Potluck Party Ideas

POTLUCK PARTY IDEAS CHILI COOK-OFF

Activities FOR ALL AGES

TOP 5 POTLUCK DISHES

TABLE OF C

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5

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INVITATIONS

PLANNING TIPS

POTLUCK DISHES

Check out our invitation tips and options.

Get the inside scoop on how to host a potluck.

Please any crowd with these five classic favorites.

CONTENTS

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21

CHILI COOKOFF PARTY

FREE PRINTABLES

KIDS’ TABLE

For a twist on the classic potluck, plan a chili cook-off.

Make your cook-off party special with our printables.

Set up little ones with their own special spot.

SELECT AN

INVITATION Let guests know if your potluck has a theme and ask them to contribute dishes on your invitation. To avoid duplication, you may want to itemize types of dishes needed for the meal. You can be general (side dish, salad, dessert) or you can get specific (cornbread to go with chili).

TITLE YOUR EVENT Be sure to include the word “Potluck” so guests know what to expect.

INVITE GUESTS TO BRING DISHES In the “event conversation” bar on your Evite invitation, click on the red bag and list the items you’d like guests to bring.

When guests view the invitation, they can sign up to bring one of the requested dishes.

View all of our potluck-themed premium invitations 

View all of our potluck-themed free invitations 

PLANNING TIPS

A tried-and-true strategy for easy entertaining? Make it a potluck. Of course, you don’t want to get carried away with planning and setup -- the whole point of a potluck is to lighten the load on you, the host -- but even a simple potluck dinner runs more smoothly with a little forethought.

Here’s our roundup of tips to make your event a stress-free success.

1 After dinner, or between dinner and dessert, get everyone to participate in a group game. Charades, anyone?

2 If you have the space, set up a separate serving area for desserts.

3 For a large group (and a large spread of food), it’s best to serve buffet-style, with a separate table for sitting down and eating.

4 Set up a separate dining spot for children. Set out crayons and stickers to keep them occupied.

TOP 5

POTLUCK DISHEs

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CHILI Looking for a dish that’s easy to prepare in large amounts, holds up well over a couple of hours and is easy for guests to customize? (Think chili. Want to make it even easier? Pour Hormel® Chili with Beans into a crock-pot, turn it on and you’re done!)

CLICK TO SEE RECIPE

SWEET PEPPER POTLUCK PINWHEELS • 11.5-ounce tub of whipped cream cheese at room temperature • 1 teaspoon dried dill • Pinch of salt and pepper • 2 dashes of hot sauce • 1 red bell pepper, diced

• • • • •

1 yellow bell pepper, diced 1 orange bell pepper, diced ¼ cup pickled pepperoncini, diced 2-3 cups shredded lettuce 7 large burrito-size tortillas

CHEDDAR & PEPPER JACK MACARONI AND CHEESE Serves 12 • 6 large eggs • 1 cup half-and-half • Splash of hot sauce • 1½ teaspoons kosher salt • ½ teaspoon black pepper • 16 ounces elbow macaroni • 2 cups grated pepper jack cheese, about 12 ounces • 2 cups grated mild cheddar cheese, about 12 ounces • ½ cup panko dried breadcrumbs • 1 tablespoon melted butter

CLICK TO SEE RECIPE

JALAPEÑO CHEESE CORNBREAD MUFFINS CLICK TO SEE RECIPE

• • • • • •

1 cup yellow cornmeal 1 cup all-purpose flour 3 tablespoons granulated sugar 1 tablespoon baking powder 1½ teaspoons kosher salt 1 cup milk

• • • • •

½3 cup vegetable oil 1 large egg, lightly beaten 1 tablespoon jalapeño juice from the jar 6 jarred jalapeno slices, cut in half ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese

CHOCOLATE CHIP PEANUT BUTTER BLONDIES • • • • •

2½ cups all-purpose flour 1½ teaspoons baking powder ½ teaspoon kosher salt 1 cup unsalted butter ¾ cup granulated sugar

• 1 cup brown sugar, lightly packed • 2 large eggs at room temperature • 1 cup natural smooth peanut

butter • 1½ teaspoons pure vanilla extract • 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

CLICK TO SEE RECIPE

CHILI

COOK-OFF

PARTY

Encourage guests to compete for the title of chili champ by bringing a batch of their favorite chili. (You’re aiming for five entries total, but as long as you have at least three, you’ve got a contest.) Want to join the fun? We have a secret recipe for you -- Hormel® Chili! Just pour, heat and serve the flavor of your

choice -- for example, the classic Homestyle Chili, Turkey Chili or Vegetarian Chili. Make sure you have a power strip handy for guests who bring their chili in a crock-pot.

We also recommend having extra ladles on hand for serving and a few kitchen towels available for quick cleanup.

CLICK TO CREATE AN INVITATION

CLICK TO DOWNLOAD OUR FREE PRINTABLES

Print out this “Ehh” to “Awesome” cook-off scorecard and use doublesided tape to attach the paper to an 8”x10” foam board. Hot-glue plastic condiment cups to your board and pass out pencils so guests can score the chili.

DIY

CAN VASE Our go-to tip for centerpieces is to use what you’ve got. If you’re using Hormel Chili, keep the cans and rinse them out.

Then peel off the labels, tie ribbon or twine around the center and use them as flower vases! It’s a cheap, adorable way to add a little charm to your table.

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TO DOWNLOAD FREE PRINTABLES

DIY

Award Spoons

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MATERIALS ○ White nontoxic craft paint ○ Clear shellac ○ Foam brush ○ Wooden spoons ○ Twine ○ Scissors ○ Hole punch ○ Free printable tags

STEPS Step 1: Use foam brush to paint the end of your spoons white. Let dry for at least one hour. Then apply shellac and let dry.

Step 2: Print out award tags from Evite Gatherings.

Step 3: ​ ut out each award tag, punch hole in C the end, and tie onto wooden spoons.

KIDS’ TABLE

If you have kids as part of the guest list, give them their own special spot. Cover a kidsized table with a roll of kraft paper, which doubles as a canvas for kids to color on (and makes cleanup easy once the party is over)!

Make sure you have a nonspicy chili option for little ones. Another kid favorite: chili mac!

Pre-pour milk into sealed mason jars and put on ice for easy serving.

Have wet wipes on hand for quick and easy cleanup!

Give the children paintdipped spoons and disposable napkins.

FOR MORE GREAT IDEAS ON POTLUCKS AND YEAR-ROUND ENTERTAINING, VISIT EVITE GATHERINGS.

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