90 Thanksgiving Potluck Ideas That Make Hosting & Making Easy and Fun
Luci McQuitty HindmarshThanksgiving potlucks are the absolute best in my humble opinion... Less pressure on one person, more time to enjoy hanging out with friends or fam and a whole table filled with everyone’s favourite food.
Whether you are hosting the whole crowd or turning up with a dish to share, having a bank of simple and tasty ideas makes everything feel easier.
This list is here to spark ideas, get you excited for the feast and help you avoid that last minute panic of what to bring.
You can also grab the free Thanksgiving Potluck Ideas printable at the end if you want a quick planning sheet that keeps all your dishes organised.
How to Make Your Thanksgiving Potluck Run Smoothly
A brilliant potluck comes from balance. You want a little bit of everything. Some mains, plenty of sides, something fresh, something sweet and a drink or two that everyone can enjoy.
If you are hosting, make a quick list of the main categories and ask guests to choose what they are bringing. It stops you ending up with six versions of the same stuffing.
It also helps to remind everyone to label their dishes. Allergens and dietary notes make things clearer for guests who need to know what is safe for them to eat.
When dishes are travelling from home to home, the trick is keeping hot things hot and cold things cold. Towels, foil, insulated bags, coolers and ice packs all help.
Thanksgiving Potluck Appetiser Ideas
Appetisers should be simple to pick up, easy to share and tasty enough to keep everyone happy while the mains get sorted. Here are crowd favourites that are quick to make and even quicker to disappear.
- Cheese and cracker platter
- Veggie tray with a creamy dip
- Devilled eggs
- Mini sausage rolls
- Spinach artichoke dip
- Stuffed mushrooms
- Sweet and spicy nuts
- Mini meatballs with cranberry glaze
- Hummus with toasted pitta
- Prosciutto wrapped melon
- Baked brie with cranberry
Thanksgiving Potluck Salad Ideas
A couple of bright, crisp salads balance out all the cosy comfort food on the table. These salads travel well and bring a fresh pop of colour to the spread.
- Autumn chopped salad with apple and pecans
- Cranberry and wild rice salad
- Classic Caesar
- Apple and walnut slaw
- Roasted beetroot and feta salad
- Quinoa harvest bowl
- Green bean salad with almonds
- Kale and sweet potato salad
- Pear and blue cheese salad
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Thanksgiving Potluck Side Dish Ideas
Side dishes are where potlucks shine. Everyone has a favourite and the more variety on the table, the happier the crowd. Think potatoes, veggies, stuffings and breads that bring all the cosy flavours of Thanksgiving.
Potato sides
- Mashed potatoes
- Sweet potato bake
- Crispy roast potatoes
- Cheesy potato gratin
- Sweet potato and pecan mash
Veggie sides
- Roasted Brussels sprouts
- Green bean casserole
- Honey glazed carrots
- Corn pudding
- Roasted root vegetables
- Maple glazed parsnips
- Garlic mushrooms
- Creamed spinach
Bread and stuffing ideas
- Classic cornbread stuffing
- Sausage and herb stuffing
- Cornbread muffins
- Soft dinner rolls
- Garlic bread
- Apple and sage stuffing
Thanksgiving Potluck Main Dish Ideas
Taking a main dish to a potluck feels generous and special. These mains are impressive without being complicated and they feed a crowd beautifully.
- Roast turkey
- Herb roasted turkey breast
- Spiral ham
- Honey baked ham
- Roast chicken with herbs
- Beef brisket
- Pulled pork
- Veggie lasagne
- Butternut squash and spinach bake
- Stuffed squash with rice and cranberries
Vegetarian and Vegan Potluck Ideas
Plant based dishes bring lovely colour and loads of flavour to the table. These options are hearty, comforting and perfect for sharing.
- Stuffed butternut squash
- Lentil shepherds pie
- Quinoa and roasted vegetable bake
- Vegan mushroom gravy
- Maple roasted carrots
- Wild rice and cranberry pilaf
- Vegan mac and cheese
- Roasted cauliflower steaks
Kid Friendly Potluck Ideas
Keep younger guests happy with simple, familiar dishes that they can grab easily. These options are usually the first to go with kids.
- Mac and cheese
- Mini hot dogs
- Chicken tenders
- Simple buttered pasta
- Mashed potatoes
- Cornbread muffins
- Fruit skewers
- Cheesy garlic bread
Thanksgiving Potluck Dessert Ideas
Desserts should be easy to slice, scoop or share so everyone gets a little taste of everything. Here are sweet treats that always bring big smiles.
- Pumpkin pie
- Apple crumble
- Pecan pie bars
- Chocolate sheet cake
- Sweet potato pie
- Berry trifle
- Pumpkin cheesecake bars
- Apple crisp
- Chocolate brownies
- Cinnamon sugar cookies
Thanksgiving Potluck Drink Ideas
A potluck drink is one of the easiest things to bring and makes the whole meal feel more festive. Batch drinks are perfect for keeping things flowing.
- Sparkling punch
- Hot apple cider
- Iced tea
- Mulled cranberry drink
- Lemonade
- Fruit infused water
- Hot chocolate station for kids
Make Ahead Potluck Dishes
If you want a calm Thanksgiving morning, choose a recipe that can be made the day before. These dishes hold up beautifully and still taste amazing.
- Lasagne
- Mashed potatoes
- Sweet potato casserole
- Cornbread
- Roasted vegetables
- Apple crisp
- Pumpkin pie
- Stuffing muffins
Grab Your Free Thanksgiving Potluck Ideas Printable
To make planning even easier, download the free Thanksgiving Potluck Ideas printable. It lays out all the main categories in a simple format so you can organise your contributions and keep your feast balanced and delicious.
