Easter Potluck Ideas: 30 Recipes that Travel Well
Easy Easter potluck ideas for celebrating the holiday with family and friends on a budget. Whether you're building a buffet table menu at home or bringing a dish to pass at the church potluck, get all the easy recipes you need here.
If there's one tip I could give you for how to make hosting a special Easter brunch in your home easier to manage, it would be to give your guests the joy of contributing to the meal by hosting an Easter potluck.
For a truly festive table overflowing with the season's best, it is infinitely easier to have many hands make light work of the feast.
If you're hosting, offer to cook the main dish that will work as the center of the menu and everyone else can contribute an easy potluck side dish or travel-friendly dessert to add to the buffet. I recommend my easy Crockpot spiral ham for a buffet table or my mustard glazed ham with pineapples for a show-stopping main dish.
When you share the work with guests, it ensures that everyone can focus on what makes the day truly special and relax a little more with loved ones--including YOU.
What to Bring to a Potluck
If you're invited to a potluck and are wondering what you should bring, here is my best advice on how to pick the best potluck recipes:
1. Travel-Friendly
You want dishes that won't spill or slosh around in the car (like soups or punch) and aren't in danger of breaking apart (like delicate puff pastry appetizers.)
Something a little sturdier or that travels in an easy dish would make a best pick.
2. Consider the Temperature
The best potluck recipes are delicious when served at room temperature because they'll be sitting on a buffet table for a long time.
If you want to bring a hot dish, consider a Crockpot recipe (but make sure there will be an outlet available and YOU should bring the recipe in the slowcooker) or a casserole that can be popped in the oven for a quick reheating.
3. Easy Upgrades
The potluck host is going to be doing a lot of the work before you arrive and even more after you leave with the clean-up. When you're asked to bring a single dish, try to put a little bit more thought and effort into the item to show you care.
There are lots of easy store bought items you could grab and just add something small that is homemade to go with it.
For example:
If you're going to bring a fruit tray from the grocery store, add an easy homemade fruit dip.
If you're going to bring a veggie tray, how about a simple cold dip for parties?
You could even bring a box of crackers and this homemade pimento spread that takes just 5 minutes to stir together.
Don't Forget These Potluck Items
The most important thing to remember when bringing a dish to an Easter potluck is that you want to be sure your item is ready to enjoy without any work from the host.
This means that in addition to bringing your recipe, you will also bring:
- A pretty container for serving the food: A bread basket for rolls, a pretty tray for the appetizers, or an attractive salad bowl for the food.
- Any serving tools needed: Don't forget to pack the spatula, spoon, knife or serving fork guests will need to transfer your food from the serving dish to their plate. Don't count on the host having enough for every dish on the table.
- Necessary condiments or seasonings: Does your recipe go really well with a certain dip or mustard or butter or honey? Bring those along in a serving cup as needed.
- Fresh garnishes: For the final touch before your food is added to the potluck table, think about adding a sprinkle of something fresh and green like parsley or chives or adding an edible flower garnish to make your platter pretty.
- Napkins and/or plates: There's a good chance the potluck host will already have these ready for the Easter brunch but call ahead in advance and offer to bring those too. Your host may appreciate the help in providing all the party ware necessary for guests to eat the brunch items.
More Party Planning Tips
Whether you're the guest or the potluck host, keep in mind that the most important part of your party planning is knowing that your Easter brunch is an awesome chance to love your neighbor.
Our world is better off when we gather together to celebrate and spread joy. With that in mind, anything that goes "wrong" is just a minor detail.
If this is your first time hosting a brunch, don't miss my easy party planning tips for beginners.
Easter Potluck Ideas for Sunday Morning
Whether you're going to an Easter potluck with family and friends or you're heading to your community church potluck, these dishes are sure to be a crowd pleaser and disappear quickly from the buffet tables!
