37 Summer Potluck Ideas to Bring to Your Next Get-Together Make one of these crowd-pleasing recipes that travel well for your next summer gathering. Close Credit: Petrina Tinslay Consider this your summer 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. Fresh, seasonal flavors—like juicy melon, just-picked vegetables, sweet berries, and savory herbs—add a warm-weather touch to classic potluck sides, desserts, and appetizers, while refreshing, big-batch drinks serve everyone in your social circle. Grab a few ideas, and take it away. How to Organize a Successful Potluck, According to Chefs and Entertaining Experts 01 of 37 Pasta Salad With Chickpeas, Green Beans, and Basil Credit: Ren Fuller Every potluck participant needs a foolproof summer pasta salad recipe. Consider this yours, as chickpeas, green beans, and basil provide a savory crunch in a light, lemon dressing. View Recipe 02 of 37 Watermelon, Orange, and Feta Salad Bright watermelon, vibrant oranges, creamy feta, and fresh parsley garnish make this dish the prettiest salad on the table (and the tastiest). View Recipe 03 of 37 Fast Homemade Pickles With a brine that turns cucumbers into pickles in just two hours, you can provide your potluck's most popular hamburger accompaniment, sandwich side, or crudité accent. View Recipe 04 of 37 Marinated Peppers With Mint and Sesame Credit: Lennart Weibull Sliced peppers, marinated with lemon juice and sesame seeds, can be prepared up to three days before your party. Toss with fresh mint before serving alongside toast, yogurt dip, or antipasto. View Recipe 05 of 37 Grilled Prosciutto-Wrapped Melon Credit: Marcus Nilsson While prosciutto-wrapped melon can be prepared with cured meat right from the refrigerator, this version adds a smoky grilled flavor and a crispness that complements juicy cantaloupe or honeydew. View Recipe 06 of 37 No-Bake Key Lime Cheesecake Credit: Armando Rafael Keep the kitchen cool by making this easy, no-bake dessert. Fresh key lime juice is delicious in this refreshing summertime dessert. View Recipe 07 of 37 Celery-and-Cucumber Salad With Herbs Credit: Noe Dewitt This make-ahead cucumber salad couldn't be easier: Toss chopped English cucumbers with oil, salt, and herbs and let marinate for up to a day before serving. View Recipe 08 of 37 Slow-Cooker Triple Chocolate Brownies If your slow cooker typically only gets used for soups, stews, and shredded meat, turn it from the savory side to the sweet side with this recipe for triple chocolate brownies. Bonus: Not only can you make these in advance, but you can cook them without heating the oven. View Recipe 09 of 37 Grilled Ratatouille Muffaletta Credit: Andrew Purcell Thin slices of this New Orleans-style vegetarian sandwich will be a hit on the appetizer table at your next potluck (serve thicker portions alongside the main courses). View Recipe 10 of 37 Coconut-Lime Bars Credit: Romulo Yanes The lime, coconut, and macadamia flavors in these tasty bars will give your summer block party a tropical vibe that feels worlds away from the suburban setting. View Recipe 11 of 37 Aperol Jasmine Spritz Credit: Petrina Tinslay One sunny lemon simple syrup is the base for this drink. The spritz is light with aromatic gin, fruity aperitif, and a fizzy seltzer. View Recipe 12 of 37 Stone-Fruit Galette Credit: Frederic Lagrange In this rustic free-form tart, buttery pate brisee is folded around juicy peak-season peaches, apricots, or nectarines. View Recipe 13 of 37 Greek-Taverna Salad Credit: Petrina Tinslay For this Mediterranean medley, whisk the Dijon vinaigrette directly in the bowl, then drop in the cut tomatoes. The dressing will marinate them and draw out their flavorful juices as they sit. View Recipe 14 of 37 Tropical-Fruit Juice Salad Credit: Kate Mathis A platter of fruit as bright as the sun will be a surefire stunner at your next potluck. Serve this one as is, with our lemon-ginger dressing, or garnish with a coconut and poppy seed crunch that adds extra texture and nutrients. View Recipe 15 of 37 Vanilla Sheet Cake With Malted-Milk-Chocolate Frosting Credit: Jonathan Lovekin Malted milk powder adds an unexpected twist to chocolate frosting on this moist, party-perfect cake. View Recipe 16 of 37 Tuna Macaroni Salad Credit: Mike Krautter Mayonnaise and buttermilk are the stars of the show when it comes to amping up the flavor and texture of this protein-packed salad. View Recipe 17 of 37 Pomegranate-Bulgur Salad Credit: Johnny Miller If you're a Tabbouleh fan, you'll love its sweet, summery distant cousin packed with golden raisins, parsley leaves, and ruby-red pomegranate seeds mixed together with bulgur. View Recipe 18 of 37 Blackberry Crumb Bars These cake-like bar cookies are a portable handheld version of summer berry crumble. Use fresh blackberries as called for in the recipe, or try raspberries instead. View Recipe 19 of 37 