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21 Thanksgiving Potluck Recipes That Will Wow Your Crowd

21 Thanksgiving Potluck Recipes That Will Wow Your Crowd

By Kelly Vaughan

Updated October 18, 2019

Louise Hagger

From casseroles to cupcakes to cornbread, these Thanksgiving potluck recipes are easy to transport and serve to family and friends—all guaranteed to blend perfectly with any turkey prepared using our total turkey tutorial downloadable here.

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Louise Hagger

If you're not hosting Thanksgiving this year, you may feel inspired to bring a dish to the feast. While some hosts enjoy preparing the entire meal from start to finish, others may want a helping hand when it comes to desserts, sides, or appetizers—or all three! Here are our favorite recipes for Thanksgiving potluck dishes.

Not sure what to bring? Start by checking with the host to make sure that you're not duplicating a dish they've already planned to make. Safe to say that the turkey will be taken care of, as well as dishes that need to be made quickly and served hot such as mashed potatoes. However, anything that can be kept in the refrigerator or better yet, served at room temperature, is a win.

For example, the Shredded Brussels-Sprout Salad with Hazelnut Crunch, pictured here, is a fantastic dish to bring to a potluck. It's simple to toss together at the last minute (don't dress it too early otherwise the sprouts will get soggy) and serve in the same bowl. Minimal cookware, minimal clean-up. Check and check! Another side dish that fits the bill? Cranberry sauce! Make it a day in advance and keep in the refrigerator until it's time for dinner. Serve in a pretty bowl for easy transporting.

Desserts are also sure to please. Bring our Perfect Pumpkin Pie and get a seat at the head of the table. Equally pleasing and even cuter are these Pumpkin Cupcakes, which are perfect for a crowd (and no one will think to make them!).

Enjoy the company and so many delicious options at this year's Thanksgiving potluck!

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Sweet Potato Casserole

John Kernick

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Who could resist sweet potatoes covered in ooey-gooey, caramelized marshmallows? This casserole is a crowd-pleaser that's easy to make in advance. Layer the potatoes and marshmallows in a baking dish and keep refrigerated for up to a day. When you arrive at the feast, bake for just 15 minutes while the turkey is resting.

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Roasted-Carrot-and-Beet Tart

Bryan Gardner

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Vibrant in color and unique in texture, this showstopping tart is guaranteed to be a popular main course for vegetarians. It's made with store-bought phyllo dough, which creates an attractive flaky crust that requires little work.

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Perfect Pumpkin Pie

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Volunteer to make the ultimate Thanksgiving dessert—pumpkin pie—and you're sure to score an invitation to next year's feast, too. Our foolproof recipe will guide you through crimping picture-perfect edges and creating a creamy, crack-free custard.

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Orange-Scented Cranberry Sauce

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This orange-infused cranberry sauce is oh, so quick and easy to prepare. Serve the sauce at room temperature to experience its flavors at their fullest.

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Shrimp and Crudité Platter with Two Sauces

Justin Walker

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There's something for everyone on this impressive platter. Filled with poached shrimp, hard boiled eggs, and an array of colorful vegetables, this appetizer is sure to get the party started off right. A good guest brings their own platters to a potluck party, so remember to pack up all of the elements needed to set up this elegant display.

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Green Bean Casserole

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No canned soup here! Once you introduce this side dish to the Thanksgiving table, you'll be asked to make it again and again. The secret to our version of the ultimate Thanksgiving side is freshly fried shallots, which are crispier and more flavorful than the packaged variety.

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Apple Pie

Con Poulos

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Our most popular apple pie recipe! You'll be the talk of the dinner table if you bring this winner of a dessert. It's a total classic and absolutely delicious.

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Zucchini Cornbread Muffins

Aaron Dyer

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Make-ahead and no need to reheat? Sounds like the perfect potluck dish for Thanksgiving! Zucchini and buttermilk work double duty to create super moist muffins.

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Carrot Slaw with Caraway and Raisins

Lennart Weibull

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Serve up a side of this crunchy, bright orange slaw to accompany the turkey on Thanksgiving. Two things make it perfect for a potluck—it can be prepared up to three days in advance and served at room temperature. Win-win!

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Pumpkin Cheesecake

Mikkel Vang

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Combining two crowd-pleasing desserts—cheesecake and pumpkin pie—this spiced pumpkin cheesecake will be a big hit at Thanksgiving dinner. When making the crust, try using gingersnap crumbs rather than graham cracker crumbs for even more flavor.

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Deviled Egg with Relish

Mike Krautter

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Deviled eggs are always a party pleaser (and easy to transport and serve too). We haven't strayed too far from the classic recipe here—just a few tablespoons of relish adds a hint of tanginess.

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Date, Olive, and Goat-Cheese Tart

Louise Hagger

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Potlucks are a great opportunity to wow family and friends with something new to try. Store-bought puff pastry makes this appetizer easy to prepare—just spread in the cheese and olive mixture and top it all off with sweet chopped dates.

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Tomato-Jam Pinwheels

Justin Walker

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These gorgeous bite-sized appetizers are a breeze to make. Create a sweet tomato jam with cherry tomatoes, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, garlic, and herbs; then spread it over cheese-topped store-bought puff pastry, chill, slice, and bake.

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Roasted Carrots with Parsley Yogurt

Christopher Testani

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Most vegetable dishes are best served hot (doable, but requires some coordination between the guest and host). This carrot side can be served at room temperature, which makes it easy to unwrap and place on the table—then just dress with a quick homemade herb yogurt.

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Date-Pecan Pie

Johnny Miller

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Here's a sweet end to the feast! A classic pecan pie is dazzled up with rich pitted Medjool dates, which add sweetness. It's great for a potluck because the entire dessert can be made in advance and served at room temperature (with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, of course).

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Sage and Honey Skillet Cornbread

Anna Williams

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Want to make a side dish that is guaranteed to draw applause? Look no further than this simple, flavorful cornbread. Fresh sage and honey give it a slight upgrade, but the preparation is classic.

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Julienned-Carrot and Kale Salad

Mikkel Vang

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With so many carb-heavy sides served on Thanksgiving, a crisp salad is a welcome addition to the dinner table. Seasonal vegetables like carrots and kale shine bright when tossed with a light lemon and Dijon vinaigrette.

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Herb-and-Cheese Rolls

Bryan Gardner

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What's Thanksgiving without a bread basket filled with warm, buttery rolls? Plenty of grated Parmesan cheese, chopped fresh thyme and parsley, and grated lemon zest transform a simple yeast dough into something utterly flavorful and fun to unroll.

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Pumpkin Cupcakes

Bryan Gardner

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Cupcakes are a fabulous way to serve a cute, unexpected dessert for Thanksgiving. Transport them on one big platter or in a handy cupcake caddy.

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Sweet Potato and Sage-Butter Casserole

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Can't decide between bringing mashed potatoes or sweet potatoes to dinner? This easy-going dish combines sweet and Yukon gold potatoes under a crunchy topping of buttery breadcrumbs. It can be made-ahead and reheated while the turkey is resting (good potluck guests don't demand oven time while the main course is cooking!).

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