40 Must Make Potluck Dishes To Feed A Crowd
Need potluck food ideas to make and take? These 40 must make potluck dishes are the most popular and crowd-pleasing food ideas to take to potluck parties.
From main dishes and desserts to easy potluck desserts and side dishes, this mega list of food ideas to take to a potluck WILL help you figure out what to carry in to your event.
Updated on December 13, 2024
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Potluck Dishes
Potluck bring-a-dish events are absolutely the FAVORITE for my family gatherings. They bring friends and family together, each contributing a dish that holds a special place in their hearts.
Even my potluck parties at work are a perfect blend of store-bought goodies and homemade dishes – and no matter WHAT someone brings, we always have a great time eating and hanging out.
If you’re on the hunt for dishes that will steal the show at your next potluck, you’re in for a treat. I’ve curated a BIG list of 40 must-make potluck dishes that cater to every palate and dietary preference.
From appetizers to desserts, you’ll find a wide range of delectable options to inspire your next potluck contribution.
Simple Potluck Dishes
Quick, Cheap and Easy Potluck Food Ideas: Room Temp Appetizers, Must Make Side Dishes, Finger Foods, Cold Salads, Store Bought Food Ideas To Take, Last Minute Recipes & More
Yummy EASY seasoned oyster cracker recipes – Whether you’re hosting a gathering or just need quick and easy snacks for a party, seasoned crackers like firecracker crackers or ranch oyster crackers are guaranteed hits.
Large Group Carry In Dessert Ideas – Need dessert ideas to make and take (that travel well) to bring something sweet for the crowd at your party or potluck?
These 15 large batch dessert ideas are easy, quick and CHEAP to make and are the perfect recipes to make or take for any large group.
Creamy Cowboy Caviar is a fresh, flavorful dip that is perfect for any picnic, potluck, or party, and is made in under 15 minutes! This is an indulgent version of Texas Caviar with a creamy, cheesy sauce. It makes a big batch so it is an ideal party appetizer.
Simple Crockpot Slow Cooker Mac and Cheese Recipes For a Potluck Party Crowd – These 13 “dump” recipe variations are NO BOIL recipes that make a big batch to feed a crowd for the easiest make ahead side dish everyone will love!
Need some easy make ahead lunch ideas and large group party food recipes for a crowd? These easy potluck dishes are best for work, office meals and luncheon parties – and perfect to feed a big crowd on a low budget.
The best crowd-pleasing appetizers and quick party finger foods to make ahead or last minute – Must make appetizer dishes, easy shareable snacks, game day finger foods and sandwiches to feed a crowd fast and cheap.
Classic macaroni salad is a creamy and delicious pasta salad that is so easy to throw together. It's packed with fresh crunchy vegetables and is all tossed in a creamy sauce that holds it all together. It's the perfect side salad to bring to a summer potluck or BBQ, and it makes a great make-ahead lunch, too.
Homemade Cornbread Casserole is the perfect choice for a potluck side dish, especially for summer barbecues and picnics. It takes less than an hour, requires just a few simple ingredients, and it gets rave reviews every time!
This Potluck Party Pasta Salad is sure to be a hit at all your gatherings. It’s made with very simple and accessible ingredients such as grape tomatoes, red onion, provolone cheese, and some cucumbers and bell peppers.
This simple recipe for cheesy potatoes is an easy and tasty way to please a crowd. It's the perfect, classic dish for a potluck.
These ham and cheese sliders are the best for game day parties. Ham and cheese are layered in Hawaiian rolls, brushed with a poppyseed butter sauce, baked and served hot!
Taco Pasta Salad is a delicious pasta salad made with Mexican flavors, seasoned ground beef, crunchy nacho cheese chips, and a delicious creamy dressing! Perfect for a summer potluck or BBQ!
Strawberry Oatmeal Bars are a healthier fruit dessert made with fresh strawberries, whole grain butter crumb topping, and a lightly sweetened vanilla glaze.
Starting from a box mix this old-fashioned Simple Sour Cream Coconut Cake recipe is easy and delicious!
My favorite quick and easy appetizers to bring to a party – easy apps and crowd pleaser finger foods that get bonus points because… they all travel well.
Sandwich Platter Ideas
For a luncheon, casual party or holiday idea for a large crowd, serve this vegetarian Best Veggie Sandwich Board. Add delicious toppings and bread!
Finger sandwiches are a classic and elegant choice for a party food platter. Here are some of the best finger sandwiches to make for your platter:
This is the ultimate guide for How to Make a Sandwich Platter. Arranged meat, bread, cheese, and condiments make for the brunch or when hosting a party.
Mini sandwiches are a great snack not only for kids lunchboxes, but they are also perfect for brunch, party, baby shower or picnic. Ready in 10 minutes, these simple ham and cheese sandwiches are always a hit at any gathering!
