18 Best Potluck Dinner Ideas To Host A Dinner - TheLadyChef

18 Best Potluck Dinner Ideas To Host A Dinner

Potluck dinner ideas and recipes

If you are looking for the perfect dish to bring to your next potluck dinner, you’ve come to the right place. Here you’ll find various delicious and easy-to-make recipes that will surely become everyone’s favorite when served on the table.

From hearty main dishes to vibrant side dishes and detectable desserts, you will have plenty of options. Whether you are looking for something classic or a little more unique, there is something here for every potluck dinner. So, let’s get started!

1. Meatballs with Grape Jelly and Chili sauce

Meatballs with jelly and sauce recipe

What’s Special?

  • Total Time: 3 hours 40 minutes
  • Best slow cooker beef recipe
  • It goes well with a variety of side dishes including rice and pasta
  • Can also be cooked in a crockpot

Meatballs with grape jelly and chili sauce is a unique and flavorful dish that combines sweet and savory elements. The grape jelly adds a touch of sweetness to the meatballs, while the chili sauce provides a spicy kick. This dish is popular for parties and gatherings and is easy to prepare. The combination of flavors makes it a crowd-pleaser and a great addition to any menu.

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2. Broccoli and Cauliflower Casserole

Broccoli And Cauliflower Casserole recipe

What’s Special?

  • Total time taken: 40 minutes
  • Creamy and cheesy on every bite
  • Topped with bread crumbs and cream cheese
  • Filled with healthy and nutritious vegetables

Broccoli and cauliflower casserole is nutritious and delicious side dish. It contains healthy ingredients such as broccoli, cauliflower, cheese, and breadcrumbs. There is also a combination of these creamy and cheesy along with these vegetables. Broccoli and casserole have multiple health benefits as they contain high amounts of vitamins and other minerals.

This casserole is also a perfect source of vitamin C, which helps to strengthen the immune system. The vegetables are also high in fiber, and they help you improve digestion and keep you feeling full for a long time.

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3. Rotel Dip

Rotel Dip

What’s Special?

  • Total Time Taken: 20 minutes
  • Queso dip recipe with spicy sauce
  • Rotel and Velveeta cheese
  • Served with crackers, tortilla chips, and pretzels

Rotel Dip combines cheese, Rotel tomatoes, and other ingredients. It is a creamy Rotel cheese dip recipe that tastes perfect if served with crackers, tortilla chips, and pretzels. Comprising only 3-ingredients, it is one of the easiest recipes for potluck dinner ideas.

Perfect for serving on game day, holiday, or any other occasion because there is no such easy and equally tasty appetizer. The loaded Rotel dip full of cheese, spices, and ground beef adds the perfect flavor to this dish. You can serve it as an appetizer or a side dish with some main course.

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4. Crack Chicken

Crack Chicken

What’s Special?

  • Total Time Taken: 6 hours 10 minutes
  • Cheesy and rich flavors
  • A perfect presentation for serving
  • Healthy ingredients

Crack Chicken is a slow cooker recipe with all the addicting ingredients. This crockpot potluck recipe contains bacon, cream cheese, cheese, and ranch dressing mix and all these ingredients have a perfect individual flavor to make a valuable addition to the dish. When there’s cream cheese in a dish, it becomes irresistible, and olive garden chicken pasta or mushroom chicken is a treat to the taste buds.

When cream cheese mixes with bacon, ranch, and cheese, it gives off the best dinner recipe. Crack chicken is one easy-to-make recipe with simple yet delicious ingredients. Even the kids and pickiest eaters love this recipe; it has the potential to become everyone’s favorite during a potluck dinner.

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5. 7-Layer Dip

7-Layer Dip

What’s Special?

  • Total Time Taken: 20 minutes
  • Filled with salsa-refried beans
  • Guacamole and cheddar cheese mixture
  • Topped with your favorite topping

7-Layer Dip is one of the best dinner appetizers. You can use it as potluck casserole, as it contains multiple layers of cheddar cheese, refried beans, guacamole, and a customized topping. Served with tortilla chips or veggies to enhance the taste of the dip and let alone it is a perfect dish due to its multiple layers of ingredients.

