30+ Easy Potluck Dishes

BySarah June 28, 2023September 13, 2023 September 13, 2023

Try one of these quick and easy potluck dishes for your next gathering with friends and family! You can't go wrong with a delicious dip, side dish, or salad.

Easy Potluck Dishes

A lot of times, when I get invited to a potluck with friends and family, I have a hard time deciding what to make! If you're looking for some crowd-pleasing recipe ideas, you're in the right place. If you're looking for some fun drinks to bring to a gathering, check out this list of 20+ Best Non Alcoholic Drinks, or for treats, see 25+ Of The Best No Bake Desserts!

Potluck meaning:

What is a potluck?

A potluck is a communal gathering where each guest or group contributes a different, often homemade, dish of food to be shared.

What to bring to a Potluck

Most people bring some kind of side dish, salad, or dessert. Since you will presumably be traveling with the dish, consider these questions when deciding what to take to a potluck:

Can this dish be transported without spilling?
Does the dish need to be served at a specific temperature?
Can this be made ahead of time?

I usually make the temperature the highest priority. There is nothing worse than bringing a dish that spoils if it's not at the 'perfect' temperature. A lot of the time you can't keep things refrigerated or heated up for long at this type of gathering. Honestly though, do what you want. That's the beauty of potlucks!

Last-Minute Potluck Ideas

A lot of the time I find myself sprinting to the store to get something for a BBQ or group dinner because I procrastinated too long! If you are in a hurry, here you go. These will be crowd-pleasers and you will be ready to go in 15 minutes or less!

close up of chip in a guacamole bowl

Homemade Guacamole Recipe

Homemade Guacamole is super quick and easy to throw together.

Jalapeño Ranch Dip

Chuy's Jalapeño Ranch Dip copycat recipe is so easy to make! This creamy, spicy dip is so good.

Cream cheese fruit dip with strawberries.

Easy Cream Cheese Fruit Dip

Try this simple 4 ingredient Fruit Dip from Over the Big Moon that will knock your socks off!

creamy apple dip in a white bowl with granny smith apple slices surrounding it.

Peanut Butter Apple Dip

Peanut Butter Apple Dip is delicious, it it only takes 3 ingredients to make it!

Seven layer bean dip in a white dish with chips

Seven-Layer Dip

This is truly the BEST Seven Layer Bean Dip. Trust me when I say you will be making this one again and again!

Need something you can make in 15 minutes or less? Let me help you out!

Gooey Chex mix - Chex, cashews, coconut, almonds with sticky caramel coating in a white bowl.

Salty Sweet Chex Mix

This sweet Chex mix is the perfect thing to bring to a potluck - it takes 10 minutes to make, and it's so good everyone will be fighting over the bowl!

Healthy greek seven layer dip!

Greek Seven Layer Hummus Dip

Greek Seven Layer Dip is a refreshing hummus dip with mediterranean flavors that everyone will love!

bread dip in a white bowl surrounded by bread and a white linen napkin

Balsamic and Olive Oil Bread Dip

You know at the Italian restaurants when they give you the balsamic and olive oil to dip bread in? Well this is that, but easy to transport and share with a group! Everyone LOVES it.

Healthy veggie dip made with yogurt, sautéed vegetables, in a pink bowl and parsley as a garnish.

Healthy Veggie Dip

Try this healthier veggie dip if you're looking to make some better choices at the picnic. It's full of good-for-you ingredients and tastes so good!

overhead view of homemade Chex mix in a small white bowl overflowing

Homemade Chex Mix

This Chex mix is suuuper easy to make and in just a few minutes you can make a big batch of it to feed a crowd!

Potluck Side Dishes

I love a good side dish. Honestly, most of the time at a picnic or BBQ, I just eat sides.

A photo of potato salad in a small white dish next to a blue towel.

The BEST Potato Salad

Bring this potato salad to your next potluck. Even people who 'don't like' potato salad will like this delicious dish!

Hamburger Baked Beans

Nothing says summer potluck like baked beans! This easy side dish is the perfect complement to a BBQ plate.

These easy crock pot ranch potatoes are the perfect compliment to any meal! SO easy to throw together and so dang good!

Slow-Cooker Ranch Potatoes

These Slow Cooker Ranch Potatoes with garlic and bacon are always crowd pleaser. They are so easy to throw together, and so good!

Potluck dishes that will impress

Looking for something a little fancier, but still want to be able to take it to a picnic? Try one of these...

If you like deviled eggs you will LOVE these bacon and cheese deviled eggs! They disappear in a blink everywhere I bring them!

