Easy Potluck Recipes

David Malosh

Whether you’re in charge of bringing a small bite, a main dish, or a sweet ending, these easy potluck recipes will be the star of the spread. They can all be made ahead and are delicious served at room temperature, so the first guest will be just as happy as the last.

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Puff-Pastry Cheese Straws

David Malosh

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Everyone will be fawning over these at your next potluck. Choose from the flavor combos of Parmesan-cayenne, sesame-poppy, tomato-rosemary, and Pecorino-black pepper. Better yet, make all four.

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Slow-Cooker Bacon Jam

John Kernick

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If you're seeking crockpot potluck recipes sure to steal the show, look no further than slow-cooker bacon jam. We'd recommend bringing more than one jar to the party, as things can get ugly when the words "we're out of bacon jam" are uttered.

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Farro Salad with Fennel, Golden Raisins, and Radicchio

Marcus Nilsson

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This easy grain salad is one of our favorite vegetarian potluck recipes because it's got a little bit of everything: nutty farro, anise-flavored fennel, sweet raisins, and bitter radicchio. The farro and fennel can be dressed up to one day in advance. Pack the fennel fronds, fresh mint, and radicchio in a separate container and add just before serving.

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Plum-Jam Crumb Cake

Christopher Testani

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Plum-jam crumb cake is one of those potluck recipes for work that will win over all your colleagues. Trust us, nothing will make office coffee taste better than a slice of this cake.

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Tomato-Onion Casserole

Con Poulos

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The simplicity of this dish sets it apart from other casserole potluck recipes. A quick turn in the oven concentrates the flavors and lets the juicy tomatoes and tender onions shine.

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Linzer Crumble Pie with Cranberry-Raspberry Jam

Kate Mathis

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The cranberries in this pie make it especially apt for a Thanksgiving potluck, but it would be a welcome treat any time of year. Can't think of what else to bring to Friendsgiving? Check out Thanksgiving Potluck Recipes.

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Spicy Pineapple Slaw

linda xaio

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Healthy potluck recipes for work are key if you don't want to put your colleagues in a food coma. This fiery slaw fits the bill perfectly. Pineapple and jalapeno add an intriguing sweet-spicy interplay to traditional coleslaw, and you can toss it together before you leave the house.

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Spiced Potato Salad

Chris Court

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Our favorite Indian potluck recipes are all about big flavors, and this spiced potato salad fits right in. Indian simmer sauce and yogurt make a robust dressing for the boiled potatoes and peas, and everything can be tossed together a day in advance.Want more potato salad?

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Lemon-Date Bars

Marcus Nilsson

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These vibrant bars temper tangy lemon with sweet, gooey medjool dates. Keep them in the baking dish for easy transport to the potluck.

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7-Layer Salad

Mike Krautter

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Assemble this colorful salad up to four hours in advance, and be sure to use a glass bowl or trifle dish so that everyone can ooh and ahh over the layered presentation.

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Low-Country Pickled Shrimp

Mike Krautter

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You can make this recipe up to five days in advance. The shrimp only get more flavorful with time, and they can go straight from the fridge to the potluck.

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Texas Sheet Cake

Con Poulos

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This sheet cake doubles down on chocolate by including cocoa powder in the batter and the icing. Toasted pecans add the perfect amount of crunch. Keep the cake in the pan to transport it with minimal fuss.

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Lacinato Kale Salad with Roasted Squash

Marcus Nilsson

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Kale is great for potlucks because it can be dressed ahead of time without getting soggy. This salad combines the hardy green with roasted butternut squash, fresh goat cheese, and toasted hazelnuts.

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Polenta Grape Cake

Mike Krautter

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Red grapes and fragrant rosemary lend the perfect combination of sweet and savory to this rustic polenta cake.

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Salsa Fresca

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You can’t go wrong with salsa at a party. Serve this zesty rendition with your favorite chips for a surefire crowd-pleaser.

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Chocolate-Walnut Brownies

Johnny Miller

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This recipe teams up dark chocolate with almond flour and maple syrup for a more healthful brownie that doesn't sacrifice on flavor. You can sprinkle walnuts on just half the batter in case there are any potluck guests who are brownies-with-nuts haters. (You know they're out there.)

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Chicken and Kale Hand Pies with Cheddar Crust

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These portable pies are endlessly adaptable. Swap out the kale for Swiss chard or spinach or use sauteed mushrooms instead of chicken for a vegetarian version. Whichever variation you choose, they'll be the first to go at a potluck.

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Orange-Barley Pound Cake

Jonathan Lovekin

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Pound cake gets a makeover with low-in-gluten barley flour, cream cheese, and a triple dose of citrus flavor -- orange juice, zest, and liqueur. You can make it up to two days in advance.

