Monday, December 8, 2025

15 Fabulous Vacation Potluck Recipes – Leite’s Culinaria


Little Bites and Finger Meals

Everybody has their favourite form of social gathering meals. The little hors d’oeuvres or finger meals are sometimes depraved in style as a result of they’re simple to seize and munch whereas holding a glass of bubbles and mingling. Apart from the recipes under, mini bacon and cheese scones, blue cheese balls, and Sriracha deviled eggs have confirmed to be among the hottest mini-bites at our vacation events for years.

A white plate with three prosciutto-cheese gougeres with a glass of Prosecco in the background.A white plate with three prosciutto-cheese gougeres with a glass of Prosecco in the background.
For these gourgères, I went one higher by including to the batter basic Proscuitto di Parma in addition to one of many noble cheeses of Italy, Grana Padano, together with thyme and rosemary to make sure each chew actually explodes with indulgence. Okay, maybe I’m a bit of hyperbolic. However these are certainly not your bizarre savory gougères. Certainly, a superb piece of puffery.

These gougères had been delicious. I used to be involved about making the dough, having had restricted success up to now when making cream puffs, however they turned out superbly. That is positively on our roster, and I’ll strive among the variations, too. Thanks for a wonderful and authentic recipe.

Celeste

Hot artichoke dip in a white pottery bowl with a serving spoon, beside a bowl of toasted bread.Hot artichoke dip in a white pottery bowl with a serving spoon, beside a bowl of toasted bread.

Artichoke hearts are a vital store-cupboard ingredient for me. This recipe is certainly one of my favorites—scrumptious, fast, and easy to make, it is impressed by my mom. I all the time serve this at Christmastime, with toasted rosemary focaccia. It’s wealthy, comforting, and everybody all the time needs the recipe.

A basket of black bean taquitos with lime halves and hot sauce on the side.A basket of black bean taquitos with lime halves and hot sauce on the side.

Black bean taquitos. So pretty you’re not even going to note that they’re vegetarian. However your visitors will respect the actual fact. And also you’ll respect the style.

Jamie Oliver's Garlic Pull-Apart Rolls on a metal sheet pan, garnished with crispy bread crumbs, and being pulled apart by two hands.Jamie Oliver's Garlic Pull-Apart Rolls on a metal sheet pan, garnished with crispy bread crumbs, and being pulled apart by two hands.

Who doesn’t love garlic bread? And this tear-and-share fashion is all the time a winner. I’ve written the recipe for 12 as a result of it’s a better amount of dough to work with. What I love to do is make up each pans of bread, then whack one within the freezer, able to bake one other day—you received’t remorse it.

The Most important Occasion

You’re not alone for those who really feel sheer terror when requested to deliver a large sizzling dish to a potluck. There’s a purpose that nobody volunteers to make the principle dishes. Concern not. Haul out your trusty sluggish cooker and drop in certainly one of these hearty mains to maintain heat. The accolades that’ll be showered on you’ll take some time greater than worthwhile.

Searching for extra nice potluck main-dish choices? Contemplate turkey chili (depraved simple), vegetarian lasagna (healthy-ish), King Ranch hen casserole (decadent), or pulled pork (lush).

Two tamales on a white plate.Two tamales on a white plate.

These crimson chile pork tamales are the true genuine Mexican deal. They usually style as if they had been lovingly crafted by the loveliest abuela possible, crafted to be barely spicy with pulled pork. Right here’s the best way to make them at house, step-by-step.

This tamale recipe is spot on–it’s the best way our household has made tamales for many years.

Toni

A tray of unbaked bbq meatballs with a set of measuring spoons beside it and a bowl of barbecue sauce in the background.A tray of unbaked bbq meatballs with a set of measuring spoons beside it and a bowl of barbecue sauce in the background.

These BBQ meatballs are tossed within the crockpot or oven (translation: no stovetop spattering to wash up) and slathered in a do-it-yourself molasses barbecue sauce. Here is the best way to make them.

The barbecue meatballs had been really easy and attractive. Everybody appreciated them, which is difficult on this home! I’ll positively make them once more.

Kathryn

A glazed ham on a cutting board with several slices cut from the end and a carving fork and knife resting beside it.A glazed ham on a cutting board with several slices cut from the end and a carving fork and knife resting beside it.

This glazed ham with brown sugar, pineapple juice, honey, mustard, and marmalade is a centerpiece-worthy baked ham that we like for its attractiveness and basic style. Straightforward as could be and spectacular as heck. Greatest cured pork we’ve ever had.

We made this for dinner, and the ham was cooked to perfection, and the glaze actually made it spectacular.

Kae

A bowl of cheesy mashed potatoes, topped with scallions on a table with turkey and cranberry sauce.A bowl of cheesy mashed potatoes, topped with scallions on a table with turkey and cranberry sauce.

Comfortable, creamy, tacky, and barely smoky, these mashed potatoes with cheese have all the pieces going for them.

Nashville hot chicken sliders, piled up on a plate with sesame seeds and hot sauce.Nashville hot chicken sliders, piled up on a plate with sesame seeds and hot sauce.

