Get ready to become a party hosting pro with my simple tips for throwing the ultimate potluck dinner that is guaranteed to impress your family and friends.
*As an Amazon affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. My blog contains other affiliate links as well for your convenience. To learn more, you may read my Disclosure Policy. Thank you for supporting my blog!
A Potluck Party
As August makes way for September, it’s time to gear up for a new round of our supper club.
Today, I’m excited to team up with my friends Anne, AnnMarie, Michele, Rachel, and Stacy to share tips and ideas for hosting an old-fashioned southern-style potluck.
If this is your first time joining one of our virtual supper club parties, you can catch up and see our past menus and entertaining ideas here.
Each month, we also invite a guest blogger to join us, and we are thrilled to welcome back Heidi from Eleanor Rose Home to our potluck party.
If you aren’t already following along with Heidi, be sure to stop by her blog to say “hi”, tour her beautiful home, and see how she styled her casual outdoor potluck table setting.
Welcome To Midwest Life And Style
Whether you’re an old friend or this is your first time visiting, I am so glad you found my little corner of the web.
For those who are new, here, welcome! I’m Jen, a wife, mom, and lifelong Midwest gal.
You will find a bit of everything here at MWLS. From thrifty DIYs to recipes, decor styling tips, and more. I love to share about all the things that make a house a home.
If you’re not already a member of the MWLS family, I would love to have you subscribe and join me!
As a subscriber, you’ll receive emails and weekly updates on all the latest happenings here on the blog. Plus you’ll get exclusive access to my full library of free printables.
Now that we have the introductions out of the way, let’s get to this month’s party!
Your Guide To Throwing The Ultimate Potluck Party
Before I share my tips for throwing the best potluck party, let’s start with where the name and concept of a potluck came from.
What Is A Traditional Southern Potluck
The concept of a modern potluck dinner dates back to the 1930s during the Great Depression.
The “rules” for a potluck dinner are simple. Each guest brings one dish to the meal that includes enough servings to share with everyone at the party.
In the South, a potluck is also called a covered-dish supper or fellowship meal.
And while I’ve only ever attended potlucks here in the Midwest, my southern friends have assured me they’re all the same.
So, if you love to entertain, read on for my simple guide with 6 tips for throwing the ultimate potluck dinner party.
Plan Ahead: How To Choose A Theme For Your Potluck Party
First, plan ahead for your potluck party by deciding on the theme and the different courses you want to include, like appetizers, main dishes, side dishes, and desserts.
You can center your theme around a holiday or even a season. A potluck with a backyard BBQ or low country boil theme is perfect for the warm and sunny days of summer.
And, in the fall, a football tailgate party, a fall garden picnic, or an autumn harvest party are perfect potluck themes for the season.
Since fall is right around the corner, I chose a seasonal theme for my potluck party to complement a traditional southern-inspired menu.
A plaid throw blanket in rich burgundy and navy blue hues serves as a tablecloth adding a touch of Southern charm.
I also used several rustic wood and galvanized metal serving pieces to add to the shabby chic look.
Vintage crates that I found on my grandparents’ farm make the perfect elevated serving stations for fresh fruit and desserts.
And a round metal serving tray and metal and glass beverage dispenser are ideal for creating a drink station.
Pro Tip: Serving trays or displays double as decor! Choose pieces that look similar to one another to help create a cohesive look and feel that complements the rest of your party decor.
How To Craft The Perfect Potluck Menu
Once you’ve selected a theme, encouraging your guests to sign up for a course before the potluck is easy to do. And it will help avoid repeated foods or ensure there are no missing food groups.
When planning the menu, here are a few things to keep in mind.
- Create a List: Make a list of the courses and the number of guests. This will help you ensure a balanced spread.
- Ask Preferences: Contact your guests and ask what type of dish they’d like to bring. Some might have a signature dish they love to make.
- Keep a List: As guests confirm their dishes, keep a list of who’s bringing what. This can be handy for last-minute changes and to avoid duplicate dishes.
- Communicate Details: Make sure everyone knows what to bring, the serving size, and any dietary restrictions to consider.
- Have a Backup Plan: Just in case, have a couple of simple dishes or extras on hand in case someone forgets or something goes wrong.
Remember, the goal is to have a good time and enjoy each other’s company. Assigning courses can make the potluck more organized and exciting!
Getting The Table Ready: How To Arrange Your Potluck Buffett
Since the food is the start of the show, a causal buffet table is the perfect setup for a potluck party.
It’s simple to prep and arrange, and your guests can serve themselves while still mingling and enjoying the party.
