Looking for an easy summer side dish to bring to your next picnic or summer party? Find 46 make-ahead potluck side dish recipes that are ideal for feeding a crowd at any occasion this summer. Perfect for stress-free entertaining all summer long.
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Summertime is in full swing, which means backyard BBQs, family reunions, picnics, and outdoor gatherings are happening every weekend and most of the time that means there is a good chance you’ll need to bring potluck dish to share. And, if you are like me, you want something that is not only delicious, but budget-friendly with simple ingredients that will travel well and feed a crowd.
Luckily, these easy make-ahead potluck side dishes will do just that. They eliminate the stress that comes from last minute prep allowing you to enjoy all the fun instead of being stuck in the kitchen. You will find creamy cold salads, fresh veggie salads, baked beans, pasta dishes and fruit salad recipes everyone will love.
These crowd-pleasing potluck sides are perfect for entertaining as they usually taste even better when they are made the day before because it allows the flavors to combine. And, since they are easy to transport, you can simply prep everything in advance and grab and go when it’s time to head out the door making them ideal for busy summer days when you don’t want to be cooking at the last minute. Enjoy!
Looking for more easy summer side dish recipes?
- 50 Easy Pasta Salad Recipes
- 39 Summer Potato Side Dish Recipes
- 12 Best Summer Salad Recipes
- 32 Summer BBQ Side Dish Recipes
46 Make-Ahead Potluck Side Dishes
These make-ahead potluck side dishes are guaranteed to impress all summer long. Whether you need easy dish for your holiday party, neighborhood get-together, or a family cookout, these delicious potluck recipes will make your summertime party planning stress-free.
1
The Cookin' Chicks
Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad
Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad is an easy potluck side dish combining shredded chicken, crispy bacon crumbles, cheese and creamy ranch dressing.
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2
Trop Rockin Recipes
Mexican Street Corn Pasta Salad
Mexican Street Corn Pasta Salad takes the delicious flavor of classic street food and turns it into an easy side perfect for picnics and summer parties.
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3
Strength and Sunshine
Vegan Southern Potato Salad
Super easy Vegan Southern Potato Salad is a traditional Southern-style mustard potato salad that’s eggless, gluten-free, & allergy-free.
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4
Little Nonni
Italian Chopped Salad
An easy Italian chopped salad made with crisp romaine, Genoa salami, mozzarella, olives, and delicious homemade dressing and ready in just 20 minutes.
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5
Mom Foodie
Old fashioned Green Pea Salad with Bacon and Cheese
This Old Fashioned Creamy Pea Salad with Bacon and Cheddar cheese is perfect for picnics, BBQs or any holiday gathering.
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6
The Salty Marshmallow
Jalapeno Popper Pasta Salad
Jalapeno Popper Pasta Salad is everything you love about spicy, creamy, cheesy jalapeno poppers, all tossed into a picnic pasta salad.
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7
Risa’s Family Kitchen
Vegetable Macaroni Salad
This Vegetable Macaroni Salad is made with a creamy mayo dressing and filled with olives, cucumbers, celery, tomatoes, dill pickles, green onions, and pimientos. It's the perfect side dish for potlucks and summer gatherings.
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8
Little Spice Jar
Zesty Italian Pasta Salad (Potluck Salad) Recipe
Zesty Italian pasta salad is loaded with veggies, pasta, and homemade Italian vinaigrette for an easy summer side dish.
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9
Kim Schob
Cold Broccoli Salad with Bacon and Cheese (Easy Make-Ahead Recipe)
This cold broccoli salad with bacon, cheddar, and creamy dressing is perfect for potlucks and BBQs. You can make it ahead in just 15 minutes.
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10
Vegan Huggs
Edamame Salad
Edamame Salad is a fresh and crunchy salad perfect for summer picnics. Made with edamame, crisp vegetables, roasted cashews, and a zesty sesame-ginger dressing, it's packed with flavor.