Easy to make and so tasty that everyone like it contains multiple layers of creamy and fresh ingredients that are spread into a pan. Flavors of refried beans with the layering of guacamole, veggies, cheese, and seasoned sour cream make this recipe delicious.

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6. Pineapple Salsa

Pineapple Salsa

What’s Special?

  • Total Time Taken: 15 minutes
  • Colorful, fun, and fresh party appetizer
  • Little sweet and a little spicy with perfect taste
  • Served with grilled chicken or fish

Pineapple Salsa is a perfect blend of pineapples with cut tomatoes and herbs to make it look appealing. The pineapple salsa recipe contains a perfect combination of sweet and spicy, and you can serve it with grilled chicken or fish or with tortilla chips as an appetizer. The pineapple salsa recipe comprises loads of tomatoes, red onions, cilantro, and jalapenos.

Salsa is perfect for adding a modern look to your table; one of his specialties is that you can also add it on top of your favorite protein dish for dinner. Pineapple salsa is a favorite summertime recipe and provides you with all the nutrition you need to get going during scorching summers.

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7. Sweet and Sour Meatballs with Pineapple

sweet and sour meatballs with pineapple

What’s Special?

When you have already decided on the main course and want to put off a tantalizing side dish, this meatballs recipe is just what you require. It goes well with a number of main courses and makes one of the best potluck side dishes. I really like the sweet and tropical flavor of pineapple in it, but you can also use grape jelly or any other subtle sweet fruit to give it the desired flavor. And it is quick and easy to prepare.

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8. Olive Tapenade

Olive Tapenade

What’s Special?

  • Total Time Taken: 10 minutes
  • 10-minute appetizer dip
  • Sandwich spread or pizza sauce
  • The salty, briny flavor

Olive Tapenade is a tasty mixture of salty, fresh, and briny flavors usually served with crackers or baguettes to eat as a simple summer appetizer. It comprises a tasty olive tapenade with parsley, lemon, capers, and no anchovies. It is one of the easiest and quickest recipes. This recipe includes; zippy, salty, briny, and bold; make sure you check the salt levels. And if you love something different try these mexican potluck recipes, potluck side dishes or Easter potluck ideas.

Serve this olive blend with crostini or crackers, it is a fantastic appetizer, and guests enjoy it with drinks. The uniqueness is the blend of olives with spices and seasonings. There is also a garlicky and lemony minor taste to add tartness and aroma to the recipe.

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9. Homemade Hummus

Homemade Hummus

What’s Special?

  • Total Time Taken: 10 minutes
  • Super creamy, smooth homemade hummus
  • Blended with tahini, lemon juice, and garlic
  • Light, fluffy, and nutty

Homemade Hummus is incredibly creamy, light, and fluffy, made with smooth and swirled ingredients. This humus’s nutty, tangy, and lemon flavors are perfect to taste. Consisting of healthy and nutritious ingredients such as tahini, garlic, lemon, and chickpeas, this recipe is perfectly healthy and free of preservatives.

Homemade humus consists of plant-based products and dietary fiber. It has a freshness, and more robust flavor than store brought varieties. A quintessential middle eastern dip comprising citrus, tahini, chickpeas, and garlic combine to give a perfect flavor and something taste buds can remember for a long time.

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10. Buffalo Chicken Sliders

What’s Special?

  • Total Time Taken: 25 minutes
  • Reminiscent of buffalo chicken dip
  • Spicy buffalo sauce, melty cheese, and creamy ranch
  • Topped with a crispy bun on both sides as sliders

Buffalo Chicken Sliders are perfect for potluck dinners as they are modern food and catch everyone’s attention in no time. The perfect amount of cheese, cream, and spices inside the buffalo chicken are perfect for people who like spicy food filled with cream and cheese.