Way back in Nashville, the one place to get sizzling hen was Prince’s Scorching Rooster on Ewing Drive. Nowadays, sizzling hen is all the fad in Nashville, and you could find it in a whole lot of eating places. I adore it all, however Prince’s remains to be the gold normal for me. These sliders are my nod to Ms. André Prince Jeffries, who nonetheless serves up the most effective sizzling hen I’ve ever tasted!

One thing Candy

Indubitably, essentially the most anticipated a part of a potluck is the dessert. Individuals wish to nosh a number of treats, so that you’ll be a potluck superhero for those who arrive with a tray of Christmas cookies, peppermint brownies, bars, truffles, or rum balls.

If you happen to’ve bought a crazy-busy vacation schedule that doesn’t embrace house baking, seize a field of sugar cookies and a can of frosting out of your native grocery store and prepare it right into a Christmas tree of cookies. Individuals will probably be so busy oohing and ahhing that they received’t even discover that they’re not do-it-yourself. (And also you’ll get no shade from me. A baker’s gotta do what a baker’s gotta do.)

A two-tiered platter with rum balls on each tier.A two-tiered platter with rum balls on each tier.

These attractive rum balls, made with walnuts, chocolate, confectioners’ sugar, and butter, are a Southern basic. A stunning do-it-yourself Christmas reward.

These rum balls had been so good! In reality, it was arduous to not eat them unexpectedly.

Previously, I had made my great-grandmother’s recipe, which used Nilla wafers, however they had been all the time too dry. Not the case with these! It’s so scrumptious, extra like fudge than a cookie.

Elizabeth

Assorted shaped lebkuchen decorated with white and chocolate icing.Assorted shaped lebkuchen decorated with white and chocolate icing.

Lebkuchen are conventional German Christmas cookies which are subtly paying homage to gingerbread. Though truly we choose to seek advice from them as “moments of completely spiced cut-out cookie deliciousness.”

It is a pretty recipe…the flavours of the spices, the citrus–even the chocolate within the glaze–all come collectively in a most interesting manner!

Karen

Five small tarts filled with orange curd and topped with candied orange slices on a cooling rack.Five small tarts filled with orange curd and topped with candied orange slices on a cooling rack.

These orange curd tartlets are basic French consolation meals. A riff on the lemon tart that’s ubiquitous in pâtisseries all throughout Frances.

A loaf of monkey bread--balls of caramel-coated bread dough dripping caramel sauce on a rectangle plateA loaf of monkey bread--balls of caramel-coated bread dough dripping caramel sauce on a rectangle plate

This caramel monkey bread is a gooey candy pull-apart cake constructed from blobs of brioche dough coated in a caramel sauce made with cinnamon, butter, and brown sugar. It is easy as could be to make from scratch in a loaf pan—and enjoyable as heck to tease aside along with your arms.  It makes an amazing breakfast deal with, snack, dessert, and even Christmas morning shock.

An assortment of chocolate covered pretzels with white and dark chocolate coating and sprinkles.An assortment of chocolate covered pretzels with white and dark chocolate coating and sprinkles.

These chocolate lined pretzels–made with darkish chocolate in addition to white chocolate–boast a beautiful look and a spectacular salty sweetness that’s terrific at events. Right here’s the best way to make them, whether or not you wish to use rods, sticks, or twists, and whether or not you wish to glam them up or hold them easy.

A slab of red wine cherry cheesecake bars cut into squares.A slab of red wine cherry cheesecake bars cut into squares.

These crimson wine cherry cheesecake bars are made with a graham cracker crust, cheesecake filling, and boozy cherry swirl. Sorta like your fave diner dessert however with a bit of sass and class tossed in for good measure. You’re welcome.

Potluck Etiquette

Yup, potluck etiquette is a factor. Fortunately, it’s largely frequent sense, and it finally comes right down to being thoughtful of your hosts and fellow revelers. Observe these easy guidelines, and also you’ll be assured an invite yearly.

  • Bear in mind, there’s much more that goes right into a potluck than placing meals on a desk. When you have further time, supply to reach early or keep late to assist the host arrange or clear up.
  • Carry the meals that you just had been requested to deliver. If it’s important to cancel on the final minute, supply to drop off the meals. When you have a sudden urge to deliver one thing totally different than initially deliberate, test with the host first.
  • Present up on time.
  • Keep in mind that somebody organized the occasion. Carry a small reward or ship a thanks notice to point out your appreciation.
  • If you happen to’re bringing a dish that features one of many principal meals allergens, resembling gluten, dairy, nuts, seafood, eggs, or soy, label your dish.
  • In an excellent world, your dish must be able to serve. If you happen to’ll want the oven, microwave, or fridge, test with the hosts earlier than the social gathering to order your spot. If you happen to’re bringing one thing that’ll must be plugged in, allow them to know–and produce an extension twine.
  • Provide to go away your leftovers, and do as you’re requested. If you happen to introduced your personal serving dishes, switch the leftovers to a plate or a labeled container in order that the hostess isn’t caught cleansing your soiled dishes.
  • Have enjoyable!

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