Seven Bean Salad Credit: David E. Steele This healthy, feel-good salad features seven different types of beans dressed with olive oil and red wine vinegar. Serve it cold for a refreshing summer side dish. View Recipe 20 of 37 Creamy Artichoke Ranch Dip Credit: Petrina Tinslay This lighter iteration of the rich and cheesy party hit is so easy, that it's more of an ingenious idea than a recipe. Blend together marinated artichoke hearts, Greek yogurt, and fresh parsley, and bring along flatbread crisps or crackers. View Recipe 21 of 37 Pasta Salad With Tomatoes, Mozzarella, and Chickpeas Credit: Ren Fuller The fresh flavors of summer combine in this terrific pasta salad of cherry tomatoes, fennel, capers, chickpeas, and cubed mozzarella. The bright, lemony dressing is a perfect pairing. View Recipe 22 of 37 Smoky Baby Back Ribs Smoky, sticky, falling-off-the-bone ribs are easier than you think. No need to stand over the grill for hours: Start the ribs in the oven and finish on the grill or under the broiler. View Recipe 23 of 37 Corn-and-Avocado Salad With Goddess Dressing Credit: Petrina Tinslay Romaine lettuce and chopped bacon give a nod to a classic Cobb salad in this farm-fresh invention. The genius part of this salad is that avocado is mixed into the briny goddess dressing, so it won't turn to an unappetizing brown color even after sitting out for hours. View Recipe 24 of 37 Blueberry Slab Pie Made in a 10-by-14-inch jelly roll pan, this big blueberry pie feeds a crowd. Sanding sugar adds sparkle and crunch to the top crust. View Recipe 25 of 37 German Potato Salad Credit: Bryan Gardner Crumbled bacon, dill, and a dash of apple cider vinegar invigorate this potato salad (you won't even miss the mayo). View Recipe 26 of 37 Cheddar-Jalapeno Cornbread This cornbread strikes the right balance between tender and crumbly. Jazz up the batter with cheese and peppers, and shake up the shape by baking it in muffin pans if you like. View Recipe 27 of 37 Dill, Potato, and Egg Salad Credit: Petrina Tinslay Our food editors love a light-on-mayo potato salad, which is why they designed this mayo-free side. Instead of the classic heavy dressing, this salad gets a sharp kick of acidity from sliced cornichons, Dijon mustard, white balsamic vinegar, and lemon juice. View Recipe 28 of 37 Raspberry-Almond Crisp Credit: Chris Simpson Taste the sweet juice of plump red raspberries in this easy crisp that's made for a crowd. The prep work is particularly quick thanks to an easy topping of rolled oats and raw almonds. View Recipe 29 of 37 Classic Roasted Salsa Credit: Anders Schonnemann Roasted tomatoes, onion, and jalapeños add alluring depth to this versatile salsa. Serve it with tortilla chips or spoon it over grilled meats and vegetables. View Recipe 30 of 37 Kale Slaw With Red Cabbage and Carrots Jam-packed with crunchy seeds, plus shredded kale, carrots, and red onion, this speedy, hearty salad is the perfect potluck dish. Not only it's flavorful thanks to the Dijon mustard, oil, and apple cider vinegar, but since it's not mayonnaise-based, it can last longer outside. View Recipe 31 of 37 Kentucky Half-and-Half Credit: Petrina Tinslay A cross between an Arnold Palmer and a mint julep, this drink combines citrusy iced tea with sophisticated whiskey. It can be made a day ahead and transported in a thermos; just add ice and garnishes to serve. View Recipe 32 of 37 Grilled Potato Slices With Salt and Vinegar Think of this dish as the grown-up, healthier version of the tangy salt-and-vinegar potato chips we have always loved. Grilling adds a charred flavor that's perfect for the ultimate summer vibe. View Recipe 33 of 37 Blackberry-Raspberry Hand Pies Credit: David Malosh These portable pastries are simple and rewarding to put together, even if you consider yourself all thumbs in the baking department. View Recipe 34 of 37 Mediterranean Three-Bean Salad Credit: Petrina Tinslay In just 25 minutes, this hearty side salad comes together. The cannellini beans, pink beans, and green beans that give this salad its intriguing name will transport you to the Mediterranean coast. View Recipe 35 of 37 Tomato-Beet Salad Ruby-red roasted beets and an array of heirloom tomatoes make a dazzling summer salad that may just steal the show from the main course. View Recipe 36 of 37 Raspberry Mousse Pie Credit: Con Poulos This make-ahead dessert is perfect for bringing to a potluck. The mousse filling, made with whipped cream and raspberries, is light and airy. Top it with plump, sweet raspberries for a beautiful presentation. Raspberry Mousse Pie 37 of 37 Creamy Corn-and-Onion Dip Credit: Kate Sears Everyone will love this savory five-ingredient dip. It's great served with vegetables or crackers—or simply serve it with potato chips. The caramelized onions and fresh corn add loads of flavor. Creamy Corn-and-Onion Dip Explore more: Entertaining