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Our Favorite 35 Recipes That Are Perfect to Bring to Any Fall Potluck

Potlucks are a cherished part of American—especially Southern—culture, built on sharing simple, crowd-pleasing dishes. This list features easy, make-ahead savory and sweet recipes perfect for fall gatherings. From dips to desserts, they’re low-effort, high-reward, and sure to be a hit.

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Whether you're headed to a church gathering, a family reunion, or a casual fall get-together with neighbors, there's nothing quite like a good ol' potluck. Growing up in the South, I learned early on that potlucks are more than just shared meals—they’re a tradition rooted in community and comfort. But let’s be honest: nobody has time to prep five different dishes. That’s why I’m all about bringing one or two crowd-pleasers that are easy to make, don’t need a laundry list of ingredients, and can hold up well on the table for hours.

In this list, I’ve rounded up my favorite savory and sweet potluck recipes—from creamy dips and flaky finger foods to cozy casseroles and make-ahead desserts. These are dishes you can whip up without stress, knowing they’ll disappear fast and have folks asking for the recipe. Whether you're planning ahead or pulling it together last-minute, these potluck staples are perfect for fall and beyond. Let’s dig in!

1. Antipasto Squares: a unique, delicious appetizer your guests will adore
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Antipasto squares are a tasty appetizer to serve the next time you're feeding a crowd. They're packed with melty provolone cheese, Italian deli meats, roasted red peppers and pepperoncini.
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2. Easy and Tasty Mediterranean Pasta Salad
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Mediterranean Pasta Salad is a simple and tasty main dish for summer, ideal to bring to the table in the warmer months, when you really don't feel like cooking. A practical, inviting and colorful recipe, ready in just a few minutes, here made with a quick and tasty "raw" sauce, and with mezzi rigatoni: to be replaced at will with farfalle, penne rigate, fusilli, conchiglie or another short format of your choice.
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3. Mushrooms Lasagna: our tasty recipe to enjoy mushrooms
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Mushroom lasagna is a perfect fall main dish to enjoy with the family. Lasagna noodle layers are alternated with a creamy mushroom and wine sauce, béchamel sauce and grated parmesan.
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4. Fresh Zucchini Salad With Cherry Tomatoes and Parmesan Flakes
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Fresh zucchini salad with cherry tomatoes, basil, and Parmesan—an easy, flavorful side dish for summer meals.
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5. 4-Ingredient Ham and Cheese Pinwheels
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When you're craving something warm, cheesy, and effortlessly delicious, ham and cheese rolls are the answer. With just a few basic ingredients, puff pastry, ham, cheese, and an egg wash, you've got a snack that feels like a celebration in every bite.
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6. Macaroni Salad: the ultimate recipe for the beloved summer side dish
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Macaroni salad is a tasty recipe perfect to enjoy at a barbecue or potluck. It's made of tender macaroni, celery, bell pepper, and onion, all tossed in a creamy mayo-based dressing.
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7. French Onion Beef Sliders for an excellent dinner party
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French Onion Beef Sliders is an excellent appetizer to serve your guests, it is a simple dish to prepare, very delicious and its ingredients are accessible. The secret to get a perfect recipe, full of flavor is to season the meat correctly and let the onions cook for the time necessary to achieve juicy caramelized onions.
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8. 3-Ingredient Caprese Puff Pastry Tarts: the Easy Recipe for The Perfect Appetizer!
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This recipe takes the classic Caprese salad—a delicious combination of juicy tomatoes, fresh mozzarella or other cheese, and fragrant basil—and transforms it into an elegant and tasty finger food. Perfect for any party, potluck, or even a light summer lunch, these bite-sized treats are incredibly easy to whip up.
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9. Pigs in blankets: how to make them perfect in no-time
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How to make the best appetizer with honey dijon dip.
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10. Cold Pasta with Zucchini and Ricotta
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Cold Pasta with Zucchini and Ricotta is a fresh, creamy summer dish made with sautéed zucchini, lemon zest, and herbs—perfect for picnics and light meals!
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11. Sweet and Sour Meatballs: Crispy and Delicious
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Make sweet and sour meatballs with crispy fried meatballs and a tangy, sweet sauce. Easy, flavorful, and perfect for family dinners or quick meals!
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12. Crispy Fried Chicken
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Learn how to make golden, crispy fried chicken with a crunchy cornflake coating and juicy marinated center—perfect for dinner or parties!
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13. Savory And Cheesy Chicken Muffins
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Savory Chicken and Cheese Muffins are a quick and delicious breakfast or appetizer, perfect to start a lunch with friends or to take with you on a trip out of town. These are soft savory cakes, prepared with a soft yogurt dough, that will conquer adults and children from the first bite.
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14. Baked Mac and Cheese: Ultra Creamy and Cheesy Comfort Food
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Baked mac and cheese is the ultimate comfort food, packed with creamy, cheesy goodness in every bite. This oven-baked version features a rich bechamel sauce infused with mozzarella, Emmental, and cheddar, coating tender pasta for the perfect combination of flavor and texture. Whether you're serving it as a main dish or a side, this classic recipe is guaranteed to be a family favorite!
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15. Authentic Spanakopita (Classic Greek Spinach and Feta Pie)
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Spanakopita, a traditional Greek dish, is a savory pie filled with spinach, feta cheese, and aromatic herbs, all wrapped in layers of crisp, golden phyllo dough. This dish is perfect for a family dinner, a potluck, or even as a snack. With its flaky pastry and flavorful filling, spanakopita is a surefire crowd-pleaser that brings the taste of Greece to your kitchen.
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16. Easy Pull Apart Cheeseburger Sliders
