26 Dishes That’ve Been Keeping Potlucks Together Since Day One

Potlucks don’t work without the dishes that always show up and always get eaten. These 26 recipes are the ones that have held tables together from the very beginning. They’re practical, reliable, and bring the kind of comfort that never goes out of style. If it’s been feeding a crowd and filling plates for years, it’s probably on this list.

Garlicky Green Beans with Fried Onions

Garlicky Green Beans with Fried Onions combine crisp veggies and crunchy toppings into the kind of side that’s anchored potlucks for decades. The garlic keeps it bold, the fried onions keep it interesting, and it all comes together fast. It’s easy to serve and never feels like an afterthought. People tend to remember these before they remember the casserole.
Get the Recipe: Garlicky Green Beans with Fried Onions

Brown Butter Garlic Mashed Potatoes

Brown Butter Garlic Mashed Potatoes go all in on flavor, turning a classic side into a must-have at potlucks everywhere. The browned butter gives them depth, and the texture stays smooth even after reheating. These are the kind of mashed potatoes that don’t need gravy to be great. People go back for them before they check what’s for dessert.
Get the Recipe: Brown Butter Garlic Mashed Potatoes

Roasted Honey Glazed Carrots

Red, yellow, and orange honey glazed carrots on a slate board. — Roasted Honey Glazed Carrots. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

Roasted Honey Glazed Carrots bring just enough char and sweetness to hold their own on any potluck table. They’re easy to roast in big batches and pair with nearly anything else being served. It’s a simple dish that’s stood the test of time. These carrots don’t sit around waiting—they disappear early.
Get the Recipe: Roasted Honey Glazed Carrots

Balsamic Glazed Brussels Sprouts

Balsamic Glazed Brussels Sprouts roast until crisp and coated in tangy glaze, making them more than just a veggie side—they’re a potluck essential. They don’t need much prep and always come through with flavor. This is the dish that proves Brussels sprouts earned their seat at the potluck. Even the skeptics make room for these.
Get the Recipe: Balsamic Glazed Brussels Sprouts

Zucchini Noodle Salad

Zucchini Noodle Salad brings freshness and crunch to balance out the heavier casseroles at any potluck. It’s light, colorful, and doesn’t need to be kept hot or cold to stay great. Even among rich dishes, this one pulls its weight. When it shows up, it’s the first green thing to go.
Get the Recipe: Zucchini Noodle Salad

Honey Garlic Carrots

Honey Garlic Carrots strike that perfect balance of sweet and savory that always shows up on well-stocked potluck tables. They’re quick to reheat, easy to scoop, and never last long. Every bite adds something familiar to the plate. These are the carrots that get scraped up before the serving spoon cools off.
Get the Recipe: Honey Garlic Carrots

Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Almonds and Feta

A bowl of roasted brussels sprouts. — Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Almonds and Feta. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Almonds and Feta bring texture, tang, and crunch to the table in one easy-to-serve dish. They hold up at room temperature and travel well, which makes them perfect for potlucks. The mix of nutty and creamy never fails to stand out. This is the tray that quietly gets emptied every time.
Get the Recipe: Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Almonds and Feta

Citrus Dream Tart

Citrus Dream Tart finishes off the potluck spread with bright flavor and sharp edges that cut through all the creamy casseroles. It slices clean, plates easily, and always seems to vanish faster than expected. No need for heavy frostings or sauces—this one speaks for itself. It’s the dessert that shows up quietly and leaves a big impression.
Get the Recipe: Citrus Dream Tart

Worcestershire Green Beans

Worcestershire Green Beans bring bold, salty flavor that keeps them from fading into the background at any potluck. They cook quickly, travel well, and don’t wilt on the table. They’re a smart way to get a vegetable dish in without sacrificing flavor. These are the beans that have more presence than they let on.
Get the Recipe: Worcestershire Green Beans

Drop Biscuits with Orange Honey Butter

Drop Biscuits with Orange Honey Butter bring a bright, citrus finish to the kind of bread potlucks have always relied on. They’re quick to scoop and bake, and come with just enough sweetness to stand out. No cutting, no shaping—just straight into the oven. These are the biscuits that show up looking plain but leave the plate empty.
Get the Recipe: Drop Biscuits with Orange Honey Butter

Parmesan Crusted Potatoes

Parmesan Crusted Potatoes bake into crispy-bottomed bites that people can’t stop picking at. They’re easy to scale up, hold up on long tables, and pair with almost everything. This dish earns space by being simple and good every single time. The tray always looks like it was scraped with intent.
Get the Recipe: Parmesan Crusted Potatoes

Easy Vegetarian Seven-Layer Dip

A person holds a chip topped with diced tomatoes, green onions, cheese, and olives, over a bowl filled with the same ingredients. The background is a light-colored countertop. — Easy Vegetarian Seven-Layer Dip. Photo credit: My Mocktail Forest.

Easy Vegetarian Seven-Layer Dip stacks up quickly and always brings color and crunch to potluck tables. It works with chips, veggies, and the occasional brave spoon. Everyone recognizes it—and no one minds scooping seconds. It’s the dip that keeps things lively before the real dishes arrive.
Get the Recipe: Easy Vegetarian Seven-Layer Dip

Easy Squash Casserole

A glass baking dish filled with baked squash casserole. — Easy Squash Casserole. Photo credit: Not Entirely Average.