Bacon & Cheese Deviled Eggs

If you like deviled eggs you will LOVE these bacon and cheese deviled eggs! They disappear in a blink everywhere I bring them! Best deviled eggs EVER.

Not only is this cheese ball freaking delicious but it is also beautiful and easy to make! The perfect appetizer to bring to any get together!

Bacon Ranch Cheese Ball

You had me at Bacon... no but really this Bacon & Ranch cheese ball is *chef's kiss* delish.

Corn Casserole with green chiles from Over the Big Moon is delicious! We can't have a family party without this dish.

shrimp macaroni salad with olives and celery and hard-boiled eggs in a blue bowl.

Macaroni Shrimp Salad

Macaroni Salad with Shrimp is sooo good! Perfect addition to your plate at any potluck gathering.

Potluck Salads

I'm still not sure what can truly be considered a salad and what can't, but if 'fluff' is salad then it goes in this section. Try one of these for your next gathering.

Fruit Salads

Watermelon feta salad with cucumber and mint in a white bowl.

Watermelon Feta Salad with Fresh Mint

Cool and refreshing watermelon feta salad with cucumber and fresh mint is the perfect summer side dish!

Fruit Salad made of granny smith apples, blueberries, strawberries with dollops of cool whip on top

Creamy Fruit Salad with Cool Whip

We LOVE this creamy fruit salad and it's so easy to make. It's especially popular with the kiddos!

Feta and Watermelon and Mint are a trio made in heaven. This salad is so refreshing - the perfect potluck food!

The best easy fruit salad recipe with sweet vanilla pudding dressing!

Classic Fruit Salad

This easy fruit salad recipe is delicious with a sweet vanilla dressing, you will love it!

Honey and Mint Fruit Salad

Honey and Mint Fruit Salad

The perfect healthy side dish for any bbq or family party!

Fresh watermelon cake, two-tiers of watermelon decorated with blueberries, blackberries, raspberries and dragonfruit cut into star shapes.

Watermelon 'Cake' with Fresh Fruit

Make a fresh Watermelon Cake for the 4th of July or summer picnics! A watermelon fruit cake is a cool and delicious no-bake dessert!

Pasta Salads

ranch pasta salad in a white bowl with green and purple grapes

Ranch Pasta Salad

This Ranch Pasta Salad is SO good and extremely easy to make.

pasta salad in a white bowl next to a jar of dressing and a white napkin

Easy Italian Pasta Salad

Is there anything better in the summer than fresh tomatoes and mozzarella? I think not. Try this Italian Pasta Salad for your next potluck!

Once you've tasted this bowtie pasta salad you won't be able to imagine life without it! I am a pasta salad fanatic and it's my favorite pasta salad recipe!

Family Favorite Pasta Salad

Bowtie Pasta Salad with zesty vinaigrette dressing.is super easy to make and it's our family's FAVORITE! Everyone will ask for the recipe.

Green Salads

The best ever Chinese chicken salad with homemade oriental salad dressing! Perfect for any party or get together, or just for an easy healthy dinner!

Chinese Chicken Salad

This salad's sesame dressing and crunchy ramen noodles make it extra amazing! Everyone at the potluck will ask for the recipe.

Broccoli salad with mandarin oranges, red onion, slivered almonds and golden raisins in a white bowl.

This Broccoli Salad from Over the Big Moon is so delicious. The broccoli flavor goes perfectly with mandarin oranges, slivered almonds and golden raisins. You will love it!

Greek salad on a white plate, spiralized zucchini, tomatoes, kalamata olives, pepperoncini, feta cheese and greek salad dressing.

Spiralized Greek Salad

This Spiralized Greek Salad is a potluck dish that will impress your friends! It is fresh, delicious, and beautiful!

Our families very favorite salad dressing! It is so good you might want to drink it, but instead just use it for salads all week long!

Bacon & Swiss Salad

This is our family's FAVORITE salad with mixed greens, bacon, and Swiss cheese. Everyone will love this salad at your potluck, too!

Fluff Salads

Creamsicle Orange Fluff Salad

Creamsicle fluff is one of the first things to run out at our potlucks! It's the perfect touch of sweetness on the plate!

Oreo Fluff

Oreo. Fluff. Need we say more? You will be everyone's favorite person if you bring this potluck side dish.

Warning! This easy pistachio fluff salad is delicious and beyond addicting!

Pistachio Fluff Salad

Pistachio Fluff is a surprisingly delicious treat to accompany any potluck dinner! You should try it.

More Easy Appetizer Recipes

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