25 Winning Recipes for Your Next Summer Potluck

Petrina Tinslay

Be the talk of your block when you bring these crowd-pleasers to your next potluck party.

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Petrina Tinslay

Consider this your potluck playbook. All these dishes are easy to transport, simple to serve, and can withstand the rigors of summer heat while still looking and tasting fabulous. Many hands make light work: that's the idea behind this ever-popular party style. So, the next time you're hosting, heading to a friend's, or gathering at a park or concert, remember that any fête is more fun when everyone pitches in.

One of the best parts of summer is the influx of ripe berries and delicious tropical fruit like pineapple, mango, and papaya. They're nature's dessert, and they don't need to be refrigerated once you get to the party. Cut them up and arrange them on a platter, then sprinkle the sweeties with our crunchy coconut-poppy seed topping on site. Or try Creamy Artichoke Ranch and a crowd-pleasing salsa for savory starters. They become crowd-pleasing hors d'oeuvre in mere minutes.

These make-ahead, mayo-free dishes really do taste better the next day (and even two days later). A Mediterranean Three-Bean Salad blends raw green beans—the vinaigrette softens them as they sit, so they're not squeaky—with creamy white and pink varieties and wilt-proof curly parsley. Cabbage-free coleslaw combines fennel, celery, and mild golden beets in a zippy cider-vinegar dressing. A Moroccan grain salad has naturally al-dente barley and bold North African flavors like preserved lemon and oil-cured olives. And our potato salad benefits from two tricks: First, tossing the shallots in vinegar and lemon juice quick-pickles them and forms the base of the dressing. Second, folding the potatoes into the dressing while warm helps them absorb the flavors.

Here's our guide to stay-fresh salads, make-ahead sides, and no-mess mains—along with clever strategies for transporting and serving. Grab a few ideas and take it away.

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Aperol Jasmine Spritz

Petrina Tinslay

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25 Winning Recipes for Your Next Summer Potluck

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Aperol Jasmine Spritz

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Stone-Fruit Galette

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Greek-Taverna Salad

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Tropical-Fruit Salad with Coconut Crunch

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Vanilla Sheet Cake with Malted-Milk-Chocolate Frosting

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Creamy Macaroni Salad

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Tabbouleh with Watermelon

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Blackberry Crumb Bars

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Moroccan Barley Salad

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Creamy Artichoke Ranch

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Crudites with Pistachio-Pecorino Pesto

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Smoky Baby Back Ribs

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Corn-and-Avocado Salad with Goddess Dressing

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Blueberry Slab Pie

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German Potato Salad

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Cheddar-Jalapeno Cornbread

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Dill, Potato, and Egg Salad

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Raspberry-Almond Crisp

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Classic Roasted Salsa

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Hold-the-Cabbage Slaw

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Kentucky Half-and-Half

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Salt-and-Vinegar Potatoes

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Blackberry-Raspberry Hand Pies

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Mediterranean Three-Bean Salad

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Tomato-Beet Salad

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