45 Easy Potluck Recipes

By The editors of MidwestLiving.com
June 01, 2012
Andy Lyons

We've got great easy potluck recipes for sides, main dishes, salads and desserts to serve at the your potluck dinner or picnic.

Start Slideshow

1 of 44

Soy-Ginger Pulled Pork with Tangy Sesame Slaw

Andy Lyons
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Your crew will love this Asian twist on classic pulled pork. If you're feeding a crowd, swap the sesame buns for slider rolls, and you'll get twice as many sandwiches.

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 44

Hash Brown Casserole

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

An all-time reader favorite, this creamy hotdish is a guaranteed hit at potlucks. (In fact, you may want to make two pans!)

3 of 44

Sunny Broccoli Salad

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

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.

Advertisement

4 of 44

Chicken and Corn Hash Brown Bake

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

This comfort food hotdish offers a new twist on the usual hash brown casserole. Try it for everyday meals as well as potlucks!

5 of 44

Greek Orzo Salad

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Olives and feta give salty punch to this pasta salad from Surdyk's Liquor and Cheese Shop in Minneapolis.

6 of 44

Ricotta and Parmesan Spread

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

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.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

7 of 44

Stuffed Party Pinwheels

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Our recipe actually makes two different kinds of tortilla spirals-one flavored with curry powder, the other with garlic and herbs.

8 of 44

Green Bean Tabbouleh

Blaine Moats
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

This is a perfect salad to take to a picnic or potluck since it is best at room temperature.

9 of 44

Mexican Biscuit Casserole

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

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.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

10 of 44

Dilly Chickpea and Radish Salad

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

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.

11 of 44

Salted Caramel, Chocolate and Peanut Cracker-Stack Bars

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

These fantastic potluck bars come from Patrice Hurd of Bemidji, Minnesota. She won the grand prize in a 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.

12 of 44

Roasted Tomato Pasta with Mozzarella

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

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.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

13 of 44

Asian-Style Chicken Salad

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Curly noodles, almonds, sesame kernels and rice vinegar blend in this crunchy, tangy salad from a West Des Moines, Iowa, reader.

14 of 44

Light and Layered Taco Dip

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

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.

15 of 44

German Potato Salad

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Serve this old-fashioned potluck dish warm.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

16 of 44

Our Own Dream Cookies

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

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 chips or vanilla chips and nuts.

17 of 44

Triangle Ranch Scalloped Corn

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

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.

18 of 44

Oven-Barbecued Chicken

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

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.  

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

19 of 44

Tropical Tomato Salsa

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Try this sweet, colorful salsa-made with tomato, mango and melon-over chips, fish or chicken.

20 of 44

Broccoli Grape Salad

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

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.

21 of 44

Blueberry-Almond Bars

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

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.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

22 of 44

Pizza Pasta Skillet Casserole

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

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!

23 of 44

Mexican Polenta Pie

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Great for a potluck or family dinner, this 12-serving casserole combines polenta with ground turkey, spices, black beans, tomatoes and Monterey Jack cheese.

24 of 44

Corn and Tomato Pasta Salad

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Shredded chicken makes this gorgeous salad hearty enough to serve on its own for dinner.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

25 of 44

Very Berry Triple Fruit Pie

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

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. 

26 of 44

Bonanza Bean Dip

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Lime- and jalapeño-spiced guacamole adds a kick to layers of refried beans, cheese, tomatoes and onions. Serve seasoned tortilla chips on the side.

27 of 44

Classic Potato Salad

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

This creamy potato salad is full of tender new potatoes, sweet pickles, crisp celery, and chopped hard-cooked eggs.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

28 of 44

Tortilla-Black Bean Casserole

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

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.

29 of 44

Creamy Scalloped Potatoes

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

This easy-to-make layered cheesy potato dish pairs well with pork chops or ham.

30 of 44

Calico Bean Bake

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

This recipe blurs the line between baked beans and chili. It's great for feeding a crowd.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

31 of 44

Spinach Artichoke Dip

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Jazz up purchased spinach-artichoke dip with just three extra ingredients.

32 of 44

Zesty Three-Bean Salad

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

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.

33 of 44

Marbled Cream-Cheese Brownies

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Swirl a mixture of cream cheese, sugar, egg and vanilla into rich brownie batter for this classic twist on a chocolate treat.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

34 of 44

Pepper Jack Corn Casserole

This dead-simple and totally delicious casserole is a homey addition to any weekend meal, potluck or even a holiday spread.Pepper Jack Corn Casserole

35 of 44

24-Hour Tex-Mex Salad

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

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.

36 of 44

Potluck Pleaser Chili

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

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)

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

37 of 44

Buffalo-Style Chicken Fingers

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Add to your potluck buffet with this neat-to-eat chicken breast variation of chicken wings. Dunk them in bottled blue cheese dressing.

38 of 44