Easy Squash Casserole shows up with its soft center and crisp top, just like every reliable potluck side should. It’s simple to make, easy to serve, and hard to forget. Even folks who swear off squash usually come around. This is the side dish that quietly wins the table.
Get the Recipe: Easy Squash Casserole

Taco Potato Casserole

Taco Potato Casserole hits all the potluck essentials: cheesy, hearty, and made to serve a crowd. It’s a full plate in one dish and holds up through seconds and thirds. No one has to ask what it is—it announces itself. This casserole has been carrying potlucks for longer than anyone remembers.
Get the Recipe: Taco Potato Casserole

Mexican Street Corn

Mexican Street Corn shows up loud and proud with color, flavor, and just enough bite to turn heads. It’s easy to scale and always earns compliments. The creamy topping holds firm and keeps things exciting. This is the side that makes people pause mid-bite to say something.
Get the Recipe: Mexican Street Corn

Cheesy Easy Cauliflower Casserole

A baked dish with a large serving of cheesy cauliflower in a glass baking dish is next to a white plate holding a portion of the same dish. The background is a light wooden surface. A fork is visible beside the plate. — Cheesy Easy Cauliflower Casserole. Photo credit: Thermocookery.

Cheesy Easy Cauliflower Casserole bakes up bubbly and golden, making it a reliable go-to for potlucks big and small. It’s easy to serve, even easier to finish, and comforting in every bite. You don’t have to oversell this one—it’s been doing its job since casserole dishes were invented. It’s the kind of side people expect to see and are glad someone brought.
Get the Recipe: Cheesy Easy Cauliflower Casserole

Marinated Brussels Sprouts

Marinated Brussels Sprouts add tang and crunch to potluck tables that are usually heavy with cheese and starch. They’re quick to prep, serve cold or room temp, and don’t lose steam after sitting out. They surprise people in the best way. It’s the quiet vegetable side that gets remembered.
Get the Recipe: Marinated Brussels Sprouts

Creamy Baked Feta Dip with Dates, Hazelnuts, and Honey

Creamy Baked Feta Dip with Dates, Hazelnuts, and Honey hits that middle ground between sweet and savory that makes potlucks more interesting. It’s baked in one pan and goes just as well with crackers as with carrots. It’s the dip people ask about afterward but can’t quite explain. This one’s a sleeper hit that keeps showing up.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Baked Feta Dip with Dates, Hazelnuts, and Honey

Spring Onion Potato Salad

Spring Onion Potato Salad puts a sharp spin on a potluck classic by adding just enough bite to balance the creaminess. It doesn’t need to be chilled, which makes it perfect for buffet tables. People recognize it and trust it. This is the kind of salad that speaks for itself.
Get the Recipe: Spring Onion Potato Salad

Greek Lemon Potatoes

Greek Lemon Garlic Potatoes in a black dish with lemon in the background. — Greek Lemon Potatoes. Photo credit: Cook What You Love.

Greek Lemon Potatoes bring roasted edges and herby citrus flavor that’s always welcome at a potluck spread. They stay firm, reheat well, and hold their own beside anything from ham to green beans. There’s nothing fussy here—just a dish that knows what it’s doing. These are the potatoes everyone adds, even if there’s already another on their plate.
Get the Recipe: Greek Lemon Potatoes

Easy 3-Ingredient Onion Dip

Easy 3-Ingredient Onion Dip is one of those no-fail starters that’s kept potlucks running smoothly for generations. It whips up fast and works with just about anything crunchy. The flavor is familiar, the prep is minimal, and the bowl’s always empty by the time the mains are served. It’s the dip that’s always there—and always gone.
Get the Recipe: Easy 3-Ingredient Onion Dip

One-Pot Buttermilk Chicken and Potatoes Casserole

A plate of roasted chicken with crispy skin, garnished with chopped green herbs. Beside the chicken are sliced potatoes and mushrooms. An ornate fork is placed on the plate, which has a decorative floral pattern. — One-Pot Buttermilk Chicken and Potatoes Casserole. Photo credit: Thermocookery.

One-Pot Buttermilk Chicken and Potatoes Casserole brings comfort, convenience, and crowd-feeding power all in one dish. It’s rich without being heavy and simple without being boring. It makes sense on any potluck table—and always disappears. This is the main that holds the spread together when the casseroles run low.
Get the Recipe: One-Pot Buttermilk Chicken and Potatoes Casserole

Zesty Italian Pasta Salad

A bowl with spiral pasta, vegetables, pepperoni, and arugula. — Zesty Italian Pasta Salad. Photo credit: fANNEtastic food.

Zesty Italian Pasta Salad holds up on hot days, busy tables, and long lines—and that’s why it’s stuck around at potlucks for so long. It’s easy to double, simple to prep ahead, and never goes uneaten. The veggies stay crisp, and the dressing holds flavor even hours in. This one always seems to be the first cold dish to run out.
Get the Recipe: Zesty Italian Pasta Salad

Easy Scalloped Potatoes

Small baking dish with scalloped potatoes. — Easy Scalloped Potatoes. Photo credit: Little Bit Recipes.

Easy Scalloped Potatoes keep it classic with thin layers, creamy sauce, and just the right amount of crust on top. They hold heat well and stay intact even on a busy table. No one skips this one when they pass by. It’s the casserole dish that feels like it’s always been there.
Get the Recipe: Easy Scalloped Potatoes

Grandma’s Cornbread

Overhead shot of cornbread in a cast iron skillet with a single slice cut out. — Grandma’s Cornbread. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

Grandma’s Cornbread brings soft centers, crisp edges, and a sense of tradition to any potluck it shows up at. It works with chili, casseroles, or straight out of the pan. Everyone knows it, and no one ever turns it down. This is the bread that’s earned its place at the table—and kept it.
Get the Recipe: Grandma’s Cornbread

Chicken Broccoli Potato Casserole

Chicken Broccoli Potato Casserole combines everything into one pan: protein, veggies, and comfort. It reheats well, feeds a crowd, and still looks good after a drive across town. This one never goes untouched. It’s the casserole you hope someone’s already brought.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Broccoli Potato Casserole