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11
Hungry Whisk
15-Minute Buffalo Chickpea Salad
A quick and delicious cold salad made with chickpeas, fresh veggies, and a spicy buffalo dressing.
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12
Bless This Meal
15 Minute Tomato Corn Cucumber Salad
Tomato corn cucumber salad is made with sweet corn, juicy tomatoes, cucumber, feta, and a light dressing. It's great for summer BBQs, potlucks, or for an easy side dish for dinner.
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13
The Chaotic Table
French Potato Salad (Easy No Mayo Potato Salad)
French potato salad has a simple vinaigrette made with Dijon mustard, fresh herbs, and olive oil for a lighter summer side dish that's sure to impress.
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14
Small Town Woman
Cowboy Pasta Salad
Cowboy pasta salad combines cellentani pasta, crisp cooked bacon, browned ground beef, tomatoes, cheddar cheese, and blackened corn in a creamy southwest dressing sweetened with barbecue sauce.
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15
The Recipe Nest
Italian Pasta Salad
This easy Italian Pasta Salad combines fresh vegetables, bocconcini, olives, and herbs in a bright vinaigrette. Great for summer gatherings.
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16
The Wholesome Spoon
Spicy Tuna Pasta Salad
This Spicy Tuna Pasta Salad is made with jalapeño, tomatoes, and green onions for a flavorful summer salad perfect for potlucks.
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17
Chili Pepper Madness
Mike’s Zesty Three Bean Salad Recipe
This three bean salad recipe has just the right amount of tangy zing, with a mix of colorful beans, roasted peppers, fresh cilantro and more. Perfect for sharing at summer picnics and parties.
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18
The Soccer Mom Blog
Deviled Egg Pasta Salad
Deviled egg pasta salad combines two potluck classics into one easy dish, with tender macaroni, savory eggs, and a tangy dressing.
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19
Next Level Baker
Pesto Orzo Pasta Salad
Pesto orzo pasta salad combines basil pesto, orzo pasta, tomatoes and mozzarella cheese for a simple side dish. Ideal for quick summer dinners and potlucks.
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20
Hip Hip Gourmet
Dill Pickle Pasta Salad
This Dill Pickle Pasta Salad is creamy, tangy, and packed with flavor! It’s the perfect side dish for BBQs and potlucks.
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21
Sweet Miscellany
High Protein Caprese Pasta Salad
This caprese pasta salad is ready in just 20 minutes and and is great for summer lunches, easy weeknight dinners or to bring to a potluck.
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22
Vegetarian South
Southern Potato Salad
This creamy Southern Potato Salad is made with tangy mustard, hard-boiled eggs, and sweet relish. It's a classic crowd-pleaser that's affordable and delicious!
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23
Cents For Cookery
Four Bean Salad
This four bean marinated summer salad is the best salad for potlucks and gatherings.
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24
Camp.Grill.Eat.
Overnight Marinated Vegetable Salad
This easy to make overnight marinated vegetable salad is filled crunchy raw vegetables, and tossed in an Italian-style vinaigrette dressing. A perfect side dish for sharing!
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25
Champagne Tastes
Broccoli Raisin Salad
This broccoli raisin salad is tossed with roasted onion almonds, and a mustard vinaigrette for an easy make-ahead side dish!
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26
My Rad Kitchen
Old Fashioned Macaroni Salad
Old Fashioned Macaroni Salad is a creamy and crunchy classic that's perfect for any gathering or summer BBQ.
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27
Parsley & Parm
Easy Mediterranean Chopped Salad With Fresh Herbs
You will love this crisp and refreshing Mediterranean chopped salad with fresh tomato, cucumber and herbs.
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28
Grits and Gouda
Sour Cream Potato Salad with Bacon
This Potato Salad with Bacon is creamy, smoky, and the best side dish for any BBQ, picnic, or potluck.
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29
Mom Life Home
Easy Greek Pasta Salad Recipe with Feta, Cucumber and Olives
This easy Greek pasta salad is made with feta, cucumber, tomatoes, and olives. Perfect for BBQs, picnics, and summer gatherings.
