25 MAIN DISH IDEAS FOR A POTLUCK

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Looking for main dish ideas for a potluck that will wow the crowd? You’ve come to the right place! We’ve got the delicious solutions you’re searching for!

PIN FOR MAIN DISH IDEAS FOR A POTLUCK

Potlucks are all about sharing delicious food and great times with friends and family. The main dish is the star of the show, so it’s important to bring something that’s both tasty and easy to serve. Think hearty casseroles, flavourful pasta dishes, or crowd-pleasing slow-cooked meats – all perfect for feeding a hungry group.

When brainstorming main dish ideas for a potluck, variety is key. From a cheesy stuffed pasta shells to eggplant rollatini that is sure to please, the options are endless and customizable to fit any taste preference. Don’t be afraid to get creative and bring a dish that will have everyone asking for the recipe!

PIN FOR MAIN DISH IDEAS FOR A POTLUCK

25 DELICIOUS MAIN DISH IDEAS FOR A POTLUCK THAT WILL MAKE YOU THE STAR OF THE PARTY

1
pizza with pickles, sesame seeds, pepperoncini
EPIC CHEESEBURGER PIZZA
Meet the ultimate crowd-pleaser: Epic Cheeseburger Pizza! This delicious mashup combines all the best parts of a cheeseburger and pizza, with juicy beef, melty cheese, and all your favourite toppings on a crispy sesame seed crust.
Check out this recipe
2
two brisket sandwiches with coleslaw on a parchment lined baking sheet
HEARTY BEEF BRISKET SANDWICHES
Get ready to satisfy your potluck cravings with Hearty Brisket Beef Sandwiches! These sandwiches are packed with tender, flavourful brisket that's been slow-cooked to perfection, making them the ultimate comfort food.
Check out this recipe
3
shredded salsa chicken in a bowl with fresh chopped parsley, lime and tortilla chips
CROCKPOT SALSA CHICKEN
Let your slow cooker do the work with Crockpot Salsa Chicken! This flavourful dish combines tender chicken with zesty salsa for a meal that’s both easy and crowd-pleasing. Just set it and forget it for a potluck hit!
Check out this recipe
4
front view of 3 eggplant rollatini stuffed with ricotta, topped with mozzarella and garnished with parsley
CHEESY EGGPLANT ROLLATINI
Treat your taste buds to Eggplant Rollatini! These rolled-up eggplant slices are stuffed with a rich, cheesy filling and baked to perfection, making them a scrumptious and satisfying addition to any potluck.
Check out this recipe
5
piece of taco casserole topped with jalapenos, black olives, tomatoes, sour cream, lettuce, and green onions on a plate, more in the background
LOW CARB TACO CASSEROLE
This Low Carb Taco Casserole is a total crowd-pleaser! Packed with all the bold flavours you love in a taco, but without the carbs. It's cheesy, meaty, and oh-so-satisfying—perfect for your next potluck when you want to impress without the mess. Trust me, everyone will be coming back for seconds!
Check out this recipe
6
big bowl of chili topped sour cream, shredded white and oranges cheeses and sliced jalapeno and green onions, garlic bread, jalapeno and half a lime in the background
CLASSIC BEEF CHILI
Warm up your potluck with Classic Beef Chili! This hearty, flavourful chili is packed with tender beef, savory spices, and just the right amount of kick, making it a timeless favourite that's sure to please a crowd.
Check out this recipe
7
cabbage casserole with cheese, diced tomatoes and ground beef
UNSTUFFED CABBAGE CASSEROLE
Enjoy the flavours of stuffed cabbage without the fuss with Unstuffed Cabbage Casserole! This easy, all-in-one dish blends savoury ground beef with tender cabbage and a tangy tomato sauce for a comforting, no-fuss potluck favourite.
Check out this recipe
8
piece of ground beef shepherd's pie on a plate topped with chopped fresh parsley
GROUND BEEF SHEPHERD’S PIE
Bring comfort food to the next level with Ground Beef Shepherd's Pie! This classic dish features a savoury beef filling topped with creamy mashed potatoes, creating a hearty and satisfying potluck favourite that everyone will love.
