Christmas Potluck Recipes: 16 Church Supper Dishes That Always Come Home in an Empty Pan

Christmas potluck recipes have a special job: they need to ride in the back seat, sit on a folding table for an hour, and still taste wonderful to a hungry crowd. Church suppers, office parties, and family gatherings all ask the same question in December: what should I bring? The dishes that disappear first are rarely fancy. They are cheesy, colorful, easy to scoop, and full of holiday cheer. Sharing a covered dish is an old tradition, as the history of the potluck shows. Here you will find hearty casseroles, festive salads, crowd-size dips, and red and green desserts that look as good as they taste. Most can be made ahead and carried in a covered pan. Pick your favorite, grab the foil, and get ready for compliments..

Christmas Potluck Recipes: Cheesy Ham and Potato Bake

Of all the Christmas potluck recipes on a long buffet table, this is the one that tends to come home in an empty pan. Tender potatoes, diced ham, and a creamy cheddar sauce bake into a golden, bubbly casserole that tastes like a holiday hug. Assemble it the night before and bake it the morning of the potluck. Wrap the hot dish in towels inside a cooler to keep it warm on the drive. It feeds a crowd for very little. Want more crowd-pleasers to carry along? Browse our crockpot potluck recipes next..

You will need: 3 lb Yukon gold potatoes peeled and thinly sliced, 3 cups diced cooked ham, 1 onion diced, 4 tbsp butter, 1/4 cup flour, 3 cups milk, 3 cups shredded sharp cheddar, 1 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp pepper

How to make it: 1. Heat oven to 375 F and grease a 9×13 inch dish. 2. Melt butter, cook onion 3 minutes, whisk in flour, then milk, and simmer until thick. 3. Stir in 2 cups cheese, salt, and pepper. 4. Layer potatoes, ham, and sauce in the dish. 5. Cover and bake 50 minutes, uncover, top with remaining cheese, and bake 20 minutes more.

Christmas Potluck Recipes: Baked Ziti for a Crowd

Nothing feeds a hungry crowd like a giant pan of baked ziti. Pasta, marinara, ricotta, and plenty of melted mozzarella bake into a cheesy, saucy casserole that everyone recognizes and loves. Undercook the pasta by 2 minutes so it stays firm after baking and travel. Bring it in the baking pan covered with foil, and it holds heat for a long time. Among Christmas potluck recipes, this is the safest bet for picky eaters. Want more Italian baked pasta classics?

You will need: 1 1/2 lb ziti, 1 lb ground beef or Italian sausage, 2 jars (24 oz each) marinara, 15 oz ricotta, 1 large egg, 4 cups shredded mozzarella, 1/2 cup grated parmesan, 1 tsp Italian seasoning

How to make it: 1. Heat oven to 375 F and cook ziti 2 minutes less than package time. 2. Brown meat fully, drain, and stir in marinara. 3. Mix ricotta, egg, half the parmesan, and Italian seasoning. 4. Layer pasta, sauce, ricotta, and mozzarella in a large pan, ending with mozzarella and parmesan. 5. Cover and bake 25 minutes, then uncover and bake 15 minutes more.

Hot Spinach Dip in a Bread Ring

A round of crusty bread filled with warm, creamy spinach dip is the centerpiece of many holiday buffets, and everybody gathers around it. Hollow a round loaf into a ring, fill it with cheesy spinach dip, wrap in foil, and bake. Cube the bread you removed and toast it for dipping. Squeeze the spinach completely dry for the thickest dip. Bake it at home and carry it wrapped in foil to stay warm. Want more hot holiday dips for parties?

You will need: 1 large round sourdough loaf, 10 oz frozen chopped spinach thawed and squeezed dry, 8 oz cream cheese softened, 1 cup sour cream, 1/2 cup mayonnaise, 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella, 1/2 cup grated parmesan, 2 cloves garlic minced

How to make it: 1. Heat oven to 350 F. 2. Cut the top off the loaf and scoop out the center to form a bowl, cubing the removed bread. 3. Mix cream cheese, sour cream, mayonnaise, spinach, garlic, and cheeses. 4. Fill the bread bowl, wrap in foil, and bake 1 hour. 5. Toast bread cubes for 10 minutes and serve alongside.

Chicken Enchilada Casserole

When you want to bring something different from the usual ham and turkey, this cheesy enchilada casserole is one of the holiday potluck dishes that wins every time. Layers of corn tortillas, shredded chicken, enchilada sauce, and melted cheese bake into a hearty, scoopable dish. Make it the night before and bake it before you go. Serve with sour cream and salsa on the side so guests can choose. It feeds a crowd for less than you think. Would you also like cheesy weeknight casseroles?

