A potluck or potluck dinner is a gathering of people for a meal where the participants are expected to bring food to be shared among everyone at the gathering. These gatherings are often organized by churches and other community groups since they simplify the meal planning and distribute the costs among the participants. Smaller get-togethers may also occur in the form of potlucks.

Such events can also go by the name "Jacob's join", in which each participant brings along as much food as he or she is likely to want to eat, but puts it into a common stock for the communal meal.

There are no typical dishes in potlucks, the only commonality in dish is that they are large enough to be shared among a good portion (but not necessarilly all) of the anticipated guests.

A variation on potlucks is "rota" meals, short for rotation. With rota, rather than each person bringing a dish, participants take turns providing food for the entire group. For regular potlucks (e.g. daily, weekly or monthly) amongst a fairly consistent set of participants, this dramatically reduces the amount of preparation effort required. One popular and long-standing implementation of this approach can be found at Sirius, an intentional community in rural Massachusetts.

The purpose and benefits of potlucks include fun, socialising, good food, and building healthy community. Some of the most honest and meaningful communication can occur over a dinner table.

Potlucks can be combined with other events such as discussions, screenings, talking circles, walks, meetings, etc. This can increase the opportunity for effective communication and tangible outcomes, if that is what is desired.

The word potluck is erroneously said by some to originate from the Native American term potlatch.

The word potluck dates from the sixteenth century, and the earliest written citation is 1592 - in England. (NASHE Four Lett. Confut. Ded., "That that pure sanguine complexion of yours may never be famisht with pot lucke"). It is a portmanteau word formed from pot and luck.