16 Easy Thanksgiving Potluck Ideas

Classic holiday green bean casserole — The Spruce

We love a good Thanksgiving potluck! Whether you’re in charge of bringing an appetizer, side dish, casserole, or dessert, these easy and delicious crowd-pleasers are sure to win you rave reviews from both the hostess and fellow party guests.

To help you deliver (literally!) a great meal, we've included tips and ideas below for transporting and serving your potluck dish. Grab a plate and dig in!

01 of 16

Easy Vegetarian Pumpkin Soup

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Thick, flavorful pumpkin soup is warming and satisfying, making it a wonderful contribution for fall and winter potlucks. Use a vegan margarine to also make it dairy-free. Pour it into large mason jars for no-mess transporting.
02 of 16

Beet and Pear Salad with Walnuts and Goat Cheese

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Beets become sweet and tender when you pop them in the oven and combine beautifully with other fruits, nuts, and cheese. It's easy to double or triple this gorgeous, tasty salad to serve more people. Bring it to potlucks in a pretty serving bowl, covered tightly with plastic wrap, and serve at room temperature.
03 of 16

Vegetarian Cornbread Stuffing

The Spruce

Cornbread stuffing is a Southern favorite that's often served at Thanksgiving, Christmas, and other holidays. This recipe is already vegetarian (and you can also make it vegan using this cornbread base), so it's a lovely recipe for bringing to meat-free Thanksgiving gatherings.
04 of 16

Bacon Roasted Brussels Sprouts

The Spruce

How do you make simple roasted vegetables special? Add bacon! A few slices of sizzling pork and some garlic turn regular roasted Brussels sprouts into a fantastic savory side dish.

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05 of 16

Sweet Potato Casserole With Fluffy Marshmallows

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Be your hostess' favorite guest when you show up with everyone's favorite Thanksgiving casserole. In a very classic preparation, sweet potatoes are jazzed up with butter, egg, milk, and a bit of marshmallow fluff. The entire pan is then topped with cute miniature marshmallows and broiled until the crust is crisp and golden.
06 of 16

Cornbread Pudding

The Spruce Eats / Jennifer Perillo

Please everyone at the potluck with this delicious cornbread pudding. Not too light or too heavy, this 30-minute casserole combines two favorite Southern sides. You'll need frozen corn and cornbread mix, along with a few kitchen staples. Topping it with cheddar cheese is the perfect finishing touch.
07 of 16

Thanksgiving Green Bean Casserole

The Spruce

When you're looking for Thanksgiving potluck ideas, you'll never go wrong with a traditional green bean casserole. With only five ingredients, including the essential crunchy fried onion topping, this classic dish truly is more than the sum of its parts.
08 of 16

Sausage Stuffing Recipe

The Spruce Eats / Victoria Heydt

In a healthier twist, this stuffing uses turkey sausage and whole wheat bread, making it an ideal option for the calorie conscious. The stuffing is packed full of sausage, sage, thyme, apples, and dried cranberries for a wonderful combination of textures and flavors.

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09 of 16

Pumpkin Swirl Cheesecake

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Rich cheesecake infused with the spiced flavors of pumpkin pie is a fantastic meal capper for autumn gatherings. Make it up to three days ahead of time by cooling it on the counter after baking, then transferring to the refrigerator and wrapping securely in plastic wrap.
10 of 16

Vegetarian Wild Rice and Mushroom Pilaf

The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck

Looking for a hearty vegetarian dish to bring to a Thanksgiving potluck party? This wild rice pilaf combines some of our favorite notes of fall thanks to an aromatic mix of sage and marjoram.
11 of 16

Easy Roasted Carrots With Parsnips and Herbs

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To make sure the carrots and parsnips cook at the same rate, simply cut the vegetables to the same size. A half-hour roast in the oven will turn the root vegetables sweet and tender. The recipe can easily double for a crowd.
12 of 16

Make-Ahead Duchess Mashed Potatoes

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Duchess potatoes are a classic French dish that make a fabulous potluck idea. Mashed potatoes are piped (or dropped) onto a baking sheet to create beautiful bite-sized macaroons. You can make this dish ahead of time and freeze it for easy reheating when you're ready to serve (instructions included in the recipe). Multiply the ingredients as needed to serve a larger crowd.

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13 of 16

Cauliflower Soup

The Spruce / Molly Watson

This quick and warming cauliflower soup uses sauteed onions, ground white pepper, and freshly grated nutmeg to add big flavor. It's a great soup for the Thanksgiving table, and the recipe is easily multiplied to serve larger gatherings.
14 of 16

Sweet Potato Pecan Pie

The Spruce / Diana Rattray

This fabulous sweet potato pecan pie combines the best of two classic Thanksgiving desserts. The rich ingredients—including mashed sweet potatoes, brown sugar, warming spices, pecans, and bourbon—can be baked in a store-bought crust for ease of preparation. Don't forget to bring along some chilled whipped topping!
15 of 16

Potato and Leek Gratin

The Spruce / Molly Watson

Potato dishes are always popular at holiday events and this cheesy gratin is sure to be a hit. It only takes five ingredients to make this inexpensive, yet impressive dish. Prepare it on potluck day or follow the instructions for par-baking it up to two days in advance, then reheating quickly when it's time to party.
16 of 16

Roasted Carrot, Apple, and Celery Soup

The Spruce / Miri Rotkovitz

Roasting intensifies the flavor and smooths out the textures of autumn vegetables in this vibrant carrot, apple, and celery soup. Garlic, ginger, vegetable stock, and a bit of butter round out this lovely fall soup. Pour the puree into two-liter mason jars, an over-sized thermos, or a big cooking pot for transporting.