What to Bring to A Summer Potluck 🍔
The theme is good food and good people, preferably a lot of both
I know most of you are still deep in the weeds of spring concerts and award ceremonies (we had school events 4 of 5 days last week?!), but we are this close to summer!
And you know what that means?
Chill nights on the patio. Casual summer potlucks. Bonfires and s’mores for dessert.
I LIVE for summer potluck season. I’m a Midwestern gal with Mennonite roots. The potluck is literally in my blood.
The potluck also removes a lot of the barriers to gathering. No one has to prepare an entire meal. There is no elaborate decorating or theming. The theme is literally good food and good people, preferably a lot of both.
If you’re lining up your summer potlucks and unsure what to make, I’ve got loads of ideas for you in today’s round up! I’ve put my ride-or dies in this email, but if you want the full collection (with over 65(!!) recipes), you’ll want to visit my Summertime Potluck Recipe Guide.
Hang on for just a few more weeks, friends! Before you know it we’ll be on the patio with full plates and an icy cold drink in hand.
Summer Veggie Side Dishes
Classic 7 Layer Salad- Yes, the dressing is mostly mayo and sugar. No, I will never stop loving this classic salad. It’s the super crisp, cold iceberg lettuce paired with the creamy dressing, for me. And the bacon, it’s also the bacon.
Strawberry Spinach Salad- If you’re trying to sneak some greens into the day, this is the way! The sweet lemon dressing and bursts of strawberry makes everyone forget they’re eating spinach.
Cucumber Tomato Salad- This is the easiest side dish to make and is super light, tangy, and refreshing in a sea of potato salads and mac and cheese.
Sweet and Sour Coleslaw- I’m not a fan of mayo-based coleslaws, but I love this sweet and tangy version. We serve it as a side in its own right, but we also like to pile it on Slow Cooker Pulled Pork and tacos.
Amish Broccoli and Cauliflower Salad- There is absolutely no reason why this salad should work. Broccoli and cheddar cheese? And onions? AND RAISINS? WITH A CREAMY MAYO DRESSING? It doesn’t make sense on paper, but I promise it will make sense to your taste buds.
Summer Non-Veggie Sides
Italian Bowtie Pasta Salad- This pasta salad is made with bottled Italian dressing (I highly recommend Newman’s Own!), and is endlessly adaptable. Load it up with your favorite veggies, cured meats, and cheeses. This one is also very make-ahead friendly.
Cilantro Lime 3 Bean Salad- Fresh, zesty, filling, and the perfect accompaniment to tacos or Mexican Grilled Chicken.
Ultimate Four Cheese Mac and Cheese- Rich, creamy, baked mac and cheese with a little funk thanks to the addition of blue cheese.
Cowboy Baked Beans- Intensely savory and a bit sweet, with the added bonus of ground beef. This is great on hot dogs, or for dunking potato chips!
Crowd Pleasing Summer Desserts
Peach Cobbler Cheesecake Bars- It’s cobbler you can take on the road, with layers of fresh peaches, cheesecake, and streusel topping.
Strawberry Pretzel Salad- Is my Midwestern showing? This sweet and salty cream cheese and strawberry jello “salad” has my whole heart.
Dirt Pudding- An everlasting, multi-generational favorite. It looks like dirt. It’s got gummy worms! You can serve it in a sand pail or flower pot (clean, please) for the most adorable summer vibes.
Blueberry Rhubarb Schlumpf- Sweet and just a tad tangy, best served communally with heaping scoops of ice cream, straight from the pan.
S’mookies- Make your favorite chocolate chip cookies (here’s ours), roast some mallows, then sandwich between said cookies. You’ll never want to make regular s’mores again.
I would love to hear what your summer potluck MVPs are! What do you love to bring to the party? Share it in the comments!