What does hotpot mean?
A hotpot is a long, slowly cooked stew traditionally prepared in an earthenware pot. Its best-known British form is Lancashire hotpot, in which meat, vegetables, and sliced potatoes are layered and stewed until tender. The word also denotes a communal meal in parts of the United States, notably among Pennsylvania Dutch communities, where a large pot of food is brought to the table and shared directly by the diners. The cooking method gives the dish an especially hearty character, making hotpot a useful word for rich stews intended for slow cooking rather than quick preparation. Although “hotpot” is the closed form commonly used in British contexts, “hot pot” is also widely accepted, particularly in the United States. The term therefore covers both a specific traditional stew and a broader tradition of food served communally from a pot.
nounA stew made by slowly cooking meat and vegetables together, traditionally in an earthenware pot. In the US, the term can also denote a communal meal served from a large pot, especially among Pennsylvania Dutch communities.
- A meat-and-vegetable stew cooked slowly in a pot.
- A communal meal in which diners serve themselves from a shared pot, particularly associated with Pennsylvania Dutch communities in the United States.
"We waited until the bubbling Lancashire hotpot had cooled enough to serve."
"The Lancashire hotpot simmered all afternoon and filled the house with a rich aroma."
"At the communal hotpot, diners passed large serving spoons around the table."
The plural is used when referring to multiple pots, stews, or communal hotpot meals.
"The two villages served hotpots to hundreds of festival visitors."
Pennsylvania Dutch hotpot turns a shared meal into a tradition: the steaming pot goes straight to the table, where everyone serves themselves.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does hotpot come from?
“Hotpot” is an English compound formed from “hot” and “pot,” directly reflecting the method of keeping food hot in a covered or heated vessel. Its individual components are older: “hot” comes from Old English hāt, while “pot” entered Middle English from Old French pot. The compound developed through culinary usage before becoming established for both slow-cooked stews and communal meals served from a pot.
How hotpot is actually used
The compound is also written as two words, “hot pot,” especially in American usage. The communal sense is chiefly associated with Pennsylvania Dutch food traditions, while the Lancashire stew is a prominent example of northern British cuisine.