45 Easy Potluck Recipes
Oriental Coleslaw [1]
Uncooked ramen noodles, almonds and sunflower kernels add crunch to this salad from a Dubuque, Iowa, reader. It was one of the winners in a Midwest Living® potluck recipe contest.
Hash Brown Casserole [5]
An all-time reader favorite, this creamy hotdish is a guaranteed hit at potlucks. (In fact, you may want to make two pans!)
Sunny Broccoli Salad [9]
A Cleveland reader makes this potluck salad the day ahead and refrigerates the dressing and vegetables separately. When it's time to serve it, she tosses everything together. Bacon, sunflower kernels and raisins make a crunchy and flavorful side dish.
Sunny Broccoli Salad [10]
Chicken and Corn Hash Brown Bake [13]
This comfort food hotdish offers a new twist on the usual hash brown casserole. Try it for everyday meals as well as potlucks!
Greek Orzo Salad [17]
Olives and feta give salty punch to this pasta salad from Surdyk's Liquor and Cheese Shop in Minneapolis.
Greek Orzo Salad [18]
Ricotta and Parmesan Spread [21]
Fresh herbs season this ridiculously simple spread from BelGioioso Cheese in Wisconsin. It keeps well in the fridge and is delicious with cherry tomatoes or other vegetable dippers, as well as crackers or baguette slices.
Stuffed Party Pinwheels [25]
Our recipe actually makes two different kinds of tortilla spirals—one flavored with curry powder, the other with garlic and herbs.
Party Hot Pot Dip [29]
Three kinds of cheese blend with artichoke hearts and spinach for a crowd-pleasing dip. Bake in batches to keep the party well-supplied.
Party Hot Pot Dip [30]
Mexican Biscuit Casserole [33]
This taco-flavored main dish is a potluck favorite from a Fargo, North Dakota, reader. Serve it with tortilla chips so your guests can scoop and eat.
Mexican Biscuit Casserole [34]
Dilly Chickpea and Radish Salad [37]
Think of this as a welcome update on three-bean salad, with radishes and celery adding color and crunch to wholesome garbanzo beans. It travels beautifully and is great for potlucks and picnics.
Salted Caramel, Chocolate and Peanut Cracker-Stack Bars [41]
These fantastic potluck bars come from Patrice Hurd of Bemidji, Minnesota. She won the grand prize in our 2012 Best of the Midwest® Recipe Contest. Patrice says they're a twist on her grandmother’s cracker bars. They cut beautifully and brim with salty-sweet-nutty-chocolately flavor.
Salted Caramel, Chocolate and Peanut Cracker-Stack Bars [42]
Roasted Tomato Pasta with Mozzarella [45]
Red and yellow cherry tomatoes, fresh mozzarella balls, and plenty of herbs and spices add color and flavor to this bountiful pasta salad. Sprinkle fresh basil on top.
Asian-Style Chicken Salad [49]
Curly noodles, almonds, sesame kernels and rice vinegar blend in this crunchy, tangy salad from a West Des Moines, Iowa, reader.
Light and Layered Taco Dip [53]
Ground turkey, reduced-sodium and light ingredients, and a confetti of crisp, colorful veggies make this potluck staple more nutritious than a typical layered dip—but every bit as tasty.
German Potato Salad [57]
Serve this old-fashioned potluck dish warm.
German Potato Salad [58]
Our Own Dream Cookies [61]
It's not easy satisfying everyone, but this cookie from the Midwest Living® Test Kitchen tries to meet the challenge! It's packed with oatmeal, chocolate, peanut butter and nuts.
Triangle Ranch Scalloped Corn [65]
Diced green chile peppers give this baked and cheesy potluck dish character with some hotness. We like the crunch from the saltine crackers, too. The recipe comes from Triangle Ranch Bed and Breakfast in western South Dakota, where guests enjoy hearty meals prepared by B&B owner Lyndy Ireland.
Triangle Ranch Scalloped Corn [66]
Download our FREE printable collection of 10 favorite casserole recipes [67]
Oven-Barbecued Chicken [73]
Oven-baking the chicken makes this recipe a breeze for any time of the year, and homemade barbecue sauce is always a hit. Serve with rolls and slaw.
Tropical Tomato Salsa [77]
Try this sweet, colorful salsa with chips, fish or chicken, and feel free to switch the mango or melon for other summer fruits.
Broccoli Grape Salad [81]
Juicy grapes and crunchy broccoli blend sweet flavors with savory, salty bacon. The side-dish salad recipe comes from the Triangle Ranch B&B in South Dakota.
Broccoli Grape Salad [82]
Blueberry-Almond Bars [85]
Fruit fillings complement the sweetness of other bar cookie ingredients. Blueberry-Almond Bars was a grand champion award recipe at the Marshall County Fair's annual Blueberry Bake-A-Rama in Plymouth, Indiana. Lori Van Der Weele combined blueberries, butter, white baking pieces and almonds for this winner.
