Covered Dish Suppers Are My Love Language
I grew up calling them covered dish suppers. You might call them potlucks. Either way, the idea is the same: everybody brings something, everybody eats well, and the table ends up covered in the most wonderful, unexpected combination of dishes you have ever seen.
I have been cooking for potlucks my whole life. Church dinners, neighborhood gatherings, graduation parties, holiday celebrations that somehow turn into the whole neighborhood showing up — I have fed them all. And after years of showing up with a dish in hand, I have learned exactly what works and what sits untouched at the end of the night.
This collection is everything that works. Bring your best. That is what a potluck deserves.
XO,
Donya’s Tips for Being the Person Everyone Hopes Shows Up
Bring something that travels. The best potluck dish is one that looks as good on the buffet table as it did when you left the house. Casseroles, pasta salads, slow cooker dishes, and layered dips all travel beautifully. Anything with a delicate garnish or a sauce that needs to be added at the last minute is better saved for dinner at home.
Make it the day before whenever you can. Most of the recipes in this collection are genuinely better after an overnight rest. The flavors settle, the textures come together, and you get to walk in the door completely calm — not flushed and rushed.
Bring your serving utensil. This sounds small. It is not. Nothing slows down a buffet line like a dish with no way to serve it. Tape or rubber band the spoon to the side of the dish before you leave the house.
Label your dish. A small folded card with the recipe name and a note about any major allergens is a thoughtful touch that people always appreciate. It also prevents the “what is this?” conversation fifteen times in a row.
Bring a dish you have made before. A potluck is not the time to try a new recipe for the first time. Bring something you have made at least twice and know works. Confidence in the kitchen shows up on the plate.
Use a slow cooker for mains and dips. Plug it in when you arrive and it stays warm the entire party. No reheating, no dry food, no stress.
Appetizers
They are fun to serve as a salad and are so good alongside grilled fish or chicken and an excellent accompaniment to soups or sandwiches. Southwest Ranch Dip is crazy delicious served with carrots, celery, and chips. Plus it’s awesome as a dressing, marinade, or a spread on burgers and wraps. Mexican Corn Dip is creamy, cheesy with just the right amount of spice from chilies. Add a pop of fresh-squeezed lime and you’ve got a party in every bite. Serve it as an appetizer with crunchy bread and cheese or as a dip with chips. It’s super versatile and makes the best topping for grilled burgers, sausages, chicken, and fish. Made with fresh-squeezed lemon juice and simple syrup, this simple drink recipe is perfect to serve at parties, cookouts, during the holidays, or anytime you want a glass of something cool and delicious. Whether served as a salad, a snack or added to your favorite sandwich or burger, this “no-canning” recipe is always a hit. This cheesy, warm dip with swirls of fresh spinach and artichokes is a crowd-pleasing appetizer that’s perfect for your next party, game day celebration, or when you’re entertaining This cheesy spread made with pimentos and just the right amount of peppery seasoning is perfect served with crackers, celery, as a sandwich, or slathered on a burger. Celery sticks stuffed with cream cheese, bacon, herbs and cheddar cheese are outrageously good! Served as an appetizer or snack, this is a recipe that’s sure to become a favorite at parties, cookouts and family gatherings. This easy dip recipe made with cheese, bacon, green onions, almonds and mayo is great to serve at parties, for game day or when you’re entertaining. Little Smokies simmered in a sweet and tangy sauce are hard to resist and so simple to make! This 5-ingredient recipe is perfect for parties, game day, and the holidays. Classic Deviled Eggs are taken to a whole new level with the addition of bacon! They’re creamy, decedent and totally irresistible. These perfect little bites are great for brunch, Easter, baby and wedding showers or anytime you’re throwing a party! Made in the slow cooker or baked in the oven, this is one seriously delicious dip to serve any time of the year.
Make-Ahead Planning
The Plan That Gets You There Calm and Ready
Before you leave. Cover dishes tightly, pack your serving utensil, and write a label if needed. The goal is to walk in looking effortless — because you planned it that way.
