Here's What to Bring to a Potluck When You Don't Want to Cook (2024)

Assemble these recipes—great for potlucks, picnics or light family dinners—without turning on the oven or range. They are the perfect way to help you keep your cool.

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Ricotta and Parmesan Spread

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Fresh herbs season this ridiculously simple spread from BelGioioso Cheese in Wisconsin. It keeps well in the fridge and is delicious with cherry tomatoes or other vegetable dippers, as well as crackers or baguette slices.

Easy Appetizer Recipes

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Stuffed Party Pinwheels

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Our recipe makes two different kinds of tortilla spirals—one flavored with curry powder, the other with garlic and herbs.

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Peruvian Ceviche

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This bright, refreshing recipe is the ultimate no-cook party food. Cincinnati chef Jose Salazar shares the secrets to the ceviche served at his restaurant Mita's.

Tip: In ceviche, the acid in lime juice alters the proteins in fish, mimicking what happens during cooking. But it's still technically raw, so use only the freshest, high-quality seafood. Salazar suggests buying sustainable seafood from Whole Foods Market or a fishmonger.

No-Cook Summer Party Food Recipes

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Marinated Cheese Cubes

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Pantry ingredients turn ordinary Monterey jack into a deli-style party snack that tastes even better when you make it ahead. You can prep it three days in advance.

The No-Fail Relish Tray is Here

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Tropical Tomato Salsa

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Try this sweet, colorful salsa—made with tomato, mango and melon—over chips, fish or chicken.

Salsa Recipes to Spice Up Your Meals

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Cucumber-Honeydew Salad with Feta

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This healthy no-cook potluck salad is full of fruit and vegetable goodness. Feta adds a tang to the sweetness of honeydew melon. With only 20 minutes of prep time before an overnight chill, this recipe is great for picnics and parties.

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Cucumber-Feta Dip

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A garnish of pomegranate seeds and mint gives spark to this refreshing dip; it's a healthy choice you'll be glad to have in your recipe box year-round. Serve with pita chips, crisp breadsticks or vegetables.

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24-Hour Tex-Mex Salad

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Layered salads, popular in the 1970s and 1980s, are making a comeback. Assemble this easy potluck salad in either individual jars or a clear salad bowl, dressing and all, then refrigerate.

Potluck Salad Recipes

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Chicken Banh Mi

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Layer rotisserie chicken with crisp veggies, mayo and zippy sesame dressing on a soft roll for this easy version of the popular Vietnamese sandwich.

Super Sandwich Recipes

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Nutty Apple-Cherry Slaw

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Nuts and fruit add crunch and color to cabbage tossed in a homemade vinaigrette. This beautiful twist on traditional coleslaw is best served right away for maximum crispness, but it will hold for up to 24 hours.

Fresh Ideas for Slaw

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Fresh Corn Salad

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Mix sweet dressing, fresh veggies and spicy jalapeños to create a fresh-tasting potluck salad that has only 77 calories per serving.

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Basic Chicken Salad

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We call this chicken salad "basic," but thanks to lemon juice and fresh green onion and parsley, it's anything but boring. Don't hesitate to bring it to your next picnic.

Chicken Salad 5 Ways

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Orange Chicken Coleslaw Salad

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This unusual recipe combines orange marmalade and soy sauce to make a sweet-and-salty dressing for chicken, cabbage and crunchy ramen noodles.

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Watermelon, Feta and Mint Salad

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Discover the savory potential of watermelon in this five-ingredient salad.

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Avocado-Feta Salsa

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Fresh herbs, tomatoes and avocados create a refreshing salsa. Serve with pita or tortilla chips.

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Waldorf Chicken Salad

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All the traditional Waldorf ingredients are here: apple, grapes, walnuts, celery and mayo. This is a great choice to pack for weekday lunches or picnics.

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Garden Slaw with Spicy Asian Dressing

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This side-dish salad tastes great with burgers or pulled pork sandwiches. Or you can toss the slaw with shredded chicken or chopped cooked ham for a main-dish salad.

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Black Bean Salsa

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This salsa does double duty as a tortilla dip or a meat topper. Serve with a slotted spoon over grilled pork, smoked bratwursts or sausages, grilled chicken or salmon.

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Black-Eyed Pea Relish

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This easy and versatile relish requires only 15 minutes of prep, then an hour of chilling time for the flavors to meld. Sweet and hot peppers add contrasting flavor. Try the relish with pita chips, as a topping for grilled chicken breast or by itself.

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Celery and Apple Salad with Walnuts

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Imagine a Waldorf salad, but lighter and more refreshing, with a tangy lemon-thyme vinaigrette.Double or triple the recipe for a potluck gathering.

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