20 Best Summer Potluck Recipes
These easy recipes are just what your summer potluck needs!
It's summertime! The sun is shining, the birds are singing, the bugs are (unfortunately) biting, and it's time for a picnic potluck. It can be hard to decide on which potluck recipes to bring to the party--there are so many summer potluck ideas out there! You don't want to merely grill some frozen hot dogs or hamburgers, and you don't want to bring that same-old macaroni salad either. It can be a real conundrum. What should you bring to the summer potluck?
Luckily, this collection of the 20 Best Summer Potluck Recipes is sure to make your life easier. These easy summer potluck recipes will impress all of your friends and family, from the adults to the little ones. From summer potluck sides to appetizers to desserts, these recipes are the way to go to make any picnic potluck a success.
Hungry for more summer potluck recipes? Kick off summer 2021 by heading over to our Countdown to Summer Virtual Potluck!
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Table of Contents
Potluck Finger Foods
Potluck appetizers can be the best part of a picnic! After all, who doesn't love finger foods? Your summer party will be a success thanks to these quick and easy potluck appetizers.
What's a potluck without chips and dip? This Chunky Cowboy-Style Salsa is a hearty salsa with all the bright colors and tastes that you need to start your summer right.
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These BBQ Meatball Sliders are a fun way to make any picnic or BBQ party memorable. This tasty recipe is the perfect addition to a full table.
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These Bacon-Wrapped Brats are a great addition to any picnic or neighborhood potluck. These delicious brats won't sit on the plate for long!
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What's any party without ranch? This Ranch Chicken Cheese Dip comes together in a matter of minutes, perfect for a last-minute easy potluck dish.
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Bacon Ranch Chicken Salad Stuffed Tomatoes
These Bacon Ranch Chicken Salad Stuffed Tomatoes are a great finger food for hot summer days.
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Hungry for more? Check out these20 Lovely Lemon Dessert Recipes
Easy Potluck Side Dishes
Have you ever been to a potluck where you ended up with fifteen platters of hamburgers? Don't let that happen again! Here's a list of our five favorite potluck side dish recipes. These cheap potluck dishes are all easy side dishes for a large crowd. Nobody will go hungry on your watch!
Of course, every good summer potluck needs to feature baked beans. This recipe for retro-style Dude Ranch Beans is the answer to your prayers. This easy potluck side is the perfect combination of pork and beans. We know that these BBQ beans will satisfy everyone.
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Mama's Best Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad
Serve this pasta salad recipe at your church's next potluck and you're sure to get some compliments. This is a classic pasta salad recipe that won't go out of style.
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This Easy Breezy Hawaiian Coleslaw recipe will make you feel like you're on vacation. Pair this coleslaw with BBQ ribs, and you'll be king of the summer potluck in no time at all.
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This is a traditional Mexican street corn recipe, also known as elote. This sweet corn is topped with crumbly cotija cheese and sprinkled with just the right amount of spice.
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This Creamy Pesto Potato Salad is a great summer side dish for any potluck. This basil-loaded side dish is sure to be the best potato salad at any picnic.
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Potluck Dinner Recipes
This is the main event! These potluck main dishes are sure to make a splash. Featuring lots of meat, grill recipes, and plenty of BBQ, these are all great potluck main dishes for a crowd.
One potluck main dish you absolutely have to give a shot is this recipe for Baked Baby Back Ribs. Grilled to mouthwatering perfection, this is one summertime rib recipe you don't want to miss.
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Baked hot dogs make the ultimate classic summer meal wrapped in slices of bacon and baked, they’re ready to eat in 25 minutes. Everything is better with slices of bacon wrapped around it including hot dogs!
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This mouthwatering Grilled London Broil can be made in a snap. Marinated in Easy Red Wine Marinade for Beef or your favorite beef marinade, this London broil will be a favorite at any picnic!
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Bacon Cheeseburger Sloppy Joes
Sloppy Joes are one of the easiest potluck recipes ever! This classic picnic food will travel well to any potluck location.
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Everyone loves barbecue, and everyone loves chicken wings--so this recipe is a no-brainer! Easy to grill outdoors, this recipe for BBQ Chicken Wings will have everyone licking their fingers.
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Hungry for more? Don't miss these26 Easy Rhubarb Recipes for Summer
Potluck Desserts
No good picnic is complete without a solid potluck dessert recipe. Each recipe on this list is an easy dessert for a large group, with fun, summery twists that will hit the spot on these swelteringly hot days.
Just take a look at these patriotic Firecracker Strawberry Pops. When you're outside under the sun, you don't want super-heavy desserts, so these chocolate-coated strawberry pops are perfect. Healthy, colorful, and cute as a button, these no-bake fruit desserts will be a hit.
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Zucchini Cake Bars with Browned Butter Frosting
Zucchini Cake Bars with Browned Butter Frosting are a tasty summer dessert that's ridiculously addicting. The browned butter frosting makes all the difference and adds a smooth, sweet layer to the top of this super moist cake.
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An ice cream recipe made with 2 ingredients, but the goodies you add to it can make endless yummy flavours! This Butter Pecan Ice Cream is smooth, creamy and rich.
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These homemade Raspberry Rhubarb Hand Pies are small, hand-held pies that can easily fit in Tupperware, making them an ideal bring-along dessert.
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This recipe combines the best parts of cheesecake and peach pie by turning them into Peaches and Cream Pie Bars.
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Ground beef is the perfect ingredient for an easy summer dinner! Check out our favorite recipe ideas here.10 Summer Recipes with Ground Beef