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Broccoli and Chickpea Salad

Bryan Gardner

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Amp up steamed broccoli and canned chickpeas with scallions, fresh parsley, and toasted pinenuts in this light, crunchy salad. It can be made up to two days in advance and refrigerated.

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Summer Fruit Salad

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Fruit salad is a great recipe to make the night before a potluck. Combine your favorite seasonal fruits with honey, orange juice, and fresh mint, cover, and refrigerate.

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Cheese and Sweet-Pepper Cornbread

Lennart Weibull

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A zesty cornbread that combines chopped green chiles and sweet mini peppers for the perfect amount of heat and color. Bake it the day of the potluck for optimum flavor.

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Easy Chocolate Fudge with Pretzels

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This festive fudge is studded with salty pretzels, but you can top it with anything you like. Trail mix, candy, and crushed cookies are just a few of our favorite variations.

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Spinach Tart with Olive-Oil Cracker Crust

Johnny Miller

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In this sophisticated tart, we take the classic pairing of spinach and feta to the next level with a crisp cracker crust redolent of sesame.

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Antipasti Pasta Salad

Petrina Tinslay

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This salad mixes the flavors of a traditional Italian antipasti platter with spiral-shaped pasta. Salami, mozzarella cheese, green olives, and jarred red peppers are called for, but feel free to add or substitute other ingredients, including tuna, provolone, anchovies, artichoke hearts, capers, or marinated mushrooms.

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Roasted-Garlic Bread

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This crunchy and savory garlic bread is a snap to make and tastes great at room temperature. For the easiest transport, wrap the unsliced warm bread in tin foil and cut just before serving.

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Black Beans and Sausage

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Canned black beans and kielbasa (or any other smoked sausage you choose) make a hearty meal. This quick recipe can be made up to two days ahead and reheated gently before serving. Top each portion of stew with chopped parsley and a dollop of plain yogurt.

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Maple Cheesecake with Roasted Pears

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Maple syrup sweetens the no-bake filling of this easy cheesecake, which can be prepared up to one day ahead. Brush thin slices of pear with more maple syrup and broil until caramelized to make the decorative topping, which should be added just before serving.

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Blue Cheese and Walnut Spread

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This easy, elegant dip is a combination of cream cheese, blue cheese, and toasted walnuts. It is delicious served with crackers, bread, or apple and pear wedges and can be made up to one week in advance.

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Chocolate Bread Pudding

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Rich and custardy, bread pudding becomes even more delectable when semisweet chocolate is added to the mix. You can serve this warm, at room temperature, or cold.

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Herb-Cheese Palmiers

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A classic French pastry gets the savory treatment with Parmesan, cheddar, and your choice of fresh herbs. Form them by folding up a sheet of puff pastry and then cutting it into thin slices.

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Chicken with Couscous and Orange

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Get this impressive main dish in a bowl and out the door in a flash by using a supermarket rotisserie chicken and quick-cooking couscous. Fresh mint leaves, chopped navel orange, and toasted pistachios round out the flavors beautifully.

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Spicy Pulled Pork

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This pulled pork is extra tender thanks to hours of slow cooking in a spicy tomato sauce. To transport it, secure the lid of the slow cooker; plug it in once you arrive to keep the pulled pork warm.

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Pound-Cake Tiramisu

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Store-bought pound cake replaces ladyfingers in this recipe, cutting prep time down to just 15 minutes. Brush the cake with coffee and a touch of rum, then layer with shaved chocolate and a light cream-cheese mixture for a quick and easy take on a classic that can be prepared ahead and travels well.

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Easy Potluck Recipes

1 of 33

Puff-Pastry Cheese Straws

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Slow-Cooker Bacon Jam

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Farro Salad with Fennel, Golden Raisins, and Radicchio

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Plum-Jam Crumb Cake

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Tomato-Onion Casserole

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Linzer Crumble Pie with Cranberry-Raspberry Jam

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Spicy Pineapple Slaw

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Spiced Potato Salad

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Lemon-Date Bars

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7-Layer Salad

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Low-Country Pickled Shrimp

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Texas Sheet Cake

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Lacinato Kale Salad with Roasted Squash

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Polenta Grape Cake

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Salsa Fresca

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Chocolate-Walnut Brownies

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Chicken and Kale Hand Pies with Cheddar Crust

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Orange-Barley Pound Cake

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Broccoli and Chickpea Salad

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Summer Fruit Salad

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Cheese and Sweet-Pepper Cornbread

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Easy Chocolate Fudge with Pretzels

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Spinach Tart with Olive-Oil Cracker Crust

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Antipasti Pasta Salad

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Roasted-Garlic Bread

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Black Beans and Sausage