These sliders are perfect to use as an appetizer or a side dish. Just blend the ingredients well, fill the crispy bun with the stuffing, and watch it disappear—the perfect snacking sandwich with tangy and spicy buffalo chicken flavors.

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11. Cocktail Meatballs

What’s Special?

  • Total Time Taken: 40 minutes
  • Perfect appetizer comprising frozen meatball
  • Mixed with grape jelly and chili sauce
  • Served on a toothpick at parties

Cocktail Meatballs are one of the easiest and most tasty appetizers with the help of frozen meatballs. If you do not have a frozen meatball, you’ll need to make it from scratch, which will take more time. Flavors of grape jelly and chili sauce taste perfect with the cocktail meatballs and are served on toothpicks at parties.

They are incredible in such a way that they are easy to make, take less time, and become everyone’s favorite instantly due to their delicious taste and mouthwatering smoky chili sauce.

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12. Bang Bang Chicken

What’s Special?

  • Total Time Taken: 40 minutes
  • Super crispy chicken
  • Coated with buttermilk and panko breadcrumbs
  • Sweet chili mayo blend

Bang Bang Chicken is a beautiful Americanized version of a famous Chinese dish Sichuan. The name focuses twice on chicken because it is two-times fried chicken to increase its crispiness and flavor. The bang bang sauce enhances the flavor and taste of this recipe; due to this sauce and its perfect spices, you will love this recipe more than Sichuan.

Bang bang chicken is full of bold flavors such as peanut, lime, and chili, with the roasted chicken and ginger taste in the recipe being phenomenal. The chicken of this recipe also has a mixture of veggies, such as thinly sliced cucumber, cabbage, carrots, and noodles, to boost the flavor.

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13. Antipasto Skewers

What’s Special?

  • Total Time Taken: 30 minutes
  • The easiest appetizer led with flavors
  • Loaded with flavors of olives, tomatoes, and sausages
  • Layers of ingredients on to small wooden skewers

Antipasto Skewers are the easiest and quickest appetizers to serve at a party before the main course. This recipe contains loads of flavors of different ingredients, and the crowd will be more than happy to have them. This dish contains different layers of ingredients, including tomatoes, olives, mozzarella balls, cubed salami, fresh basil, and marinated mozzarella balls onto a small wooden skewer.

Serve them in a dish with some biscuits or salads as an appetizer. They are easy to make, and all you need to do is to load these ingredients onto the skewers and serve them. They are perfect for serving in bridal showers, parties, and potluck dinners due to their vibrant colors and blast of flavors.

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14. Champagne Punch

What’s Special?

  • Total Time Taken: 10 minutes
  • Easy and quick cocktail
  • A mixture of ginger ale and triple sec
  • Blend of orange and pomegranate juice

Champagne Punch is a beautiful-looking, refreshing recipe with delicious ingredients. This recipe’s vibrant and beautiful colors are perfect for holidays, gatherings, and potluck dinners. This champagne will make a valuable addition if you are looking for the best potluck dinner ideas.

Champagne punch is a bubbly and entertaining drink that takes everyone’s attention due to its colorful appearance and perfect party favor. This easy and delicious citrus champagne is fresh and combined with different citrus juices to refresh the party.

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15. Sheet Pan Pizza

What’s Special?

  • Total Time Taken: 1 hour 30 minutes
  • Simple no-rise pizza crust or thin crust pizza
  • Loaded with customizes favorite topping
  • Made in a big batch, crowd-pleasing

Sheet pan pizza is a thin-crust pizza, and its uniqueness is the big sheet pan. You can cook it easily and quickly without needing special equipment such as a pizza oven, pizza peel, or pizza stone. Sufficient to suffice a large crowd and made in big batches. It would help if you waited for the pizza dough to come to room temperature before assembling it.

This pizza is a bit different than the standard circular variety and can become everyone’s favorite instantly. The size of one sheet pan pizza is equal to three medium sizes pizzas.

