When you’re invited to someone’s home for dinner, any good Southerner knows that the correct response is, “What can I bring?” And Thanksgiving is no different, although picking the right potluck dish for the biggest food holiday of the year can be daunting. If you need a little inspiration, don’t worry-we’ve got you covered with our favorite Thanksgiving potluck recipes.
Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
When your mother says to bring a twist on a family-favorite, this is the recipe to bake. Pecan pie meets decadent chocolate in a there’s-no-stopping-at-one-slice dessert.
Micah A. Leal
Does your crowd prefer biscuits over rolls? Try these light and flaky biscuits made tender and slightly orange from sweet potato.
Emily Laurae/Southern Living
One bite of this silky, soufflé-like corn pudding and you’ll understand why it’s one of our most popular potluck recipes ever. Serve this go-to Southern side family-style or in individual ramekins.
Greg Dupree; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle
If you’re looking for an easy-to-transport take on classic cornbread dressing, we suggest these Cornbread Dressing Balls.
Photo: Greg Dupree
If you’re a first-time pie baker, this recipe is a great place to start. This pumpkin pie has a velvety filling and golden, crisp crust, but preparing it is still easy as pie (sorry!).
Iain Bagwell
Make the dough for these tender rolls the night before. Buttery rolls are a sure-fire crowd pleaser, especially when served with even more spreadable butter on the side.
Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall
This dish is a cross between hot cornbread, cornmeal soufflé, and cornbread dressing. Make it the traditional way or add seasonal flare by incorporating corn kernels, diced ham, herbs, or cheese.
Greg Dupree; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall
Our Test Kitchen dubbed this spicy relish the “cool-kid cranberry sauce.” Give classic cranberry sauce a makeover with orangey zest and a bit of spice.
Stacy K. Allen, Food Stylist: Ali Ramee, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle
Use small, compact Brussels sprouts for this recipe since they have a milder taste. This take on the classic combo of Brussels and bacon is holiday-worthy, but also easy and delicious enough for weeknight dinner.
Hector Manuel Sanchez
Bourbon-infused raisins, cinnamon, nutmeg, apricot preserves, and chopped, toasted pecans or walnuts are mixed with apples to make this pie’s filling. Apple pie is always a welcome addition to the potluck, and this boozy one is a delightful twist on a classic.
Photo: Beth Dreiling Hontzas
It wouldn’t be Thanksgiving without a Sweet Potato Casserole. Topped with pretty stripes of melty marshmallows and crunchy cornflakes, this holiday classic will satisfy the entire table.
Iain Bagwell
Colorful carrots sit in a semi-sweet glaze in this recipe. An assortment of fall hues guarantee that this side dish isn’t just delicious, but pretty too.
Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch Stelling; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall
Fried shallots add a bit of crunch to this creamy and savory casserole. It’s a staple on the Thanksgiving table, but we think this recipe should be served year-round.
Beth Dreiling Hontzas
Wait for the cheese in to turn golden brown before taking this dish out of the oven. Classic Parmesan Scalloped Potatoes are easy to make and have a short ingredient list, but are oh-so good.
Greg DuPree
These swirled desserts will have both chocolate and pumpkin dessert-lovers at the potluck satisfied. They taste as good as they look, too.
Hector Manuel Sanchez
Sweet potatoes are a staple in the Thanksgiving spread, and this bread pudding variation will be welcomed warmly to the festivities. Chunks of roasted sweet potatoes join forces with parmesan custard, smoky bacon, spinach, and French bread.
Hector Manuel Sanchez
Sausage balls are a go-to Southern hors d’oeuvre and incorporating sweet potatoes and sausage adds just the right amount of seasonal flare. This recipe uses Bisquick for even easier and fluffier party bites.
Helen Norman
Traditionally, potato salad may be better suited for a summertime barbecue potluck, but this toasty rendition changes the score. Similar to a gratin, this hot potato salad gets even hotter with the additions of bacon, cheese, and briny olives.
Brian Woodcock
No one says no to cornbread on the Thanksgiving table. This recipe makes a seemingly perfect dish even better with two simple adjustments: browning the butter and baking it in a cast-iron skillet.
Classic Baked Macaroni and Cheese
Stick to the classics with this recipe. Ooey-gooey mac and cheese is mandatory on the Thanksgiving table and this recipe beats the boxed stuff any day of the week, especially the fourth Thursday of November.
Hector Sanchez
The more vegetable side options accompanying the Thanksgiving turkey and dressing, the better. This veggie trio casserole is topped with crowd-pleasing, golden-brown breadcrumbs made from day-old sandwich bread.
Hector Sanchez; Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas
Veggie-heavy and with big texture, this side dish covers all the Thanksgiving side bases. It’s cheesy, hardy, and has flavor to spare.
Hector Sanchez
This go-to comfort food gets a Southern twist with the addition of pimientos. Breadcrumbs and a splash of hot sauce put this mac and cheese variation ahead of the pack.
Photographer: Antonis Achilleos, Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer
As far as we’re concerned, it’s a fact that every Southerner loves cheesecake. This recipe converts a favorite dessert into a seasonal sensation in convenient hand-held form.
Photographer: Fred Hardy II, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Props Stylist: Christina Brockman
Bright squash, decadent cheese sauce, and buttery cracker crumbles are a winning trio in this simple but delicious casserole. This dish is a long-time potluck favorite, so you know it has earned its spot in your holiday spread.
Photographer: Greg DuPree, Food Stylist: Emily Neighbors Hall Prop Stylist: Christine Keely
This vintage-inspired meal is everything we love about a Thanksgiving side: It’s seasonal, rich, and full of pecans. What’s more, this tart and fruity side salad is easy-as-can-be to make.
Photographer: Antonis Achilleos, Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer
Chocolate-lovers and pumpkin pie enthusiasts alike will be going back for seconds of this decadent dessert. We’re convinced that it’s impossible to pass up a slice (or two!) or this pumpkin pie-chocolate torte hybrid.
Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch Stelling; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall
A Thanksgiving spread without a good old-fashioned corn pudding would be incomplete. Though its texture is creamy and luxurious enough to qualify it as a dessert, this pudding has chopped onion and fresh thyme to drive home savory side dish flavors.