Check out this recipe
9
close up of a stuffed pasta shell with chopped parsley and mozzarella
STUFFED BAKED PASTA SHELLS WITH SAUSAGE AND RICOTTA
Delight in the ultimate comfort food with Stuffed Baked Pasta Shells with Sausage and Ricotta! These jumbo pasta shells are loaded with a savoury sausage and creamy ricotta filling, then baked to bubbly perfection. They’re a sure-fire hit at any potluck!
Check out this recipe
10
chicken nuggets in a lined dish with ketchup on the side
HOMEMADE CHICKEN NUGGETS
Elevate your potluck with Homemade Chicken Nuggets! These crispy, golden nuggets are packed with juicy chicken and seasoned to perfection, making them a fun and tasty treat that everyone will love.
Check out this recipe
11
side view of a piece of a philly cheesesteak casserole on a plate, another plate with another piece in the background with a ramekin of chili flakes
PHILLY CHEESESTEAK CASSEROLE
This Philly Cheesesteak Casserole is all the best parts of the classic sandwich, but in a super easy, cheesy bake! Loaded with ground beef, melty cheese, and plenty of peppers and onions, it's the ultimate comfort food. Perfect for feeding a crowd at your next potluck, and trust me, there won't be any leftovers!
Check out this recipe
12
casserole dish with penne pasta in tomato sauce with fresh basil
CHICKEN PARM PASTA BAKE
Get ready for a taste sensation with Chicken Parm Pasta Bake! This hearty dish combines tender pasta with juicy chicken, marinara sauce, and gooey cheese, all baked to perfection. It's a comforting, crowd-pleasing potluck winner!
Check out this recipe
13
baked italian sausages on a tray with sauces
EASY BAKED ITALIAN SAUSAGES
These Easy Baked Italian Sausages are a no-fuss, flavour-packed dish that’ll have everyone asking for the recipe. Juicy, perfectly seasoned sausages baked to perfection with a side of your favourite condiments—it’s the kind of dish that’s simple but always a hit at any potluck!
Check out this recipe
14
sliced brisket on a plate with lime, white sauce and greens
INSTANT POT BRISKET
This Instant Pot Brisket is tender, juicy, and packed with bold flavour—all in a fraction of the time! It’s your secret weapon for a show-stopping potluck dish that tastes like it’s been slow-cooked for hours. Get ready for some serious compliments!
Check out this recipe
15
bowl of sticky asian ribs with green onions and sesame seeds
STICKY ASIAN PORK RIBS (1,2,3,4,5 RIBS)
These Sticky Asian Pork Ribs are the ultimate finger-licking dish for your potluck! Marinated in a sweet and savory sauce, then slow-cooked to fall-off-the-bone perfection, they’re messy, saucy, and absolutely irresistible. Just be ready for everyone to ask for the recipe!
Check out this recipe
16
chicken and broccoli with minced garlic in alfredo sauce
CHICKEN AND BROCCOLI WITH ALFREDO SAUCE (KETO)
This Chicken and Broccoli with Alfredo Sauce is creamy, cheesy, and totally keto-friendly! Tender chicken, crisp broccoli, and a rich Alfredo sauce come together in this low-carb comfort food that’s sure to be a hit at your next potluck. It's indulgence without the guilt—who can resist that?
Check out this recipe
17
close up of an italian sausage next to some grainy mustard, on top of cooked onions and peppers
SHEET PAN SAUSAGE WITH PEPPERS AND ONIONS
This Sheet Pan Sausage with Peppers and Onions is a one-pan wonder that’s perfect for a potluck! Juicy sausages roasted alongside sweet peppers and onions make for a simple yet satisfying dish that’s bursting with flavour. Plus, cleanup is a breeze—what’s not to love?
Check out this recipe
18
side view of bowl with 3 slices of keto meatloaf topped with cooked bacon and fresh chopped parsley, two silver forks on the right side, yellow cloth in the background
CHEESY BACON MEATLOAF
This Cheesy Bacon Meatloaf is the comfort food you didn’t know you needed! Packed with savory flavours, wrapped with crispy bacon, and oozing with melted cheese, it’s a crowd-pleaser that’ll steal the show at your potluck. Because let’s be honest—everything’s better with bacon and cheese!