These easy Italian Pinwheel Sandwiches are big on flavor, with three kinds of meat, fresh veggies, and a tasty cream cheese spread. Serve these light-yet-hearty little sandwiches on your party snack platters.
Mini club sandwiches are an ideal party appetizer. They’re a classic mix of ingredients like deli chicken, cheese, and bacon. Make them ahead and serve cold for easy entertaining.
How to put together The Ultimate Build-Your-Own Sandwich Board that will feed and please your hungry crowd!
Meat and cheese trays are a great appetizer or an easy way for guests to make their own sandwiches. Perfect for parties, potlucks, BBQs, or family gatherings!
Phyllo Cup Recipes
Here are some more YUMMY and simple phyllo cup recipes to make for your next party, game day get-together or potluck-style gathering - all are absolute crowd-pleasers!
Spinach artichoke bites are crispy phyllo dough shells filled with creamy, cheesy spinach artichoke dip. Sure to impress at your next party or holiday gathering.
Sweet + Savory Phyllo Cups. Light, flaky mini pastry cups filled with basil, garlic, goat cheese, pistachios, bacon, and honey-balsamic glaze. The perfect appetizer!
Bacon and cheese phyllo cups are a delicious, flaky snack that is sure to please any palate. They consist of a crunchy, buttery phyllo pastry that is filled with bits of salty bacon and a mixture of melted gruyere cheese and cream cheese.
These easy Baked Crab Bites make for the ultimate bite-sized appetizer at parties. The combination of a creamy and savory crab filling with a light, crisp pastry makes them the perfect finger food.
Crispy Phyllo cups filled with pimento cheese and topped with sweet, slightly spicy red pepper jelly make for a delicious appetizer for the holidays, game day, or whenever you’re entertaining.
These light and crispy Greek Feta Dip Phyllo Cups are a speedy appetizer ready to rock your next party or potluck!
Cheesy Bacon Rotel Cups Recipe – Flaky phyllo pastry cups are filled with gooey cheese, crispy bacon, mayo, and zesty Rotel tomatoes.
These mini bacon cheese phyllo quiches are bite-sized delights! Easy to make, they’re one of our favorite bacon breakfast recipes and always a big hit for brunch gatherings and parties.
If you love crab rangoon, you’ll LOVE these baked Crab Rangoon Wonton Cups! They have all the flavors of your favorite Chinese appetizer in a baked wonton cup, which means they’re not only better for you, but they’re so much easier to make.
These tasty bite sized bites made with Brie cheese, pecans and Bourbon in phyllo cups make the perfect Fall appetizer. Perfect for game day snacking or holiday entertaining!
Appetizers:
Million Dollar Deviled Eggs: Creamy deviled eggs with a splash of spice.
Spinach and Artichoke Dip: Warm, cheesy dip with tortilla chips or crusty bread.
Caprese Skewers: Cherry tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, basil, and balsamic glaze.
Jalapeno Stuffed Mushrooms: Bite sized mushrooms stuffed with jalapeno filling.
Loaded Potato Skins: Crispy potato skins topped with cheese, bacon, and sour cream.
Bacon-Wrapped Avocado Fries: Crispy bacon-wrapped around avocado slices marinated in a low carb savory sauce.
Guacamole and Salsa: A duo of fresh guacamole and salsa with tortilla chips.
Crockpot 7-Layer Cheese Dip: Simple “dump ‘n go” crockpot version of the classic 7-layer cheese dip.
Mini Quiches: Bite-sized quiches with various fillings like spinach and feta or bacon and cheese.
Bruschetta: Toasted baguette slices topped with diced tomatoes, fresh basil, and balsamic glaze.
More Potluck Appetizer Ideas
40+ Quick Appetizers and Party Finger Foods To Make Ahead Or Last Minute
Velveeta Recipes – Easy Block Cheese Recipes You’ve Never Tried (but should!)
Bring-a-Dish Potluck Lunch Ideas For Your Office Luncheon Party (to make or buy!)
Cheap Snacks and Inexpensive Finger Food To Feed a Large Group or Party Crowd
27 Must Make Crockpot Appetizers For Easy Make Ahead Party Food In Your Slow Cooker
57 Make Ahead Party Food Platters For A Crowd – Budget-Friendly Party Food Snack Trays I Make
Celebration of Life Food Ideas For a Memorial Service or Potluck-Style Funeral Reception
Shaped Cheese Balls – 15 Fun Shaped Cheeseball Recipes For ALL Holiday Parties
Main Dishes:
Lasagna: Layers of pasta, rich meat sauce, and cheese.
