Holidays & Occasions Thanksgiving 40 Potluck Dishes to Bring This Thanksgiving By Lisa Cericola Lisa Cericola Lisa is the Deputy Editor at Southern Living and joined the team in 2015. She works with the Southern Living Test Kitchen to create recipes for the site and print magazine, edits the magazine's food section, and writes digital food stories as well. Previously, she was the features editor at Food Network Magazine and has more than 15 years of experience writing, editing, and managing photo shoots for print and digital lifestyle brands. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Updated on July 7, 2022 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: Hector Sanchez When you're invited to someone's home for dinner, any good Southerner knows that the correct response is, "What can I bring?" And Thanksgiving is no different, although picking the right potluck dish for the biggest food holiday of the year can be daunting. If you need a little inspiration, don't worry-we've got you covered with our favorite Thanksgiving potluck recipes. The host is probably handling the turkey and stuffing, so we've gathered a delicious array of portable sides and after-dinner treats that taste great, travel well, and will fit in beautifully with the rest of the meal. Take your pick from our favorite potluck-friendly recipes including side dishes like mashed potatoes, roasted vegetables, cranberry sauce, and rolls, plus everyone's all-time favorite Thanksgiving dessert: pies. Some recipes, like our sweet potato casserole, are classic enough to please Thanksgiving traditionalists. Others, like our Spicy Cranberry Orange Relish, are exciting new takes on old favorites full of fall flavors and will be welcome additions to the holiday table. Whatever you choose, we know you'll be left with an empty serving dish at the end of the meal—the true sign of a great recipe! 01 of 40 Sweet Potato Biscuits Micah A. Leal Recipe: Sweet Potato Biscuits Does your crowd prefer biscuits over rolls? Try these light and flaky biscuits made tender and slightly orange from sweet potato. 02 of 40 Tee's Corn Pudding Hector M Sanchez Recipe: Tee's Corn Pudding One bite of this silky, soufflé-like corn pudding and you'll understand why it's one of our most popular potluck recipes ever. Serve this go-to Southern side family-style or in individual ramekins. 03 of 40 Slow-Cooker Sweet Potatoes with Bacon Alison Miksch Recipe: Slow-Cooker Sweet Potatoes with Bacon Sweet potatoes simmer all day in your slow cooker, turning meltingly tender. Top with parsley, orange zest, and crispy bacon just before serving. 04 of 40 Our Easiest Pumpkin Pie Ever Photo: Greg Dupree Recipe: Our Easiest Pumpkin Pie Ever If you're a first-time pie baker, this recipe is a great place to start. This pumpkin pie has a velvety filling and golden, crisp crust, but preparing it is still easy as pie (sorry!). 05 of 40 Yeast Rolls Iain Bagwell Recipe: Yeast Rolls Make the dough for these tender rolls the night before. Buttery rolls are a sure-fire crowd pleaser, especially when served with even more spreadable butter on the side. 06 of 40 Buttermilk Spoon Bread Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Buttermilk Spoon Bread This dish is a cross between hot cornbread, cornmeal soufflé, and cornbread dressing. Make it the traditional way or add seasonal flare by incorporating corn kernels, diced ham, herbs, or cheese. 07 of 40 Spicy Cranberry Orange Relish Greg Dupree; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Spicy Cranberry Orange Relish Our Test Kitchen dubbed this spicy relish the "cool-kid cranberry sauce." Give classic cranberry sauce a makeover with orangey zest and a bit of spice. 08 of 40 Brussels Sprouts with Bacon and Shallots Linda Pugliese; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox Recipe: Brussels Sprouts with Bacon and Shallots Use small, compact Brussels sprouts for this recipe since they have a milder taste. This take on the classic combo of Brussels and bacon is holiday-worthy, but also easy and delicious enough for weeknight dinner. 09 of 40 Spritzed Cranberry Chutney Greg Dupree; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Spritzed Cranberry Chutney Rosemary and prosecco make this cranberry sauce impressive. Adding this to the holiday spread will end the great 'homemade versus store-bought' cranberry sauce debate once and for all. 10 of 40 Mashed Potato Casserole Antonis Achilleos; Prop Stylist: Kay E. Clarke; Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey Recipe: Mashed Potato Casserole Yukon gold potatoes and tangy Swiss cheese bring the flavor to this casserole. This dish is a step up from the usual mashed potato side. Yes, we said better than mashed potatoes. 