Check out this recipe
19
fork piercing into a generous slice of vegan mac and cheese baked with broccoli and breadcrumbs on a plate
BAKED VEGAN MAC AND CHEESE WITH BROCCOLI
This Baked Vegan Mac and Cheese with Broccoli is creamy, dreamy, and totally dairy-free! Loaded with cheesy flavour and tender broccoli, it’s the perfect plant-based dish that’ll win over even the non-vegans at your potluck. Comfort food, but make it vegan—everyone’s going to love it!
Check out this recipe
20
Slow Cooker Chunky Beef Stew made without onions or garlic (FODMAP friendly)
SLOW COOKER CHUNKY BEEF STEW
This Slow Cooker Chunky Beef Stew is the ultimate comfort in a bowl! Loaded with tender beef, hearty veggies, and rich flavours that develop while it slow cooks to perfection, it’s a warm, satisfying dish that’s perfect for sharing at your potluck. Grab a bowl and dig in!
Check out this recipe
21
bowl of broccoli and pork strips garnished with green onions and sesame seeds, chopsticks in the bowl
PORK AND BROCCOLI STIR-FRY
This Broccoli and Pork Stir-Fry is a quick, flavourful hit that’ll brighten up your potluck spread! Tender pork and crisp broccoli are tossed in a savory sauce that’s totally addictive. It’s a healthy, easy-to-make dish that’s sure to have everyone coming back for more!
Check out this recipe
22
bowl of cubed sweet potato with other veggies such as spinach and sliced mushrooms, rice, parsley, chopped cashews and sliced lime, spoon in the bowl, fresh bunch of parsley and bowl of rice in the background, small bowl of cashews in the background
YEAR-ROUND SWEET POTATO CURRY
This Year-Round Sweet Potato Curry is a vegan delight that’s both hearty and comforting! With tender sweet potatoes simmered in a fragrant, spiced coconut sauce, it’s the kind of dish that warms you up from the inside out. Perfect for any season, it’s a potluck hit that’s sure to make everyone’s taste buds dance!
Check out this recipe
23
lasagna stuffed eggplant in a baking dish topped with fresh chopped basil
LASAGNA STUFFED EGGPLANT
Lasagna Stuffed Eggplant is a veggie-packed twist on a classic comfort dish! Imagine tender eggplant boats filled with layers of cheesy, saucy goodness—just like lasagna, but with a healthy, low-carb spin. It’s a showstopper at your potluck that’s as delicious as it is unique!
Check out this recipe
24
newspaper lined plate with jerk chicken pieces garnished with fresh lime wedges and parsley, jar of jerk sauce in the background
CARIBBEAN JERK CHICKEN
Get ready to spice things up with this Caribbean Jerk Chicken! Bursting with bold flavours and that signature jerk seasoning, it’s a tropical treat that’ll transport your taste buds straight to the islands. Perfect for adding a kick to your potluck spread—everyone will be raving about it!
Check out this recipe
25
two arancini with tomato sauce on a plate garnished with fresh parsley and grated parmesan cheese, one of the rice balls is split open to show the rice, cheese and peas in the center
CHEESY ITALIAN RICE BALLS (ARANCINI)
Classic Italian rice balls are a total hit at potlucks — crispy, cheesy, and super satisfying. They’re easy to make ahead, reheat like a dream, and you don’t even need a fork to eat them. Perfect for feeding a crowd without the fuss. Trust us, they’ll be gone in no time.
Check out this recipe

And there you have it – a mouthwatering lineup of main dish ideas for your next potluck! Whether you choose comforting classics like cheesy stuffed pasta shells and classic beef chili or go for unique bites like cauliflower fried ‘rice’ and 1-2-3-4-5 ribs, you’re sure to impress and satisfy your guests.

With these scrumptious main dishes, your potluck is set to be a hit. So gather your ingredients, fire up the oven, and get ready for a feast that’s as unforgettable as it is delicious! Here’s to a successful potluck filled with great food, great friends, and even better memories!

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PIN FOR MAIN DISH IDEAS FOR A POTLUCK

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