30 Easy Potluck Recipes That Will Wow Party-Goers

From happy hour nibbles to delectable desserts, these recipes are ready for your next potluck.

Pasta Salad with Green Beans and Basil — Credit:
Ren Fuller

What makes a good potluck dish? It should be easy to make, shareable, kid-friendly, and pair well with a range of other foods. Bonus points if it can be made ahead of time. Even more bonus points for room temperature potluck dishes. The easy recipes in this collection hit all of those marks and more, appealing to a range of palates and preferences. Whether you’ve been asked to bring a small bite, a crowd-pleasing side, a hearty main dish, or a sweet treat, these impressive potluck recipes both simple and delicious. They will be the star of the spread at your next gathering.

01 of 30

Baked Beans With Bacon

baked beans bacon — Bryan Gardner

This pot of brothy baked beans is quick to make—it starts with canned navy beans. It's also packed with flavor—the beans stew in a mixture of maple syrup, brown sugar, Worcestershire, and bacon fat until they’re tender and creamy.

02 of 30

Rice Salad With Tomatoes, Cucumbers, and Feta

rice salad with tomatoes cucumbers feta — Paola + Murray

This delicious take on tabbouleh swaps the bulgur for brown rice. We love to bring this side to potlucks because it’s delicious served cold or at room temperature.

03 of 30

Atlantic-Beach-Tart Bars

atlantic beach tart bars — Johnny Miller

Key lime pie meets lemon bars. These dreamy citrus bars have a crumbly saltine cracker crust; the creamy filling is flavored with sweetened condensed milk and a whole cup of fresh lemon juice.

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Southern Pulled-Pork Sandwiches

After a few hours in the oven, a braised pork shoulder will melt into tender perfection. It’s perfect for piling onto toasted buns with barbecue sauce.

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Mediterranean Three-Bean Salad

Mediterranean Three-Bean Salad — Petrina Tinslay

Quick to put together and robust enough to withstand travel and sitting out on the potluck table for the duration of the party, this no-cook vegetarian salad is a winner. Another plus, there's no mayo here: cannellini beans, pink beans, and raw green beans are dressed in a zesty red-wine vinaigrette with fresh herbs. The dressing softens the green beans over time.

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Fruit Platter With Whipped Ricotta

Fruit Platter with Whipped Ricotta — Ryan Liebe

If you’re looking to bring something that’s super impressive without taking too much time, we suggest this fruit platter? Grab whatever fruits looks good at the market and serve them with a whipped ricotta spread (which can be made ahead of time).

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Creamy Corn-and-Onion Dip

creamy corn-and-onion dip served with radishes — Kate Sears

Dips are always a crowd-pleaser at potlucks. This summery twist on French onion dip pairs sweet sautéed onions and corn with smooth Greek yogurt.

08 of 30

Pressed Picnic Sandwich

pressed picnic sandwich — Bryan Gardner

This picnic sandwich is easy to assemble and has something everyone will love. It’s layered with grilled peppers, marinated artichoke hearts, cured meats, and fresh goat cheese. Cut it into smaller pieces so everyone can enjoy a few bites at a time.

09 of 30

Key Lime Bundt Cake

sliced glazed lime streusel bundt cake — Marcus Nilsson

This tender lime-flavored bundt cake is hiding a sweet surprise inside—a buttery cinnamon-scented graham cracker streusel. Spoon a sweet lime syrup over the cake while it’s still warm, then finish with a zesty lime glaze.

10 of 30

Puff-Pastry Cheese Straws

David Malosh

The best part about these puff-pastry straws is that you can choose between four unique flavors—Parmesan-cayenne, sesame-poppy seed, tomato-rosemary, and Pecorino-black pepper. They can stay at room temperature all day long, so folks can snack as they please.

11 of 30

Marinated-Artichoke and Green-Bean Pasta Salad

Artichoke bean salad — Ren Fuller

This make-ahead pasta salad is a game-changer. Toss the pasta with blanched green beans, marinated artichoke hearts, and plenty of Parmesan cheese, fresh herbs, and lemon.

12 of 30

Slow-Cooker Bacon Jam

Slow-Cooker Bacon Jam — John Kernick

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.

13 of 30

Farro Salad With Fennel, Golden Raisins, and Radicchio

Marcus Nilsson

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.

14 of 30

Plum-Jam Crumb Cake

Christopher Testani

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.

15 of 30

Tomato-Onion Casserole

Con Poulos

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

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Linzer Crumble Pie With Cranberry-Raspberry Jam

Kate Mathis

The cranberries in this pie make it especially apt for a Thanksgiving potluck, but it would be a welcome treat any time of year.

17 of 30

Spicy Pineapple Slaw

linda xaio

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

18 of 30

Lemon-Date Bars

Marcus Nilsson

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

19 of 30

Lemon-Chile Pickled Shrimp

A dish of marinated shrimp with pickled lemon and chiles served with a decorative spoon — Jake Sternquist

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.

20 of 30

Texas Sheet Cake

Con Poulos

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.

21 of 30

Lacinato Kale Salad With Roasted Squash

Marcus Nilsson

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.

22 of 30

Salsa Fresca

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

23 of 30

Big-Batch Triple-Chocolate Brownie Bars

big-batch triple-chocolate brownie bars — Marcus Nilsson

Is it possible to take too many desserts to a potluck? Try this recipe, which yields 54 bar cookies, and see. Or don't take them all to the party! Instead, save some for yourself (they freeze well). They're made with bittersweet and white chocolates and cocoa powder, plus goodies like roasted nuts (use your favorite type or a combination) and dried fruit (again use your favorite or a combination).

24 of 30

Broccoli and Chickpea Salad

Broccoli and chickpea salad served in a bowl with two spoons — Jason Donnelly

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

25 of 30

Easy Chocolate Fudge With Pretzels

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.

26 of 30

Black Beans and Sausage

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.

27 of 30

Maple Cheesecake With Roasted Pears

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.

28 of 30

Chocolate Bread Pudding

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

29 of 30

Herb-Cheese Palmiers

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.

30 of 30

Spinach-Feta Pizza Slab Pie

spinach-feta pizza slab pie — Linda Pugliese

Made from store-bought pizza dough, this savory pie filled with fresh spinach, mozzarella, and feta is easy to put together but will make partygoers think you spent hours in the kitchen.

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