As parties go, potlucks may not be the most elegant of affairs, but they’re festive, easy on the host, and fun for guests. These recipes for shareable fare are designed to entice at any kind of potluck.
With Father’s Day coming up this weekend, plus high school graduations and all kinds of summer gatherings around the corner, I hope you’ll find these ideas useful.
The ideal potluck fare is made with wholesome ingredients, is best served at room temperature, and won’t need heating — or reheating. It’s also sturdy to transport.
Most of these recipes, with a few exceptions, serve six. This could be plenty even if there are going to be more guests than that, since there’s always a lot of food at shareable food events. However, feel free to double these recipes.
Black Bean and Corn Salad for a Crowd: Here’s a classic cold dish dressed in lime vinaigrette. This main-dish salad a fantastic potluck dish, and a good choice to make when you’re expecting more company than usual.
Quinoa and Red Bean Salad with Mini Peppers: Extra eye appeal comes from the mini sweet peppers, which you can find in the produce department of well-stocked markets.
Southwestern Quinoa Salad with Black Beans and Corn: Black beans, corn, and avocado come together in a hearty southwestern quinoa salad that’s good as a main dish or side for everyday meals, and is a sturdy dish to take to potlucks.
Pasta Salad with Quinoa and Corn: Corn and tomatoes give this pasta and quinoa salad a summery feel, though you can enjoy it any time of year. This is perfect for outdoor meals and potlucks.
Vegan Macaroni Salad with Vegetable Confetti: A simple and colorful vegan macaroni salad, this is reminiscent of the kind sold at deli counters, but with lots more going for it. If your potluck is going to include kids, this is perfect.
Barley Salad with Apricots and Pecans: Comforting, filling barley is an under-appreciated grain. Put it to good use in this appealing and easy barley salad with apricots and pecans.
Cold Spicy Sesame Peanut Butter Noodles: Sesame noodles or peanut butter noodles — why choose? Combine the two in luscious cold sesame peanut butter noodles, with a dollop of tahini, a dash of spice, and plenty of crisp raw vegetables.
Cold Udon Noodles with Crisp Asian Vegetables: Cold udon noodles make an appealing way to enjoy crisp, colorful vegetables. Full of veggies that need only a little prep but no cooking, this is a tasty, colorful dish for your shareable feast.
Vegan Rice Noodle Salad with Plant-Based “Steak”: Strips of beefy-style vegan plant protein, cucumbers, cilantro, and an optional hint of mint star in a Thai-inspired cold dish that’s both hearty and refreshing.
Vegan Pasta “Tuna” Salad: Made with baked tofu, this recipe brings a nostalgic classic into the 21st century. Incorporating cucumber, celery, cabbage, scallion, and parsley, it’s a great warm-weather dish to share.
Chickpeas and Green Beans with Balsamic Mushrooms: Here’s an appealing medley of chickpeas and green beans embellished with brown mushrooms sautéed in balsamic vinegar and olive oil.
Potato Salad with Red Beans and Artichokes: This potato and bean salad is satisfying enough to be a main dish, though it’s welcome as a side dish in smaller portions for a potluck or buffet.
Black Lentil Salad with Peppers and Olives: Hearty and substantial, this black lentil salad can be also be made with brown or green lentils, and is beautiful and festive no matter what kind you use.
Vegan Feta and Watermelon Salad with Cucumber and Mint: Vegan feta and watermelon salad is almost too pretty to eat, and is extra refreshing with the addition of cucumber and a hint of mint.
Chickpea Deviled Tomatoes: With a surprisingly egg-like flavor and consistency, combining chickpeas, nutritional yeast, and vegan mayo, and a touch of curry, these beauties are rather addictive. Be prepared for them to disappear quickly!
Fiesta Vegan 7-Layer Bean Dip: This luscious vegan 7-layer bean dip is the perfect dish for any party or potluck. Serve it with plenty of chips; it disappears quickly!
This cartoon is courtesy of Bob Eckstein. Bob and I are creating a book together (I’m the writer, he’s the illustrator) on the bond between well-known writers past and present and their cats. It will be published in September, 2025. Meanwhile, consider joining Bob’s Substack for humor, insights about the writing life, and more.