Potlucks are one of my favorite types of parties. It's always fun to taste what everyone brings and enjoy a variety of foods. If you can't decide what to make or are looking for something new to try, we've got a great list of dishes to bring to a potluck.
A potluck is a party where each guest contributes a dish that they've made to serve the crowd. If you're the one planning the potluck, it's a good idea to either make a sign up sheet for guests to say what they will be bringing, or assign each guest a course (appetizer, main dish, side, dessert, etc.) This helps to avoid duplicates or triplicates. No joke, I once attended a party with five different buffalo chicken dips and not much else.
What To Bring To A Potluck
There's no hard and fast rule about what to bring to a potluck. A few things to keep in mind when choosing your dish:
- Make enough to serve a crowd. Your dish should be enough to serve at least 10 people.
- Choose something that is easy to transport. You don't want everything falling apart in the car on the way to the party.
- Make something that can either be kept warm at the party, or that serves well at room temperature.
- If you are hosting, be sure to have enough drinks, or let guests know to bring their own.
- Finger foods and individual portions are great things to bring - wings, sliders, and pinwheels are all easy to grab, bite sized meal ideas.
- Pack your dish in disposable containers, like to foil buffet trays with plastic covers. This makes it easy to toss when the food is gone, or you can leave it there if you're leaving early and not have to worry about getting your grandmothers casserole dish back.
- Bring serving utensils for your dish and an extra set of plastic forks or spoons.
- Bring something that doesn't require the use of the hosts oven or microwave - you don't know if they'll have room to cook your dish. It should be ready to serve when you get there.
- If you bring something that contains allergenic foods like peanuts, you may want to make a note of that on your dish.
- Speaking of labels, make a little note card to let guests know exactly what they're eating.
- Appetizers, casseroles, salads, sandwiches, dips, finger foods, sides, and individually portioned foods are great for potlucks. We love these Crescent Roll Appetizers and Crescent Roll Ring Recipes for serving a crowd.
Fun Potluck Party Tips
Whether you're just hosting a potluck to get together with friends for fun, or celebrating a special occasion, here are a few tips to make the most of your potluck party.
- Pick a theme. Food, culture, current events, favorite movies - whatever you want to go with. Pick a theme, add some decorations, and make your food around the chosen theme.
- Let guests know what you will be providing if you are hosting. If you plan on covering all the drinks, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic, let people know what you will have available in case they would like to bring their own. Are you also providing all the utensils, napkins, plates, etc.?
- Potlucks are for gathering! Put out some games and activities for guests to enjoy.
- Have the condiments ready. Make sure you're fully stocked with ketchup, mustard, BBQ sauce, hot sauce, relish, salsa, and whatever else you think you might need for the dishes your guests might be bringing. Of course you can't think of everything, but the basics are always good.
- Have a designated place for the food. A kitchen counter, a table outside, the dining room table - it's easiest for guests when there is one place for all the food, and you can keep all the condiments and utensils there too.
- Have cute to-go containers so that guests can take leftovers home with them.
Dishes To Bring To A Potluck
If you're heading to (or hosting) a potluck, try some of these dishes to serve a crowd. Everyone will love these casseroles, appetizers, finger foods, and desserts. And we've thrown in some salads to keep things healthy!
Corn Casserole with Chicken and Rice
This Corn Casserole with Chicken and Rice is delicious, healthy and easy to make and perfect for feeding a crowd.
Smoked Mac and Cheese
Smoked mac and cheese is always a crowd pleaser, and the perfect side to take to a potluck.
Swedish Meatballs Recipe
These Swedish Meatballs are so flavorful and they are a great appetizer to take to your next potluck party.
Easy One-Pot Chili Mac and Cheese
This one-pot chili mac is easy to make, transports well, and is a great main dish for a potluck.
Dorito Casserole
Kid favorite right here! This is a delicious casserole for a potluck that both kids and adults will devour.
Honey Chipotle Baked Beans
Baked beans are a great potluck side, especially when served with hamburgers or hot dogs.
Rice And Mushroom Casserole
This rice and mushroom casserole is a delicious side that transports well and pairs well with any main dish!
Instant Pot Scalloped Potatoes
Instant Pot Scalloped Potatoes are easy and quick to make, and they are a crowd pleasing side to take to a potluck.
Sweet Corn Cake
This moist, sweet corn cake is a delicious side dish that works well for a potluck, but be prepared for it to disappear quickly!
Salami and Cheese Puff Pastry Appetizer
This Salami and Cheese Puff Pastry appetizer brings together the best of flavors and textures and is one of my favorite hors d’oeuvres to bring to a party!
Bacon Wrapped Smokies
These bacon wrapped smokies are the perfect finger food to take to a potluck party, and they are sure to be a hit.