Place a stack of plates near the end of the buffet. I used my favorite white stoneware plates.
But, if you want to cut down on your post-potluck clean-up, sturdy paper or plastic plates are great too.
Use small glass mason jars or cups to corral silverware. Don’t forget to set out some napkins, too.
And make sure to have extra serving spoons and tongs handy in case your guests forget to bring a serving utensil for their dish.
Less is More: Easy Decor For Your Potluck Party
When throwing a potluck party remember that it’s all about two things. Good company and good food.
So when it comes to decorating for the party, my motto is less is more.
Choose decor that matches the casual feeling of your gathering.
For my southern-style potluck, I opted to skip the decor altogether, and instead, created a simple bouquet of fresh seasonal flowers.
White hydrangea, purple dahlias, and bright yellow sunflowers combine to make a simple, yet elegant arrangement.
Top Picks For Potluck Dishes: What Food To Serve At Your Party
You’ve decided on a theme and decor. But what are some of the most popular foods to serve at a southern potluck?
Think about simple recipes that are ready-to-serve, can easily feed a crowd, and are rooted in Southern tradition and culture.
For the main course consider dishes like Southern fried chicken, peach-glazed pork tenderloin, slow-cooker BBQ shredded chicken, or smoked country-style pork ribs.
And what about the sides? Creamy macaroni and cheese, baked beans, collard greens, and cornbread are all classic Southern potluck dishes.
Here are a few other side dish suggestions.
- Deviled Eggs
- Coleslaw
- Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad
- Potato Salad
- Creamy Broccoli Salad
- Cut Vegetables with Fresh Herb Dip
- Cucumber Pasta Salad
- Fresh Fruit Salad
Pro Tip: Use glass jars with lids to serve your side salads. It helps keep bugs out of your food before the get-together starts. And, as a bonus, it makes it easy to clean up and store leftovers once you are done throwing your potluck party.
And no potluck party is complete without dessert! Simple sweets like cookies or brownies are classic choices.
These desserts are also guaranteed to be a hit with your party-goers.
Don’t Forget The Drinks: Thirst-Quenching Beverages For Your Potluck Party
When throwing a potluck party, it’s important to remember the drinks! Most guests will gravitate toward the food first, so set up a drink station at the end of the buffet table to keep the line of guests moving smoothly.
Don’t forget to include a mix of both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks for guests of all ages.
Here are a few drink recipes that would make a perfect addition to your Southern potluck party menu.
Your Guide To Throwing The Ultimate Potluck Party
If you’d like to recreate the look, I’ve linked all the items I used to style my tablescape below for easy shopping. Or, if you have questions about any of the items I used, leave me a message in the comments
More Southern Potluck Party Inspiration
Thanks for stopping by! I hope these ideas help inspire you and take some of the stress out of throwing a potluck party.
As always, don’t forget to see the rest of my friends’ creative tables and hosting tips too. You can see all the posts below with more ideas for throwing a Southern-style potluck party.
And be sure to check out our potluck menu with 6 southern-inspired dishes.
Happy hosting!
Southern Potluck Inspired Tablescapes
Jen at Midwest Life and Style | Anne and AnnMarie at Simply 2 Moms | Rachel at The Ponds Farmhouse
Stacy at Bricks ‘n Blooms | Heidi at Eleanor Rose Home | Michele at Vintage Home Designs
Did You Enjoy this Post? PIN It for Later!
I’ll be right over Jen! You nailed this my friend with your simplistic and welcoming style. A good potluck is all about the company of others and sharing.
Thank you, Nicolle. You are welcome over any time! I’ll save a seat for you.😉
Jen, your tablescape is absolutely beautiful!
Thank you so much, Stacy!
Jen
Your table is so fun. I love the sunflower centerpiece! Great post.
Thank you, Rachel! I saw the sunflowers at the grocery store and was so excited. They’re such a beautiful flower and perfect for this time of year as we transition from summer to fall.
Jen your table is beautiful. Love the floral arrangement…perfect fall colors. And the plaid blanket looks great too! Pinned.
Thank you, AnnMarie. Plaid is the perfect way to transition to fall.
Your tablescape is so beautiful! Love all of the details. You have inspired me, my friend.
Thank you, Renae. I loved pulling togeher all the rustic elements. I’m so glad you like it too!
Loved reading your blog post Jen! You shared wonderful ideas and I love your less is more approach. Potlucks are more about food and fellowship, rather than decor. Thank you including me in this month’s supper club, it was so much fun!
Thank you, Heidi. I couldn’t agree more. It’s all about the food, the fun, and the friends. So glad you could join us for supper club this month. Hope you can do it again soon!