21 Thanksgiving Potluck Recipes That Will Wow Your Crowd (2024)

21 Thanksgiving Potluck Recipes That Will Wow Your Crowd (1)

If you're not hosting Thanksgiving this year, you may feel inspired to bring a dish to the feast. While some hosts enjoy preparing the entire meal from start to finish, others may want a helping hand when it comes to desserts, sides, or appetizers—or all three! Here are our favorite recipes for Thanksgiving potluck dishes.

Not sure what to bring? Start by checking with the host to make sure that you're not duplicating a dish they've already planned to make. Safe to say that the turkey will be taken care of, as well as dishes that need to be made quickly and served hot such as mashed potatoes. However, anything that can be kept in the refrigerator or better yet, served at room temperature, is a win.

For example, the Shredded Brussels-Sprout Salad with Hazelnut Crunch, pictured here, is a fantastic dish to bring to a potluck. It's simple to toss together at the last minute (don't dress it too early otherwise the sprouts will get soggy) and serve in the same bowl. Minimal cookware, minimal clean-up. Check and check! Another side dish that fits the bill? Cranberry sauce! Make it a day in advance and keep in the refrigerator until it's time for dinner. Serve in a pretty bowl for easy transporting.

Desserts are also sure to please. Bring our Perfect Pumpkin Pie and get a seat at the head of the table. Equally pleasing and even cuter are these Pumpkin Cupcakes, which are perfect for a crowd (and no one will think to make them!).

Enjoy the company and so many delicious options at this year's Thanksgiving potluck!

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Sweet Potato Casserole

21 Thanksgiving Potluck Recipes That Will Wow Your Crowd (2)

Who could resist sweet potatoes covered in ooey-gooey, caramelized marshmallows? This casserole is a crowd-pleaser that's easy to make in advance. Layer the potatoes and marshmallows in a baking dish and keep refrigerated for up to a day. When you arrive at the feast, bake for just 15 minutes while the turkey is resting.

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Roasted-Carrot-and-Beet Tart

21 Thanksgiving Potluck Recipes That Will Wow Your Crowd (3)

Vibrant in color and unique in texture, this showstopping tart is guaranteed to be a popular main course for vegetarians. It's made with store-bought phyllo dough, which creates an attractive flaky crust that requires little work.

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Perfect Pumpkin Pie

21 Thanksgiving Potluck Recipes That Will Wow Your Crowd (4)

Volunteer to make the ultimate Thanksgiving dessert—pumpkin pie—and you're sure to score an invitation to next year's feast, too. Our foolproof recipe will guide you through crimping picture-perfect edges and creating a creamy, crack-free custard.

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Orange-Scented Cranberry Sauce

21 Thanksgiving Potluck Recipes That Will Wow Your Crowd (5)

This orange-infused cranberry sauce is oh, so quick and easy to prepare. Serve the sauce at room temperature to experience its flavors at their fullest.

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Shrimp and Crudité Platter with Two Sauces

21 Thanksgiving Potluck Recipes That Will Wow Your Crowd (6)

There's something for everyone on this impressive platter. Filled with poached shrimp, hard boiled eggs, and an array of colorful vegetables, this appetizer is sure to get the party started off right. A good guest brings their own platters to a potluck party, so remember to pack up all of the elements needed to set up this elegant display.

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Green Bean Casserole

21 Thanksgiving Potluck Recipes That Will Wow Your Crowd (7)

No canned soup here! Once you introduce this side dish to the Thanksgiving table, you'll be asked to make it again and again. The secret to our version of the ultimate Thanksgiving side is freshly fried shallots, which are crispier and more flavorful than the packaged variety.

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Apple Pie

21 Thanksgiving Potluck Recipes That Will Wow Your Crowd (8)

Our most popular apple pie recipe! You'll be the talk of the dinner table if you bring this winner of a dessert. It's a total classic and absolutely delicious.

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Zucchini Cornbread Muffins

21 Thanksgiving Potluck Recipes That Will Wow Your Crowd (9)

Make-ahead and no need to reheat? Sounds like the perfect potluck dish for Thanksgiving! Zucchini and buttermilk work double duty to create super moist muffins.

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Carrot Slaw with Caraway and Raisins

21 Thanksgiving Potluck Recipes That Will Wow Your Crowd (10)

Serve up a side of this crunchy, bright orange slaw to accompany the turkey on Thanksgiving. Two things make it perfect for a potluck—it can be prepared up to three days in advance and served at room temperature. Win-win!

