You’ll find the answer to the question of what to bring to a Christmas potluck in this list of recipes. The selection goes way beyond casseroles, which is what most people associate with a potluck, and ranges from a loaded potato dip to seafood-loaded cioppino and classic beef tenderloin. All of these dishes are tote-friendly and taste just as good after being transported as they would when you serve them in your home.
Here are crowd-pleasing recipes that taste as good as they look.
Butternut-Sage Crostini with Ricotta and Hazelnuts
Versatile and vibrant winter squash is on repeat for us from fall through spring. For this Christmas potluck recipe, start by layering toasts with naturally sweet roasted butternut squash purée. Then perk things up with a citrus- and cayenne-scented ricotta before crowning the crostini recipe with fresh sage and chopped toasted hazelnuts.
Test Kitchen Tip: Make the squash blend and ricotta mixture, and slice the toast up to 24 hours in advance. Store each in a separate airtight container (the toast at room temp, the other two in the fridge). Just before the party, toast the bread as you allow the other two elements to come to room temperature.
Apple Cherry Chutney
Jason Donnelly
We highly recommend pairing this Christmas potluck recipe with any of your favorite jams and cheeses. Opt for green apples to pair with the ruby red dried tart cherries. The robust and savory chutney will match the seasonal color scheme.
Test Kitchen Tip: This recipe makes seven half-pints. Enjoy one at the soirée, then send guests home with a jar each as a food gift.
Loaded Potato Dip
Kelsey Hansen
If you are making mashed potatoes for Christmas dinner, double up and use the rest to whip up this crowd-pleasing dip. Adding cheese, bacon, green onion, and sour cream mimics the flavor of a loaded baked potato without the hassle of individual servings.
Ricotta and Parmesan Spread
Jason Donnelly
Be careful to not spoil your appetite before your big, holiday meal with this parmesan and ricotta spread. Perfect as a party appetizer, this spread is best served on a charcuterie board with crackers and meats or with slices of toasted French bread.
Hummus 4 Ways
Jason Donnelly
These hummus variations are hearty yet light and ideal for sharing with guests who follow a wide variety of diets, from Mediterranean to gluten-free to vegan. Blitz up all four of these easy party dips, or stick with the red roasted beet and green lime avocado hummus variations for a festive Christmas potluck recipe. Serve it with red and green bell pepper strips to really drive home the theme.
Winter Pear Salad
Blaine Moats
Thanks to pears, kale, Brussels sprouts, red grapes, and pomegranate seeds, the colors in this Christmas potluck recipe already feel holiday party-appropriate. The sparkling wine-infused vinaigrette gives this winter salad a special celebratory edge.
Pull-Apart Stuffing Ring
Carson Downing
No one will guess this Christmas potluck recipe starts with a package of store-bought refrigerated biscuits. Baked in a Bundt pan, this wreath is stuffed carrot, celery, apple, and poultry seasoning. Customize this eye-catching side with your choice of fresh herbs. Tarragon, sage, rosemary, parsley, or basil are all excellent choices.
Fast or Slow Seafood Cioppino
Jason Donnelly
The Feast of the Seven Fishes is a classic seafood Christmas menu theme in some Italian-American homes. To nod to that in a more shareable, easy-to-prep-ahead format, we recommend stirring together this stew. It is comfort food and totally low-fuss, whether you prep it in your slow or pressure cooker. To streamline the recipe, we include just three seafood varieties rather than seven.
Beef Tenderloin with Parmesan-Herb Stuffing
Andy Lyons
Beef tenderloin always steals the show as the Christmas centerpiece. We’re particularly fond of this recipe thanks to its scrumptious savory mushroom-prosciutto stuffing and rich red wine sauce. “A new Christmas favorite for sure!” raves one BHG.com home cook of this restaurant-quality tenderloin.
Creamy Corn and Macaroni Bake
Andy Lyons
A potluck isn’t complete without a macaroni dish. Level up your average macaroni and cheese with corn, pancetta, and two different types of cheeses. We recommend using fresh corn from the cob for the best results, but thawed frozen corn kernels will also do the job.
Five-Bean Bake
BHG / Crystal Hughes
Use kidney, lima, canned pork and beans, garbanzo, and butter beans to make this hearty, baked bean casserole. Molasses and brown sugar sweeten the garlic, onion, and bacon, making for a perfectly balanced dish. Serve on its own or with toasted bread or tortilla chips for dipping into the beans.
Tangy Molasses Barbecue Ribs
Blaine Moats
Use your slow cooker to make these molasses barbecue ribs for your holiday meal. Cook the ribs in a homemade barbecue sauce in the slow cooker on low for 9 hours or on high for 4.5 hours. Or, if you’re in a time crunch, use a pressure cooker to cook the ribs in only 30 minutes.
Spicy Apple-Glazed Meatballs
Blaine Moats
Pass around a platter of these sweet and spicy meatballs at your next party. Made with cayenne pepper and glazed in an apple juice, soy sauce, and brown sugar sauce, these meatballs have just the right amount kick. Top the meatballs with chopped green onions.
All-American Chili
Jason Donnelly
Chili is a hearty, cold-weather staple. Combine all ingredients (including a mixture of chili powder, garlic, cumin, and oregano) and cook in a slow cooker for 6 hours. Serve with cornbread or cinnamon rolls (if you’re from the Midwest) for a sweeter side.
Air-Fryer Rosemary Garlic Baby Potatoes
Antonis Achilleos
Save precious oven real estate for other dishes. This entire Christmas potluck recipe cooks on your counter in the air fryer! Its convection heat gets the spuds buttery and creamy on the inside and crispy on the outside. Fresh rosemary and lemon zest lend just enough freshness to balance out the hearty starch.
Herbed Potato Salad
Andy Lyons
This easy potato salad comes together in just 30 minutes, but make sure to make it before your holiday event so it has time to chill. Sour cream, mayonnaise, and Dijon-style mustard make this potato salad creamy while tarragon, dill weed, and parsley keep it fresh.
Party Potatoes
Grant Webster
These party potatoes are a must-bring for a holiday party. Hash browns mixed with cream cheese and sour cream are topped with cheese and crunchy cornflakes. Bake the potatoes in the oven for 50 minutes or cook in a slow cooker for 3-5 hours.
Crusty Cornbread
Andy Lyons
Buttery cornbread goes perfectly with hearty soups and stews. Use buttermilk, cheese, sour cream, and cornmeal to make the bread, and bake for 25-28 minutes. Serve warm with butter or jam.
Holiday Cookie Pizza
Hannah Bigot
Every potluck gathering needs a festive sweet. This red and green cookie pizza serves 12 (or as many pieces as you’d like to cut it into) and can be toted in a large storage container, covered on the pan (after it’s cooled), or even in individual one-slice boxes. No matter how it gets there, the peanut butter and chocolate dessert will be gobbled up quickly.