Two days out. Make any dips, dressings, or desserts that keep well. Store covered in the refrigerator.
The night before. Assemble casseroles, prep pasta salads, chop vegetables. Pack your serving dish and utensil together so there is nothing to hunt for in the morning.
Morning of. Start slow cooker recipes. Pull anything from the refrigerator that needs to rest at room temperature before serving.
Salads
Tomato Cucumber Salad is a refreshing dish that packs a punch of fresh flavor. It’s simple to make with a bright dressing full of herbs. This is one delightful salad that’s like a burst of summer on your plate! Serve it as a topping for burgers, dogs, pulled pork, and grilled sausages. It’s also an outstanding side dish for a weeknight meal. This fresh and easy salad combines all the classic flavors of a Caprese Salad with pasta! Spaghetti Salad is the perfect side dish for a party, potluck or when you’re feeding a crowd. Fresh tomatoes, cucumbers, onion, and herbs tossed in a light creamy dressing with pasta make a salad that’s absolutely irresistible! Waldorf Salad is a perfect side dish to serve any time of the year and is ideal for covered dish suppers, potlucks, or whenever you’re feeding a crowd. Take your coleslaw to a whole new level with sweet, tangy cranberries and crunchy pecans. Mix in an apple and some savory, green onions then toss them all in a creamy dressing for a dish that will be a favorite at any gathering! Macaroni Salad For A Crowd is an easy to make recipe that’s ideal for potlucks, covered dish suppers or entertaining. This simple recipe with pasta, onions, celery and a creamy dressing is always the first to disappear on the buffet table! Finely chopped cabbage, tangy apple cider vinegar, sweetness from sugar, then pepper along with a dash of hot sauce make this one special dish that’s unique to our part of the country. Served as a side dish or a dessert, this easy-to-make recipe is always a favorite at the holidays, potluck suppers, when you’re entertaining, and wedding or baby showers. Fresh fruit tossed in a bright citrus dressing in just a hint of cinnamon is a great, easy-to-make dish when you’re feeding a crowd. It’s always one of the first dishes to go on my buffet table. Pineapple Slaw is sweet and crunchy with a light dressing that will have you feeling like it’s summertime with every single bite! This quick and easy recipe is great to serve as a side dish, take to a covered dish supper and is a must at any backyard BBQ. Salad for a crowd with fresh greens, veggies and cheese is a great dish for parties, covered dish suppers or any celebration when you’re feeding lots of folks. Top is with an easy to make vinaigrette to make the best dish on the buffet table! Classic Pea Salad is a cool, delicious side dish perfect to serve any time of year. Made with frozen, sweet peas, bacon, cheese, onion, and a bright creamy dressing, this salad is ideal for cookouts, potlucks, and holiday buffets. Ambrosia Salad is a classic recipe that’s hard to resist. Make with pineapple, cherries, oranges, coconut, pecans and grapes all wrapped up in fresh whipped cream and marshmallows, is a fruit salad that dreams are made of!
Side Dishes
Beautiful, perfectly cooked Scalloped Potatoes are a classic that you’ll fall in love with after just one bite! Tender, thinly sliced potatoes are baked in a rich, creamy sauce for a side dish that’s excellent to serve alongside any main course and is a must-make for the holidays. Made with pineapple, brown sugar, and honey, with just the right amount of BBQ sauce and mustard, then topped with bacon these beans will be the first thing to disappear from the table. Fresh greens beans cooked low and slow with just a bit of smokey bacon bring back great memories of family suppers. These “southern style” green beans are a tradition in many homes and are always at covered dish suppers and church picnics. Mushroom Rice, made with 7 simple ingredients, is a delicious side dish and makes a yummy meal on its own. This savory recipe with layers of flavor is sure to become a family favorite. Pineapple Casserole has become a classic, southern dish, and for good reason. It’s sweet, savory, and has a buttery topping that makes it totally addictive! Full of deep, rich flavor, Smoked Gouda Cheese Grits Casserole takes comfort food to a whole new level! This simple recipe is excellent served alongside grilled steak, pork, and fish or anytime you’re craving a luscious, flavor-packed side dish. Fluffy rice, made with coconut milk, lime zest, and juice, with a sprinkle of parsley is a fresh take on a traditional side dish that’s excellent to serve any time of the year. This classic Southern potato salad is creamy, tangy, and made the old-fashioned way. The perfect side dish for cookouts, potlucks, and summer holidays. Make the best Crock Pot Creamed Corn with just a few ingredients! This easy side dish is rich, creamy, and perfect for holidays or family dinners. Make Mom's Baked Cheesy Rice — rich, creamy, and loaded with cheesy goodness. This easy comfort food side is ready in 30 minutes flat. Try it tonight!