You will need: 4 cups shredded cooked chicken, 2 cans (10 oz each) red enchilada sauce, 1 can (4 oz) diced green chiles, 1 cup sour cream, 12 corn tortillas cut in quarters, 3 cups shredded Mexican cheese blend, chopped cilantro

How to make it: 1. Heat oven to 375 F and grease a 9×13 inch dish. 2. Mix chicken, green chiles, sour cream, and half the sauce. 3. Layer tortillas, chicken mixture, and cheese three times. 4. Pour remaining sauce over and top with cheese. 5. Cover and bake 25 minutes, uncover, and bake 10 minutes more.

Cranberry Jalapeno Cream Cheese Dip

This sweet, spicy, jewel-red dip is a party favorite for good reason. Fresh cranberries get pulsed with jalapeno, cilantro, green onion, sugar, and lime, then chilled overnight and spooned over a block of cream cheese. Serve it with crackers and watch the plate empty. The cranberry relish needs at least 4 hours to mellow, so make it a day ahead. Wear gloves when chopping jalapenos. Looking for more crowd-favorite party dips?

You will need: 12 oz fresh cranberries, 1 to 2 jalapenos seeded, 1/4 cup chopped cilantro, 3 green onions, 1/2 cup sugar, 2 tbsp lime juice, 1/4 tsp salt, 2 blocks (8 oz each) cream cheese, crackers

How to make it: 1. Pulse cranberries, jalapenos, cilantro, and green onions in a food processor until finely chopped. 2. Stir in sugar, lime juice, and salt. 3. Cover and refrigerate 4 to 24 hours. 4. Spread cream cheese on a serving plate. 5. Spoon cranberry mixture over and serve with crackers.

Christmas Tortellini Salad With Tomatoes and Basil

Red tomatoes, green basil, and cheese tortellini make this pasta salad look like Christmas in a bowl. Toss it with a zesty Italian vinaigrette, a little salami, and parmesan, and it only gets better after a night in the fridge. It is one of those holiday potluck dishes that sits happily on the table for an hour or two. Tear in the basil right before you leave so it stays bright and fragrant. Would you love more potluck pasta salads for parties?

You will need: 20 oz refrigerated cheese tortellini, 1 1/2 cups cherry tomatoes halved, 4 oz salami diced, 1 cup fresh basil leaves, 1/2 cup sliced olives, 1/2 cup Italian vinaigrette, 1/2 cup grated parmesan

How to make it: 1. Cook tortellini, rinse under cold water, and drain. 2. Toss with tomatoes, salami, olives, and vinaigrette. 3. Cover and refrigerate up to 24 hours. 4. Stir in basil and parmesan before serving. 5. Keep chilled and serve within 2 hours.

Christmas Potluck Recipes: Green Bean Bundles With Bacon

These little bundles of green beans wrapped in bacon and glazed with brown sugar butter look elegant but are so easy. Each guest grabs a bundle, so there is no messy scooping on a crowded buffet. Blanch the beans first so they finish tender. Wrap the bundles a day ahead and refrigerate on the pan, then bake before the party. Use regular bacon so it crisps fully. They sit perfectly beside our holiday ham recipes.

You will need: 2 lb green beans trimmed and blanched, 12 slices bacon halved, 1/3 cup butter melted, 1/3 cup packed brown sugar, 2 cloves garlic minced, 1/2 tsp soy sauce

How to make it: 1. Heat oven to 400 F. 2. Gather 6 to 8 green beans and wrap with half a slice of bacon, tucking the end underneath. 3. Arrange in a baking dish. 4. Stir butter, brown sugar, garlic, and soy sauce and drizzle over. 5. Bake 30 to 35 minutes until bacon is crisp.

Cranberry Pecan Chicken Salad Sandwiches

Shredded chicken tossed with creamy dressing, dried cranberries, toasted pecans, and celery is one of the Christmas potluck recipes that empties a platter fast. Pile it onto soft slider rolls or sliced bread, then cut into small sandwiches people can grab with one hand. Make the chicken salad a day ahead and fill the bread the morning of. Keep the platter on ice, since mayonnaise salads should not sit out more than 2 hours. Do you also love classic American salads?