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16. Moutabal

What’s Special?

  • Total Time Taken: 40 minutes
  • A perfect blend of lemon, tahini, and pomegranate
  • Homemade vegan eggplant dip
  • Served with pita bread

Moutabal is a perfect eggplant dish, also known as aubergine, in some areas. When the eggplant is marinated into a dip, it becomes Moutabal with other ingredients, including; pomegranate seeds, tahini, lemon, and garlic. Moutabal is rich in nutrients, and a healthy dip is usually served as an appetizer or a side dish.

Mostly potluck dinners involve Moutabal and serve them with crackers or pita bread. It is one of the most famous middle eastern region recipes and contains ingredients that are everyone’s favorite. Moutabal, also known as baba ghanoush, has perfect flavors of tahini, nuts, and aubergines.

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17. Rainbow Pasta Salad

What’s Special?

  • Total Time Taken: 30 minutes
  • Real quick and easy pasta salad
  • Mixed with rainbow pasta with fresh chopped veggies
  • Colorful and vibrant appetizer

As the name suggests, Rainbow Pasta Salad comprises different colors and flavors, perfect for summer parties. The extent of ease and no-brainer salad comes together within 30 minutes, and the taste of fresh and chopped veggies, including; tomatoes, herbs, olives, cucumber, carrot, and other veggies, make it look like a rainbow cooked in a dish.

You can customize the vegetables and add whatever you like to the pasta. It is a simple yet nutritious potluck salad that has become everyone’s favorite due to the presence of pasta in it.

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18. Cowboy Caviar

Cowboy Caviar recipe

What’s Special?

  • Total Time Taken: 20 minutes
  • Fresh, colorful, and simple dip
  • Midwestern take on salsa
  • Full of beans, corn, and fresh veggies

Cowboy Caviar is a great idea for summer potluck parties; it is a fresh and flavorful dip made with fresh vegetables, black beans, and corn. It is an excellent source of antioxidants, fiber, and healthy fats that provide various health benefits.

Cowboy caviar is a hearty and filling option for a potluck party appetizer or a healthy snack, which is an excellent topping for tacos, nachos, grilled meats, and salads. Being a colorful dish, it looks great on the table and contains the most nutrients. On top of that, it is easy to make and contains all the simple and easily accessible ingredients.

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Other potluck recipes you’ll like:

Potluck dinner ideas and recipes

18 Easy Potluck Dinner Ideas (Best Recipes)

Adalynn Ward
If you are looking for the perfect dish to bring to your next potluck dinner, you’ve come to the right place. Here you’ll find various delicious and easy-to-make recipes that will surely become everyone’s favorite when served on the table.
5 from 4 votes
Prep Time 35 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 20 minutes
Course Dinner
Servings 7 persons

Ingredients

  • Sweet and Sour Meatballs with Pineapple
  • Broccoli and Cauliflower Casserole
  • Cowboy Caviar
  • Rotel Dip
  • Crack Chicken
  • 7-Layer Dip
  • Meatballs with Grape Jelly and Chili sauce
  • Pineapple Salsa
  • Olive Tapenade
  • Homemade Hummus
  • Buffalo Chicken Sliders
  • Cocktail Meatballs
  • Bang Bang Chicken
  • Antipasto Skewers
  • Champagne Punch
  • Sheet Pan Pizza
  • Moutabal
  • Rainbow Pasta Salad

How to Make?
 

  • Please select any dish from these potluck dinner ideas and open it on a new tab.
  • Note down all the ingredients that you need for the dish.
  • Make sure that all the ingredients must be fresh.
  • Follow the instructions to make your favorite dish.
  • I hope you have made the dish that you want to make. Don't forget to give us your feedback.

Nutrition

Serving: 100gCalories: 250kcal
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Adalynn Ward
Hello!! My name is Adalynn I love to eat, travel, and eat some more! I am married to the man of my dreams and have a beautiful little girl whose smiles can brighten anyone’s day!