30 No-Cook Potluck and Picnic Recipes

Assemble these recipes—great for potlucks, picnics or light family dinners—without turning on the oven or range. They are the perfect way to help you keep your cool.

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Stuffed Party Pinwheels

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

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24-Hour Tex-Mex Salad

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

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Marinated Cheese Cubes

Pantry ingredients turn ordinary Monterey jack into a deli-style party snack that tastes even better when you make it ahead. You can prep it three days in advance.Marinated Cheese Cubes

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Chicken Banh Mi

Layer rotisserie chicken with crisp veggies, mayo and zippy sesame dressing on a soft roll for this easy version of the popular Vietnamese sandwich.Chicken Banh Mi

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Nutty Apple-Cherry Slaw

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.Nutty Apple-Cherry Slaw

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Tropical Tomato Salsa

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

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Ricotta and Parmesan Spread

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.Ricotta and Parmesan Spread

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Fresh Corn Salad

Mix sweet dressing, fresh veggies and spicy jalapeños to create a fresh-tasting potluck salad that has only 77 calories per serving.Fresh Corn Salad

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Basic Chicken Salad

We call this chicken salad "basic," but thanks to lemon juice and fresh green onion and parsley, it's anything but boring. Basic Chicken Salad

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Chunky Fresh Tomato Salsa

Try this blender tomato salsa with grilled fish or chicken, or as an appetizer with chips.Chunky Fresh Tomato Salsa

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Cucumber-Feta Dip

A garnish of pomegranate seeds and mint gives spark to this refreshing dip; it'’s a healthy choice you'’ll be glad to have in your recipe box year-round. Serve with pita chips, crisp breadsticks or vegetables.Cucumber-Feta Dip

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Orange Chicken Coleslaw Salad

This unusual recipe combines orange marmalade and soy sauce to make a sweet-and-salty dressing for chicken, cabbage and crunchy ramen noodles. Serve the mixture over a bed of fresh spinach for a nutrient-packed meal.Orange Chicken Coleslaw Salad

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Watermelon, Feta and Mint Salad

Discover the savory potential of watermelon in this five-ingredient salad.Watermelon, Feta and Mint Salad

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Cucumber Bites with Herbed Cheese and Salmon Mousse

The recipe makes half the bites with pink salmon mousse filling and half with white herbed cheese. If you like, streamline by choosing just one filling and doubling its ingredients. This recipe comes from Annie Marshall of the Indianapolis-based blog Everyday Annie.Cucumber Bites with Herbed Cheese and Salmon Mousse

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Avocado-Feta Salsa

Fresh herbs, tomatoes and avocados create a refreshing salsa. Serve with pita or tortilla chips.Avocado-Feta Salsa

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Layered Asian Salad

Sweet, citrusy homemade dressing adds amazing flavor to a veggie layer salad, and it has fewer than 50 calories per serving! Chill salad and dressing separately up to 24 hours before serving.Layered Asian Salad

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Cucumber Sandwiches

Layer Provolone and Parmesan cheeses with fresh cilantro, mint, a chile pepper and sliced cucumber for a refreshingly light sandwich.Cucumber Sandwiches

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Chicken Taco Salad

Pick up a rotisserie chicken and a few veggies on the way home from work, and in 20 minutes, you can serve this colorful, crowd-pleasing salad for dinner.Chicken Taco Salad

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Waldorf Chicken Salad

All the traditional Waldorf ingredients are here: apple, grapes, walnuts, celery and mayo. This is a great choice to pack for weekday lunches.Waldorf Chicken Salad

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Blackberry Salad with Creamy Feta

Toss juicy blackberries with shredded mint leaves, tangy feta and pickled onions for a surprisingly delicious combination. The salad pairs perfectly with grilled meats.Blackberry Salad with Creamy Feta

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Savoy Cabbage Salad

A refreshing ginger vinaigrette seasons this cabbage side salad. The noodles are added uncooked. They soften some while chilling, but still add crunch.Savoy Cabbage Salad

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Cucumber and Apricot Sandwiches

This crunchy, fruit-studded cream cheese sandwich goes well with Chilled Tomato-Bean Soup. Cucumber and Apricot Sandwiches

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Avocado Pesto-Stuffed Tomatoes

Stuff cherry tomatoes with a filling of avocado, cream cheese, pesto and lemon juice for an easy make-ahead appetizer. Tip: Cut a thin slice from the bottom of each tomato to help these nibbles stand upright!Avocado Pesto-Stuffed Tomatoes

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Rosy Red Salad with Chicken

Packaged refrigerated roasted beets make this salad a quick dinner choice; it's pretty enough to serve to guests for a spring or summer brunch or casual supper.Rosy Red Salad with Chicken

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Garden Slaw with Spicy Asian Dressing

This side-dish salad tastes great with burgers or pulled pork sandwiches. Or you can toss the slaw with shredded chicken or chopped cooked ham for a main-dish salad.Garden Slaw with Spicy Asian Dressing

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Black Bean Salsa

This salsa does double duty as a tortilla dip or a meat topper. Serve with a slotted spoon over grilled pork, smoked bratwursts or sausages, grilled chicken or salmon.Black Bean Salsa

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Cucumber-Honeydew Salad with Feta

This healthy no-cook potluck salad is full of fruit and vegetable goodness. Feta adds a tang to the sweetness of honeydew melon. With only 20 minutes of prep time before an overnight chill, this recipe is great for parties.Cucumber-Honeydew Salad with Feta

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Black-Eyed Pea Relish

This easy and versatile relish requires only 15 minutes of prep, then an hour of chilling time for the flavors to meld. Sweet and hot peppers add contrasting flavor. Try the relish with pita chips, as a topping for grilled chicken breast or by itself.Black-Eyed Pea Relish

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Ham and Mango Sandwiches

These little fruit-and-ham sandwiches are easy to tote to a picnic or potluck. For convenience, have the deli slice the ham.Ham and Mango Sandwiches

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Summerberry Cooler

A refreshing blend of berry, apple and citrus juices makes for a delicious sipper that's light on calories. Pierce the berries to ensure juice release. This drink can also be spiked with vodka or light rum for an adult beverage.Summerberry Cooler

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30 No-Cook Potluck and Picnic Recipes

1 of 32

Stuffed Party Pinwheels

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24-Hour Tex-Mex Salad

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Marinated Cheese Cubes

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Chicken Banh Mi

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Nutty Apple-Cherry Slaw

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Tropical Tomato Salsa

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Ricotta and Parmesan Spread

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Fresh Corn Salad

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Basic Chicken Salad

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Chunky Fresh Tomato Salsa

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Cucumber-Feta Dip

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Orange Chicken Coleslaw Salad

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Watermelon, Feta and Mint Salad

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Cucumber Bites with Herbed Cheese and Salmon Mousse

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Avocado-Feta Salsa

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Layered Asian Salad

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Cucumber Sandwiches

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Chicken Taco Salad

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Waldorf Chicken Salad

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Blackberry Salad with Creamy Feta

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Savoy Cabbage Salad

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Cucumber and Apricot Sandwiches

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Avocado Pesto-Stuffed Tomatoes

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Rosy Red Salad with Chicken

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Garden Slaw with Spicy Asian Dressing

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Black Bean Salsa