Food and Recipes Dish Casserole Crowd-Pleasing Summer Potluck Recipes You Can Make in Your 13x9 By Kaitlyn Yarborough Kaitlyn Yarborough Part of the Southern Living team since 2017, Kaitlyn Yarborough is a Georgia native living in Austin, Texas, who covers a wide variety of topics for both the magazine and website, focusing on culture and lifestyle content, as well as travel in the South. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Updated on July 5, 2022 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: Hector Sanchez Summertime is the best time for a Southern potluck full of dishes that take advantage of summer's vibrant bounty from farmers' markets, local farm stands, or even your own backyard. Unlike during the holidays, summer potlucks let you make it more about the fresh peaches, tomatoes, okra, corn, summer squash, and peas than anything else. Fresh, easy, and pretty enough for a get-together, these summer potluck recipes will showcase every bright and colorful thing we love about summer. From packed-to-the-brim vegetable gratins to freshened-up pasta bakes, these easy summer casseroles will wow the crowd and disappear faster than those fleeting summer days. To top it off, we included some easy summer desserts for a crowd that'll be easy to make and even easier to take, thanks to your 9x13 dish. Here are our 35 favorite 13x9 summer potluck recipes, featuring crowd-friendly appetizers. seasonal sides, delicious casseroles, and flavorful desserts. This gallery is even organized how you'd serve a crowd, with apps first and sweets last, so you can browse for summer potluck ideas no matter what course you're responsible for or interested in whipping up. 01 of 35 Ham Delights Photographer: Jennifer Causey; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer Recipe: Ham Delights We updated this tried-and-true appetizer with flavorful Gouda cheese and a sprinkling of everything bagel seasoning. Bake in your trusty 13x9 to get nice and melty. 02 of 35 Baked BLT Dip Skyler Burt Recipe: Baked BLT Dip Much like your go-to BLT sandwich, this dip is a seasonal summertime favorite made with bacon, cherry tomatoes, cream cheese, sour cream, mayo, and lemon juice. 03 of 35 Easy Buffalo Chicken Dip Jennifer Causey; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen Recipe: Easy Buffalo Chicken Dip What makes this sensational recipe standout out from the posers? Lots of ooey, gooey cheese—we're talking sharp Cheddar cheese, pepper Jack cheese, cream cheese, and crumbled blue cheese. Chopped cooked chicken makes it a breeze to whip together for a party. 04 of 35 Loaded Cauliflower Casserole ennifer Causey; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Stylist: Heather Chadduck Hillegas Recipe: Loaded Cauliflower Casserole Like a loaded baked potato—but in casserole form and made a little less rich by using cauliflower instead of heavy potatoes. It makes a super satisfying side dish. 05 of 35 Zucchini, Squash, and Corn Casserole Hector Sanchez Recipe: Zucchini, Squash, and Corn Casserole Can you name a better summertime trio than zucchini, squash, and corn? Bound together with a cheesy, creamy filling, this bright dish gets beautifully golden on top to match that sunny weather. 06 of 35 Okra and Rice Casserole Hector Sanchez Recipe: Okra and Rice Casserole Tender sautéed okra, sweet corn, bell pepper, and tomatoes give this dish so much bright summery color. Cajun spices and buttery garlic breadcrumbs make sure it doesn't skimp on the flavor. 07 of 35 Old-School Squash Casserole Photographer: Fred Hardy II, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Props Stylist: Christina Brockman Recipe: Old-School Squash Casserole Recipe This classic will make the most of the harvest. You can't go wrong when showing up with this bright, summery crowd favorite. 08 of 35 Reunion Pea Casserole Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Torie Cox Recipe: Reunion Pea Casserole This bright casserole packs a delicious punch. The stuffed-to-the-brim dish is full of Italian sausage, cheese, squash, and peas—then it's finished off with a buttery crescent roll crust. 