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.
01of 20
Ricotta and Parmesan Spread
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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02of 20
Stuffed Party Pinwheels
Our recipe makes two different kinds of tortilla spirals—one flavored with curry powder, the other with garlic and herbs.
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03of 20
Peruvian Ceviche
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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04of 20
Marinated Cheese Cubes
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.
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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06of 20
Cucumber-Honeydew Salad with Feta
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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07of 20
Cucumber-Feta Dip
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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08of 20
24-Hour Tex-Mex Salad
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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09of 20
Chicken Banh Mi
Layer rotisserie chicken with crisp veggies, mayo and zippy sesame dressing on a soft roll for this easy version of the popular Vietnamese sandwich.
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.
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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12of 20
Basic Chicken Salad
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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13of 20
Orange Chicken Coleslaw Salad
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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14of 20
Watermelon, Feta and Mint Salad
Discover the savory potential of watermelon in this five-ingredient salad.
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15of 20
Avocado-Feta Salsa
Fresh herbs, tomatoes and avocados create a refreshing salsa. Serve with pita or tortilla chips.
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16of 20
Waldorf Chicken Salad
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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17of 20
Garden Slaw with Spicy Asian Dressing
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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18of 20
Black Bean Salsa
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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19of 20
Black-Eyed Pea Relish
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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20of 20
Celery and Apple Salad with Walnuts
Imagine a Waldorf salad, but lighter and more refreshing, with a tangy lemon-thyme vinaigrette.Double or triple the recipe for a potluck gathering.
If you don't have time to cook, there's a world of store-bought food that is acceptable to bring to a potluck. Cheese and crackers, a veggie tray from the produce section or a box of cookies from the in-house bakery are all good options. Make a label.
These Are The 5 Worst Dishes To Bring To Holiday Potluck Dinners
Baked potatoes in aluminum foil. When the potatoes cool down, the moisture and steam in the foil can create a perfect environment for bacteria to grow. ...
If you're not going the food route for your upcoming potluck, volunteer to bring napkins, cups, utensils, and paper towels. The potluck host will thank you!
Usually, potlucks are strategically planned to make sure there is enough food for everyone; hence the contribution-attendance trade-off. Bringing empty-handed guests is an easy way to tank food supply fast and put the host in an awkward situation.
Send an email asking people what they would prefer to bring, so they can cook something they know will be a hit. However, ensure that everyone brings something different. Assign meals to those who don't respond, and be prepared to ask some to change their dish.
Potluck food should be plate-based. Unless you plan on bringing a stash of disposable bowls and spoons, it's best to stick to food that can be eaten off a plate with a fork. If you don't have time to cook, there's a world of store-bought food that is acceptable to bring to a potluck.
Firstly, make it clear as soon as possible that you are attending and excited to help bring a dish. Next, make sure you offer to bring a certain dish (and have it confirmed by the host or group) instead of just showing up with something.
These go hand-in-hand since the food is brought and eaten by the guests themselves. It's a fun communal activity that also takes some weight off the poor host. So can you show up to a potluck empty-handed? Heck no.
Many, many people bring ready-made food to potlucks. Not everyone likes to cook, and it's a perfectly acceptable practice to provide something you didn't actually make. I've been to potlucks where the pizzas someone generously brought (pizza isn't cheap) were the first items to go onto people's plates.
These go hand-in-hand since the food is brought and eaten by the guests themselves. It's a fun communal activity that also takes some weight off the poor host. So can you show up to a potluck empty-handed? Heck no.
Introduction: My name is Dr. Pierre Goyette, I am a enchanting, powerful, jolly, rich, graceful, colorful, zany person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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