You will need: 4 cups shredded cooked chicken, 3/4 cup mayonnaise, 1/4 cup sour cream, 3/4 cup dried cranberries, 3/4 cup chopped toasted pecans, 2 celery stalks diced, salt and pepper, 24 slider rolls or 12 slices sandwich bread

How to make it: 1. Stir mayonnaise and sour cream in a large bowl. 2. Add chicken, cranberries, pecans, and celery and toss. 3. Season with salt and pepper and refrigerate up to 24 hours. 4. Split rolls or layer bread and fill with chicken salad. 5. Keep chilled until serving.

Christmas Potluck Recipes: Mini Ham and Cheese Biscuits

These buttery little biscuits are stuffed with diced ham and sharp cheddar right in the dough, so they are easy to grab and need no knife. They taste wonderful warm or at room temperature, which makes them perfect for a long potluck table. Keep the butter very cold for the flakiest layers. Bake them the morning of the party and carry them in a towel-lined basket. Want more homemade rolls and biscuits?

You will need: 2 1/2 cups flour, 1 tbsp baking powder, 1/2 tsp salt, 1/2 cup cold butter cubed, 1 cup diced cooked ham, 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar, 1 cup buttermilk, 2 tbsp melted butter

How to make it: 1. Heat oven to 425 F and line a sheet pan. 2. Mix flour, baking powder, and salt, then cut in cold butter until crumbly. 3. Stir in ham and cheddar, then buttermilk just until combined. 4. Pat to 3/4 inch thick and cut small rounds. 5. Bake 12 to 14 minutes and brush with melted butter.

Garlic Butter Pull-Apart Dinner Rolls

A pan of soft, golden pull-apart dinner rolls is the quiet hero of the buffet table. Every Christmas potluck needs something to mop up gravy and sauce, and rolls baked close together stay tender on the sides and travel well in their pan. Brush them with garlic herb butter as they come out of the oven for extra holiday flavor. Let the dough rise fully before baking for the lightest texture. Would you like more soft dinner roll recipes?

You will need: 24 frozen dinner roll dough balls thawed, 4 tbsp butter melted, 2 cloves garlic minced, 1 tbsp chopped parsley, 1/4 cup grated parmesan

How to make it: 1. Arrange dough balls close together in a greased 9×13 inch pan. 2. Cover and let rise until doubled, 1 to 2 hours. 3. Heat oven to 375 F. 4. Bake 18 to 20 minutes until golden. 5. Brush with garlic butter, sprinkle with parmesan and parsley, and serve warm.

Christmas Potluck Recipes: Eggnog Poke Cake

This moist cake tastes like a cup of eggnog by the fire. A simple white cake gets poked all over and soaked with an eggnog and vanilla pudding mixture, then topped with whipped topping and a dusting of nutmeg. It must be made ahead, which makes it one of the easiest holiday potluck dishes for dessert. Keep it covered and chilled until serving. Use the handle of a wooden spoon to poke the cake. Do you love poke cakes that feed a crowd?

You will need: 1 box white cake mix plus ingredients on the box, 1 package (3.4 oz) instant vanilla pudding, 2 cups cold eggnog, 8 oz whipped topping thawed, 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg

How to make it: 1. Bake cake in a 9×13 inch pan and cool 15 minutes. 2. Poke deep openings all over with a wooden spoon handle. 3. Whisk pudding mix and eggnog for 2 minutes and pour over the cake, pressing it into the openings. 4. Chill 2 hours. 5. Spread whipped topping over and dust with nutmeg. Keep refrigerated.

Holiday Broccoli Salad With Cranberries

Crunchy broccoli, crispy bacon, red onion, sunflower seeds, and dried cranberries in a sweet and tangy dressing make this one of the legendary holiday potluck dishes. It is the dish people ask the recipe for while they are still chewing. The cranberries make it festive enough for Christmas. Dress it a few hours ahead so the flavors blend, but no more than a day so the broccoli stays crisp. Keep it chilled. Would you also love church potluck salads?

You will need: 6 cups small broccoli florets, 8 slices bacon cooked and crumbled, 1/2 red onion finely diced, 3/4 cup dried cranberries, 1/2 cup sunflower seeds, 1 cup mayonnaise, 3 tbsp sugar, 2 tbsp cider vinegar

How to make it: 1. Whisk mayonnaise, sugar, and vinegar. 2. Toss broccoli, onion, cranberries, and sunflower seeds in a large bowl. 3. Pour dressing over and stir to coat. 4. Cover and chill 2 to 24 hours. 5. Stir in bacon just before serving.