Stuffed Jalapeño Poppers with Mexican Chorizo & Smoked Gouda
No party is complete without Jalapeno Poppers! You'll be everyone's favorite guest when you show up with a platter of these.
Easy Spinach Artichoke Dip
Easy spinach artichoke dip is an essential potluck dip. Bring this with some crusty bread, tortilla chips, and crackers for variety.
Keto Buffalo Chicken Dip
If you love buffalo wings, this is a great party dip that is also Keto friendly!
Crispy Baked Lemon Pepper Wings - 4 ingredients!
These crispy baked lemon pepper wings require just 4 ingredients and are one of my most popular recipes. Everyone loves when I make them, and they are a great potluck finger food.
Easy S'mores Pie
Easy S'mores Pie is so easy to make, and if you're heading to a backyard potluck, make two or three of these to bring for dessert.
The Best Lemon Bars
If you want a fantastic and refreshing dessert to bring to a potluck, take these lemon bars. They are 100% delicious and everyone will love them.
Bacon Cheeseburger Slider Bake
This bacon cheeseburger slider bake is a crowd-pleaser. They'll disappear quickly and are great one-handed bites so you can mingle while you snack.
Pinwheel Sandwiches
Pinwheels are always a popular addition to the potluck. There are so many combinations that you can make, but this version with deli meat, veggies, and cheese is always a hit with the crowd.
Hawaiian Roll Ham Sliders
These are easy sliders that have a ton of flavor. Ham and cheese with a garlic butter finish is the perfect combination and perfect for any party.
Classic Pasta Salad with Italian Dressing
Is it really a party if there's no pasta salad? This classic recipe with Italian dressing is a must-serve.
Easy Macaroni Salad
Macaroni Salad is a potluck essential and pairs well with all your favorite proteins. This one is so easy to make too!
Loaded Baked Potato Salad
A baked potato with all the fixings in salad form! This is a great twist on classic potato salad.
Fruit Salad Recipe {with Honey Lime Dressing}
Don't forget to bring something healthy to the potluck! This fruit salad is refreshing with a hint of honey and lime.
Sugar Snap Pea Salad with Poblanos & Corn
This sugar snap pea salad is a great healthy alternative, and it holds up throughout the day. No wilted lettuce leaves, just fresh crunchy veggies!
Red White and Blue Trifle
This is a great dessert that's not overwhelmingly full of sugar. It's just the right amount of sweet and offers the addition of fresh berries, and it's great so that guests can portion out just a few bites.
Potluck Strawberry Jello Cake
Potluck Strawberry Jello Cake is perfect for sharing. And it's easy to make with cake mix, strawberry gelatin, sweetened condensed milk, whipped topping and instant pudding.
Southern Squash Casserole
Throw some veggies in the mix with this Southern Squash Casserole! It's a great family-friendly side dish that transports well and pairs well with all your favorite potluck foods.
Instant Pot Lasagna
Lasagna is the classic comfort food and it's always satisfying. Plus you can make extra easily enough to feed a crowd. Make it double easy by making it in the instant pot!
Asian Ramen Noodle Salad
Make a big batch of this Ramen Noodle Salad for a crispy, crunchy and flavorful side.
Tater Tot Casserole
This meat-free tater tot casserole is the best side to take to a potluck. It's easy to make, feeds a lot of mouths, and everyone loves it!
Fresh Broccoli Rice Casserole with Chicken
Broccoli Rice Casserole is a great comfort food dish to bring to a potluck, and the buttery cracker topping gives it just the right amount of crunch.
Pizza Casserole Recipe
This twist on pizza might be even better than the real thing! Pizza casserole has all the deluxe toppings mixed with pasta and a layer of cheese.
Tamale Pie
Tamale pie has ground beef with a zesty sauce topped with a simple cornbread topping and baked until fluffy and golden. This is always a crowd pleaser.
Lemon Zucchini Couscous Salad
Make a big batch of this cous cous salad with fresh veggies and a punch of lemon for a great healthy potluck option that is also vegetarian.
BEST 7 Layer Dip Recipe
7 Layer dip is always a popular appetizer dish for a potluck that is easy to make and transports well.
BBQ Little Smokies Crock Pot Recipe
Just 3 ingredients and a crock pot! If you need to transport this potluck appetizer, just bring it along in the crock pot, then plug it in and keep it warm.
Buttermilk Texas Sheet Cake
This chocolatey, rich Buttermilk Texas Sheet Cake recipe combines moist and tender chocolate cake with a delicious layer of smooth chocolate frosting. Just be warned, you won't have anything leftover!
Five-Ingredient No-Bake Peanut Butter Bars
Five-Ingredient No-Bake Peanut Butter Bars. These are so simple and they disappear before your eyes!
The BEST Cheesecake Brownies
Brownies are a great potluck dessert, and these fudgy brownies are swirled with a layer of cheesecake. You may not want regular brownies again.
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