27 Potluck Side Dishes Guaranteed to Please Everyone

These crowd-favorite recipes for salads, slaws, tarts, casseroles, and more will earn your dish rave reviews.

tomato mozzarella pasta salad in white bowl
Photo: Ren Fuller

While a potluck party is the ultimate in casual, no-stress entertaining for the host, choosing the perfect dish to bring as a guest can feel like a major decision. But these foolproof recipes for salads, slaws, galettes, fruit plates, and more are surefire hits at any potluck, whether you're contributing to a holiday meal or a summer barbecue.

Choose from dishes that are savory or sweet, served hot or cold, and designed to accommodate a variety of dietary preferences. Then sit back, relax, and enjoy the festivities!

01 of 27

Shredded Cabbage Slaw With Ginger Vinaigrette

shredded cabbage with ginger vinaigrette topped with sesame seeds
Marcus Nilsson

Warm and spicy ginger adds heat to a vinaigrette that's made with yuzu rice vinegar, fresh lime juice, and sugar. It's tossed over shredded Savoy and red cabbage, plus finely julienned carrots and topped with toasted sesame seeds.

02 of 27

Grapefruit and Vinegar-Roasted Beets With Salsa Verde

vinegar-roasted-beets-with-grapefruit-and-salsa-verde-102817863.jpg
Armando Rafael

Brighten up a cold winter day with this seasonal, potluck-friendly side dish. Roasted beets are arranged on a platter with sliced grapefruit and topped with salsa verde—ours is made with fresh parsley, mint, and capers.

03 of 27

Dill, Potato, and Egg Salad

Dill, Potato, and Egg Salad
Petrina Tinslay

No mayo here! Chopped hard-boiled eggs and cooked, diced potatoes are combined with cornichons, sliced shallots, and a lively Dijon dressing for a simple potluck side dish.

04 of 27

No-Knead Tomato Focaccia

tomato focaccia bread
Marcus Nilsson

Want to wow your crowd with homemade bread at the potluck party? Start with this easy no-knead recipe that shines a bright light on juicy cherry tomatoes.

05 of 27

Hold-the-Cabbage Slaw

Hold-the-Cabbage Slaw
Petrina Tinslay

This is nothing like the creamy coleslaw that you're used to. Thinly sliced celery, julienned fennel, and golden beets are tossed with fresh herbs and a basic vinaigrette.

06 of 27

Pasta Salad With Tomatoes, Mozzarella, and Chickpeas

Pasta Salad with Tomatoes, Mozzarella, and Chickpeas
Ren Fuller

Pasta salads often get a bad rap but this version is flavorful, full of texture, and packed with protein! Hearty chickpeas are tossed with a dream team of tomatoes and cubed mozzarella, plus chopped fennel, capers, and Parmigiano-Reggiano.

07 of 27

Grilled Asparagus and Farro Salad

Grilled Asparagus and Farro Salad recipe
Chris Simpson

While grilling is usually associated with the summer season, asparagus is at its peak in the spring. Fire up the coals earlier in the year for this delicious, nutritious potluck side dish.

08 of 27

Gazpacho Salad With Croutons

gazpacho salad with croutons
Christopher Testani

Inspired by the chilled Spanish soup, this potluck salad recipe features diced onion, yellow bell pepper, cucumber, and sliced Campari tomatoes. Leave the croutons on the side until it's time to serve to prevent them from getting soggy.

09 of 27

Test Kitchen's Favorite Potato Salad

Test Kitchen's Favorite Potato Salad
Ren Fuller

There's no potluck side dish more classic that rich and creamy potato salad. Our version is made with russet potatoes, which are mixed with a combination of mayonnaise and whole-grain mustard, plus chopped celery, sliced cornichons, and chopped scallions.

10 of 27

Mushroom-Bacon Galette

mushroom bacon galette
Ellen Silverman

Want to bring something totally different—and of course delicious—to a potluck party? Try this savory, rustic galette—the crust is topped with sliced bacon, chopped mixed mushrooms, sliced leeks, and finely grated Parmesan.

11 of 27

Marinated-Artichoke and Green-Bean Pasta Salad

artichoke pasta salad green bean
Ren Fuller

This make-ahead pasta salad recipe is perfect for a potluck party. Choose a corkscrew-shaped pasta; the nooks and crannies are the perfect vessel for holding green beans, marinated artichoke hearts, and plenty of grated Parmesan cheese.

12 of 27

Baked Beans With Bacon

baked beans bacon
Bryan Gardner

Skip the canned variety and make your own baked beans at home. This sweet and smoky side dish is just the dish to bring to a potluck barbecue party.

13 of 27

Summer Squash Slaw

summer squash slaw
Martyna Szczesna

Make the most of seasonal produce with this potluck-friendly recipe. Grated zucchini, carrots, thinly sliced bell pepper, and sweet onions are tossed with a simple vinaigrette, celery seeds, and fresh basil.