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Well then, look no further than our delicious Cheeseburger Sliders—a crowd-pleasing dish that's perfect for any occasion, from game day gatherings to casual family dinners.
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17. Zucchini Slice Lorraine: a fresh, delicious, hearty meal 
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Zucchini slice Lorraine is a delicious recipe to serve hot or cold in summer. It's packed with fresh zucchini, eggs, and bacon, then baked to golden brown perfection.
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18. Baked Bread and Eggplant Parmesan: The Delicious Recipe to Reuse Stale Bread!
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There’s a special kind of triumph in turning something forgotten at the back of your breadbox into something delicious. Baked bread and eggplant is a dish that takes day-old bread and tired eggplants, and transforms them into a bubbling, cheesy, and tomato-slicked meak.
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19. Coleslaw: the easy, refreshing recipe for a classic summer side dish
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Coleslaw is an easy salad recipe you can serve as side during summery barbecues. It's made of crunchy shredded red, green cabbage and carrots tossed with a creamy dressing.
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20. Potato Salad: the best-ever recipe for a beloved Southern side dish
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Potato salad is an easy, classic side dish recipe. It's made with tender boiled potatoes, crunchy raw vegetables and hard-boiled eggs coated in a creamy mayonnaise-based dressing.
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21. Fluffy and Easy Homemade Parker House Rolls
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Nothing quite compares to the pillowy softness and rich buttery flavor of homemade Parker House Rolls. Perfect for holiday dinners, family gatherings, or simply a cozy evening meal, these fluffy buns are a classic American favorite. With their golden crust and melt-in-your-mouth texture, they’re the ultimate dinner roll experience.
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22. Perfectly Creamy Authentic Tzatziki Dip
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Tzatziki is perfect as a side dish and quick to make. With a bit of patience and direction, you’ll have a creamy dip perfect for hot summer days or as a cooling side to spicy dishes.
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23. Baked Ricotta Dip With Tomatoes and Olives
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If you require a colorful, and flavorful appetizer or side dish, this baked ricotta recipe will work perfectly. The creaminess and sweetness of the ricotta pairs beautifully with roasted tomatoes, olives, capers, and basil.
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24. Hot Corn Dip: a mouthwatering party appetizer for feeding a crowd
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Hot corn dip is an easy, tasty dip to serve as appetizer during a game day or party. It's packed with tender sautéed corn and bell peppers mixed into a creamy, cheesy, spicy dip.
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25. Easy & Best Hummus Recipe (Super Creamy!)
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This hummus recipe is inspired by traditional Middle Eastern hummus, which is loaded with chickpeas, tahini, lemon juice, garlic, and olive oil for a creamy and flavourful dip.
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26. Waldorf Salad: a delicious, beautiful salad to make for any occasion
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Waldorf salad is a tasty side or appetizer recipe perfect for holiday season. It's made of sweet-tart apples, celery, grapes, and walnuts tossed with mayo and served on a bed of lettuce.
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27. Buckeye Bites: a perfect dessert for parties and potlucks
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Peanut butter and chocolate are a match made in heaven. There are dozens of wonderful ways to combine the two, but one of the all-time most popular peanut butter and chocolate recipes out there is buckeye bites. The name comes from this toothsome sweet's resemblance to the buckeye nut.
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28. Banana Pudding: How to Make it at Home in a Few Steps!
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Creamy vanilla pudding, fluffy whipped cream, sweet bananas, and crunchy cookies all take turns dazzling your taste buds in this recipe.
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29. Smart Chocolate Squares: The Dessert to Feed a Crowd
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Smart Chocolate Squares are an all-in-one treat with layers of airy cocoa sponge, creamy whipped topping, silky chocolate sauce, and a final flourish of pistachios and strawberries.
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30. Fresh and Delicious Lemon Bars
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Tangy, buttery, and bright—these lemon bars are the perfect sweet treat. Easy to bake and impossible to resist!
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31. Fudge Brownies: The Delicious and Easy-to-Prepare American Dessert
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Their fudgy texture means they’re best enjoyed slightly warm or at room temperature, when each bite is perfectly tender and deeply chocolatey.
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32. Fried Apple Pie Rolls: a Quick Recipe for a Delicious, Crispy and Sweet Dessert!
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Filled with a sweet mixture of apples, cinnamon, and a touch of sugar, these apple rolls come together in a flash.  They can be baked in the oven for a comforting, warm treat, or even whipped up in the air fryer for a healthier option.  So ditch the complicated pastry and embrace the ease of tortillas for a delightful apple dessert anyone can enjoy!
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33. Peanut Butter Bars: Really Tasty and Ready Without Bake!
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Peanut butter bars epitomize the elegance of minimalist baking.These bars feature a graham crackers, peanut butter, chocolate, and sugar, that come together in one mixing bowl, get topped with a glossy peanut butter-chocolate crown, and chill out in the fridge.
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34. Cinnamon Rolls: Soft and Really Delicious!
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If cinnamon rolls had a personality, they’d be the charming extroverts of the baked goods world, warm, sweet, and impossible to ignore.
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35. Pumpkin Pie Bars: the cozy, irresistible dessert full of autumn flavors
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Pumpkin pie bars are the perfect bite-sized dessert to enjoy this fall. It's made with a buttery shortbread base and a sweet pumpkin pie filling, then baked until golden brown.
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