22 Potluck Themes to do in April 2023

I love a good potluck event whether it is a party with friends, a lunch with co-workers, or a family event. To add a little more fun, you can try having a themed potluck!

If you are not sure what theme to do April, we have compiled a list of possible potluck themes and ideas for foods to bring.

April Potluck Themes

We have formed a list of different food themes that would be great for your next potluck. These will work for pretty much any event that food is brought to enjoy and will work for breakfasts, lunches, and dinners too.

April Fools Potluck (April 1st)

This is the one time that I am totally okay with making food look like something it is not. Think of those TV cake shows where they make cakes that look like regular items. You can get super creative with desserts, snacks, and lunch items at work. The trick is to make food items that don’t look like the food it really is. For instance, you can do fun stuff like meatloaf in the shape of a foot or those yucky red Rice Krispie treats that look like raw hamburger meat!

Sourdough Bread Day (April 1st)

This would be a great potluck theme, and everyone can bring soups, chili, sandwich items, and dips or spreads. Have a couple of people bring loaves of sourdough bread as the main item, and then everyone else brings a food item would need to go with it!

National Peanut Butter and Jelly Day (April 2)

This one is a kind of whacky, but I think it would be really fun to see what food items that people can bring that use either peanut butter or jelly. Off the top of my head, you can make cocktail sausages with grape jelly, peanut chicken, and even use orange marmalade in sweet and sour meatballs. So, there would be lots of options for snack foods, side dishes, and main dishes. (As a precaution, I would make sure that no one is allergic to peanuts before hosting this theme!)

National Find a Rainbow Day (April 3)

This theme would be really fun to basically have a Rainbow Potluck. You can assign colors to each person or have them draw a color of the rainbow out of a hat. This will not only stir up creativity but also make for a colorful spread on the buffet table!

National Caramel Day (April 5)

If you are wanting to host a snack or dessert potluck, then a Caramel Themed Potluck would be an awesome choice. If you have room for electrical cords, you could also include iced or hot coffee with caramel sauce!

National Burrito Day (April 6)

I am a huge fan of Mexican food, so having a Burrito themed potluck event is right up my alley! There are so many options that can go with burritos from salsa & chips, rice dishes, different meats and toppings, as well as yummy desserts like flan!

National Coffeecake Day (April 7)

A Coffeecake themed breakfast potluck would be awesome for a work event since April 7th is on a Friday! Everyone can bring a coffeecake or item that goes well with coffee cake like fresh fruit, coffee flavored items, or really any breakfast item would do!

Easter (April 9)

Instead of the traditional easter dinner or celebration that includes ham and the fixings, ask your guests to bring appetizers, side dishes, main dishes, and desserts that include eggs! Some examples would be deviled eggs, egg salad sandwiches, anything with a pie crust, or really any cake would work too!

National Farm Animals Day (April 10)

Calling all meat eaters! For National Farm Animals day you could have each guest bring a dish that includes meat from a farm. This would include beef, chicken, pork, eggs, etc. As a precaution, you may want to check to see if there are any vegans or vegetarians that will be invited. This potluck theme screams foods wrapped in bacon! Yummy!

National Peach Cobbler Day (April 13)

To help celebrate this tasty day, you can have a potluck theme based on peaches! There are tons of different foods that include peaches from appetizers to main dishes, to desserts. Think peach salsa, fruit salad, peach glazed ham, and of course peach cobbler or peach pie!

National Gardening Day (April 14)

This would be a great day to have a Garden Themed Potluck! I’m thinking of every dish including a vegetable and there is only hundreds to choose from. You can have everything from snack foods, side dishes, main dishes, and desserts. This would be a fabulous theme if you have friends or co-workers that are vegetarian or vegan too!

National Glazed Spiral Ham Day (April 15)

The most obvious choice here would be to make a glazed spiral ham as the main dish, and then ask everyone to bring a side dish or dessert that would pair well with it. This can include traditional items like green bean casserole, to potato salad, to pineapple upside down cake.

Herbalist Day (April 17)

This is a great idea for a potluck theme! Every dish needs to include an herb and there are tons to choose from like parsley, mint, sage, garlic, ginger, and turmeric. I would ask each guest to bring a little card with the herb they used on it so it made for a cute decoration as well! The options are huge for every dish category. You can make an herbed cheese ball with crackers, yellow rice with turmeric, sage bread stuffing, and basil tomato salad.

National Garlic Day (April 19)

As a huge fan of garlic, I would love an Garlic Themed Potluck where all the dishes have to include garlic. As a fun host, I would make sure to have a little basket of chewing gum, so guests can have conversation without the killer breath after eating.

Oklahoma Day (April 22)

This day celebrates when the Oklahoma Territory opened up for European settlement in 1889. For the Potluck theme, I would go with foods that are from Oklahoma like pecans and honey, or foods that Oklahoma is famous for like fried okra or cornbread. This could be a fun little theme where your guests have to think a little and do a little research!

Earth Day (April 22)

I am always done to celebrate and have a party no matter the theme, so Earth Day would be an awesome reason to celebrate. You can have an open theme or you could do cuisines from different countries, or even do a green and blue colors theme. (For some ideas for green foods check out Green Side Dishes and Green Desserts.)

National Picnic Day (April 23)

Now that spring is coming it is a wonderful time to have an outdoor picnic potluck! Ask you guests to bring their favorite picnic foods like cheese and crackers, a variety of sandwiches, and prepared salads. Not only will the food be awesome, but you will get to be outside and enjoy the spring weather!

National Pretzel Day (April 26)

Who doesn’t love pretzels? A pretzel themed potluck party could be a lot of fun and there are actually a ton of things that include pretzels. You have pretzel salad, Chex mix with pretzels, pretzel crust pizza, cheesecake with crushed pretzel crust instead of graham crackers. I also love a good competition, so i would have everyone vote at the end for their favorite pretzel dish. The winner would be name and their title could be up for grabs next year!

National Blueberry Pie Day (April 28)

This is another individual food themed potluck event where everyone can bring a dish that includes blueberries. You may not think of it at first, but blueberries don’t just have to be for desserts. Blueberries can be savory too in mixed green salads with vinegarette, blueberry salsa, pork with blueberry glaze, and so much more!

Arbor Day (April 28)

This one will make your party guests have to think for a few minutes, but in honor of tree day, they must bring a dish that includes a food that came from a tree. This would include items like cinnamon, oranges, bay leaves, chocolate, peaches, apples, and so much more!

National Sense of Smell Day (April 29)

This would be a fun potluck event to bring all foods that have an aroma or scent. I personally love the smell of fresh baked bread, but you could also do citrus dishes and even garlic has a distinct smell.

National Bugs Bunny Day (April 30)

In honor of Bugs Bunny, you could do a tribute to his favorite humble snack the carrot! Everyone will bring a Carrot Themed Dish to the party like carrot salad, carrot casserole, roasted carrots, and of course carrot cake! You could also do an orange color party theme!

Potluck Themes to Celebrate in April

I hope this list has inspired you for your next potluck at the office, a potluck dinner party, or just an excuse to get together with friends and food.

Some of these themes are simple and easy, and some require a little bit more thought. Either way, we hope you have some wonderful potluck events this April!