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30
Maplevine Kitchen
Antipasto Pasta Salad with Smoked Mozzarella
Antipasto Pasta Salad with Smoked Mozzarella is a simple Italian pasta salad recipe with salami, olives, artichokes, cheeses, and homemade Italian dressing.
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31
The Slow Roasted Italian
Southern Macaroni Salad Recipe
Southern Macaroni Salad is a delicious and creamy salad with tangy flavor and the perfect crunch. Great for a BBQ side dish!
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32
Easy Pizza Pasta Salad
This easy pizza pasta salad is loaded with pepperoni, mozzarella, cherry tomatoes, Parmesan cheese, and Italian dressing. It's a quick, make-ahead side dish recipe that's perfect for summer potlucks, picnics, parties and backyard BBQs.
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33
A Cedar Spoon
No Mayo Potato Salad
This No Mayo Potato Salad is simple to make using fresh ingredients and filled with herbs and a delicious dressing that brings the whole dish together without mayo. Serve with grilled meats, vegetables, or fish at your next BBQ or potluck.
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34
Foodess
The BEST Mexican Street Corn Salad
This Mexican Street Corn Salad combines everything you love about Mexican street corn in a delicious salad you won't be able to get enough of.
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35
Mommy Evolution
Best Coleslaw Salad Recipe
Crisp, sweet and tangy, this easy Coleslaw Salad Recipe combines shredded cabbage, scallions, carrot, apple and pear with a creamy dressing.
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36
Get Inspired Everyday!
Cilantro Lime Slaw
This cilantro lime slaw is simple to make with a mix of cabbage, carrots, bell peppers, and a cilantro lime dressing that fresh and flavorful.
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37
The Fresh Cooky
Cowboy Baked Beans Recipe
Cowboy Baked Beans are an easy side dish that starts with canned baked beans and is amped up with simple ingredients and crispy bacon. Perfect for BBQs, potlucks, or family dinners!
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38
Borrowed Bites
Baked Mac & Cheese (Make-Ahead and Freezer Friendly)
This Mac and Cheese is ultra-creamy, irresistibly cheesy, and perfect for prepping ahead! Whether you make it today, prep ahead, or freeze it for later, this baked mac and cheese will be ready for your next potluck or summer gathering.
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39
The Forked Spoon
Stuffed Shells Recipe
Classic Cheesy Stuffed Shells Recipe is made with a flavorful three-cheese ricotta filling and a homemade marinara sauce. Perfect to make ahead of time for an easy weeknight dinner or potluck.
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40
I Heart Naptime
Easy Cheesy Mashed Potatoes
Cheesy mashed potatoes are light and fluffy and creamy with 3 kinds of cheese. These potatoes are a great make ahead side dish.
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41
The Buttery Fairytale
BEST Fresh Green Beans Casserole
This fresh green beans casserole is made with tender beans that are tossed in a creamy homemade mushroom sauce & topped with crispy onions!
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42
Kitchen Ready Betty
Dill Pickle Deviled Eggs
Try dill pickle deviled eggs for a unique twist on a traditional favorite. Perfect for any occasion this summer.
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43
Modern Honey
Cornbread Muffins
The Best Corn Muffins are moist and delicious with a balance between savory corn flavor and a touch of sweetness. Whip up these homemade cornbread muffins in under 30 minutes!
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44
Learned It From My Mom
Best Summer Fruit Salad
This easy summer fruit salad with a citrus brown sugar glaze is refreshing, make-ahead friendly, and perfect for summer parties.
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45
Baking Beauty
Orange Dreamsicle Fluff Salad
This orange fluff is as light as air, and tastes just like an orange creamsicle with none of the sticky mess!
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46
In the Kids Kitchen
Creamy Grape Salad with Streusel Topping
Creamy, sweet and refreshing, classic Grape Salad is made with fresh grapes tossed in a tangy cheesecake-inspired dressing with a buttery pecan streusel topping.
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