Create a Stylish Setting

Since the guests are taking care of the food, it’s up to the host to create a stylish setting for the potluck party. The basics you’ll need to cover include:

Serving Dishes:

• Pick a theme for your dishes as well. For instance: A modern, clean theme requires simple white or black dishes with clean lines.
• When guests arrive with their dish, transfer the meal from their container into an attractive serving dish.
• Label each dish by placing a wooden skewer with a label on top in the center of the dish.

Take Potluck upscale with stylish décor.

• Set an elegant table for your dinner guests.
• Create place cards for each guest that follow the theme for the evening.
• Decorate the table with candles and one or two floral arrangements.

Seasonal Décor:

• Summer: Host your party outdoors with white hanging lanterns and tiki torches. Use bright colors for a tablecloth or accent pieces.
• Spring: Extra flowers placed around your home will go a long way toward brightening up the space. Pastels are the way to go for a springtime look.
• Fall: Use acorns and fall leaves as part of the table décor. Reds, browns and orange tones are a great pick for accent colors.
• Winter: Place a large bowl of Christmas ornaments on the table in place of a floral arrangement. Or, create a white and light blue tablescape with crystal and snowflake accents to celebrate the season.