Main Dishes
There’s nothing quite like sweet, sticky homemade BBQ sauce slathered over juicy grilled chicken legs! This quick and easy-to-master recipe makes the best, most flavorful chicken you’ll ever sink your teeth into. Grilled BBQ Chicken Legs are the ultimate in summer cookout food and perfect for picnics, parties, and family gatherings. Out Of This World Baked Spaghetti is a one-pan meal that’s always a hit at the supper table or at a covered dish supper. With a creamy, cheesy center, and a meaty sauce, this pasta casserole is comfort food taken to a whole new level! Award-Winning Chili made with beef and beans in a rich sauce is loaded with amazing flavor! Perfect for tailgating, game day, or when you’re feeding a crowd. Simmered for hours, it’s comfort food at its BEST. Making juicy, tender pork has never been easier! Grilled Pork Tenderloin turns out perfectly every time all thanks to a simple marinade made with olive oil, balsamic vinegar, garlic and herbs. Whether you’re grilling on a summer evening with your family or entertaining friends, this delicious recipe is guaranteed to get rave reviews. This recipe proves that you can make amazing, smoked, pulled pork at home and it will be one of the easiest recipes you’ll ever make! It’s perfect when you’re feeding a crowd, for game day, tailgating or for no-stress weekend cooking. For an easy weeknight meal or a casual weekend get together, Balsamic Chicken Thighs are always a welcome sight at the table. Marinated in balsamic vinegar, honey with fresh herbs and garlic, this chicken is tender, juicy, tangy, and sweet. Home Run Hot Dog Chili is the ultimate topping for your grilled dogs, sausages, and burgers! This meaty, tangy, slightly sweet sauce is simmered in just the right combination of herbs and spices. It’s a winning recipe for your next cookout, BBQ or tailgate party! Hawaiian Meatballs smothered in a sweet tangy sauce with pineapple and fresh ginger are cooked low and slow in the crock pot. These succulent meatballs are a slow cooker masterpiece and are great served as an appetizer or main dish! Chicken Thighs cooked in the crock pot make a mouthwatering recipe that’s perfect for a busy weeknight or lazy weekends! Juicy chicken coated in a thick rich sauce flavored with garlic, honey, and soy sauce is a slow cooker hit. This Slow Cooker Mexican Shredded Beef is fall-apart tender and loaded with deep, rich flavor. It’s terrific for tacos, enchiladas, and nachos or piled over rice and beans for burritos bowls. With so many yummy uses, you can let your imagination run wild! Tacos and spaghetti come together in this easy-to-make casserole that scores big time at the supper table! Made with ground beef, pasta, taco seasoning and loaded with cheese, this is comfort food taken to the max. Three Cheese Stuffed Shells is a cheese lover’s delight! Jumbo pasta shells are loaded with three kinds of cheese then baked in savory marinara sauce until hot and bubbly. It’s the ideal recipe for an easy weeknight supper, perfect for feeding a crowd and makes a great freezer meal. Made with tender chicken, tomatoes and green chilies tossed in a creamy, cheesy sauce, this is pasta casserole taken to a whole new level! This easy to make recipe is always a hit at the supper table, potlucks and makes a great freezer meal. When you’re craving comfort food, look no further than this recipe. It’s a make-ahead one-dish wonder that’s great for potlucks, covered dish suppers, a weeknight meal or when you’re feeding a crowd. When you’re craving comfort food, look no further than this recipe. It’s a make-ahead one-dish wonder that’s great for potlucks, covered dish suppers, a weeknight meal or when you’re feeding a crowd.