BBQ Pulled Pork: Slow-cooked, tender pulled pork in smoky barbecue sauce.
Vegetarian Chili: Hearty mix of beans, veggies, and spices.
Chicken Alfredo Casserole: Creamy pasta, tender chicken, and a cheesy topping.
Sheet Pan Beef Tacos: Casserole style tacos with seasoned beef, tortillas, and toppings.
Pasta Salad: Colorful pasta salad with a medley of veggies and a tangy dressing.
Beef and Broccoli Stir-Fry: Quick and flavorful stir-fry dish with tender beef and broccoli florets.
Veggie Alfredo Lasagna: A vegetarian twist on classic lasagna, packed with veggies and cheese.
Shrimp Scampi: Succulent shrimp cooked in a garlicky, buttery sauce served over pasta.
Pulled Chicken Sliders: Tender shredded chicken with BBQ sauce served on mini slider buns.
Loaded Zucchini Bacon Casserole Bake:
How To Make It:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
On low heat, begin cooking bacon in skillet. Nearly a whole pack of bacon will be used.
Slice the zucchini, onion, and tomato.
In a 9×13 baking dish, evenly layer zucchini until bottom of dish is covered.
Drizzle zucchini with a touch of olive oil and season with salt, pepper, and garlic powder.
Place several pats of butter (4-5) on top of zucchini.
Next layer with 1/4 sliced onion; then layer with one sliced tomato.
Once bacon is fully cooked; crumble.
Add a layer of crumbled bacon on top of the vegetable layers.
Next, sprinkle bacon with an even layer of shredded sharp cheddar cheese.
Repeat Layers.
Top the final layer of shredded sharp cheddar cheese with grated Parmesan cheese.
Sprinkle with oregano.
Cover with foil and bake for 15-20 minutes. Remove foil and bake an additional 15 minutes or until vegetables are tender and cheese is golden brown.
Potluck Sides Dishes:
Classic Potato Salad: Creamy potatoes, mayo, and a hint of mustard.
Coleslaw: Refreshing side dish with a perfect balance of sweetness and tang.
Greek Quinoa Salad: Healthy, colorful salad with quinoa, fresh veggies, and zesty dressing.
Southern Style Baked Beans: Slow-cooked beans in a sweet and savory sauce topped with bacon.
Garlic Bread: Crusty bread slathered with garlic butter and toasted to perfection.
Cauliflower Mac and Cheese Bake: Low carb version of creamy mac and cheese basked as a casserole.
Cornbread: Moist, sweet cornbread squares or muffins.
Greek Pasta Salad: Fresh salad with cucumbers, tomatoes, olives, and feta cheese in a lemon vinaigrette.
“Funeral Potatoes” Hashbrown Casserole: Simple unique twist on tradition funeral potato cheese casserole.
Tabbouleh: A refreshing Middle Eastern salad with bulgur, parsley, and tomatoes.
Large Batch Dishes
From pasta salad to make ahead appetizers, these 3 potluck dishes she makes in the video below are SUPER easy and perfect for feeding a crowd on a budget:
Desserts:
Chocolate Brownies: Rich, fudgy brownies that vanish quickly.
Fruit Salad: A rainbow of fresh fruit, drizzled with honey and a hint of lime.
Cheesecake Bars: Creamy cheesecake in bar form with your choice of toppings.
Lemon Bars: Tangy and sweet lemon bars with a buttery crust.
Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies: Classic cookies that are universally adored.
Apple Crisp: Baked apples with a crispy, buttery topping and a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
Chocolate-Dipped Strawberries: Fresh strawberries dipped in dark or white chocolate.
Pumpkin Pie: Classic pumpkin pie with a flaky crust and a dollop of whipped cream.
Lemon Cheesecake: Creamy lemon-flavored cheesecake with a graham cracker crust.
Rice Krispie Treats: Chewy marshmallow and cereal bars, cut into squares.
Those 40 potluck dishes above should give you a great starting point to figure out what you are going to make and take to your covered dish meal.
More Potluck Food Ideas
13 Crockpot Mac n Cheese Recipe Variations – Easy No Boil Recipes To Feed a Crowd
Bring-a-Dish Potluck Lunch Ideas For Your Office Luncheon Party (to make or buy!)
Summer Salad Side Dishes – Cold Salad Recipes For Your BBQ Or Potluck Picnic Crowd
57 Potluck Desserts For a Crowd or Family Reunion – Grandma’s Crowd-Pleaser Dessert Recipes
Funeral Desserts-Easy Dessert Ideas For a Potluck-Style Funeral Dessert Table
Make Ahead Crockpot Breakfast Recipes For A Hungry Brunch Party Crowd
Make Ahead Thanksgiving Side Dishes (40+ must make potluck dishes for a crowd!)
