Summer Potluck Menu
Tara Donne
Potlucks are the perfect low-lift way to host tons of people (and still have tons of food). If you're hosting, assign courses or ingredients two weeks in advance to give people plenty of time to recipe hunt and shop.
Double the Dips
If you’re assigned an appetizer or a side, pick a dish that you can easily multiply. People tend to come hungry and go through appetizers pretty quickly. Something like a five-layer dip can easily be doubled or tripled without a lot of extra effort, and a grilled eggplant salad can work the same way –– making these dishes for large groups of people isn’t that much more work than making them for yourself. For sides, try flavorful Dutch oven-baked beans, bacon and cheddar biscuits or a corn-studded bread pudding –– all easy crowd-pleasers that go with almost anything.
Recipes:
- Five-Layer Mexican Dip
- Grilled Eggplant and Goat Cheese Salad
- The Once and Future Beans
- Bacon, Cheddar and Chive Biscuits
- Sweet Corn Bread Pudding
Family-Style Fixins
For the main dishes, look for large cuts of meat that can feed a lot of people, or family-style recipes that are easy to cook and serve. Sweet and sour brisket and tamarind ribs both feed a crowd. Paella and turkey jambalaya can fit into a theme or stand well on their own, and they’re basically designed for huge quantities.
Recipes:
- Sweet and Sour Braised Brisket
- Tamarind-Glazed Baby Back Ribs
- The Ultimate Paella
- Smoked Turkey Legs and Sausage Jambalaya
Peak-Season Produce
Pies and tarts are always welcome at a potluck –– use seasonal fruit to maximize flavor. A rustic cherry tart, a peaches and cream pie or a fresh peach and berry cobbler are all great options. If you’d rather bring a drink, try a summery fruit sangria –– same seasonal fruit, plus booze!
Recipes:
- Rustic Cherry Tart
- Fresh Peaches and Cream Rustic Pie
- Peach and Berry Cobbler
- Rose and Summer Fruit Sangria