8 Easy Main Course Meal Ideas for a Potluck

I love hosting parties! But in this season of my life with 3 little ones, I know I can’t do it all for a party. So 3 cheers for the potluck! These 8 main course meal ideas that are perfect for feeding a crowd. I have two rules: they need to be made ahead of time and they can’t mess up the week’s grocery budget. None of these do!  

1. Teriyaki Pineapple Meatballs 

Comes together in less than 30 minutes. Into the instant pot, add frozen meatballs, a can of crushed pineapple with the juice, garlic and onion powder, and pepper to taste. Set to 5 minutes and you are golden. Can be served on rice or with toothpicks.

2. Slow Cooker Pulled Pork or Chicken

Let your slow cooker do all the work! Slow cooked meat simmered in BBQ sauce is always flavorful and tender. I usually shred an onion into either meat of choice before cooking. For chicken, I think thighs work best for the most flavor. Just season with salt and pepper and for pork butt, add a splash of orange juice with the bbq sauce. Serve with buns or slider rolls so guests can make their own sandwiches. It's low effort and high reward.

3. Baked Ziti

A go-to comfort dish that’s always a crowd-pleaser. Layers of pasta, marinara sauce, cheese, and your choice of meat or veggies make this an easy and hearty option. Assemble it ahead of time and bake it right before the event.

4. Taco Bar

Perfect for groups with picky kids of allergies, make a build-your-own taco setup. Offer seasoned ground beef or shredded chicken (in the crock pot to stay warm) alongside tortillas, cheese, lettuce, salsa. Always gets guests into the theme so they will automatically have many side dish ideas - guac, queso, chips and salsa, bean dips, rice, and more!

5. Pasta salad 

Even better after a day in the fridge, chopping is the most time consuming part of this one. Chop up bell peppers, green onions, olives, cucumbers, salami, feta or mozzarella, and parsley. Dress with your favorite italian dressing - homemade is easier than you think! And BAM all done! 

6. Quiche 

Brunch potluck anyone? With little kids in my house these actually work really well for us in this season. My favorite thing to make is by far this quiche recipe. It gets made about weekly in our house and it keeps great  in the fridge. Just pop in the oven to reheat when ready. 

7. Chili 

Chili is a potluck MVP. It’s hearty, easy to make in big batches, and you can customize it for different dietary needs. Serve with toppings like shredded cheese, sour cream, and chopped green onions. Ask someone to bring some cornbread and someone to bring some rice and inevitably someone will bring chips and you are all set. 

8. Sloppy Joe Sliders

Make a big batch of the classic saucy ground beef (or lentil-based for vegetarian) filling and serve with mini slider buns. I share my favorite buns recipe in this video below- extra yummy and cost effective too! 


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