09 of 35 Savannah Red Rice Photo: Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Torie Cox Recipe: Savannah Red Rice This regional delicacy is simple to prepare while still showcasing rich flavor. The smoky bacon and tangy tomatoes will keep guests coming back for more. 10 of 35 Twice Baked Potato Casserole Alison Miksch; Prop Styling: Sarah Elizabeth Cleveland; Food Styling: Melissa Gray Recipe: Twice Baked Potato Casserole People like potatoes in just about any form, and this is a new recipe to save as a go-to. We like to think of this dish as a portable, easy-to-portion take on tried-and-true twice baked potatoes. 11 of 35 Cheese Cracker-Topped Squash Casserole Hector Sanchez Recipe: Cheese Cracker-Topped Squash Casserole Thanks to the Goldfish topping, this recipe is automatically kid-approved. Don't be fooled, though: Made with in-season zucchini and yellow squash, it's also adult-approved and highly encouraged as a welcome side dish on just about any summer supper menu. 12 of 35 Classic Parmesan Scalloped Potatoes Beth Dreiling Hontzas Recipe: Classic Parmesan Scalloped Potatoes There's nothing not to love about these scalloped potatoes, which are done up in a casserole dish with a load of parmesan and heavy cream. This recipe comes out super cheesy (yes, please!), so we recommend rounding out your meal with something on the light side, like fresh vegetables and a protein that's, perhaps, not also covered in cheese. 13 of 35 Sweet Potato, Cauliflower, and Greens Casserole Hector Sanchez Recipe: Sweet Potato, Cauliflower, and Greens Casserole Big chunks of fresh vegetables—cauliflower, mushrooms, sweet potatoes, butter beans—mingle with a creamy cheese sauce and tender kale to make up this meat-free casserole that'll shine at your summer potluck. 14 of 35 Roasted Tomato Macaroni and Cheese Victor Protasio Recipe: Roasted Tomato Macaroni and Cheese Even your macaroni and cheese should have a summery touch, thanks to the bounty of ripe tomatoes at your fingertips. This comforting homemade mac-and-cheese will wow the kids and the adults alike at the potluck. 15 of 35 Chili Cheese Enchiladas Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Chili Cheese Enchiladas Made with a flavor-bursting chili-cheese gravy, this Tex-Mex casserole will be the tastiest thing at the potluck. Add any ingredients you have on hand, such as a can of corn, black beans, refried beans, or shredded chicken. 16 of 35 Pasta-Chicken-Broccoli Bake Iain Bagwell Recipe: Pasta-Chicken-Broccoli Bake This casserole is full of summer color with broccoli, bell peppers, and colorful spinach-and-cheese tortellini. This crowd-pleasing recipe will be one of the first to disappear. 17 of 35 Zucchini Lasagna Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Tina Stamos Recipe: Zucchini Lasagna Say hello to the prettiest use of summer's bounty. This lasagna alternates between layers of lasagna noodles and laced zucchini strips. 18 of 35 Baked Ziti with Summer Vegetables Alison Miksch Recipe: Baked Ziti with Summer Vegetables Loads of in-season squash and tomatoes give a freshness to this classic dish that's almost always seen at Southern reunions, potlucks, and funerals. Fresh mozzerella and basil top off the dish in a delicious fashion. 19 of 35 Buffalo Chicken Casserole Caitlin Bensel, Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Styling: Audrey Davis Recipe: Buffalo Chicken Casserole Everyone's favorite party dip got a hearty upgrade with chicken and penne pasta. It'll be a quick crowd-pleaser. 20 of 35 Ham and Noodle Casserole Jen Causey Recipe: Ham and Noodle Casserole This family-friendly casserole is made with egg noodles, chopped ham, a tasty mix of vegetables (carrots, broccoli, asparagus), and a rich and creamy sauce. It's an easy potluck staple. 21 of 35 Turkey-Noodle-Poppyseed Casserole Hector Manuel Sanchez Recipe: Turkey-Noodle-Poppyseed Casserole You can never go wrong when showing up with a poppyseed casserole in tow. This version uses traditional egg noodles, diced turkey, and plenty of creamy sauce to get the job done. 22 of 35 Cheeseburger Casserole Photography: Alison Miksch, Prop Styling: Sarah Elizabeth Cleveland, Food Styling: Melissa Gray Recipe: Cheeseburger Casserole Forget individual patties and whip up this cheeseburger casserole for a crowd. It's just as tasty as the real thing—thanks to all the key ingredients of a good old-fashioned burger, plus extra cheese and tater tots—and is easy to tote and cut if you're bringing it to a party or serving individual slices for a group of kids (or adults). 