11 of 40 Mashed Potatoes and Rutabaga with Collards Greg Dupree; Food Styling: Torie Cox; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch Recipe: Mashed Potatoes and Rutabagas with Collards These two root veggies join forces for a lighter version of a holiday mash. Collards join the mix for a comforting holiday side dish that's decidedly Southern. 12 of 40 Apple-Bourbon Pie Hector Manuel Sanchez Recipe: Apple-Bourbon Pie Bourbon-infused raisins, cinnamon, nutmeg, apricot preserves, and chopped, toasted pecans or walnuts are mixed with apples to make this pie's filling. Apple pie is always a welcome addition to the potluck, and this boozy one is a delightful twist on a classic. 13 of 40 Classic Sweet Potato Casserole Photo: Beth Dreiling Hontzas Recipe: Classic Sweet Potato Casserole It wouldn't be Thanksgiving without a Sweet Potato Casserole. Topped with pretty stripes of melty marshmallows and crunchy cornflakes, this holiday classic will satisfy the entire table. 14 of 40 German Chocolate-Pecan Pie Alison Miksch Recipe: German Chocolate-Pecan Pie Adding chocolate to pecan pie makes it even more decadent. Taking its cues from German chocolate cake, this hybrid pie will become an instant classic in your household. 15 of 40 Goat Cheese Mashed Potatoes Southern Living Recipe: Goat Cheese Mashed Potatoes Goat cheese, heavy cream, and chives take mashed potatoes to a whole new level. If you like your potatoes extra fluffy, the secret is to use a ricer. 16 of 40 Honey-Glazed Spiced Carrots Iain Bagwell Recipe: Honey-Glazed Spiced Carrots Colorful carrots sit in a semi-sweet glaze in this recipe. An assortment of fall hues guarantee that this side dish isn't just delicious, but pretty too. 17 of 40 Old-School Green Bean Casserole Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch Stelling; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Old-School Green Bean Casserole Fried shallots add a bit of crunch to this creamy and savory casserole. It's a staple on the Thanksgiving table, but we think this recipe should be served year-round. 18 of 40 Classic Parmesan Scalloped Potatoes Beth Dreiling Hontzas Recipe: Classic Parmesan Scalloped Potatoes Wait for the cheese in to turn golden brown before taking this dish out of the oven. Classic Parmesan Scalloped Potatoes are easy to make and have a short ingredient list, but are oh-so good. 19 of 40 Herbed Wild Rice Dressing Recipe: Herbed Wild Rice Dressing Wild rice is mixed with crisp apples, red onion, toasted walnuts, fresh herbs, and sourdough bread cubes to make this holiday dressing. Mix and match herbs and nuts to customize your ideal earthy rice dressing. 20 of 40 Pumpkin-Chocolate Brownies Greg DuPree Recipe: Pumpkin-Chocolate Brownies These swirled desserts will have both chocolate and pumpkin dessert-lovers at the potluck satisfied. They taste as good as they look, too. 21 of 40 Savory Sweet Potato Bread Pudding Hector Manuel Sanchez Recipe: Savory Sweet Potato Bread Pudding Sweet potatoes are a staple in the Thanksgiving spread, and this bread pudding variation will be welcomed warmly to the festivities. Chunks of roasted sweet potatoes join forces with parmesan custard, smoky bacon, spinach, and French bread. 22 of 40 Roasted Root Vegetables Photo: Iain Bagwell; Styling: Caroline M. Cunningham Recipe: Roasted Root Vegetables Mix and match veggies depending on what your crowd prefers. No matter which way you go, this recipe promises a hardy and cheesy side dish the whole family won't be able to get enough of. 23 of 40 Salted Caramel-Apple Hand Pies Hector Manuel Sanchez; Styling: Katie Jacobs Recipe: Salted Caramel-Apple Hand Pies An apple dessert always hits the spot mid-autumn, and these miniature pies won't disappoint. Granny Smith apples with caramel, seasonal spices, and a sprinkle of sea salt add up to a delicious new variation that transports well, too. 24 of 40 Sweet Potato and Chorizo Sausage Bites Hector Manuel Sanchez Recipe: Sweet Potato and Chorizo Sausage Bites Sausage balls are a go-to Southern hors d'oeuvre and incorporating sweet potatoes and sausage adds just the right amount of seasonal flare. This recipe uses Bisquick for even easier and fluffier party bites. 25 of 40 Herbed Breadcrumb-Topped Macaroni and Cheese Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch Stelling; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Herbed Breadcrumb-Topped Macaroni and Cheese Mac and cheese is always a good potluck idea, but this version uses sage, thyme, and rosemary to make it extra decadent and decidedly worthy of that special occasion. Chunks of cheddar dispersed throughout the casserole are the secret to super cheesy bites. 