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Pumpkin Cheesecake

Combining two crowd-pleasing desserts—cheesecake and pumpkin pie—this spiced pumpkin cheesecake will be a big hit at Thanksgiving dinner. When making the crust, try using gingersnap crumbs rather than graham cracker crumbs for even more flavor.

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Deviled Egg with Relish

21 Thanksgiving Potluck Recipes That Will Wow Your Crowd (12)

Deviled eggs are always a party pleaser (and easy to transport and serve too). We haven't strayed too far from the classic recipe here—just a few tablespoons of relish adds a hint of tanginess.

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Date, Olive, and Goat-Cheese Tart

21 Thanksgiving Potluck Recipes That Will Wow Your Crowd (13)

Potlucks are a great opportunity to wow family and friends with something new to try. Store-bought puff pastry makes this appetizer easy to prepare—just spread in the cheese and olive mixture and top it all off with sweet chopped dates.

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Tomato-Jam Pinwheels

21 Thanksgiving Potluck Recipes That Will Wow Your Crowd (14)

These gorgeous bite-sized appetizers are a breeze to make. Create a sweet tomato jam with cherry tomatoes, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, garlic, and herbs; then spread it over cheese-topped store-bought puff pastry, chill, slice, and bake.

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Roasted Carrots with Parsley Yogurt

21 Thanksgiving Potluck Recipes That Will Wow Your Crowd (15)

Most vegetable dishes are best served hot (doable, but requires some coordination between the guest and host). This carrot side can be served at room temperature, which makes it easy to unwrap and place on the table—then just dress with a quick homemade herb yogurt.

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Date-Pecan Pie

21 Thanksgiving Potluck Recipes That Will Wow Your Crowd (16)

Here's a sweet end to the feast! A classic pecan pie is dazzled up with rich pitted Medjool dates, which add sweetness. It's great for a potluck because the entire dessert can be made in advance and served at room temperature (with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, of course).

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Sage and Honey Skillet Cornbread

21 Thanksgiving Potluck Recipes That Will Wow Your Crowd (17)

Want to make a side dish that is guaranteed to draw applause? Look no further than this simple, flavorful cornbread. Fresh sage and honey give it a slight upgrade, but the preparation is classic.

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Julienned-Carrot and Kale Salad

21 Thanksgiving Potluck Recipes That Will Wow Your Crowd (18)

With so many carb-heavy sides served on Thanksgiving, a crisp salad is a welcome addition to the dinner table. Seasonal vegetables like carrots and kale shine bright when tossed with a light lemon and Dijon vinaigrette.

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Herb-and-Cheese Rolls

21 Thanksgiving Potluck Recipes That Will Wow Your Crowd (19)

What's Thanksgiving without a bread basket filled with warm, buttery rolls? Plenty of grated Parmesan cheese, chopped fresh thyme and parsley, and grated lemon zest transform a simple yeast dough into something utterly flavorful and fun to unroll.

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Pumpkin Cupcakes

21 Thanksgiving Potluck Recipes That Will Wow Your Crowd (20)

Cupcakes are a fabulous way to serve a cute, unexpected dessert for Thanksgiving. Transport them on one big platter or in a handy cupcake caddy.

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Sweet Potato and Sage-Butter Casserole

21 Thanksgiving Potluck Recipes That Will Wow Your Crowd (21)

Can't decide between bringing mashed potatoes or sweet potatoes to dinner? This easy-going dish combines sweet and Yukon gold potatoes under a crunchy topping of buttery breadcrumbs. It can be made-ahead and reheated while the turkey is resting (good potluck guests don't demand oven time while the main course is cooking!).

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21 Thanksgiving Potluck Recipes That Will Wow Your Crowd (2024)

FAQs

What food to bring to a Thanksgiving party? ›

40 Potluck Dishes to Bring This Thanksgiving
  • 01 of 40. Sweet Potato Biscuits. ...
  • 02 of 40. Tee's Corn Pudding. ...
  • 03 of 40. Slow-Cooker Sweet Potatoes with Bacon. ...
  • 04 of 40. Our Easiest Pumpkin Pie Ever. ...
  • 05 of 40. Yeast Rolls. ...
  • 06 of 40. Buttermilk Spoon Bread. ...
  • 07 of 40. Spicy Cranberry Orange Relish. ...
  • 08 of 40.
Jul 7, 2022

What to bring for a friendsgiving potluck? ›

Next, make sure all of the Thanksgiving side dishes get their moment to shine: baked potatoes, green bean casserole, and candied carrots. You'll want to serve a few appetizers (think: small bites, bread basket ideas, and party dips) and a signature drink or two (apple cider co*cktails and mocktails, included).

What is the easiest thing to bring to a potluck? ›

​The best foods to bring to a potluck are easy-to-make dishes and finger foods like cheese dip, corn on the cob, casseroles, guacamole, slow cooker mac and cheese, potato salad, caprese, charcuterie boards, jalapeño poppers, sliders, pinwheels, and pasta salad.

How to make a Thanksgiving buffet? ›

People naturally want to move from left to right at a buffet table, so take advantage of that flow: start with stacks of plates on the left end of the table, then follow them with the turkey (and any other big proteins you might be serving) and then heavy, starchy dishes like mashed potatoes and stuffing (and anything ...

What to bring to Thanksgiving when they say don't bring anything? ›

"Some of my personal favorites are paper co*cktail napkins, a tin of Louis Sherry chocolates, or a unique candle," recommends Strait. "It is fun to bring something the host might not pick up for themselves! A gift for a host does not have to break the bank, it just shows you appreciate them for hosting."

What to bring to Thanksgiving out of town? ›

Here are a couple of suggestions:
  1. Flowers (arranged in a vase or container)
  2. Cornucopia.
  3. Box of chocolates.
  4. Box of teas.
  5. Gourmet treats like specialty cheeses, jam containers, crackers or a beautifully packaged gourmet gift basket.
  6. Wine.
  7. Holiday drink mix.
  8. Book.
Nov 16, 2023

What to bring to a potluck last minute? ›

Last Minute Potluck Ideas
  • Caprese Skewers. Thread cherry tomatoes, mozzarella balls and fresh basil onto skewers for a simple yet elegant potluck appetizer. ...
  • Gourmet Cheese Platter. ...
  • Store-Bought Rotisserie Chicken. ...
  • Tortilla Pinwheels. ...
  • Fruit Salad. ...
  • Frozen Meatballs in Sauce. ...
  • Assorted Cookies. ...
  • Fruit Skewers.
May 20, 2024

What is a good side dish for a potluck? ›

Healthy Potluck Side Dish Recipes
  • Creamy Squash Casserole Recipe. 50 mins.
  • Cucumber Chickpea Salad with Feta & Lemon. 15 mins.
  • Loaded Broccoli Salad. 25 mins.
  • Beet Salad. 1 hr 45 mins.
  • Sunomono (Japanese Cucumber Salad) 15 mins.
  • Cucumber-Yogurt Salad. ...
  • Oven-Roasted Squash with Garlic & Parsley. ...
  • Yukon Gold & Sweet Potato Mash.

How to host a Thanksgiving potluck? ›

Create the Thanksgiving potluck menu

But allow them to choose the specific dish. Your guidance still allows them to bring their own unique flare to the meal. Confirm at least a week ahead of time with each guest the meal they plan on bringing in advance to avoid duplicate dishes.

What dishes can you make before Thanksgiving? ›

Mashed Potatoes
  • Classic Make-Ahead Macaroni And Cheese.
  • Easy Cauliflower Casserole.
  • Savory Sweet Potato Casserole.
  • Double-Crust Pie Pastry.
  • Homemade Cranberry Sauce.
  • Lacey's Cornbread Dressing.
  • 5-Ingredient Thanksgiving Recipes To Make The Holiday Just A Bit Easier.
  • Can You Leave A Turkey Out To Thaw Overnight?

What should a guest bring to Thanksgiving dinner? ›

Here are a couple of suggestions:
  1. Flowers (arranged in a vase or container)
  2. Cornucopia.
  3. Box of chocolates.
  4. Box of teas.
  5. Gourmet treats like specialty cheeses, jam containers, crackers or a beautifully packaged gourmet gift basket.
  6. Wine.
  7. Holiday drink mix.
  8. Book.
Nov 16, 2023

What is acceptable to bring to a potluck? ›

Potluck food should be plate-based. Unless you plan on bringing a stash of disposable bowls and spoons, it's best to stick to food that can be eaten off a plate with a fork. If you don't have time to cook, there's a world of store-bought food that is acceptable to bring to a potluck.

How do you plate Thanksgiving food? ›

How to Build a Balanced Thanksgiving Plate:
  1. Downsize your dinner plate. ...
  2. Fill half of your plate with greens and veggies. ...
  3. Load a quarter of your plate with turkey. ...
  4. Top off the last quarter of your plate with your favorite starches, like roasted yams, mashed potatoes or that too-good-to-resist stuffing.
Nov 14, 2022

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