14 of 27

Green Bean Casserole With Bacon

green-bean-casserole-with-bacon-106-ms-6190441.jpg
Martyna Szczesna

This is nothing like Grandma's green bean casserole. Our modern-day take on this classic side dish recipe is made with cremini mushrooms, diced onions, and bacon, all of which are covered with a cream sauce featuring mustard, cayenne pepper, and Worcestershire sauce.

15 of 27

Three-Pepper Corn Casserole

corn-cassarole-0583-d112420.jpg
Mike Krautter

Corn casserole is always a crowd-favorite, especially for Thanksgiving. The creamy, rich side dish is amped up with minced chipotle in adobo, chopped yellow onion and green bell pepper, and shredded pepper jack cheese.

16 of 27

Black Bean, Cucumber, and Feta Salad

black bean cucumber and feta salad
Marcus Nilsson

Take our pressure-cooker black beans to the next level with this potluck side dish recipe. The beans are tossed with crumbled feta, chopped cilantro, sliced scallions, olive oil, and fresh lime juice—easy and delicious!

17 of 27

Tomato and Wax-Bean Salad with Olive-Oil Croutons

lost-kitchen-12-sides-038-d112367.jpg

Yellow wax and purple beans shine alongside cherry tomatoes in this bright, juicy summer salad. Reserve dressing the vegetables with olive oil and vinegar until serving time to prevent them from losing their crunch and color.

18 of 27

Mediterranean Three-Bean Salad

Mediterranean Three-Bean Salad
Petrina Tinslay

A trio of beans—canned white beans and pink beans, and fresh green beans—are a healthy form of protein in this potluck salad recipe. Toss the beans with oil and vinegar, plus diced celery, Spanish piquillo peppers, and chopped curly-leaf parsley.

19 of 27

Rice Salad With Tomatoes, Cucumbers, and Feta

rice salad with tomatoes cucumbers feta
Paola + Murray

Give your potluck party a touch of Greek flair with this hearty salad recipe. It features long-grain brown rice, small heirloom tomatoes, quartered cucumbers, crumbled feta cheese, and lots of fresh parsley and mint.

20 of 27

Fruit Platter With Whipped Ricotta

fruit platter with whipped ricotta
Ryan Liebe

How about this for a fruit salad? We've created a stunning and colorful array of fruit such as honeydew melon, pineapple, and kiwi fruit, served with lightly sweetened whipped ricotta on the side. It's an easy, make-ahead potluck side dish that you can curate based on what's in season.

21 of 27

Corn, Tomato, and Zucchini Galette

corn tomato and zucchini galette
Dana Gallagher

A trio of summer vegetables share the spotlight in this rustic, savory galette. You form it freestyle on a baking sheet, which creates a rustic appearance that's perfect for a casual summer potluck.

22 of 27

Baked Mac and Cheese With Broiled Tomatoes

baked macaroni cheese broiled tomatoes
Armando Rafael

What kid (or adult!) wouldn't want to dig into this creamy baked macaroni and cheese? It's topped with juicy tomatoes, which add color and texture. Prepare it in advance so all you need to do is reheat it at the potluck.

23 of 27

Apple-Membrillo Tart

apple membrillo tart
Justin Walker

Granny Smith apples and Spanish quince paste—called membrillo—fill a homemade pie dough. Serve alongside bleu cheese, grapes, and almonds for a salty-and-sweet blend of flavors.

24 of 27

Melon and Cucumber Salad

Melon and Cucumber Salad
GENTL & HYERS

For this fresh and vibrant fruit salad, slice watermelon, cantaloupe, canary melon, and Sugar Kiss or Honey Kiss melons, top with thinly-sliced English cucumber, and season with sea salt, pepper, and fresh mint leaves.

25 of 27

Hot Spinach Dip

hot spinach dip
Minh + Wass

Hot spinach dip is always a popular side or appetizer at any potluck party. Just watch how quickly your guests inhale this rich, creamy version, made with a few dashes each of hot sauce and Worcestershire sauce for added flavor depth.

26 of 27

Corn and Avocado Salad With Goddess Dressing

Corn-and-Avocado Salad With Goddess Dressing
Petrina Tinslay

Simple salad ingredients, including romaine, corn, avocado, radishes, and bacon, are elevated with a tasty, homemade dressing.

27 of 27

Pasta Salad With Chickpeas, Green Beans, and Basil

Pasta Salad with Green Beans and Basil

Ren Fuller

Make-ahead pasta salad adds fresh green beans, canned chickpeas, red onion, capers, and grated Parmigiano-Reggiano to butterfly-shaped farfalle. This bright, savory side is finished with a creamy lemon dressing.

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