Christmas Potluck Recipes: White Chocolate Cranberry Bars

These chewy blondie bars are loaded with white chocolate chips and dried cranberries, then topped with cream cheese frosting and more cranberries. They taste just like the fancy coffee shop holiday bars, at a fraction of the price. Cool the bars completely before frosting, then chill so you can cut clean triangles. Like the best holiday potluck dishes, they hold up well in a tin for travel. They also shine on a Pittsburgh cookie table.

You will need: 3/4 cup butter melted, 1 1/2 cups packed brown sugar, 2 large eggs, 1 tsp vanilla, 2 1/4 cups flour, 1 1/2 tsp baking powder, 1/2 tsp salt, 1 cup white chocolate chips, 1 cup dried cranberries divided, 4 oz cream cheese softened, 2 cups powdered sugar

How to make it: 1. Heat oven to 350 F and line a 9×13 inch pan. 2. Whisk butter, brown sugar, eggs, and vanilla, then stir in flour, baking powder, and salt. 3. Fold in white chips and 2/3 cup cranberries, spread in the pan, and bake 22 to 25 minutes. 4. Cool, then beat cream cheese and powdered sugar and spread on top. 5. Sprinkle with cranberries and cut into triangles.

Overnight Seven Layer Salad in a Glass Bowl

This retro seven layer salad is gorgeous in a glass trifle bowl, with every colorful layer showing through. Crisp lettuce, peas, tomatoes, eggs, cheese, and bacon get sealed under a creamy dressing and chilled overnight. It is one of the original make-ahead holiday potluck dishes, and it still steals the show. Spread the dressing all the way to the edges to keep the lettuce crisp underneath. Keep it cold. Do you remember retro holiday salads like this one?

You will need: 1 head iceberg lettuce chopped, 2 cups frozen peas thawed, 1 cup cherry tomatoes halved, 4 hard-cooked eggs sliced, 1/2 red onion diced, 1 1/2 cups mayonnaise, 1/2 cup sour cream, 1 tbsp sugar, 2 cups shredded cheddar, 8 slices bacon crumbled

How to make it: 1. Layer lettuce, peas, tomatoes, eggs, and onion in a trifle bowl. 2. Whisk mayonnaise, sour cream, and sugar. 3. Spread dressing over the top, sealing to the edges. 4. Top with cheese, cover, and chill overnight. 5. Sprinkle with bacon before serving.

Old-Fashioned Christmas Cherry Dessert Squares

These old-fashioned cherry squares are classic Christmas potluck recipes and a longtime church supper favorite. A soft, buttery almond cake bakes with spoonfuls of cherry pie filling, then gets drizzled with a simple glaze. The bright red cherries make it look like Christmas. Spread most of the batter first, then dollop filling and add the rest of the batter on top. They slice and stack easily for travel. Want more church bake sale recipes?

You will need: 1 cup butter softened, 1 3/4 cups sugar, 4 large eggs, 1 tsp vanilla, 1/2 tsp almond extract, 3 cups flour, 1 1/2 tsp baking powder, 1/2 tsp salt, 1 can (21 oz) cherry pie filling, 1 cup powdered sugar, 2 tbsp milk

How to make it: 1. Heat oven to 350 F and grease a rimmed 10×15 inch pan. 2. Beat butter and sugar, add eggs and extracts, then mix in flour, baking powder, and salt. 3. Spread two-thirds of the batter in the pan and spoon pie filling over. 4. Drop remaining batter on top. 5. Bake 35 to 40 minutes, cool, and drizzle with powdered sugar glaze.

Christmas Potluck Recipes: Fudgy Brownie Squares

Every potluck dessert table needs a plate of fudgy brownie squares, and they are among the easiest Christmas potluck recipes to carry. Bake them in a 9×13 pan, cool completely, and cut small, because they are rich. For a holiday touch, sprinkle crushed candy canes over the warm top, or keep them plain for the kids. Line the pan with parchment so you can lift the entire slab out for neat cuts. Love bake-and-go treats? See our dessert bars that vanish.

You will need: 1 cup butter melted, 2 cups sugar, 4 large eggs, 2 tsp vanilla, 3/4 cup cocoa powder, 1 cup flour, 1/2 tsp salt, 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips, 1/3 cup crushed candy canes (optional)

How to make it: 1. Heat oven to 350 F and line a 9×13 inch pan with parchment. 2. Whisk butter, sugar, eggs, and vanilla. 3. Stir in cocoa, flour, and salt, then fold in chocolate chips. 4. Spread in the pan and bake 25 to 30 minutes. 5. Sprinkle with candy canes if using, cool completely, and cut into squares.