Desserts
Southern Pound Cake is beautiful, rich and a classic worth raving about! It’s buttery and soft on the inside with a thick crumbly top that makes it totally irresistible. All the flavors of your favorite campfire S’mores turned into brownies, right in your own kitchen! S’mores Brownies are super easy to make with a box brownie mix and then amped up with toasted marshmallows, crispy graham crackers, and chocolate. Classic Thumbprint Cookies with a sweet jam center are the perfect cookie to enjoy any time of the year! These cookies are buttery, fruity, and drizzled with just the right amount of sweet glaze. Lemon Pound Cake is made with fresh, squeeze lemon juice and zest for a cake that’s like a taste of summer with every bite. If you love classic pound cake, then you’ll be head over heels for this citrus loaded version! Sweet Potato Pie is a classic southern dessert that’s irresistible! Made with simple ingredients and warm spices in a buttery crust, this pie is perfect for a weeknight meal and is a MUST on your holiday table. Classic, beautiful and over the top delicious is what this Brown Sugar and Cream Cheese Pound Cake is all about. This show-stopping dessert is surprisingly easy to make and will wow, friends, family, and party guests any time it’s served! Sweet meets savory and brings crunchy along for fun in these ultimate Kitchen Sink Cookies! Crispy edges with a chewy center make these cookies unbelievably delicious. Add a sprinkle of sea salt to finish them off for the perfect unexpected treat bite after bite. For the easiest, yummiest no-bake dessert, ever, Cherry Delight served in jars is a sure-fire winner! It’s sweet, creamy, and great to serve at any summer gathering, party or during the holidays. Classic Pound Cake is taken to a whole new level with creamy buttermilk and brown butter icing! This cake is moist, tender, and has a soft texture that’s heavenly. Luscious cake with pineapple and coconut, topped with fresh whipped cream and toasted coconut flakes is a dessert that memories are made of. Decadent Maple Bourbon Pecan Pie is pure perfection and so easy to make! This no corn syrup recipe combines rich maple syrup with the deep flavor of bourbon and pecans to make a pie that’s sure to be the star of any holiday gathering. Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies are big, chewy, and bursting with peanut butter flavor! Perfectly baked with oatmeal, butter, cinnamon, and an extra helping of peanut butter, these cookies are seriously delicious.Desserts
Questions You Might Have (Answered Before You Even Ask)
The best potluck dish is one that travels well, can be made ahead, and feeds a crowd without needing last-minute attention. Casseroles, slow cooker mains, pasta salads, layered dips, and big-batch desserts are always the right answer.
Almost everything in this collection. Pasta salads, casseroles, dips, and desserts are all better after an overnight rest in the refrigerator. Slow cooker mains can be prepped the morning of and transported in the insert. Making ahead is not just convenient — it is usually what makes the dish taste its best.
A slow cooker set on low is the easiest solution. Transfer the finished dish into the insert before you leave and it stays warm for hours. For casseroles, a good insulated carrier works well for transport. Once you arrive, a low oven at 200°F with the dish covered in foil keeps everything warm without drying it out.
A good rule of thumb: plan for each guest to take two to three servings of your dish. For a side dish or salad at a gathering of 20, that means enough to fill a 9×13 pan or a large serving bowl. For a main dish, plan on about 4 to 6 ounces of protein per person. When in doubt, make more — a full dish coming home is far better than running out.
The Grape Salad, Crock Pot Spinach Artichoke Dip, Sausage Balls, and Little Smokies are all under 30 minutes of active prep and are always crowd-pleasers.
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