Pizza Pasta Skillet Casserole [89]
A blanket of gooey cheese and the oven-crisped pepperoni make this casserole a guaranteed kid pleaser. Of course, you can switch up the ingredients as easily as the toppings on a pizza. Classics like sweet pepper, black olives and sausage are all fair game—but we’d hold the anchovies!
Mexican Polenta Pie [93]
Great for a potluck or family dinner, this 12-serving casserole combines polenta with ground turkey, spices, black beans, tomatoes and Monterey Jack cheese.
Mexican Polenta Pie [94]
Potluck Pleaser Chili [97]
Beverly Gardner or Franklin, Illinois, lets her Bavarian-Austrian heritage show with added vinegar, sour cream and lots of sugar. Our heat rating: ! (Mild, Not Wild)
Corn and Tomato Pasta Salad [101]
Shredded chicken makes this gorgeous salad hearty enough to serve on its own for dinner.
Very Berry Triple Fruit Pie [105]
More than 4 cups of berries make this pie extra juicy. Be sure to let it cool completely before you slice it. And don't forget the vanilla ice cream! The recipe comes from Covered Bridge Farm in Forest Lake, Minnesota.
Bonanza Bean Dip [109]
Lime- and jalapeño-spiced guacamole adds a kick to layers of refried beans, cheese, tomatoes and onions. Serve seasoned tortilla chips on the side.
Bonanza Bean Dip [110]
24-Hour Tex-Mex Salad [113]
Layered salads, popular in the 1970s and 1980s, are making a comeback. Assemble this easy potluck salad in either individual jars or a clear salad bowl, dressing and all, then refrigerate.
24-Hour Tex-Mex Salad [114]
Classic Potato Salad [117]
This creamy potato salad is full of tender new potatoes, sweet pickles, crisp celery, and chopped hard-cooked eggs.
Classic Potato Salad [118]
Tortilla-Black Bean Casserole [121]
Layer a tomato-bean mixture, cheese and tortillas for a casserole with south-of-the-border flavor. Let each guest top their portion with chopped tomato, shredded lettuce, green onions, olives and/or sour cream.
Creamy Scalloped Potatoes [125]
This easy-to-make layered cheesy potato dish pairs well with pork chops or ham.
Calico Bean Bake [129]
This recipe blurs the line between baked beans and chili. It's great for feeding a crowd.
Calico Bean Bake [130]
Cherry-Apple Slaw [133]
Nuts and fruit add crunch and color to cabbage tossed in a homemade vinaigrette. This beautiful twist on traditional coleslaw is best served right away for maximum crispness, but it will hold for up to 24 hours.
Cherry-Apple Slaw [134]
Broccoli-Cheddar Mashed Potatoes [137]
A classic veggie mix meets potatoes in this recipe, which calls for adding fresh or frozen broccoli florets and cheddar cheese to creamy mashed potatoes.
Spinach Artichoke Dip [141]
Jazz up purchased spinach-artichoke dip with just three extra ingredients.
Spinach Artichoke Dip [142]
Creamy Meatball Casserole [145]
This crowd-pleaser takes only 15 minutes of prep time—purchased frozen meatballs and condensed soup make the recipe a snap.
Tequila-Spiked Queso Fundido [149]
Spicy poblano chile pepper and tequila pack a punch. Serve as a party dip with tortilla chips, or create upscale quesadillas with a warmed tortilla and chorizo.
Zesty Three-Bean Salad [153]
Combine kidney beans, garbanzo beans and frozen sweet soybeans (edamame) with red onion, cilantro and lime juice for a fresh twist on three-bean salad.
Zesty Three-Bean Salad [154]
Marbled Cream-Cheese Brownies [157]
Swirl a mixture of cream cheese, sugar, egg and vanilla into rich brownie batter for this classic twist on a chocolate treat.
Pepper Jack Corn Casserole [161]
This dead-simple and totally delicious casserole is a homey addition to any weekend meal, potluck or even a holiday spread.
Buffalo-Style Chicken Fingers [165]
Add to your potluck buffet with this neat-to-eat chicken breast variation of chicken wings. Dunk them in bottled blue cheese dressing.
Ranger Cookies [169]
Filled with flaked coconut and dried fruit, these cookies can be ready in just over 30 minutes.
Ranger Cookies [170]
Hot Spinach Artichoke Dip [173]
Blend chopped fresh spinach with cream cheese, sour cream, canned artichoke hearts and three kinds of cheeses for this hot-and-hearty dip. Serve with toasted pita chips, thinly sliced French bread or crackers.
Best Salsa [177]
Make this thick and chunky salsa with fresh tomatoes from your garden. Add more jalapeno peppers if you prefer more heat.
Best Salsa [178]
Baked Beans 'n' Bacon [181]
Bacon and brown sugar punch up the salty-sweet flavors in this canned pork and beans fix-up from Triangle Ranch Bed and Breakfast in South Dakota. For a candied top, leave Baked Beans 'n' Bacon uncovered in the oven.
Baked Beans 'n' Bacon [182]
More potluck recipes [185]
For more delicious potluck recipe ideas, click on any link below!
Free printable casserole cookbook and more [192]
Click below to download our free printable collection of 10 casserole recipes or other free printable cookbooks.