26 of 40 Hot Potato Salad Helen Norman Recipe: Hot Potato Salad Traditionally, potato salad may be better suited for a summertime barbecue potluck, but this toasty rendition changes the score. Similar to a gratin, this hot potato salad gets even hotter with the additions of bacon, cheese, and briny olives. 27 of 40 Ben Mims' Perfect Cornbread Brian Woodcock Recipe: Ben Mims' Perfect Cornbread No one says no to cornbread on the Thanksgiving table. This recipe makes a seemingly perfect dish even better with two simple adjustments: browning the butter and baking it in a cast-iron skillet. 28 of 40 Grits and Greens with Brown Butter Hot Sauce Iain Bagwell Recipe: Grits and Greens with Brown Butter Hot Sauce Use this recipe to elevate grits to rise to any occasion. This creamy side has greens and a spicy, buttery sauce that will impress on the holidays, or really any mealtime. 29 of 40 Classic Baked Macaroni and Cheese Classic Baked Macaroni and Cheese Recipe: Classic Baked Macaroni and Cheese Stick to the classics with this recipe. Ooey-gooey mac and cheese is mandatory on the Thanksgiving table and this recipe beats the boxed stuff any day of the week, especially the fourth Thursday of November. 30 of 40 Zucchini, Squash, and Corn Casserole Hector Sanchez Recipe: Zucchini, Squash, and Corn Casserole The more vegetable side options accompanying the Thanksgiving turkey and dressing, the better. This veggie trio casserole is topped with crowd-pleasing, golden-brown breadcrumbs made from day-old sandwich bread. 31 of 40 Two-Potato Gratin Hector Sanchez Recipe: Two-Potato Gratin Sweet and white potatoes combine with two kinds of cheese to make an impressive potluck side that tastes as good as it looks. Don't worry, this delish dish travels well too, so it'll make it to Thanksgiving in one piece. 32 of 40 Pumpkin-Shaped Rolls Micah A. Leal Recipe: Pumpkin-Shaped Rolls This recipe makes it easy to go all-out on the festivities. These honey-brushed, buttery rolls are snipped to resemble autumn pumpkins with a pecan stem. 33 of 40 Sweet Potato, Cauliflower, and Greens Casserole Hector Sanchez; Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas Recipe: Sweet Potato, Cauliflower, and Greens Casserole Veggie-heavy and with big texture, this side dish covers all the Thanksgiving side bases. It's cheesy, hardy, and has flavor to spare. 34 of 40 Southern Pimiento Mac and Cheese Hector Sanchez Recipe: Southern Pimiento Mac and Cheese This go-to comfort food gets a Southern twist with the addition of pimientos. Breadcrumbs and a splash of hot sauce put this mac and cheese variation ahead of the pack. 35 of 40 Pumpkin Cream Cheese Swirl Muffins Photographer: Antonis Achilleos, Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer Recipe: Pumpkin Cream Cheese Swirl Muffins As far as we're concerned, it's a fact that every Southerner loves cheesecake. This recipe converts a favorite dessert into a seasonal sensation in convenient hand-held form. 36 of 40 Old-School Squash Casserole Photographer: Fred Hardy II, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Props Stylist: Christina Brockman Recipe: Old-School Squash Casserole Bright squash, decadent cheese sauce, and buttery cracker crumbles are a winning trio in this simple but delicious casserole. This dish is a long-time potluck favorite, so you know it has earned its spot in your holiday spread. 37 of 40 Cranberry Fluff Salad Photographer: Greg DuPree, Food Stylist: Emily Neighbors Hall Prop Stylist: Christine Keely Recipe: Cranberry Fluff Salad This vintage-inspired meal is everything we love about a Thanksgiving side: It's seasonal, rich, and full of pecans. What's more, this tart and fruity side salad is easy-as-can-be to make. 38 of 40 Chocolate Pumpkin Pie Photographer: Antonis Achilleos, Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer Recipe: Chocolate Pumpkin Pie Chocolate-lovers and pumpkin pie enthusiasts alike will be going back for seconds of this decadent dessert. We're convinced that it's impossible to pass up a slice (or two!) or this pumpkin pie-chocolate torte hybrid. 39 of 40 Pumpkin Streusel Muffins Photo: Hector Sanchez; Styling: Heather Chadduck Recipe: Pumpkin Streusel Muffins This recipe is a double whammy—bake it into muffins or a loaf. No matter which you choose, the streusel topping on this seasonal dessert will be the perfect conclusion to your Thanksgiving meal. 40 of 40 Savory Corn Pudding Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch Stelling; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Savory Corn Pudding A Thanksgiving spread without a good old-fashioned corn pudding would be incomplete. Though its texture is creamy and luxurious enough to qualify it as a dessert, this pudding has chopped onion and fresh thyme to drive home savory side dish flavors. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit