Planning a potluck? Here are some winning recipe ideas to bring your A-game.
For the main attraction, serve up any one of these filling dishes such as BBQ shredded chicken sandwiches or a pizza pasta bake. These are easy to prepare ahead of time and can be kept warm in the crock pot or oven, freeing you up to mingle with friends and family.
For sides, keep it light and refreshing with any one of these tasty pasta salads. They’re packed with flavor and perfect for a potluck because they are filling and easy to make.
Don’t forget dessert! A crowd-pleasing no-bake banana pudding or a platter of fresh fruit are perfect endings to any potluck. They’re simple to make and require no baking, so you can focus on enjoying the party.
Italian Pasta Salad
This classic Italian pasta salad uses tri-color pasta for pops of color. Loaded with salami, plump cherry tomatoes, bell peppers, red onions, mozzarella pearls, and other savory ingredients.
Pair with garlic bread to dip in the extra dressing. This is a tried-and-true pasta dish to share with friends and family.
Get the Recipe: Italian Pasta Salad
Fiesta Chicken Pasta Casserole
This cheesy chicken and pasta bake has a blend of Mexican spices, loads of cheese, green chilis, beans, corn, sour cream, and more, all baked into a creamy pasta bake recipe.
This Mexican-inspired dish is a hearty meal that goes a long way in feeding all your friends and family.
Get the Recipe: Fiesta Chicken Pasta Casserole
Chicken Macaroni Salad
Chicken salad and macaroni salad collide to create one incredible combination. Tender shredded chicken is paired with pasta, cubed cheese, and crisp vegetables, smothered in a sour cream and mayo-based dressing.
This recipe makes quite a bit, so it is perfect when you need a side dish to serve a crowd.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Macaroni Salad
Honey Glazed Fruit Salad and Fruit Tray
Fruit trays offer potluck guests a refreshing and light snacking option or dessert. This tray is filled with fresh fruits and three dips.
Don’t miss the honey glazed fruit salad recipe included.
Get the Recipe: Honey Glazed Fruit Salad and Fruit Tray
Instant Pot BBQ Shredded Chicken
If you need a main dish for a potluck, BBQ shredded chicken is the perfect dish. It’s easy to make, super quick in a pressure cooker and very filling. This means potluck friends and family won’t be left wanting more.
This recipe is ready in just 30 minutes, giving you plenty of time to attend to your guests.
Get the Recipe: Instant Pot BBQ Shredded Chicken
Lemon Brownies
Lemon brownies have a fudgy texture, making them thick and chewy. Start with a box of yellow cake mix and add fresh lemon juice and lemon pudding.
Top with a homemade lemon glaze and you’ll end up with an amazing sweet and tart lemon dessert.
Get the Recipe: Lemon Brownies
Shrimp Pasta Salad
This shrimp macaroni salad is a creamy and comforting recipe. The shrimp is the star of the dish, along with tender elbow macaroni, plump tomatoes, crisp peppers, and more smothered in a light mayonnaise-based sauce.
A seafood lover’s favorite salad and just a little more fancy for sharing at a potluck event.
Get the Recipe: Shrimp Pasta Salad
Charcuterie Cups
These single-serving cups take the idea of a charcuterie board and turn it into individual portions, perfect for potlucks. They’re easy to assemble with a variety of meats, cheeses, fruits, and other snacks.
Guests can grab a delicious cup and mingle without needing to hold a plate and utensils. Plus, clean up is a breeze!
Get the Recipe: Charcuterie Cups
BLT Pasta Salad
Take your favorite sandwich and transform it into a flavorful pasta salad. This BLT pasta salad is full of diced tomatoes, crisp lettuce, salty bacon, and al dente pasta smothered in a creamy mayo-based sauce.
This salad is a great side dish for your summer cookout. Light, flavorful, and crave worthy.
Get the Recipe: BLT Pasta Salad
Pizza Pasta Bake
A ground beef casserole that feeds a crowd. Perfect for a potluck, because who doesn’t love pizza? This dish incorporates beef, pepperoni, veggies and plenty of cheese.
Casseroles are the great for potlucks because they go a long way in feeding a crowd and this one is always a favorite.
Get the Recipe: Pizza Pasta Bake
Instant Pot Buffalo Chicken Dip
Bring the heat to your next potluck with this easy Instant Pot buffalo chicken dip. Spicy buffalo sauce and melty cream cheese coat tender, shredded chicken in this flavorful hot appetizer.
It’s ready in under 30 minutes using an Instant Pot to pressure cook the chicken breasts, which keeps this chicken juicy.
Get the Recipe: Instant Pot Buffalo Chicken Dip
Strawberry Pretzel Salad
Strawberry pretzel salad is a classic dessert with a salty-sweet twist. It has a buttery pretzel crust on the bottom, a creamy cream cheese layer in the middle, and a strawberry jello topping with fresh strawberries.
This no-bake dessert is perfect for potlucks, picnics, or any gathering. Don’t be fooled by the name, it’s definitely more dessert than salad!
Get the Recipe: Strawberry Pretzel Salad
Pastrami Pinwheel Sandwiches
This skinny roll-up recipe uses deli pastrami meat, light cream cheese, low-fat cheese, and more. Roll it up in a light tortilla for an easy potluck snack that’s filling without extra calories.
This recipe is versatile – choose different lunch meats and cheeses to make the perfect combination.
Get the Recipe: Pastrami Pinwheel Sandwiches
Puff Pastry Pigs in a Blanket
These Puff Pastry Pigs in a Blanket are a fun and easy snack or party appetizer. Made with puff pastry, mini sausages, and cheese, they come together in just 30 minutes.
Puff pastry is great for this recipe because, unlike crescent rolls, it has a lighter and flakier texture. Add a tangy dipping sauce and serve.
Get the Recipe: Puff Pastry Pigs in a Blanket
Cinnamon Roll Casserole
Start with canned cinnamon rolls and dress them up to make them into a casserole. Once the you’ve added all the other ingredients, they bake up into a light and fluffy breakfast or brunch casserole with a homemade flavor.
This is a new way to make cinnamon rolls for a crowd.
Get the Recipe: Cinnamon Roll Casserole
Cream Cheese Banana Pudding
Cream cheese is the key in this no-bake dessert. Layer vanilla wafers with the creamy banana pudding mixture, add sliced bananas and chill until it sets. Top it all off with more whipped cream, wafers and bananas.
Light and fluffy, just like spring.
Get the Recipe: Cream Cheese Banana Pudding
BLT Pinwheels
Enjoy the flavors of a traditional BLT sandwich but in a pinwheel form. Bacon, crisp lettuce, and tomatoes paired with mayonnaise and a little salt and pepper.
These are a light wrap served chilled. You can make them up ahead of time and keep them in the fridge until you are ready to serve them up.
Get the Recipe: BLT Pinwheels