23 of 35 Deb Wise's Tamale Pie Mix-up Hector Sanchez Recipe: Deb Wise's Tamale Pie Mix-up One of our favorite quick-fix dishes to bring to the summer potluck, this take on a tamale pie is packed with a filling of ground beef, cornmeal, tomato sauce, and corn that gets finished with a layer of gooey cheese. 24 of 35 Chicken-and-Wild Rice Casserole Becky Luigart-Stayner Recipe: Chicken-and-Wild Rice Casserole Bring summertime freshness to your potluck lineup with this almond-topped casserole. Take a break from the pasta bakes with a wild rice casserole filled with chicken, water chestnuts, sour cream, and cheese. 25 of 35 Creamy Kale and Pasta Bake Hector Manuel Sanchez Recipe: Creamy Kale and Pasta Bake Make use of your lush greens from the farmers' market with this creamy bake with loads of gooey cheese and tender kale. This dish comes together in half an hour, making it a hearty no-brainer for any get-together. 26 of 35 Cakey Strawberry Cobbler Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner; Food Styling: Torie Cox Recipe: Cakey Strawberry Cobbler We can't be sure of which part we love the most: the fresh, juicy cooked strawberries or the golden, cake-like topping with crispy edges and a tender center. 27 of 35 Banana Pudding Poke Cake Photo: Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Torie Cox Recipe: Banana Pudding Poke Cake This cake is rich and delicious, bursting with fresh banana flavor and big enough to feed a crowd. We recommend chilling the cake in the refrigerator for a few hours before serving. 28 of 35 Raspberry-Rhubarb Bars Cedric Angeles; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen; Food Styling: Torie Cox Recipe: Raspberry-Rhubarb Bars Everyone will appreciate these fruity hand-held treats. Fresh rhubarb adds a tart touch that balances out the richness of the shortbread-like crust. 29 of 35 Sweet Tea-and-Lemonade Cake Hector Manuel Sanchez Recipe: Sweet Tea-and-Lemonade Cake No summertime soiree is complete without this showy confection that takes inspiration from the refreshing Southern beverage, the Arnold Palmer. For festive events such as the Kentucky Derby, spin this into a tipsy cake by substituting up to two tablespoons of vodka or bourbon for the lemon juice in the frosting. 30 of 35 Pineapple Bread Pudding Victor Protasio Recipe: Pineapple Bread Pudding That extra bread in your kitchen has never been tastier. Made with pineapple pieces, pineapple juice, soft Hawaiian dinner rolls, and macadamia nuts, it's a tropical dream. 31 of 35 Plum-Berry Cornmeal Sheet Cake Photo: Alison Miksch Recipe: Plum-Berry Cornmeal Sheet Cake This sheet cakes looks like it just belongs at a breezy picnic. The vanilla-flavored cornmeal batter makes a not-too-sweet base for the fresh berries and plums. 32 of 35 Red, White, and Blue Poke Cake Jennifer Causey Recipe: Red, White, and Blue Poke Cake This dessert pleases the crowd by being both patriotic as all get-out for summer and tasting even better. It's made with two fillings of fresh summer berries and topped with rich mascarpone frosting. 33 of 35 Easy Peach Cobbler Iain Bagwell; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Torie Cox Recipe: Easy Peach Cobbler This recipe's name just about sums up why it's the perfect dish for a summertime gathering. Repeat after us: Easy Peach Cobbler—yep, we're sold. 34 of 35 Red, White, and Blue Cheesecake Bars Linda Pugliese; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox Recipe: Red, White, and Blue Cheesecake Bars Instead of serving cake or pie at your next gathering, consider making these cheesecake bars in a casserole dish. They're easy to cut up and transport for a party, and, thanks to the fresh berries, the colors look especially festive for a 4th of July, Labor Day, or Memorial Day celebration. 35 of 35 Patchwork Cobbler Photo: Hector Sanchez Recipe: Patchwork Cobbler Show off your summer fruits at the cookout with this beautiful patchwork cobbler packed full with peaches, plums, and blueberries. A sugar-crusted pastry topping makes it look pretty as a picture. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit