OWNpotluckholiday partyEntertaining

5 Appetizers Perfect For The Potluck

Armed with one of these no-fuss casseroles or layered dips, plus a bag of chips, you're set for any party.
By 

OWN

|
Another Reason To Love Brussels Sprouts
Marshall Troy
We adore these mini cabbages as a side dish, but it turns out they can also be key players in a zesty, cheesy dip. This one includes bacon (which is basically all we needed to hear), garlic, ricotta, Parmesan, lemon zest and sliced Brussels sprouts. You bake the dip until it's browned on top and serve hot with toasted baguette slices, chips or crackers.

Get the recipe: Warm Charred Brussels Sprouts Dip with Ricotta and Bacon
A Salad That's Not "Just A Salad"
Jennifer May
The stacked salad is a potluck stalwart; also known as the seven-layer salad, it can be the most interesting-looking and widely appealing dish on the table. Somehow, when everyday ingredients -- in this version, beets, potatoes, carrots, eggs, peas and canned tuna -- are spread in layers in a glass bowl, they become a whole much greater than the sum of its parts.

Get the recipe: Seven-Layer Russian Salad
A Dish That Makes Us Want To Renew Our Vows With Bacon
Erin Kunkel/Weldon Owen
Bacon and guacamole are two foods that tend to go over really well with pretty much anyone -- which is why this brilliant dip combining both is a shoo-in for any buffet table. The recipe also features roasted jalapeños, onions, garlic and tomatillos, which give the spread an extra rich and smoky flavor.

Get the recipe: Bacon-Guacamole Salsa Verde Dip
A Brand New Way To Do Sour Cream And Onion Dip
Erin Kunkel/Weldon Owen
This over-the-top accompaniment for ridged potato chips proves that sometimes, more is more. The dip starts with the basics -- sour cream, mayonnaise, garlic powder -- yet goes way beyond the predictable workhorses, incorporating buttermilk, fresh dill and chives, sweet Spanish paprika and crumbled blue cheese, so it delivers a perfect mash-up of sweet and salty tastes. The icing on the cake is a garnish of fried shallots.

Get the recipe: Ultra Mega Dip
The Throwback Everyone (Seriously, Everyone) Loves
Lynn Andriani
A Mexican seven-layer dip is one of the most guaranteed-to-be-gobbled-up dishes you can bring to a party. And while there are many ways to build this stalwart classic, we're partial to refried beans, cheese, sour cream, guacamole, salsa, lettuce and olives. Heating the beans with some diced chilies before spreading them into the dish gives it some depth, as well as texture.

Get the recipe: Mexican Seven-Layer Dip

Also on HuffPost:

7 No-Fail Holiday Potluck Recipes
The Perfect Cool-Weather One-Pot Meal(01 of07)
Open Image Modal
If you've been charged with bringing a main dish but want to keep costs down, try pork shoulder. The juicy, savory roast is inexpensive and pairs wonderfully with late-autumn flavors. This hearty German stew combines the meat with two types of apples (Granny Smith and Red Delicious), green and red cabbage, and egg noodles.Get the recipe: German Winter Stew (credit:Thinkstock)
An Autumn Mac 'N' Cheese (02 of07)
Open Image Modal
This twist on the classic pasta-and-cheese dish combines the rich fall flavors of sage and roasted butternut squash. Prepare the dish ahead of time and refrigerate it; just bring it to room temperature before heating.Get the recipe: Penne Pasta Quattro Formaggi with Butternut Squash and Sage (credit:Paige Green)
A Healthy Make-Ahead Dinner(03 of07)
Open Image Modal
You can make this dish -- seared chicken sausages atop a Riesling-infused fennel, leek and cabbage slaw -- in the morning and serve it hours later. Just heat it in a low oven beforehand.Get the recipe: Chicken Sausage with Fennel, Leek and Cabbage Slaw (credit:Thinkstock)
The Works-For-Any-Course Platter(04 of07)
Open Image Modal
The beauty of chili is its versatility. It can be an appetizer, a side dish or a main course, depending on how you serve it: with chips, alongside burgers or on its own with plenty of fixings.Get the recipe: Turkey Chili (credit:Thinkstock)
The Appley, Nutty Main Course Salad(05 of07)
Open Image Modal
One of the sweetest varieties available, Fuji apples are in season now -- but can last five or six months in the fridge. They're the perfect complement to savory roasted chicken and a slightly tangy yogurt-based dressing. Make the salad the night before so the flavors meld.Get the recipe: Fuji Apple, Walnut and Herb Salad with Roasted Chicken (credit:Thinkstock)
A Seasonal Side That Goes With (Almost) Anything(06 of07)
Open Image Modal
Celebrity chef Tyler Florence puts this supereasy slaw (which calls for a bag of precut broccoli slaw mix) on top of barbecued pork sandwiches, but it would be just as tasty with baked ham or cold cuts.Get the recipe: Broccoli Slaw with Cranberries (credit:Thinkstock)
The Cool-Weather Version Of Grilled Vegetables(07 of07)
Open Image Modal
Although this recipe suggests using acorn squash, you can substitute butternut, delicata or any other winter squash. The glaze -- made with cranberries, orange juice, maple syrup and allspice -- will make your house smell like fall.Get the recipe: Acorn Squash with Cranberry Maple Glaze (credit:Thinkstock)
Suggest a correction
|
Submit a tip