Make-Ahead Hot Cross Biscuits
You can prep these hot cross biscuits the day before and then bake them in the morning before icing them with the cream cheese frosting crosses. This is one of my all-time favorite Easter recipes.
Bread Machine Crescent Dinner Rolls
Use your bread maker to prep the dough for these homemade crescent dinner rolls and your family will never guess how easy these were to make!
Homemade fresh bread will make you the potluck superstar. Be sure to check out all the easy Easter bread recipes I have here.
Monte Cristo Sandwich Pinwheels
These sweet and savory Monte Cristo sandwich pinwheels are a fun brunch appetizer for Easter Sunday. Serve them warm with fresh fruit preserves.
Grandma's Buttermilk Cornbread
Fresh homemade buttermilk cornbread is a great partner for the Easter glazed ham.
Bring along a bowl of whipped butter and honey for the potluck buffet table.
Homemade Scones
Made in just one bowl in under 30 minutes, these blueberry scones are going to disapper in a flash. They're an elegant twist on a breakfast muffin and are the lightest scones you've ever had.
If you want to try a fun variation, don't miss my fresh peach scones or these almond cherry scones.
Plain Cheesecake with Fancy Toppings
Grab a store bought cheesecake from the store, we love the giant one from Costco. Then plan to bring one or two of these homemade cheesecake toppings and some fresh fruit for everyone to build their own dessert.
Travel-Friendly Carrot Cake
Homemade carrot cake is easier to bake than you think and it tastes a million times better than store-bought.
My easy recipe can be made in a baking pan and transported to the potluck a lot easier than a layer cake can.
Easy Lemon Torte
This no bake Easter dessert is a classic potluck recipe and is often featured on church potluck menus. Everyone loves a slice of creamy lemon torte!
Light and refreshing, you'll be bringing home an empty cake dish at the end of the meal.
Lemon Doodles
Cookies are a great potluck treat to bring because they travel so well. These buttery lemon doodles are the perfect sunny dessert to add to the potluck table.
Carrot Cake Bread
Another fun bread machine recipe for Easter is this sweet carrot cake bread with cream cheese drizzle.
Slice it for the potluck table and let your friends and family just grab a slice to eat as a simple side.
Buttermilk Drop Biscuits
Buttermilk drop biscuits are an easy-to-grab bread roll for a potluck buffet.
They taste great warm or at room temperature, just be sure to bake them in the morning before the meal so they're nice and fresh.
Cheesy Cornflake Potatoes
Funeral potatoes are another church potluck recipe that is a great potato side dish to bring for the holiday.
You can assemble the whole thing and bake it at your party OR bake it at home and keep it covered so you can add it to the buffet table right away.
Dill Potato Salad
Creamy dill potato salad is a great potluck recipe because it can be prepped ahead and travels well. Serve it chilled!
Make Ahead Mac and Cheese
This southern classic is a staple for any holiday menu. We've adopted it in our family because it is such a kid-pleaser.
You'll be sure to know that there's at least one thing the kids will eat but just watch as the adults gobble it up, too. Who could resist those breadcrumbs on top of this delicious baked mac and cheese??
Wild Rice Pilaf
I like to serve this wild rice pilaf warm and fresh from the stovetop but if you want to bring it to an Easter potluck, it actually tastes great at room temperature, too.
Sweet Potato Casserole
The brown sugar and pecans topping on this sweet potato casserole pair perfectly with a savory ham. The bright orange filling is a fun pop of color for spring, too.
Green Bean Casserole
Double check there will be an outlet available and then go ahead and bring this crispy green bean casserole for the Easter potluck.
It's a great way to help your host have a hot side dish available for guests.
Creamy Grape Salad
Pack this creamy grape salad in a serving dish but store the brown sugar and pecans in a separate container for travel.
You can sprinkle them over the grapes just before adding the dish to the potluck table so everything stays crispy.
Crispy Wild Rice Salad
This gorgeous wild rice salad has fresh spring greens and Easter-friendly roasted carrots.
Taking the time to assemble the easy elements will mean you're bringing a dish that wows everyone at the table. Don't forget the lemon parmesan vinaigrette.
Piña Colada Fruit Dip
If you're going to buy a fresh fruit tray from the grocery store to cut some corners on prep work, use just a few of the extra minutes to make this creamy piña colada dip for dunking.
It will show you cared enough to make the dish you're passing just a little more special.
Buttermilk Herb Dressing
Homemade buttermilk herb dressing is loaded with spring flavors and would be a thoughtful dish to bring to an Easter potluck with a huge bowl of fresh and crispy garden salad served with homemade croutons, and cherry tomatoes.
You could even add chopped hard boiled eggs to keep with the Easter theme.
Pistachio Fluff Fruit Salad
This pretty pale green pistachio fluff is one part potluck side dish and one part no bake potluck dessert.
Add it to the buffet table and watch your delighted family scoop it right up.
Pineapple Marshmallow Salad
Not feeling the green? How about a sunny yellow and orange pineapple marshmallow salad instead?
This is such a pretty Easter no bake dessert or side dish.
Strawberry Jello Pretzel Dessert
Potlucks and strawberry jello pretzel dessert have gone hand in hand since the invention of potlucks!
No one will be able to resist that crispy pretzel crust topped with the cream cheese base and fresh strawberries.
Hello Dolly Bars
Coconut and chocolate chips are a match made in Easter heaven with these classic hello dolly bars.
These potluck-friendly dessert bars travel well and are easy to slice in bite-sized portions or big generous squares depending on the crowd you're trying to feed.
Deviled Eggs
Is it even a potluck if there aren't any deviled eggs??
For those of us who aren't big fans of mayo, my favorite deviled eggs have a delicious twist to them.
Deviled Egg Salad
Easter buffets are often pretty meat-heavy with a gorgeous ham at the center of the table. For your vegetarian friends or as a fun surprise, why not just make a creamy deviled egg salad for the potluck?
You can deliver it in a pretty serving bowl and add a tray of fresh bread or croissants on the side. Bonus points if you bring crispy lettuce leaves or a bowl of fresh chives chopped and ready to sprinkle over the top.
Roasted Peppers and Pineapple
Warm or room temperature, the bright and juicy roasted pineapple and peppers is an easy side dish that no one will expect.
It pairs perfectly with an Easter ham and rich potato side dishes.
Bisquick Sausage Balls
Bring a big platter of these easy make ahead bisquick sausage balls and serve them with a bowl of my honey mustard dipping sauce.
Crescent Roll Veggie Pizza
The Easter Bunny would approve of all the fresh garden veggies on top of this easy crescent roll veggie pizza. Cut it into bite-sized squares for a pretty platter.
Seasoned Boiled Shrimp
Looking for an easy Easter appetizer for the potluck? You can make my seasoned boiled shrimp in just THREE MINUTES! I'm not even kidding. They are absolutely delicious served cold so you can chill them and bring them to the potluck super easily.
If you bring shrimp, don't forget to add just one or two of these delicious shrimp dipping sauces for an extra special touch.
Lemon Orzo Salad
With or without the shrimp, this lemony orzo pasta salad is a perfect potluck dish to pass because it is just as tasty served room temperature or cold as it is warm.
Chicken Pasta Salad with Grapes
One of my all-time favorite potluck recipes is this bright and fresh chicken pasta salad with grapes. It is loaded with Spring vegetables and serves a big crowd.
BONUS: It tastes best the next day so it is perfect for making ahead!
Easy Quiche
Last but not least, mix and match your favorite fillings to bring a delicious homemade Easter quiche for the potluck party.
Quiche is excellent because it is delicious served at room temperature with a fresh salad on the side.
More Easter Recipe Ideas
Looking for more easy Easter recipes for your holiday?
Whether you're baking with kids or looking for an easy dinner idea for your family, here are a few of my favorites:
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